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The Australia captain makes his international comeback against Pakistan on Monday but most of the talk remains about what comes later

Alex Malcolm03-Nov-2024

Nathan McSweeney played another impressive innings•Getty Images

Captain Pat Cummins has downplayed the so-called “bat off” for the final spot in Australia’s Test team but has noted that it does provide a “final piece of information” and help the player chosen prepare for the first Test given the public scrutiny around the contests against India A.Cummins spoke at the MCG on Sunday ahead of the first ODI of the summer against Pakistan, which will be his first international appearance since the T20 World Cup in June after he missed the tour of the UK in September.But while the three-match series does carry some importance given it is Australia’s last ODI series before the Champions Trophy in February, bar a one-off game in Sri Lanka, the fight for the final batting spot in the Test side remains the major talking point.Related

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Four players, Marcus Harris, Nathan McSweeney, Sam Konstas and Cameron Bancroft have emerged as the main contenders for the vacant spot at the top of the order and have been on show in the Australia A game against India A in Mackay.McSweeney has been the standout performer of the four, finishing unbeaten on 88 in Australia A’s victory, and is almost certainly set to be part of the Test squad given two batters will need to be selected in an extended 13 to ensure there is a batting concussion substitute with the team in Perth. Harris got starts in both innings without kicking on while Konstas and Bancroft missed out twice each.Cummins said he had kept an eye on the scores from Mackay and emphasised the quartet would likely get another chance to impress in the second four-day game at the MCG starting on Thursday. But he added the Australia A games are not the be-all and end-all as far as selection for the first Test is concerned.”I think it’s like a final bit of information,” Cummins said. “It’s never as clean cut as a bat off. Some of these guys have only played a few games of Shield cricket, and then you’ve got other guys who have played over a decade.”That last couple of weeks, is it really important? It’s got some importance, but it’s not going to guide the 100% of the decision. So it’s that final bit of decision.”In some regards, it’s a lot of pressure on those last two games, which, whether you like it or not, it’s probably what you’re going to get in Test cricket anyway. So I suppose, again, whoever does get picked, they’ve experienced as much pressure as they might get in a Test debut anyway. So it means they are pretty well placed.”Cummins was not concerned about having to leave the decision quite late given Australia’s current selection panel and leadership group has preferred to give players more certainty in the recent past.”I don’t think it’s a new problem,” Cummins said. “The good thing is, if it’s say that one batting role that we’re looking at, whoever’s picked, they’re going to come off the back of plenty of runs at the start of the year, you’d think, and they’ll be well positioned. The reality is you try and make a debut as comfortable for someone as you can. But it’s a Test debut. Whoever it is, they’re going to be feeling nerves. So, yeah, it’s not like they’re going to wake up one morning and kind of be told they’re playing. They’ll certainly know at least a week or so out I’d imagine.”Cummins was asked whether it was possible that Marnus Labuschagne could open the batting to allow McSweeney to possibly debut at No. 3 given that is where he bats in first-class cricket for South Australia.”You could do,” Cummins said. “Again, maybe once we kind of start discussing who’s in the side, then you start looking at the batting order.”Ronnie [Andrew McDonald] and I have said it quite a bit, we think the place where you bat isn’t that important. You try and work out how the batting order as a whole is going to function best. And I don’t think anyone should be super protective around a certain spot.”Pat Cummins hasn’t played for Australia since the T20 World Cup•Getty Images

Cummins did note there had been plenty of jokes flying around at training in the last two days about positions in the batting order given how vocal Labuschagne and Steven Smith had been about the latter’s move away from opening in Test cricket.Meanwhile, Cummins said he was feeling physically as fresh as he had in a long-time after skipping the T20I and ODI tour of the UK in order to undergo a significant training block in Sydney to get ready for the summer. He also explained his decision to not play a Shield game prior to the first Test.”The one that I would have had to play back here in Melbourne, I probably would have had to start bowling about an extra two or three weeks earlier,” he said. “So we kind of made the decision to have an extra two weeks of building up in the gym and prioritizing that. I feel like I’ve done it for a fair while now, and so I feel like the ODIs will give me a good lead in and obviously the two weeks before the first Test, we’ll make sure we do loads of red-ball and centre wickets to try and replicate it.”Cummins said he was unsure if he will play all three ODIs against Pakistan. He confirmed he would play the first two but it appears likely he will miss the final game in Perth in order to avoid a cross-country return flight, a week before having to make the same trip for the Perth Test.If he does miss the Perth match it will mean Australia will have to find a captain, with ODI vice-captain Mitchell Marsh missing the series while on paternity leave.Smith and Josh Hazlewood have both led the ODI side previously but there is a possibility both could also be rested from the Perth trip for the same reasons as Cummins.Australia’s new T20I captain is set be announced this week with Josh Inglis and Matt Short the two most likely candidates for the job. It is possible the man who gets the nod could also captain the ODI side in Perth.

After welcoming Sean Longstaff earlier this week, Leeds United are now reportedly set to sign another midfield star in a deal worth over £17m this summer.

Longstaff: Leeds is the "perfect" move

Becoming the Whites’ fifth signing of the summer, Longstaff will instantly add some much-needed Premier League know-how to Daniel Farke’s side ahead of next season. The former Newcastle midfielder won’t steal the same headlines as the likes of Jaka Bijol, but he could prove to be equally important at Elland Road.

Speaking for the first time since putting pen to paper, Longstaff told the official Leeds website: “I spoke to [Karl] Darlow straight away, but I have got to meet everyone. It seems like a really good group. I have heard great things.

“I think there is something to be said for a team that wants you and a club that really wants you. I think from the first time I spoke to Leeds, I sort of got a feeling that they really wanted me.

“It just fills you full of confidence and it just makes you want to repay those people. It is a massive, massive football club similar to Newcastle in a lot of ways.

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“It was going to take a lot for us to leave Newcastle to be honest and I wasn’t just going to leave to go anywhere so it had to be the right place for me and my family and I think this is a perfect place. I got to watch pretty much all the games and see a team that was really exciting to watch, athletic, really good on the ball.

As pleased as they’ll be to have signed Longstaff, however, the 49ers aren’t stopping there. Reports are now indicating that they’ve instantly agreed another deal to sign their sixth fresh face of the summer and another midfield star.

Leeds agree deal to sign Anton Stach

As reported by Fabrizio Romano, Leeds are now set to sign Anton Stach after agreeing a deal worth more than €20m (£17m) with Bundesliga club Hoffenheim. The 6’4 midfielder is set to put pen to paper on a four-year contract, as those at Elland Road prepare to welcome another signing.

With plenty of Bundesliga experience to his name and even appearances in the Europa League last season, Stach represents another solid signing by all involved at Leeds.

It’s no surprise that the towering midfielder has earned impressive praise during his time in Germany, either. Former coach Florian Kohfeldt recalled Stach’s days as a youth player at Werder Bremen, claiming that he was already a talented player at a young age: “He didn’t have such an easy time here at Werder when he was at boarding school.

“He was a bit behind his peers physically when he was young, but in my opinion he already had a very strategic disposition in his game and was incredibly goal-oriented and ambitious.”

The Athletic’s Beren Cross has also heaped praise on Stach in reaction to the deal, sharing on X on Saturday: “Another giant, another 26-year-old, Leeds are finalising a transfer (in excess of £17.3m) for Anton Stach. A sixth new face and a real unit that played as a defensive midfielder and centre-back with Hoffenheim.”

Crystal Palace are now lining up a £27m double swoop for a “terrific” defender and a “monster” midfielder, according to a report.

Palace eyeing new defender with Guehi exit increasingly likely

Marc Guehi has just one year remaining on his contract at Selhurst Park, meaning this summer is Palace’s last chance to cash-in for a large fee, and Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg has now revealed the centre-back is edging closer to the exit door.

As such, Oliver Glasner faces the difficult task of finding a replacement for his captain, but there has now been a breakthrough in the pursuit of Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomande, with widespread recent reports suggesting the Eagles are closing in on a deal.

The signing of Diomande could be viewed as a real coup, given that the likes of Newcastle United and Real Madrid have also been named as interested parties, but the Sporting ace is not the only centre-back of interest.

According to a report from The Sun, Crystal Palace are now lining up a double swoop for Middlesbrough centre-back Rav van den Berg and midfielder Hayden Hackney, which could amount to £27m.

Palace scouts have been watching the Boro duo in action at the U21 European Championship, with Hackney playing a role in England’s triumph, picking up one assist in four appearances throughout the tournament.

Boro boss Rob Edwards is eager to keep hold of the midfielder, but a sale for a large fee could help the manager fund his own summer transfer business.

Hackney and Van den Berg could be savvy signings for Palace

Palace have displayed a good eye for signing top Championship talents in the past, with Eberechi Eze arriving from Queens Park Rangers and going on to score the winner in the FA Cup final against Manchester City.

There are also signs the Middlesbrough duo could go on to be successes in the Premier League, with Hackney being lauded as a “monster” by one analyst, picking up five goals and three assists in the Championship last term.

At 23-years-old, the defensive midfielder is at a good age to be a long-term success at Selhurst Park, and the same can be said about 20-year-old Van den Berg, who received high praise from Michael Carrick last season.

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“He’s a terrific individual, really grounded and humble, terrific character and great attitude. He has a real calming influence but quite sure of himself in a really good way.”

Palace should have a sizeable transfer kitty if the Guehi sale goes through, and the Middlesbrough starlets could be bargain signings at a combined £27m.

Will Celtic sign another Premier League superstar?

Kieran Tierney has already returned to Parkhead this summer, following in the footsteps of manager Brendan Rodgers and Jota, who’ve also both re-joined the club in recent times.

Now, could another boyhood Celtic fan fulfil his dreams of wearing the famous green and white hoops?

Celtic targeting another statement signing

According to a report by TEAMtalk, Celtic are ‘interested’ in signing Liverpool full-back Andy Robertson, while admitting that ‘financial constraints’ would prove to be a stumbling block.

The Scotland captain is widely expected to depart Merseyside this summer, with David Ornstein and Mario Cortegana of the Athletic documenting Atlético Madrid’s interest, given that the Reds are targeting Bournemouth’s Miloš Kerkez, who they view as an upgrade.

Robertson, who was in Celtic’s academy between the ages of nine and 15, has always been open about his desire to represent the Hoops one day, admitting that “Celtic was my life” growing up, adding that he’d “love to pull on the Celtic top and walk out at Parkhead” one day.

So, could this move really come to fruition this summer?

How Andy Robertson compares to Kieran Tierney

It is all change in terms of Celtic left-backs this summer.

Greg Taylor is highly likely to depart following the expiration of his contract. PAOK are the latest European club interested in securing his services, while it’s not yet clear if Jeffrey Schlupp will be staying, following a brief loan spell.

Meantime, Tierney has of course returned but, as has been an interminable debate surrounding the national team for nigh on a decade, is he better than Robertson?

Let’s attempt to find out.

Appearances

20

45

Minutes

447

3,320

Pass completion %

79.8%

83.0%

Interceptions

0.2

0.6

Tackles

0.5

1.2

Clearances

0.7

1.3

Ball recoveries

2.2

3.8

Ground duel success %

71%

50%

Touches

72.5

76.9

First things first, due to injuries and the fact he was not first-choice at Arsenal, Tierney played fewer than 500 minutes of club football this season, which does offer a very small sample size.

That caveat aside, Robertson’s per-90 statistics are still pretty much more impressive across the board.

When he was still Liverpool manager, Jürgen Klopp described Robertson as a “world-class left-back”, while José Enrique, a former incumbent of the Reds’ full-back spot, asserts that he has been “the best left-back in the world” for many years.

Now though, James Pearce and Mark Carey of the Athletic outline that the Scotland captain’s form ‘has come under intense scrutiny’ this season, while also asserting that he is far from ‘finished at the highest level’.

Robertson still ranked 17th in the Premier League this season for crosses into the penalty area, as well as 11th for crosses overall, according to FBref.com, an attribute that has been viewed as his superpower for many years.

Gillian Kasirye of Total Football Analysis claims that Robertson is ‘passed their peak’, but still has a lot to offer at the elite level, so could he really be tempted to make a move to Glasgow this summer?

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Aston Villa made it five wins from their last six games in the Premier League when grinding out a determined 1-0 victory away at AFC Bournemouth on Saturday.

This win – which was clinched courtesy of Villa’s new all-time top-flight scorer Ollie Watkins – guarantees at least Conference League football for Unai Emery’s Villans next campaign.

But, the main prize of Champions League football is still very much up for grabs for the in-form outfit sat in sixth spot.

It wasn’t the prettiest performance by Villa on the South Coast, but at his crunch stage of the season, any win will do, with a big team effort needed to clinch the three points, especially after Jacob Ramsey was dismissed.

Aston Villa's best performers vs Bournemouth

Villa really had to dig deep during the last ten minutes of the clash after homegrown attacker Ramsey was shown his second yellow.

Thankfully, Emery’s visitors were already hanging onto a slim lead courtesy of the aforementioned Watkins, who once again came up trumps for the Villans in their moment of need.

The potent number 11 would find himself in the right place at the right time yet again to fire home his 75th career goal in the big time, with this effort ultimately being the difference-maker to the annoyance of Andoni Iraola’s frustrated hosts.

The Cherries just couldn’t find a breakthrough, with the likes of Emiliano Martinez having to stay very alert throughout with four saves made, alongside both Matty Cash and Lucas Digne down the flanks who won a combined 11 duels on the day.

But, it was once again Morgan Rogers who stood out in attack for Emery and Co, with the electric number 11 understandably a wanted man heading into the hectic transfer window.

Morgan Rogers' transfer value continues to soar

Rogers isn’t the only face that could soon be waving Villa Park goodbye, with Watkins – who the ex-Manchester City man set up for the winner at Bournemouth – also reportedly keen on a move away amidst interest from Arsenal.

For the 22-year-old, however, according to other reports, Chelsea and Stamford Bridge might well be his next onward destination, but off the back of a seriously impressive campaign for Emery’s men, the 6 foot 2 attacking midfielder won’t be exiting the building for cheap.

Indeed, it’s now being speculated that Villa would only consider parting ways with Rogers if a bumper £90m bid was put on the table, with the exciting forward menace arguably deep in the best form of his career at this point in time.

In all competitions this campaign, Rogers has notched up a ridiculous 14 goals and 14 assists from 52 overall games, leading to Jamie Carragher even hailing the four-time England international as an “unstoppable” force, on top of Villa thanking their lucky stars now that they won the 22-year-old for a modest £15m just last year.

Rogers’ numbers at Villa

Stat

Rogers

Games played

68

Goals scored

17

Assists

15

Original fee

£15m

Value now

£90m

Percentage increase

500%

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Emery’s side have had to exercise patience with the 22-year-old, considering he only chipped in with three goals and one assist last season after a January move, but it’s clear that he is destined for greatness now, whether that be with the Villans long-term or with Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea.

Further lauded as “magnificent” by scout Antonio Mango after his assist away at Bournemouth, his current employers will just pray that Rogers sees Villa as his home for the foreseeable.

But, with his value increasing by that whopping 500%, Emery and Co would be mad not to sell up, particularly if that £90m does fall into their bank account soon.

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Glasgow Rangers have appointed Kevin Thelwell as their new sporting director heading into the 2025/26 season and beyond.

Formerly of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton, the Englishman brings with him a wealth of experience to Ibrox.

He faces a tough job at the Light Blues, especially with the club about to finish trophyless for the second time in three seasons.

His main job will be to identify players who can improve the first-team squad. However, he must also move on those who aren’t contributing much anymore.

Tom Lawrence is earning decent money for a minimal contribution. Will he move on this summer?

Tom Lawrence must leave Rangers in the summer

The Welshman joined on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, and on the surface, it looked like a solid enough signing.

He managed only nine games before missing the rest of the season through injury, and this would be a common theme during his time at Ibrox.

Overall, the midfielder has missed over 60 matches due to injury issues sustained across his three seasons at the club.

Earning £22k-per-week for his troubles, Thelwell must move Lawrence on when the window opens and use this money more wisely.

2024/25

25

6

2

2023/24

32

3

3

2022/23

9

3

2

There is another player, who is currently out on loan until the end of the season, who has spent more time on the sidelines than Lawrence.

Rabbi Matondo cost the Gers £3m three years ago, but it’s fair to say that he hasn’t quite lived up to this transfer fee.

Rabbi Matondo has spent more time on the sidelines than on the pitch

Like Lawrence, Matondo has been severely injury-prone since arriving in Glasgow. Indeed, he has missed 69 matches for the club in that time.

There have been a few moments of genius, notably his curling effort against Celtic in April 2024 or his excellent goal against PSV Eindhoven in August 2023. But overall, Matondo hasn’t performed how many expected.

Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd hailed the winger for having “blistering pace” after scoring his first goal against PSV, but this is arguably the only real trait going for him, given his lack of impact at the club throughout his time in Glasgow.

Eight goals and 11 assists registered across 67 matches isn’t bad, but it certainly isn’t worthwhile enough to keep him for the 2025/26 season because he has failed to deliver consistent quality as either a scorer or a creator of goals.

He joined German side Hannover 96 on a six-month loan deal towards the end of the winter transfer window and has scored once in ten appearances.

With just one more year left on his current contract, Thelwell will be hoping Hannover exercise their option to buy the winger for a reported fee of £2m, which would help the club’s finances.

Bringing the former Everton director in this early will allow him to survey the situation at Ibrox before the transfer window opens.

If he can get off to a decent start regarding potential signings and departures, the 51-year-old will bank some credit.

Moving on both Lawrence and Matondo should be top of his list of priorities, given how much time they have spent on the sidelines rather than contributing to any success on the pitch at Ibrox.

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The competition is heating up in the top half of the points table

S Rajesh01-May-2025 • Updated on 05-May-20251:37

Chawla: Bethell’s batting reflects RCB’s own good form

RCB are back on top of the points table with the win against CSK. But with the other top teams notching up wins as well, it’s still possible for five teams to finish on 18 points. That means to be absolutely sure of qualification, RCB need two more wins. However, if other results go their way, they can qualify even with 16 points, without depending on NRR.RCB will also be happy with two home wins in a row, given that they have two more games to go at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. One obvious area of improvement is with the toss: they have lost five in a row in Bengaluru, and they will be hoping for better luck with the coin in their last two home games.1:30

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Punjab Kings
PBKS’ win against Lucknow Super Giants took them to second place with 15 points, consolidating their place in the top four with three games to go. While 17 points may not be enough to guarantee qualification without other results going their way, two more wins will take them into the playoffs. If they lose all their three remaining games, PBKS will be heavily reliant on other results to avoid elimination.3:31

‘Gill is conventional and measured, but not conservative’

Gujarat TitansFourteen points with four games to go and a net run rate second only to that of Mumbai Indians – GT have everything going in their favour to not only qualify, but also look for a top-two finish. To make things even better, two of their three remaining games are at home – where they already have a 4-1 win-loss record – against cellar-dwellers CSK and another team struggling for momentum, LSG.1:43

Chopra: No apparent weaknesses in this MI side

Mumbai Indians
With six wins in a row, the latest being a 100-run thumping that eliminated RR, MI are on course to finish in the top four, and possibly even the top two. Not only do they have momentum on their side, they also have the best NRR among all teams. MI could be among five teams with 18 or more, which is where their net run rate could help them provided they stay ahead on that parameter. They also have two home games in hand, which could be crucial given that they have won four out of five at home so far, the most by any team.3:53

DC’s bowling a concern at Kotla?

Delhi Capitals

The win against RR has kept KKR in contention for a top-four finish. With 11 points from 11 games, however, the maximum they can finish on is 17. It’s possible for five teams to finish on 18 or more points, which means a spot in the playoffs isn’t guaranteed even if KKR win their remaining three games. As with PBKS, 15 points will give KKR a chance, but 13 will eliminate them.2:48

Kumble: Pant needs to get rid of the confusion in his head

Lucknow Super Giants
With their third successive defeat – against PBKS on Sunday – LSG are in seventh place; their chances of finishing in the top four are slim and dependent on other results. Even if they win their remaining three matches – two of which are against teams in the top four – LSG can only get to 16 points, while RCB have already got that many. Their net run rate is also the worst among the seven teams that remain in contention for the playoffs.

And which bowler has sent down the most deliveries in a single day of a Test?

Steven Lynch14-Mar-2023Usman Khawaja has now scored Test hundreds in India, Pakistan and the UAE. How many have done this? asked Xavier Murray from Australia

Usman Khawaja’s 180 against India in the fourth Test in Ahmedabad meant he became the ninth member of a select band with Test centuries in India, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. Khawaja had scored 141 against Pakistan in Dubai in 2018-19, and last March made 160 in Karachi followed by 104 not out in Lahore. He’s also hit nine Test hundreds in Australia, and one in New Zealand.The only other Australian to score Test centuries in India, Pakistan and the UAE is Steve Waugh. This treble has also been achieved by Jacques Kallis of South Africa, Kane Williamson of New Zealand, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka, plus three Pakistanis in Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan. The others all completed a nap hand in Asia with centuries in Sri Lanka, apart from Waugh and Shahid Afridi (and Khawaja so far).I know that Sonny Ramadhin holds the record for the most overs in a Test innings. But who bowled the most in a single day of a Test? asked Utsav Sengupta from India

The most balls sent down by a bowler on a single day of a Test is 360 – 45 eight-ball overs – by the South African offspinner Athol Rowan, on the third day against England in Port Elizabeth in 1948-49. The same day, slow left-armer Tufty Mann delivered 328 balls (41 overs) as South Africa got through 104 eight-ball overs in the day (the equivalent of 138.4 of six balls). “Rowan and Mann virtually carried the whole of the South African attack today, and both bowled remarkably well,” reported the Times.Eight years later in Cape Town, another South African spinner, Hugh Tayfield, sent down 328 deliveries (41 eight-ball overs) during an unchanged spell on the first day of the second Test against England. The most in the current century is Muthiah Muralidaran’s 282 balls (47 overs) on the third day of Sri Lanka’s Test against Zimbabwe in Galle in 2001-02.The West Indian spinner Sonny Ramadhin toiled through 98 overs in England’s second innings at Edgbaston in 1957, his marathon effort being spread over three days. For the list of the most deliveries in a Test innings, click here.Which player has been the last man out in a Test defeat the most times? And how about being the not-out batter in defeats? asked Arjun Gupta from the United States

Jimmy Anderson is top of both these lists – not surprisingly, perhaps, given that his current haul of 179 Test caps is exceeded only by Sachin Tendulkar’s 200. Anderson has been the last man out at the end of 20 different Test defeats, and the non-striker for 17 more.New Zealand’s tailender extraordinaire Chris Martin was the last man out to round off 13 Test defeats, as was Sri Lanka’s Muthiah Muralidaran; so far, Nathan Lyon has been the last man out 11 times, which puts him level with Courtney Walsh. Another West Indian, Shannon Gabriel, has been at the other end for ten Test defeats; Murali is next with nine, ahead of Walsh and Danish Kaneria with eight.Mujeeb Ur Rahman made his first-class debut in Afghanistan’s inaugural Test, against India•BCCIHas anyone bowled their four overs in a T20I and not conceded any runs? asked Michael Banks from England

There has been one instance of this in an official T20I, by Canada’s slow left-armer Saad Bin Zafar, who finished with figures of 4-4-0-2 against Panama (who were all out for 37) in a World Cup Americas Region qualifying match in Coolidge (Antigua) in November 2021.There’s one other instance in all senior T20 matches, and it happened just six days before Zafar’s spell: playing for Vidarbha against Manipur in Mangalagiri, in India’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Akshay Karnewar also had figures of 4-4-0-2.The most economical spell in a T20I for a Test-playing team is Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 4-1-4-5 for India against Afghanistan in Dubai in September 2022.The West Indian fast bowler Jayden Seales had played only one first-class match before his Test debut. Is this a record? asked Mark McDonald from Trinidad

When he made his Test debut against South Africa in St Lucia in June 2021, the 19-year-old Jayden Seales had played only one previous first-class match, for West Indies A in New Zealand late the previous year. He was the fifth West Indian whose second first-class match was a Test, following George Gladstone and Clarence Passailaigue (both in 1929-30), Charlie Griffith (1959-60) and Fidel Edwards (2003). Seven other West Indians played only two first-class games before their first Test, including Garry Sobers (1953-54).Seales shares the West Indian record, but overall 34 men have made their first-class debut in a Test match, 28 of them in the 19th century. The most recent addition to this list came in June 2018, when spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman made his first-class debut in Afghanistan’s inaugural Test, against India in Bengaluru. Mujeeb has now played over 250 senior white-ball games – but that remains his only first-class match.Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

The 21-year-old allrounder especially relishes the prospect of learning from Kane Williamson on his maiden overseas Test trip

Shashank Kishore19-May-2021In December 2020, Rachin Ravindra dislocated his right shoulder during a Super Smash outing for Wellington Firebirds. A visit to the surgeon later that evening brought him news that he would be out of action for at least nine months.The news was crushing because Ravindra had been earmarked as a player to watch at NZC’s High Performance camps in Lincoln. At that moment, Ravindra considered spending the winter finishing up a few papers for the Computer Engineering degree that he’s pursuing.However, surgery wasn’t a straightforward option. The surgeon in Wellington was completely booked out for the month, so Ravindra had to wait for a slot to open up. He spent the next two months working on strengthening and mobility exercises with Nishil Shah, the Wellington Firebirds physiotherapist. By the time a surgery slot opened up, he had regained strength considerably.Maybe it was the quirk of fate, but the delay in getting a slot for surgery has proved to be a blessing, with Ravindra now being fit enough to go his maiden tour with New Zealand. And it’s a big one too: first a two-Test series against England in England, followed by a World Test Championship final against India.”Yeah, I definitely had to pinch myself a couple of times and be like, ‘oh, is this actually happening?’ And kind of being seen in one of these Black Caps kits with some of the guys I have kind of idolised growing up,” he said on Tuesday, about jumping on the plane to England. “Being able to rub shoulders, but it’s a bit of a unique experience especially with Covid. Seeing empty airports is not such a common thing, but yeah even time in the airport, with such a world-class team, I’ll cherish every moment.”Related

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• NZ Test squad – Uncapped Ravindra included for England tour

Ravindra, 21, is one of two new faces in a strong 20-man squad that is currently undergoing quarantine upon arrival in the UK. Prior to arrival, he spent two weeks in Lincoln, training with his New Zealand team-mates, an experience he described as “surreal”.Since making his first-class debut a little over two years ago, on an A tour against Pakistan in the UAE, Ravindra has raked up impressive numbers as a top-order batter: three first-class centuries and nine half-centuries in 26 games. He also bowls more-than-handy left-arm spin, something he’s still working hard at. His performances have also coincided with Wellington being on an unprecedented high. They won the Plunket Shield and the Super Smash in 2019-20. The following season, they went on to defend their Super Smash crown.

“I talked about idols and he’s definitely one of them. He is a world-class player and has been for the last 10 years. So, I think every opportunity I have to mingle with him will be amazing.”Ravindra on Kane Williamson

“Yes, it’s been big,” Wellington coach Glenn Pocknall says of Ravindra’s development since he first saw him as a 16-year-old. “When he first came into domestic cricket, he was young and he did well to start off, which few young players do in New Zealand. It normally takes two or three years to find their feet, but he came in and did well. He had a setback in form one season, but the cool thing was it never affected him mentally or didn’t dent his confidence or his ability to think positively about his game.”He got three ducks in a row [in his first season], for some players it can ruin them, but he carried on looking at his game and thinking of ways to get better. Having that underlying attitude and belief that he knew he was good enough stood out. He came out of the other side, and it was cool. He was only young, and I’ve seen it go the other way lot more times than the direction he has taken. That shows how resilient he is as a player, how mentally strong [he is]. It will help him when he is thrown challenges at the higher level of the game.”For over seven years now, right from when he was 13, Ravindra has been a regular visitor to India, not just on family holidays, but to hone his game against spin. His father Ravi Krishnamurthy is the founder of the Hutt Hawks Club that brings players over to India every summer to play on different pitches and in different conditions. Some of the more established players too, like James Neesham and Tom Blundell, have been part of these off-season tours to India. It’s these experiences, Ravindra says, that have helped him get better.”Personally, in terms of cricket development, I’ve come a long way,” he says. “I definitely understand my game a lot more and I know what works for me in terms of preparation and what to think. Probably the biggest part of it was being an official cricketer [playing professionally], learning to balance that in terms of mindset and how to take a little time off, and keep working hard. It’s really sort of taught me to be a cricketer in the last few years, I think we’ll look back those tours I’ve had in the past. I wouldn’t be half the cricketer without that sort of exposure.”Rachin Ravindra has been a regular visitor to India, not only on family holidays, but also to hone his game against spin•Mark Tantrum/ICC/Getty ImagesFor the moment, though, he can’t wait to get outdoors and playing, even though beating his mates at Call of Duty on PlayStation gives him much amusement. One of the first things he wants to do when they eventually start training is chat with Kane Williamson, his captain and someone he wants to learn a lot from.”I talked about idols and he’s definitely one of them,” Ravindra said. “He is a world-class player and has been for the last 10 years. So, I think every opportunity I have to mingle with him will be amazing. Learning from such a world-class player is something I can’t really put into words. He is such a special cricketer, so being able to share the dressing room with them is an incredible feeling.”I think from watching him, his hunger for runs [stands out]. He just looks like he wants to score a double-hundred every time he goes out to bat. And I admire that incredibly, the temperament to do that, the temperament to win Tests for New Zealand is incredible. I think the way he goes about it, he’s such a humble bloke, and it just personifies the Kiwi way. Just being able to witness that in person is going to be amazing.”Pocknall, meanwhile, like Ravindra’s father, will be following the allrounder’s maiden overseas Test outing from Wellington. “He’s definitely ready skill-wise, no doubt,” Pocknall says. “He’s performed well at the levels below, has a great technique to cope with different conditions. Whether he can handle the step up emotionally, mentally – you won’t know until they play. But from my experience of seeing him cope with playing in higher grade and levels beyond his years, he’s been able to cope well. The signs are really good, and he would be able to handle what is thrown at him.”His father, Ravi, says his son is obsessed with cricket, someone who would often refresh scores on his mobile phone if he were not near a television. “Yeah, I’m a cricket fan at the end of the day. I enjoy cricket so much that wherever cricket is on around the world, I like to keep tabs on it,” Ravindra says. “And [I’m] definitely watching county cricket and following scores.”There will be a four-day fixture starting tomorrow, so that’s going to take up a lot of my time – sitting on the balcony and watching that. So, yeah, not necessarily statistics but tuning into some of the games. I have been [doing so].”For some, this cricket obsession could lead to burnout. Not for Ravindra, says Pocknall. “Obsessive is a good word to describe his mentality around the game. It’s not common for a lot of Kiwi kids where they’re burning out, but he trains 4-5 hours every day on his own will with his dad, and he’s done it from a really young age. It highlights his love and his drive to get better.”

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl will be looking for more of the same from his team when they come up against Hibernian at Easter Road in the Scottish Premiership this evening.

The German boss was serenaded by the Ibrox support last time out when his side beat Kilmarnock 3-1 in his first league match in charge of the Scottish giants.

A devastating 3-0 loss to Brann in the Europa League just days after his arrival last week would have been a real eye-opener for the former Sheffield Wednesday boss, who has walked into a difficult situation.

Russell Martin only won five of his 17 games in charge of the club, conceding 24 goals in that time, and Rohl is tasked with turning the club’s fortunes around, months before any transfer window is available to make changes to the squad.

The German head coach has to work with what is currently available to him, which means that he will have to make ruthless calls for team selections.

For example, he should ruthlessly remove Bojan Miovski from the starting line-up for tonight’s trip to Hibernian after he struggled last time out.

Why Bojan Miovski should be dropped

The Light Blues signed the 26-year-old centre-forward from Girona during the summer transfer window, possibly with the hope that he would carry his form for Aberdeen in Scotland over to his time at Ibrox.

Miovski, as shown in the graphic above, enjoyed a prolific time with the Dons in his two years there, proving that he can score goals on a consistent basis, even against the top teams, like Celtic and Rangers.

Unfortunately, though, the left-footed number nine has only scored one goal in six appearances in the Premiership so far this season for the Light Blues, which came in a 1-1 draw with Falkirk in Martin’s last game in charge.

Rohl opted to go with a front two of Danilo and Miovski for the clash with Kilmarnock at Ibrox last time out in the Premiership on Sunday, and the Macedonia international failed to deliver a quality performance before being withdrawn at the break.

Minutes

45

Shots

0

Key passes

0

Touches

9

Possession lost

5

Passes made

2/6

Duels won

1/4

As you can see in the table above, the summer signing from Girona struggled in and out of possession throughout the half, as he offered little in the final third, lost the ball from more than half of his touches, and lost 75% of his physical duels.

It was not a surprise to see Rohl decide to take him off after 45 minutes, because he did not do enough in his time on the pitch to suggest that the second half was going to be better.

Therefore, the German tactician should take him out of the starting XI for this evening’s clash against Hibernian at Easter Road, in the hope that it will motivate him to come off the bench and make an impact, to prove that he deserves to be starting games.

Chalkboard

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

If Miovski is dropped to the bench for Rangers tonight, Rohl could replace him with a like-for-like option in order to keep a front two alongside Danilo, who scored on Sunday.

With this in mind, the former Sheffield Wednesday head coach should unleash summer signing Youssef Chermiti for his first Premiership start.

Why Youssef Chermiti should start for Rangers against Hibernian

The Portugal U21 international should be unleashed from the start in the hope that he is able to kick on after his first goal for the club against Kilmarnock.

Chermiti’s powerful drive from the edge of the box, which was too hot for the goalkeeper to handle, found the back of the net and marked a notable moment in his young career.

It was his first goal at club level since a strike for Sporting against Pacos Ferreira in the Liga Portugal in May 2023, which means that it was his first goal in over two years.

In those two years, Chermiti signed for Everton and failed to provide a single goal or assist in 24 appearances in all competitions for the Premier League side, per Transfermarkt, before an £8m move to Rangers in the summer.

Speaking after the win over Kilmarnock, Rohl praised the Portuguese striker: “We will improve him (Chermiti) step by step. He has something special and you saw the goal today.

“He has things to improve, especially in the pressing and intensity and which moments he needs to drop to cover inside and in the middle. But he should enjoy today and the goal and then tomorrow we will work on the next parts of his game.”

It was not just his goal that caught the eye in his cameo against Kilmarnock, though, as the powerful centre-forward showcased what his all-round game can look like at its best.

Minutes

21

45

Shots

1

0

Goals

1

0

Touches

15

9

Possession lost

2x

5x

Key passes

1

0

Pass accuracy

100%

33%

Duels won

2/3

1/4

As you can see in the table above, Chermiti had more touches, fewer losses of possession, more key passes, more duels won, and a higher pass accuracy than Miovski, despite only playing 21 minutes.

These statistics show that the Portuguese youngster provided a presence in the number nine role that the Macedonia international failed to during his first half showing.

This is why Rohl should look to unleash Chermiti from the start against Hibernian, having only made five appearances as a substitute in the league so far, in the hope that his performance last time out will give him the confidence to kick on.

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Hibs are currently third in the Premiership table and will not be an easy team to face away from home, which is why having the physical presence that Chermiti could provide could be incredibly important for Rohl and Rangers in the game this evening.