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There is still time for India to get back into this series and their batting coach believes the top order may have turned a corner

Nagraj Gollapudi at Trent Bridge18-Aug-20181:06

India left the ball better than they have done – Woakes

Adjustments to individual techniques coupled with the focus and discipline of the India batsmen were the key to them ending the first day in a good position, according to batting coach Sanjay Bangar, who believed it could be a turning point for the batting line-upFraught techniques, weak application, inappropriate shot selection and lack of partnerships were identified as reasons for the failure of all the India specialist batsmen, barring Virat Kohli, over the first two Tests. It meant the team think tank were forced to ring in changes, which further exacerbated the issue.However, asked to bat by England captain Joe Root on a slow and dry pitch, India’s batsmen showed patience, composure and a renewed vigour and the first impact was the 60-run opening partnership between Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul.”The most important thing was the opening partnership was according to our expectation,” Bangar said. “In the previous two Tests we were losing two or three wickets inside the first 15 overs. Because of that the middle order was walking in early in difficult conditions. It was not just the start but also the way they were batting was good.”The adjustments were subtle and Bangar gave a few examples: Dhawan tinkered with his bat speed, Rahul waited for the ball to come, Ajinkya Rahane used his feet more to play strokes confidently.”The way Shikhar made the changes to his batting, the way he reduced his bat speed, the way he played the ball later, these adjustments he made in the last six or seven days, he should get credit. KL Rahul, too, was playing on the back foot, he was reacting after the ball’s movement. These changes the batsmen have made make me hopeful for the rest of the series. With five more innings left, if our batsmen can play in the same way, their performance graph will carry on to improve.”All India’s batsmen played shots more in front of square, both on the front and the back foot. At Edgbaston, the they played a total of 94 balls in front of square. At Lord’s that came down to 68. In this third Test, already that count stands at 80.Anotther significant difference was the batsmen were committed to scoring unlike the rut they found themselves in the first two Tests. Bangar said the batting group was conscious of the fast outfield at Trent Bridge.”We all realise that the outfield is very, very fast here in Nottingham. So you get value for your shots. Because the ball is swinging, the way it has been, you always have a lot of players in catching positions. It leaves big gaps in the field, so if you get bat on ball, time it well, there is always value for… I don’t think any side can control run rate here beyond a certain limit because value for shots, it is a fast outfield, anybody timing the ball will get value for shots.”The backbone of the India innings was the 159-run fourth-wicket partnership between Kohli and Rahane although both batsmen missed out on centuries. Nonetheless, the significant bit was Rahane finding form with his first half-century in 14 Test innings.”His mindset was very clear,” Bangar said. “He was very positive, his feet were moving well. He was getting into good positions…at times there can be a lapse in concentration which can lead to losing your wicket, which had happened in the previous Test. But he seemed to be in good nick and he capitalised, put us in a good position and he would be hurting because a big score was on the cards.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta apparently wants to "reunite" with a "strong" star at the Emirates Stadium as some transfer news surfaces this week.

Arsenal form this season

The Gunners remain unbeaten following their first game back from internationals; rescuing a dramatic point after finding themselves 2-0 down away to Chelsea. Despite a torrid first half, where supporters arguably suffered Arsenal's worst football of the season, Arteta's side refused to give in. Eventually, they were rewarded for their efforts late in the second period. Two quick-fire late goals from summer signing Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard sealed a draw from despair at Stamford Bridge, with Arsenal sitting two points from top spot.

Arteta, speaking after the match, hailed his side's character as they come through a tough Premier League test unscathed.

"I have no doubt about that," said the Spaniard to media (via football.london) on Arsenal's spirit and determination.

"I could see at half time, it was a knife between our teeth and we had to do better and the game was still there for us. We had that belief. Even with the goal we conceded, we continued to be like this. I loved that about the team and I’m going to demand that from them every single day. This is who we are and the only way to still create a lot of issues with the opponent even when you’re not at your best."

However, reports in the last fortnight have suggested Arsenal still wish to bolster their ranks in the new year. Indeed, reliable transfer sources like Fabrizio Romano claim the likes of Brentford striker Ivan Toney are attracting Arteta's interest, as well as Wolves winger Pedro Neto.

Arsenal – Douglas Luiz transfer update

Another player who Arsenal supporters will be more-than familiar with at this point is Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz. The Brazilian, who's been repeatedly linked with a north London move since 2022, has even been praised by the likes of Arsenal legend Ian Wright and Man City boss Pep Guardiola.

“Someone like Douglas Luiz," said Wright when asked who Arsenal should sign (via football.london).

"He is ready to be one of the best midfield players in the Premier League. He is so underrated. They [Villa] blasted us (on Sunday). We had no chance. It was men against boys."

Guardiola also called the player a "strong" one, not to mention a "lovely, lovely" guy personality-wise.

"He’s a guy who plays all of the minute," said Guardiola after Villa played City in 2021.

"He’s an important player for Aston Villa. A guy who’s clever with the ball, so physically strong. He’s a lovely, lovely guy."

Likes to shoot from distance

Plays the ball long

Now, sharing a Luiz transfer update for Arsenal supporters, 90min claim that Arteta personally wants to "reunite" with the 25-year-old after their time together in Manchester. Arsenal are apparently back in contention to sign Luiz and their manager is keen to bring him in. As well as this, sporting director Edu Gaspar is said to be a fan as well. However, Villa's firm not-for-sale stance in January could be a difficult obstacle to overcome.

Manchester United have won their previous two matches, scoring four goals and conceding none, as they look to kickstart their season following a run of three successive defeats.

Erik ten Hag hasn’t had it all his own way this season as he aims to challenge domestically and in the Champions League, yet much will depend on how quickly some of his new signings settle in and get up to speed with the high expectations at United.

The jury is certainly out on a few of his summer arrivals as Andre Onana and Mason Mount haven’t exactly exploded into life at the Red Devils, while Rasmus Hojlund has only played five times due to missing the first few matches of the season due to injury, scoring once.

Overall, Ten Hag spent €196.7m (£170m) during the transfer window, and he perhaps would’ve been able to spend more had he moved on some deadwood towards the end of the summer, as Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire were touted with moves away from the club.

Does Harry Maguire have a long-term future at Manchester United?

Maguire looked like he was close to securing a £30m move to league rivals West Ham United during the final few weeks of the transfer window, yet he eventually decided to stay at Old Trafford and fight for his place in the starting XI.

The Englishman has just under two years left on his current contract, indicating that Ten Hag doesn’t have long to move him on for a reasonable fee as it appears he isn’t part of the long term plans under the Dutchman.

This is evidenced by the fact he has played only twice so far this term, despite the Manchester giants suffering various injuries to key defenders.

Maguire may have already departed Manchester had the club secured the signature of a defender who lit up Serie A last season – Kim Min-jae.

Did Manchester United nearly sign Kim Min-jae?

Securing Champions League football and winning United’s first trophy in six years signified an impressive start to life at the helm of the Red Devils.

The former Ajax boss entered the transfer window with the aim of bolstering his first-team squad in preparation for the rigours of challenging on two fronts and this saw the club linked with numerous big names, with the Napoli defender included.

Back in June, The Mirror even claimed that the club were set to complete the signing of the player when his release clause became active at the start of July and this was set at just £43m.

This clause was only available for two weeks at the start of July however, and it meant United had only a short time period to conclude the deal.

Although it looked close to happening, the South Korean didn’t end up in the Premier League and it represented another case of missed opportunity by the Old Trafford side.

Why didn’t Manchester United sign Kim Min-jae?

Bayern Munich swooped in and announced the signing of the centre-back as the English side missed out on him, securing his services for around €50m (£43m).

With the likes of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez as the key defensive duo at the club, perhaps Kim may have not started as many games as his vast talent deserved and this could well have been why he chose to move to Bayern, with a spot in the starting XI guaranteed.

Given how poor defensively United have been at times this season, conceding 14 goals, while a series of injury issues also hasn’t helped their cause, missing out on Kim is looking like a bigger mistake with every passing game.

What is Kim Min-jae doing now?

The former Napoli titan enjoyed his lone campaign in Naples, helping his team win their first league title since Diego Maradona was captain.

His performances domestically ensured he ranked third across the squad for overall Sofascore rating (7.22), while also ranking first for accurate passes per game (72.8), fourth for tackles per game (1.6) and third for interceptions per game (1.2) as he demonstrated his attributes over a range of metrics.

Is it any wonder then that he was dubbed an “iron barrel” by his teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia due to his defensive nature, and he was an integral part in their wonderful title triumph as the club conceded just 28 goals in 28 matches.

Comparing his statistics to that of Maguire from last term, it’s evident who is the best of the defenders.

The 30-year-old ranked seventh in the squad for Sofascore rating (6.95), while ranking only tenth for accurate passes per game (30.6), 18th for tackles per game (0.5) and eighth for interceptions per game (0.6), which clearly showcases that Kim is by far the superior centre-back than the Englishman, judging by these statistics.

Indeed, the former Napoli gem even has a forward-thinking mentality which would’ve benefitted Ten Hag as when compared to positional peers, he ranks in the top 9% for progressive passes per 90 (5.22) and the top 12% for progressive carries per 90 (1.19), demonstrating that he likes to bring the ball out from the back as often as possible.

In comparison, Maguire ranks only in the top 46% for progressive passes per 90 (3.38) and the top 18% for progressive carries per 90 (1.03), proving that he doesn’t quite display his attacking qualities as often as Kim.

The South Korean defender has already played seven times for his new club as he looks to win more silverware with the German side.

He already looks like a bargain at just £43m and this is certainly a transfer fee which United could have afforded, regardless if they had moved on Maguire or not.

Ten Hag has missed a trick with the former Fenerbahce defender as he fitted the Dutchman’s tactical philosophy while also being able to stand his ground and display his physical presence at the heart of the defence.

Maguire surely doesn’t have much time left at United, but failing to upgrade their options at centre-back by signing Kim during the summer is looking like a major transfer howler that Ten Hag will struggle to get over anytime soon.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Departamento Médico do Santos liberou o lateral-direito Pará para viajar com o elenco para Fortaleza, onde o Peixe joga a sua classificação às quartas de final da Copa do Brasil, nesta quarta-feira (04), às 19h, contra o Ceará, no estádio do Castelão.

Um dos líderes do elenco santista, o camisa 4 ficou fora dos últimos quatro jogos por conta de uma lesão no adutor da coxa esquerda. A equipe médica do Alvinegro, inclusive, fez um trabalho especial para que Pará voltasse contra o Vozão.

No entanto, enquanto esteve fora o ala viu o crescimento do seu companheiro de posição, Madson, que atuou em cinco jogos seguidos, todos eles jogando os 90 minutos. Na vitória por 3 a 1 contra o Bahia, no último domingo (01°), pela 19ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, foi o camisa 13 responsável por abrir o placar.

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Contudo, se Madson está com moral pela sequência de partidas e a participação ofensiva, afinal, são quatro gols e duas assistências desde que chegou ao Santos, em janeiro, Pará é prestigiado pela figura de respeito perante a um grupo jovem e que tem apenas a base como válvula de scap para preencher possíveis carências, já que o Santos está banido pela Fifa de registrar novos jogadores por conta de dívidas com Huachipato (CHI) e Atlético Nacional (COL).

Um dos capitães do elenco, o camisa 4 tem seis anos a mais que o seu parceiro de posição, são 34 anos frente os 28 da Madson. E mesmo assim, na última sexta-feira (30) Pará teve o seu contrato, que terminaria em dezembro, ampliado por mais dois anos.

Com essa disputa interna, Cuca passará a ter a chamada “dor de cabeça boa” mesmo em meio a escassez de atletas e constantes pedidos para reforçar o grupo. Ainda assim, o comandante santista vê na armação e ataque os dois setores onde mais necessita de contratações, ainda que o Peixe ainda esteja impedido.

* Sob supervisão de Vinícius Perazzini

Australia left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen has climbed to the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI rankings for women bowlers after she took eight wickets in three matches against India recently. Jonassen’s team-mate and opening quick Megan Schutt rose to No. 2 as the duo overtook Marizanne Kapp and Jhulan Goswami, who are third and fourth respectively.Jonassen has a career-best 676 points after she ended as the leading wicket-taker in the 3-0 series win in Vadodara. Right behind her was legspinner Amanda-Jade Willington with five wickets who is yet to break into the top 20.”Coming over to India as a spinner is always an exciting time. For me, I’m just happy I’ve been able to contribute to the team’s success,” Jonassen said.Schutt, on the other hand, took four wickets but was the most economical bowler in the series, conceding only 3.87 runs per over with four maidens overall.”She’s been our strike bowler. She really sets the tone for us early. She’s playing on a different wicket at times. She just puts so much pressure on the batters,” team-mate Ellyse Perry said.Among the batsmen, New Zealand captain Suzie Bates overtook her counterparts Meg Lanning and Mithali Raj to be placed at No. 2, just behind Perry. In the three ODIs against West Indies at home, Bates scored 89, 101* and 44 in their series whitewash to also go past 4000 ODI runs. She batted in the series with a strike rate of 102.18 but was behind her opening partner and vice-captain Sophie Devine for both strike rate and on the runs charts. Devine scored 261 runs compared to Bates’ 234 and had a strike rate of 103.57.Australia opener Nicole Bolton jumped nine places to fourth spot right behind Perry, Bates and Lanning by scoring 195 runs against India, including an unbeaten 100 in the first ODI. She was named the Player of the Series in her first series in India, where she played the spinners and pacers with equal ease. Harmanpreet Kaur dropped to ninth place, Smriti Mandhana, who scored two half-centuries, went up to 14th place whereas Alyssa Healy rose to 16th spot with her maiden international hundred in the third ODI.

Everton, for all their financial blunders in recent memory, boast a keen history of plucking unknown youth talent and turning them into stars.

So often famed for their academy production, their recruitment throughout the lower leagues has proven stellar across the years too, with John Stones an outstanding example of such success.

Plucked from Barnsley in 2013, it took just three years before Manchester City came calling, unloading £47.5m to pry him from Merseyside and make him Pep Guardiola's star centre-back.

Given how his career has only gone from strength to strength, it must be remembered that it was the Toffees who first offered him that platform to thrive.

Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)

£28m

£72.4m

Richarlison (Tottenham Hotspur)

£35m

£49.6m

John Stones (Manchester City)

£3m

£47.5m

Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United)

Academy

£38.9m

Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

Academy

£31.6m

All fees via Transfermarkt & BBC Sport

Now more than ever has this kind of talent identification been imperative for the Goodison Park outfit, who are being forced to watch their expenditure in fear of how FFP might sanction them. Such frustration fed into the summer transfer window, where they actually operated with a net profit despite making five signings.

However, there is a different star who has already begun staking his first team claim, who could be their next great success story to have begun their career in the lower leagues.

Who is actually playing well for Everton?

Although they are yet to claim their first Premier League win of the season, there has been a host of solid displays from Sean Dyche's men that have not claimed the merited result. Clashes with Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers spring to mind, where they recorded 2.73 and 1.34 expected goals respectively, but failed to score in 1-0 losses.

As such, Sofascore recognises that there have been some fine performers within the club despite what the league table shows.

One such name is Jarrad Branthwaite, who finally seems set to earn a run in the starting side after an impressive loan tenure last year in the Netherlands.

Seeking to add some technical quality to his already impressive physique, his first few games back in England offer proof that the loan has earned success, with the 21-year-old maintaining a 7.10 average Sofascore rating.

This is a figure largely buoyed by his defensive excellence, although his 85% pass accuracy does mark an admirable return. Not to mention he has paired it with two interceptions, two tackles, three clearances and 8.5 ball recoveries per game, as per Sofascore.

In fact, his rating makes him the club's third-best performer thus far, starring as the joint-best for clearances made per game too. Already the youngster has announced himself as an integral figure within Dyche's setup.

The former Burnley boss has been keen to praise the 6 foot 5 goliath, claiming before even handing him a start: "Jarrad has done well in pre-season but he missed a couple of weeks so he is still getting fit and sharp but we like what we have seen so far and we’re just getting used to him.”

The hope will be that he can continue this upward trajectory to emulate Stones' success, instead sticking around to lead Everton into a brighter future.

How much was Jarrad Branthwaite worth at Carlisle United?

As a relative unknown at the time of his move to Merseyside, he was unsurprisingly lowly rated.

Despite that, Football Transfers still handed the League Two defender a €1.1m (£940k) expected transfer valuation just before transferring, which has since skyrocketed.

Such success had been predicted way before his emergence, with his former manager and the man who gave him his debut at Carlisle United Steven Pressley, offering the following praise: "He had so many quality attributes to become a top player. On the back of that one game, I phoned the Director of Football to get him tied up on a longer-term contract, which we did within two or three days.

“From that moment on, he trained with the first team every day. I told people he was a future England international. Not once from when I gave him his debut did I ever consider leaving him out again, because I felt his performances had been so strong.

“The truth is, I think he has got everything. He can pass the ball almost equally as good with both feet. He’s a terrific footballer. And If he continues to develop, then, without doubt, he can be an England player.”

How much did Everton sign Jarrad Branthwaite for?

Despite that aforementioned valuation, given how highly rated he was for the Cumbrians, this was not an easy deal to make for Carlo Ancelotti.

Although, with the financial might they commanded at the time, the Blues came to an agreement for his services, unloading a nominal £1m to bring him in after seeing a £500k bid rejected earlier in that 2020 January window.

As was the case with Stones, this has since proven to be a shrewd piece of business, and what they are set to make will surely blow that initial figure out of the water. Especially if clubs like Liverpool and Manchester United continue sniffing around.

What is Jarrad Branthwaite's market value now?

Evertonians will be keen to know just how much their prized young asset is worth given the fiscal mire they find themselves in, scrambling for pennies to put together a bid for anyone who might consider joining their relegation scrap.

Well, considering that PSV Eindhoven saw a £15m bid rejected, that should offer a fine starting point.

CIES Football Observatory whilst seeking to offer a more realistic figure, actually came to a similar conclusion with their value tool, suggesting the England U21 international is worth just €20m (£17m).

Although that marks an astronomical increase from the £1m they first paid, 1600% to be exact, it is still likely a far cry from what Dyche would possibly accept given his growing importance, natural ability, favourable nationality and incredible youth. As such it could even be argued that his true valuation sits much higher than this fee, although only his 52-year-old boss will know what that is.

Why is Jarrad Branthwaite worth that much?

Although his start to the season helps explain why his value has seen such a sharp increase, it is in fact that loan move to the Eredivisie that deserves the bulk of the praise, handing Branthwaite his first show of faith within senior football.

He would feature 27 times in the Dutch top flight last year, with his 6.97 average rating a fine return for someone so young. It is a testament to his quality that they were so keen to tie him down permanently, with his 87% pass accuracy and 3.4 clearances per game proving vital, via Sofascore.

The four main facets that uphold his valuation were mentioned just earlier, and should he continue to prove himself as a capable asset at the Premier League level, only he knows how high he could go.

An update has emerged on Aston Villa and their plans to bolster their defensive options before the end of the summer transfer window…

What's the latest Aston Villa transfer news?

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Villans are exploring a deal to sign left-back Nuno Tavares from fellow Premier League side Arsenal, as Unai Emery eyes a move for the defender.

The reporter has claimed that Nottingham Forest's swoop for his services has now collapsed, which has opened the door for another team to snap him up.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

Romano also added that personal terms are yet to be agreed between Villa and the Portuguese full-back as it is up to the clubs to agree on a fee first.

It was recently reported that the Gunners would demand a fee within the region of a staggering £22m to sell him on a permanent basis this summer, amid interest from West Ham and Galatasaray.

How good is Nuno Tavares?

The 23-year-old dud's performances in recent years suggest that he would not be a very good option for Emery this season and that means that the club could land Lucas Digne 2.0 by signing him.

Villa signed the France international from Everton for £25m in January of last year and he struggled badly throughout the 2022/23 campaign.

The 30-year-old flop averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.67 across 28 Premier League appearances, which placed him 16th within the squad. This shows that he was far from being one of the club's top performers despite his big-money switch from Goodison Park.

He failed to provide a threat in possession from left-back as the season ended with one goal and zero assists for the former FC Barcelona defender, whilst his 0.6 key passes per outing was the seventh-best in the team.

Emery could now sign Digne 2.0 in a move for Tavares as his poor form for Marseille is a huge cause for concern, particularly if it would cost £22m to secure his signature this summer.

The Portugal U21 international spent last season on loan in France and averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.67 across 31 Ligue 1 appearances, which shows that he was as disappointing as the French dud was for the Villans.

Tavares was beaten far too easily by attackers as he was dribbled past 0.9 times per game and Alex Moreno (1.2) was the only Villa defender who was dribbled past more per match in the Premier League last term.

The ex-Benfica prospect also lost 58% of his duels and failed with 58% of his attempted dribbles, which shows that the opposition found it too easy to outmuscle him in physical contests and were able to stop him moving forward the majority of the time.

This also came after he averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.63 over 22 Premier League clashes for Arsenal during the 2021/22 campaign.

Tavares, who was described as "catastrophic" by Casa Sports director of development Cherif Sadio during his time at Marseille, also failed to register a single assist in Ligue 1, although he did rack up six goals from left-back.

Therefore, Emery must now avoid a deal to sign the Arsenal dud as his performances over the last two years suggest that it would be another expensive flop at left-back for the club.

Both teams are coming off fine wins, with Khulna beating Chittagong Vikings by 18 runs while Dhaka crushed Sylhet Sixers with eight wickets and 73 balls remaining

The Report by Mohammad Isam14-Nov-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAshley Allen – CPL T20 / Getty

Kieron Pollard nicked the battle of big-hitters against Carlos Brathwaite as the Shere Bangla National Stadium were enthralled by both batsman’s six-hitting abilities. Pollard’s 24-ball 55 – that had six huge sixes – helped Dhaka Dynamites to their third win in a row, this time beating Khulna Titans by four wickets in the final over.Khulna had earlier made 156 for 5, a remarkable recovery from a sluggish 47 for three in the first 10 overs. The late addition came mostly through Brathwaite’s unbeaten 64 that included six sixes in the last 5.5 overs. Abu Hider took two wickets while Sunil Narine, Shakib Al Hasan and Shahid Afridi took one each.Dhaka’s chase, however, started even poorer. They were 41 for 5 at one stage, but Pollard’s cluster of sixes bought them back into the game, before Jahurul Islam and Mosaddek Hossain took them to victory with a ball to spare.Slow to startKhulna struck only five boundaries in the first 10 overs after being sent to bat. They also lost Michael Klinger, Dhiman Ghosh and Nazmul Hossain Shanto during the same period. The lack of boundaries played a big factor in each of these batsmen’s dismissals.Klinger’s cross-bat took a top edge and was well caught at mid on by Hider, off Shakib. The bowler-fielder combination then switched roles as Hider took Dhiman’s wicket in the sixth over, the skier taken in the second attempt by Shakib.Narine easily scalped Shanto in the tenth over when the batsman charged him needlessly, only to be stumped by Jahurul Islam for a 25-ball 24.Khulna’s late burstEerily similar to their previous game, Brathwaite got into his stride soon after Mahmudullah got out. He first struck Afridi for two sixes in the space of three balls, first over the bowler’s head and then over midwicket. Shakib then went for 17 runs in the 16th over, which included another six over midwicket that went deeper than the one in the previous over.Rilee Rossouw got out in the next over to end the rapid 54-run fifth-wicket stand but Brathwaite struck his fourth six before reaching his maiden T20 fifty off just 25 balls. In the final over, both his sixes off Hider went straight, the second slightly bigger than the first. He finished with six maximums in his unbeaten 29-ball 64.Pollard’s reply to BrathwaiteDhaka, too, slipped like Khulna in the first half of their innings. Abu Jayed had Evin Lewis skied to mid off in the first over, Afridi slammed one to cover in the second over before Jofra Archer bowled Cameron Delport with a quick delivery. Mahmudullah took a sharp catch to remove Narine and Dhaka’s crisis deepened further in the ninth when Shakib was caught for 20.But the scenario changed in the space of five balls, of which four went for sixes off Pollard’s bat. All of those went over long on, despite Mahmudullah’s varying lengths. That over, the innings’ 11th, cost 25 runs. Pollard didn’t spare Brathwaite either, hitting his compatriot for two sixes, both on the leg side in the 13th over that cost 20 runs. From a precarious position, Dhaka had reduced the chase to 58 off the last seven overs.The pullback via ArcherJofra Archer, whose pace has troubled a few batsmen in the BPL, used it to good effect in the 14th over. He gave away just three runs, after which Shafiul picked up the key wicket of Pollard in the following over. Much of the credit for Pollard’s wicket, however, should go to Archer for bringing some control to the Khulna attack. Between the 14th and 17th overs, Khulna conceded only two fours as Dhaka went left needing 27 off the last three overs.Some local creditThe lack of contribution from the local players had been a concern in the BPL but the way Jahurul and Mosaddek played out the last 5.1 overs should be appeasing. They narrowed the chase down with two balls to go, but Jahurul’s reverse off Brathwaite, with four needed, was a was superbly executed. The pair added 43 in their unbroken seventh-wicket stand.What they said”I gambled with that reverse scoop off the second last ball. This is the first time I played in a match.”

Big Picture

Is there a fixture in Test cricket that is as neighbourly, as peaceable, quite as friction-free, as a series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka? No two sets of fans are likelier to party together. In fact, following these teams’ most-recent meeting in the Champions Trophy, hordes of Pakistan supporters were seen boogieing to outside the ground, at Cardiff. At a time when online exchanges are becoming ever spikier, there is between these supporters, a warm, fuzzy bonhomie.Some of this is mutual understanding. Like Sri Lanka’s, Pakistan’s domestic system is thought to be too bloated. Like Pakistan’s, Sri Lanka’s cricket administration is reliably counterproductive. And which two other nations are likelier to breed the kinds of bowling oddities that Sri Lanka and Pakistan have produced? To recount the history of the doosra (and it is a history now), you need not really look beyond cricketers from Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Two of the most delicious World Cup campaigns have belonged to them as well.The parallels are even stronger in this series. Pakistan step forth here, for the first time, without Misbah-Ul-Haq and Younis Khan. No team better knows the challenge of replacing a pair of juggernaut batsmen better than Sri Lanka. And if Sri Lanka’s plight over the last three years is anything to go by, it is not merely on the field that Pakistan will have to contend with their absence. Like Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, Misbah and Younis were each more institution than individual – virtually comprising a two-man finishing school for young players. New entrants into the Pakistan side are likely to keenly feel the absence of that support, as many Sri Lanka batsmen clearly have. Additionally, there are two fewer experienced hands when it comes to the regular business of putting out fires started by the administration.There is no doubt that Pakistan are favourites here. Not only are they playing at familiar venues, but they are also, on paper, the stronger side. More crucially, and despite the contentions of their interim coach, Sri Lanka’s morale has taken an almighty pounding in 2017. Never in this century have Sri Lanka’s public been so disgruntled by their cricket team.But regardless of what state the teams had entered previous series, contests between these two sides have rarely failed to be compelling. The twilight finish at Sharjah, their two matches at Galle, and the Younis led Pallekele chase in 2015 produced some of the most memorable Test moments of the past four years.Sri Lanka desperately need a lift, Pakistan require a gentle transition. With any luck, they will be well-matched again.

Form guide

Sri Lanka LLLWL (completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan WLWLL

In the spotlight

No bona fide batting greats remain in either team, but in 22-year-olds Kusal Mendis and Babar Azam, two potential stars are honing their considerable talents in the top order. Mendis produced a dustbowl special at the SSC against India, but in between his high-quality hundreds (of which he has three now), he has been a little reckless, hitting unnecessarily into the air, or venturing overambitious shots against the turn, to bring promising innings’ to an end. Babar’s problem has been a little different. In Tests, he has recently struggled at the very beginning of his innings. He has hit two half-centuries this year, but has also collected four ducks in the space of eight innings, and been dismissed for nine on another occasion. A likely move down to No. 5 may alleviate this issue.Dinesh Chandimal has officially led Sri Lanka in three Tests, but like for Sarfraz Ahmed this will be the first full series in which he will be in charge (Chandimal had missed a Test of the India series with pneumonia, and the Zimbabwe Test was a one-off). Sarfraz has quite the act to follow, taking over from Pakistan’s most successful captain, but has the more settled and penetrative attack to marshal, and has already earned some goodwill as a leader via the Champions Trophy triumph. Chandimal’s plight is a little more problematic. Not only has he overseen two demoralising defeats recently, he is also missing his best batsman – Angelo Mathews, and another potential matchwinner in Asela Gunaratne.

Team news

With Azhar Ali likely to come in at No. 3, Shafiq set to leap up to No. 4, and Babar moving to No. 5, Pakistan’s top order will be shaken up. Sami Aslam and Haris Sohail will probably be the two batsmen replacing Misbah and Younis, though they will bat in different positions.Pakistan (possible): 1 Shan Masood, 2 Sami Aslam, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Asad Shafiq, 5 Babar Azam, 6 Haris Sohail, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk and capt.), 8 Mohammad Amir, 9 Yasir Shah, 10 Hasan Ali, 11 Mohammad AbbasSri Lanka will have to choose between Kaushal Silva and uncapped Sadeera Samarawickrama as they seek an opener to replace the unavailable Upul Tharanga. Samarawickrama has been in better domestic form, and perhaps deserves to play the first Test, but the selectors will worry that with Roshen Silva also likely to debut down the order, there will be too many inexperienced batsmen in the XI. Though Dilruwan Perera has been in good batting form, Lakshan Sandakan’s wicket-taking potential should see him play as the second spinner.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Dimuth Karunaratne 2 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Dinesh Chandimal (capt.), 5 Lahiru Thirimanne, 6 Niroshan Dickwella (wk) 7 Roshen Silva 8 Rangana Herath, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Lakshan Sandakan, 11 Nuwan Pradeep

Pitch and conditions

A little grass was seen on the surface on the eve of the match, which may see it hold together until late in the match. Abu Dhabi’s heat and humidity will also make for testing playing conditions.

Stats and trivia

• These teams have played 14 Tests against each other this decade – a rarity for non Big 3 fixtures. Sri Lanka has won five matches and Pakistan four.
• Rangana Herath has generally enjoyed playing against Pakistan, but not so much in the UAE. His 24 wickets there have come at 36.20 apiece.
• Azhar Ali is 32 runs short of becoming the eighth Pakistan batsman to 5000 Test runs. Even if he gets there in the first innings, at least three other Pakistan batsmen would have been quicker to the milestone, however.

Essex virtually sealed their seventh Specsavers County Championship title by completing an innings-and-56-runs victory over relegation-bound Warwickshire at Edgbaston.Trailing by 168 on first innings, the home side was bowled out for 112 to suffer their second thumping of the season at the hands of Essex who hammered them by an innings and 164 runs at Chelmsford in June.With second-placed Lancashire on the back foot against Somerset at Taunton, the title is all but Essex’s after they totalled outplayed Warwickshire. The post-match mood in the two dressing-rooms at Edgbaston could not have been contrasting – while Essex will begin the 2018 season as defending champions, Warwickshire will be in Division Two, their nine-year stay in the top flight having come to a bruising end.Warwickshire resumed on third morning on nine without loss and any hopes harboured by their supporters of seeing some rediscovered resilience from their team evaporated in minutes. Within ten overs, the Bears lurched to 25 for four.Jamie Porter removed openers Dominic Sibley, caught at first slip, and Sam Hain, lbw, in the space of nine balls. Former England pair Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell were uprooted by Sam Cook, who induced the former to play on and had the latter caught behind, inside-edging a superb delivery.Chris Woakes diverted spinner Simon Harmer’s tenth ball to leg slip and the arrival of rain just before and during the lunch interval merely delayed the procession.From 55 for 5 at lunch, Warwickshire lost another wicket before acquiring another run as Alex Mellor edged to slip off Harmer to provide the spinner’s 20th championship wicket against Warwickshire this season. Porter then meted out a pair to Keith Barker when the left-hander edged to wicketkeeper James Foster.Sam Cook celebrates one of three Essex wickets•Getty Images

Edgbaston academy product Matt Lamb showed his ability with some solid resistance for the second time in the game but, on 35 (66 balls, four fours), lofted Harmer to Dan Lawrence on the midwicket boundary.Lawrence took another fine catch, running round from gully, to remove Jeetan Patel off Cook, leaving last pair Henry Brookes and Ryan Sidebottom with 63 to find to make Essex bat again. They managed seven of them before Brookes edged Harmer to slip.