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Despite the heavy security presence, a young male fan – thought to be in his early to mid-teens – was able to make his way through to the dressing room before the start of the match at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Vithushan Ehantharajah11-Mar-2017A young fan was able to briefly gain access to the Peshawar Zalmi dressing room, marring what was otherwise thought to be a well-executed security operation during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final in Lahore last week. Despite the heavy security presence, the male fan – thought to be in his early to mid-teens – was able to make his way through to the dressing room before the start of the match at the Gaddafi Stadium.Some of the Peshawar players came across the fan as they made their way up to the dressing room. According to English batsman Dawid Malan, one of the four foreign players with Peshawar who chose to travel to Lahore, the fan was dressed in a “green Pakistan suit” with the Pakistan flag painted on his face, and began requesting selfies. Malan pointed the fan out to a security guard, and he was promptly removed.Colonel (retd) Mohammad Azam Khan, head of PSL security (and senior general manager vigilance, PCB) told ESPNcricinfo that the fan had come from the Patron’s Enclosure. The enclosure is adjacent to the dressing rooms and in the fans’ rush to get autographs from the players as they were entering the dressing-room area, he was herded along with them into the change room. Azam said the fan was removed from the room as soon as this was discovered.”It was concerning that, with all the checks, he was able to get in so easily,” Malan told ESPNcricinfo. “He kind of got in at a time when all the players were walking in and he somehow managed to get in as well.”We had just arrived at the ground and our cricket bags were being checked, so we just got to our seats in the changing room. I put my clothes bag down and walked around and there was this kid asking for selfies. I looked at the security guard in the room and asked him, ‘Sorry – who’s this guy?’ Suddenly, they all clicked into gear and he ended up being pushed out the gate.”The level of security in place for the final was almost unprecedented. Once Lahore was confirmed as the venue for the final, the ICC and FICA sent over security advisors to assess the situation and liaise with the PCB.Over 10,000 security personnel were deployed for the match, including Punjab police, and Pakistan’s paramilitary force – Rangers. The Nishtar Park compound was protected by huge metal gates, and spectators could enter the Gaddafi Stadium only after three layers of security checks, some of which took place at a two-kilometre protective perimeter around the venue. No public vehicle was allowed within a kilometer of the sports complex, which was also set up with a range of scanners, high-definition facial-recognition CCTV systems and police control centres.In addition to bomb-proof buses and a heavy-artillery cavalcade, there were also snipers at high vantage points, including the roof of the Gaddafi Stadium. The final itself took place without incident, with Peshawar beating Quetta Gladiators by 58 runs. After the post-match presentation, the players had around 20 minutes to change before they were taken from the stadium straight to Lahore airport. Their stay in the city was just around 24 hours.Malan also expressed slight concern that fans got too close to them at the players’ hotel as they made their way onto the bus. Guests staying at the hotel which hosted the players had also been through many checks.”It is definitely something that can be improved in the future,” said Malan. “I think maybe they worried so much about the overall security that, maybe, they didn’t focus too much on the smaller things. I think, in the future, if you wanted international teams to tour there, all those little things need to be taken into account as well.”

Manchester United remain in talks with Italian outfit Atalanta over striker Rasmus Hojlund, however, both sides are apart on their valuation.

Why are Manchester United in the market for a striker?

The Red Devils are looking to add a new number nine to their squad ahead of the 2023/24 season, with the clubs only recognised number nine option currently being Anthony Martial.

The club brought in Dutch international Wout Weghorst on loan last January, however, after zero Premier League goals in 17 appearances the Manchester side decided to not make his loan move a permanent one.

United struggled on the goalscoring front last campaign, being the third-lowest scorers out of the top 10 in the division. Marcus Rashford had a fantastic league campaign scoring 17 goals, which was 29% of the clubs goals last season, suggesting that should the England international struggle in front of goal for a prolonged period, the side may struggle in front of goal period.

Atalanta's Denmark international Hojlund appears to be one of the Red Devil's top targets for the position as the club look to add to the signing of Mason Mount this window.

The 20-year-old is not the only striker on the clubs shortlist, however, with Eintracht Frankfurt's French forward Randal Kolo-Muani also being an option that is being explored, according to Dharmesh Sheth.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Sheth confirmed United's interest in both players, and revealed that the club remain in talks with the Italian outfit regarding the transfer with both sides apart in their valuations.

"United remain in talks with Atalanta over their striker Rasmus Hojlund, the Denmark international. Again, a gap in valuation exists in that one but United continuing to work on that deal. Another option is the Eintracht Frankfurt striker Kolo-Muani."

Should Manchester United sign Rasmus Hojlund?

Hojlund is one of the most highly rated striking prospects on the planet, with his play style, attitude and looks drawing comparisons to Premier League golden boot winner Erling Haaland

Following his move from Sturm Graz in Austria last summer for a fee of €17.2m (£14.5m), the Dane really made his mark and grew his reputation, making 34 appearances and recording 10 goals and four assists across both the Serie A and the Italian Cup.

The forward is incredibly threatening in the final third, with his 0.47 non-penalty xG per 90 putting him the top 16th percentile of all forwards in that category. The players 0.44 non-penalty goals per 90 being a fine indicator of his lethal finishing, with their being just a 0.03 underperformance of xG per 90.

A part of Hojlund's game that will be appealing to manager Erik ten Hag will be his ability to play as a target man. The 20-year-old is an incredible presence in the box, with his 6.53 touches per 90 in the attacking penalty area ranking him in the top 7%, whilst his 10.99 progressive passes received per 90 putting him in the top percentile among company such as Kylian Mbappe.

The strikers tactical profile is incredibly desirable, and compares very well to some of Europe's elite from the past decade including Robert Lewandowski and Romelu Lukaku, and with so many years ahead of him yet, it's no surprise why Manchester United want to get this deal done and see Hojlund devlop his game at Old Trafford.

Australia’s performances in some of the practice matches on previous tours would have highlighted a few lessons for Darren Lehmann to follow, chief among them resilience on the field and in selections

Daniel Brettig16-Feb-2017As he surveys Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium on the eve of Australia’s warm-up match against India A, there is a chance Darren Lehmann is casting his mind back to the first time he played at the ground. In the equivalent fixture on Australia’s 1998 visit – their first full tour of India in 12 years – Lehmann was one of 10 Australian fielders held spellbound by a ferocious Sachin Tendulkar double-century.Tendulkar led the local XI, and chose the occasion to strike the first blow in a battle he would ultimately win comfortably against the Australians in general and Shane Warne in particular. There was nothing subtle about the way Tendulkar took to Warne, hammering the visitors’ most accomplished bowler to such an extent that he finished the innings with the ugly figures of 0 for 111 from 16 overs.The awestruck Australians proceeded to stumble to an unexpected defeat, leaving their captain Mark Taylor to realise that the calculated assault on Warne had set the scene for a difficult and unsuccessful tour.”Warney’s a bit like all of us,” Taylor said at the time, “we need to improve. I think they’d be his worst figures in his first-class career. You don’t need me to tell you he’s been a great bowler for a number of years, but it shows that if you don’t bowl well and a side attacks you, you can go for runs.”Certainly Tendulkar did not look back, using the Mumbai platform to launch into one of his greatest Test hundreds in Chennai, before the entire Indian batting line-up laid waste to Warne at Eden Gardens. The episode is the most celebrated but far from the only example of Australian spin bowlers being targeted early in an India tour, building doubts in the minds of bowlers, team-mates and even selectors.Trevor Hohns and Darren Lehmann will have to be wary of second-guessing their selections, even as Australia’s spinners will have to respond effectively when they come under attack from India•Getty ImagesA decade later, Bryce McGain pulled out of Australia’s India tour party due to a shoulder injury on the eve of a warm-up fixture in Hyderabad. McGain’s misfortune left Jason Krejza as the only full-time spin bowler on tour, a likely debutant in the first Test, and with a big target on his back for an invitational batting line-up featuring a young Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Yuvraj Singh.What followed was another calculated mauling of the spin bowler by batsmen fleet of foot and aggressive of intent. Krejza, feeling the pressure, dropped repeatedly short, and was brutalised to such an extent that he returned the figures of 0-199 from 31 overs, spread across two innings.It was a return that troubled the selectors to such an extent that they summarily ruled Krejza out of the first Test. Then chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch was on duty in Hyderabad and offered a simple verdict down the phone to the rest of the panel back home: “We can’t pick him; they have absolutely slaughtered him in the tour game.”Instead, the tourists opted to include the Victorian captain Cameron White, flown in to replace McGain despite barely bowling his skiddy leg breaks in the Sheffield Shield the previous season. White was ineffective, Krejza unwanted. when the selectors finally decided to give Krejza a belated chance in the final Test, he harvested 12 (albeit expensive) wickets, posing a far greater threat than others had done before him.These lessons have hopefully not been forgotten by Lehmann, nor by the spin bowlers likely to feature in Mumbai over the next three days. Steve O’Keefe, Nathan Lyon, Ashton Agar and Mitch Swepson can expect to be attacked, and will need to be ready to respond effectively rather than thinking in purely practice mode.Likewise, the captain Steven Smith and the selectors on duty in Lehmann and Trevor Hohns should be wary of second-guessing themselves on the basis of a warm-up fixture. Perceived threats will be attacked by the hosts, in the hope of spinning the visitors off their axis. Resilience will be required, both with the ball and at the selection table.

An update has emerged on Manchester United and their chances of adding a new goalkeeper to their squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest on Diogo Costa to Manchester United?

According to 90min, the Red Devils have now been offered the chance to sign Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa as the Primeira Liga outfit are in need of funds to comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

The report also claims that fellow Premier League side Chelsea have also been given the opportunity to snap the Portugal shot-stopper up this summer, as both English teams had already placed him on their shortlist of targets.

It states that the 23-year-old international has a release clause in his contract that would allow him to move on for a fee in the region of £65m, although it remains to be seen whether or not Porto would be willing to accept a lower figure due to their financial concerns.

Would Diogo Costa be a good signing for Manchester United?

Erik ten Hag could secure something of a transfer masterclass by taking advantage of this situation to secure a deal for the shot-stopping colossus in the coming weeks.

David de Gea is reportedly likely to move on at the end of his contract this summer, after the club attempted to go back on their initial contract offer to the Spaniard with a proposal that would have seen him earning even less, which would leave the number one shirt at Old Trafford vacant.

Bringing Costa in would be a terrific piece of business by the Red Devils boss as the Swiss-born titan has the potential to be a big upgrade on the soon-to-be free agent.

De Gea made three woeful errors directly leading to goals for the opposition across the Premier League and Europa League in 2022/23. In contrast, the Porto gem did not make a single mistake directly leading to the ball flying into his net throughout the Primeira Liga or Champions League campaign last term.

As a shot-stopper, Costa saved his team a whopping 6.1 league goals based on the post-shot expected goals (xG) of the shots against him last season, which essentially means that he prevented six goals that the average player in his position would have been expected to concede.

Meanwhile, United's number one conceded 0.7 more goals than the post-shot xG suggested the average goalkeeper would allow past them.

This would indicate that the experienced Spaniard underperformed between the sticks and does not offer as much quality, in terms of keeping the ball out of the net, as the £65m-rated tank.

Costa has also stopped a higher percentage (7.5%) of crosses into his box than de Gea (3.1%) over the last year, and this implies that United would have a greater presence at the back to alleviate pressure from the defence when dealing with an aerial bombardment.

Therefore, ten Hag would be sealing a masterclass by replacing his current no.1 with a summer swoop for the Porto star, who was once hailed as a "Superman" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, as the aforementioned statistics indicate that he would be a big and long-term upgrade on the struggling 32-year-old dud.

An update has emerged on Tottenham Hotspur and their interest in signing Edmond Tapsoba from Bayer Leverkusen ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

What's the latest on Edmond Tapsoba to Tottenham?

Speaking on his YouTube channel this week, Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the defender is an active target for the club this summer.

“This list includes Edmond Tapsoba, a player always appreciated by Arsenal but not a priority this summer because I’m told he’s too expensive.

“Keep an eye on Tottenham for Tapsoba because he’s one of the players they’re following since a long time. Both Arsenal and Tottenham sent their scouts to follow Tapsoba. Tottenham are very strong on him, from what I’m told.”

It has previously been reported this summer that a bid in the region of £61m would be required to tempt the Bundesliga side into parting ways with the talented enforcer, although it remains to be seen whether or not Spurs would be willing to meet those demands.

Ange Postecoglou has made one addition to his squad since joining from Scottish giants Celtic – Dejan Kulusevski on a permanent deal from Juventus – and Tapsoba appears to be on the Australian's wishlist to join the Sweden international.

How did Tapsoba perform last season?

The Burkina Faso international, who was once dubbed a "monster" by U23 scout Antonio Mango, did not enjoy his best campaign in the Bundesliga in 2022/23.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.88 across 33 appearances for Leverkusen and that was lower than the average rating the enforcer managed in both 2020/21 and 2021/22.

Tapsoba averaged a score of 7.17 and 7.00 in the previous two seasons respectively and this suggests that his performances have been on the decline over the last couple of years, which is a potential red flag for Spurs.

The 6 foot 4 colossus has remained an imposing figure at the back throughout that time, though, as he has won at least 59% of his duels in the Bundesliga since the start of the 21/22 campaign. This shows that the right-footed gem is a dominant defender who is able to win the majority of his contests against opposition forwards.

His ability on the ball could also be attractive to Spurs. Over the last 365 days, Tapsoba ranks in the top 8% or higher of players in his position in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European Competitions for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90, which shows that he excels at breaking lines and driving forward with the ball to set his team on the attack.

For context, Cristian Romero does not rank higher than the top 25% in either statistic and this indicates that the Leverkusen man mountain could be an upgrade for Spurs in terms of what they do in possession of the ball.

South Africa come into the Newlands Test looking to complete a whitewash in the three-match series while Sri Lanka would be looking to clinch a consolation win in Johannesburg

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando11-Jan-2017Match factsJanuary 12-16, 2017
Start time 1000 local (0800 GMT)Big PictureThere was always the expectation the series would become incrementally tougher for Sri Lanka. In Port Elizabeth, there was supposed to be a low, slow pitch, but it was not nearly low or slow enough. At Newlands, instead of defusing seam movement on a greener-than-usual deck, Sri Lanka flailed their way to a defeat so enormous there is really no point recalling the exact margin. Now they have arrived at the Wanderers, where locals say, balls jump mischievously off lengths and do mocking high-speed orbits of South Asian batsmen, before seeking out the shoulder of their bats and leaping gaily into the gully fielder’s embrace.On the eve of this Test, Faf du Plessis spoke of ensuring there is no complacency in his outfit, throwing words like “ruthless” and “dominant” around. This is all very nice, but Sri Lanka could have done with a little South African overconfidence to charge them up. Something like: “Instead of going to nets after the second Test, we’ve been practicing our bum-patting in anticipation of how much of it we’ll have to do over the next few days,” might have worked nicely.The hosts’ major talking points ahead of this Test have not exactly been about the cricket they have played this series. Instead, they prepare to wish a happy hundredth to their bearded, presently-not-in-form, wrist-meister Hashim Amla. They are also dealing with the onset of the ‘Kolpakalypse’, which in this Test, takes the form of having to replace Kyle Abbott, who went to Hampshire to be able to pay for groceries.If the surface is as savage as folks are suggesting (seriously, this pitch had apparently once kidnapped an entire top order and held them to ransom), Sri Lanka’s major chance of victory may lie in rolling South Africa over cheaply, twice. That is not a totally outlandish proposition, given the heartening spells Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Kumara have bowled. But, okay, it is almost an outlandish one.Form guide(last five completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa WWLWW
Sri Lanka LLWWW
Sri Lanka would hope Lahiru Kumara can repeat his performance from the Newlands Test if they are to trouble South Africa•AFPIn the spotlightWhile Hashim Amla’s lean trot has stretched for slightly longer, Temba Bavuma has been having a quietly modest series of his own, with scores of 3, 8, 10 and 0. He is clearly a player of quality, as his hundred against England and the 74 in Hobart lay out. But 16 matches into his Test career now, he will want to begin making a charge on that average, which presently sits at 31.42Perhaps Sri Lanka fans owe a debt of gratitude to the kid who hit Lahiru Kumara on the head. Kumara had played hockey in his youth but was admitted to hospital one day after being struck by a stray stick. By the time he got home, his parents had thrown his hockey gear away and he was forced to switch to cricket, where he almost immediately proved himself a special talent. Possessing a mean bouncer, he could be a strike weapon for Sri Lanka on this pitch.Teams newsWayne Parnell will take Kyle Abbott’s place in the XI, and South Africa may also consider playing four quicks, to the exclusion of Keshav Maharaj.South Africa (possible): 1 Dean Elgar, 2 Stephen Cook, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 JP Duminy, 5 Faf du Plessis (capt.), 6 Temba Bavuma, 7 Quinton de Kock (wk), 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Wayne Parnell, 10 Keshav Maharaj, 11 Kagiso RabadaSri Lanka will likely keep the same XI. There is an outside chance Dushmantha Chameera will replace Nuwan Pradeep, but that’s only if Chameera has regained his rhythm, which was off in Port Elizabeth.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Kaushal Silva, 2 Dimuth Karunaratne, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Dhananjaya de Silva, 5 Angelo Mathews (capt.), 6 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 7 Upul Tharanga, 8 Rangana Herath, 9 Lahiru Kumara, 10 Suranga Lakmal, 11 Nuwan PradeepPitch and conditionsThere is a dusting of green on the Wanderers surface, which suggests it will hold together nicely through the five days, and prevent Rangana Herath from becoming a major threat. There is a chance of rain on Friday and Saturday, but the forecast is good for the remaining days.Stats and trivia Rangana Herath needs six wickets in order to surpass Daniel Vettori’s career tally of 362 and become the most successful left-arm spinner in Test history. Hashim Amla’s average against Sri Lanka is 33.46 – his worst against any opponent save for Zimbabwe, whom he has only played one innings against. The last time Sri Lanka played at the Wanderers, in 2002, they lost by an innings and 64 runs.Quotes”For me it’s about being ruthless and trying to make sure that we’re moving into a space as a team where we start to dominate. That’s something we’ve spoken a lot about, and if you don’t do it now in the third Test then you’re just creeping back into old habits.”
“He is very raw. He bowled extremely well. He can give you a few loose balls as well but he is very aggressive and we need players like that. We have Nuwan Pradeep and Suranga Lakmal who can hold one end together, so we can attack a little bit more with Lahiru.”

Cricket South Africa has put out a tender notice inviting bids for eight T20 teams that will make up its new tournament to be played in the last quarter of 2017

Firdose Moonda04-Feb-2017Cricket South Africa has put out a tender inviting bids for eight T20 teams that will make up its new tournament to be played in the last quarter of 2017.The competition will be similar to other major T20 tournaments around the world such as the IPL, BBL and CPL, and will be South Africa’s flagship event in the format. It will be a completely separate event from the current six-team franchise system.CSA is seeking foreign ownership of the teams and advertisements were placed in several international newspapers, including the front pages of some Indian dailies. It is understood CSA has already received interest from several sponsors and will have the funds to lure big name internationals to compete.’Kolpak was a major consideration’

The lure of Kolpak deals and the recent defections from South African cricket were on minds when the T20 league was thought up, CSA CEO Haroon Lorgat reportedly told the agencies.
“Yes I must say that when we conceptualised a franchise based T20 league the Kolpak was a major consideration,” Lorgat was quoted as saying by PTI. “Obviously, you want to give opportunity to the South African players to grow and also make a career out of cricket.
“Earlier, the only way to have a good career was to play for South African national team but this league with eight teams will have 88 slots for Proteas players.”

Tentatively, the tournament is set for November-December with a final pencilled in for December 16, a public holiday in South Africa. The dates of the inaugural event may depend on the availability of India for a four-Test, five-ODI and three-T20 tour of South Africa scheduled for the 2017-18 summer. The schedule has not been decided but CSA is hopeful of securing India for the festive season.That will mean South African cricket fans will enjoy their busiest summer yet, with ten home Tests and a flagship T20 tournament.”Our vision is to drive the creation of a new #T20 destination league in South Africa that would energise the sport of cricket in South Africa by creating a global platform for the best-in-class to perform and showcase their talent to a global audience,” Chris Nenzani, CSA president said.Nenzani and CEO Haroon Lorgat informed other member countries of their plans for the tournament at the ICC meetings in Dubai this week and early indications are positive that there will be global support for the event.”We have received a very favourable response to our plans from the ICC and member boards and look to their support in our endeavour,” Nenzani said. “We now look forward to another exciting chapter in the evolution of South African cricket and to the whole game benefitting from our new #T20 Global League.”

There's been an update on Liverpool's pursuit of Khephren Thuram today, with Nice-Matin, via Sport Witness stating that a bid will officially be lodged by the Reds in July after the international break.

Are Liverpool signing Khephren Thuram?

The 22-year-old has established himself as a first-team regular with OGC Nice in Ligue 1 this campaign, playing in 35 games for the side in the division and bagging two goals and four assists along the way.

He matched his highest amount of goal contributions over the course of a league season with the French this year and has been relied upon so much that he now has 114 appearances in total to his name during his four seasons there. It shows that, despite his youth, he is already a reliable member of the squad and a player they can depend upon to be fit and firing week in week out.

What stands out too is his ability when compared to other more experienced midfielders across the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe. Thuram averages 3.25 progressive carries per 90 at the moment, which ranks him in the top six percent in that area and shows his superb ability to drive the ball forward and attack the opposition centrally.

He also has a rate of 1.63 successful take-ons per 90, which puts him in the 91st percentile for that too. That also shows that when he does take the ball forward, he is also able to take on opposition defenders and beat them as an attacker would.

Such solid showings for Nice has led to interest from elsewhere. It is Liverpool who have been most heavily linked to a move, with the Premier League side believed to be making him one of their main targets this summer.

Now, according to a report from Nice-Matin, via Sport Witness, the Reds are indeed ready to launch their move to sign him this transfer window and will make a bid for the player – but only after the European Under-21 Championship ends in July.

What is Khephren Thuram worth?

He could be an expensive purchase, with Nice wanting around 40 million Euros (£34.4m) for his signature – but it also adds that Thuram is close to "packing his bags" and a deal could happen, so it seems things are moving nicely on the player side.

He's already viewed as a real talent in the game despite his age too, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig calling Thuram "excellent" in terms of the technique he already possesses and adding that he is a "top" talent.

The France starlet then would boost the Liverpool squad if he is snapped up this summer and considering his age, he would only get better from here.

Newcastle United are interested in signing Rennes midfielder Desire Doue this summer as manager Eddie Howe continues to improve his thriving squad.

What's the latest on Desire Doue to Newcastle?

According to iNews, the teenage prodigy is of interest to the Magpies as they attempt to clinch the services of some of the best young talent in Europe.

Only recently turning 18, Doue has been in scintillating form for his French Ligue 1 outfit this term and looks set for a career lathered in prosperity, with the youngster capable of playing across a range of midfield positions.

Valued at around £12m, the French-Ivorian would continue a discernible trend on Tyneside of investing in youth and could blossom into one of Europe's leading midfielders under Howe's tutelage.

Should Newcastle sign Desire Doue?

Hailed as "very creative" and a "huge talent" by Football Transfers' Robin Bairner, it's been a remarkable start to life on the major stage for this talented young dynamo.

During an emphatic breakout year, Doue scored four goals and supplied one assist from 34 matches – just 13 starts – after plying his trade for Rennes' youth outfits last term.

The France U19 international, who predominantly features as an attacking midfielder but can also flourish deeper as well as in an offensive placement, could be the perfect alternative to Celta Vigo's touted phenom Gabri Veiga, who has caught the eye of a multitude of top European sides this year with his blistering and prolific performances.

The 21-year-old Spaniard has plundered 11 goals and four assists across all competitions this term and earned praise as a "dangerous" asset by reporter Euan McTear.

With United rivalling Premier League opposition Liverpool for the precocious prospect's signature – and Veiga holding a €40m (£34m) release clause – Doue might be the more prudent route to delve down given the disparity in price.

And, as per FBref – which lists Doue as Veiga's most comparable player – the Frenchman already ranks among the top 3% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for non-penalty goals, the top 2% for progressive carries and the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90, hinting that he could be moulded into a prodigious star of every bit the merit of his Spanish peer.

Signing Doue would fortify the youthful exuberance at Newcastle and provide Howe with a starlet to nurture towards prominence over the next several years, and there is no doubt that, given time, he will become a "gamechanger" – as remarked by analytical site Breaking The Lines – for the ambitious English outfit, wreaking havoc from his hulking midfield role.

Karun Nair became only the second Indian batsman to score a triple-hundred as India declared with a lead of 282 on day four of the Chennai Test

The Report by Karthik Krishnaswamy19-Dec-2016
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details2:55

Chopra: Nair’s work against spin impressive

Back in March 2008, the MA Chidambaram Stadium witnessed the first triple-hundred on Indian soil, as Virender Sehwag plundered 319 against South Africa. Eight-and-a-half years later, the stadium’s revamped stands became the backdrop to the first triple-hundred by any Indian batsman apart from Sehwag. That batsman, Karun Nair, was playing his third Test match, and was only playing because India’s middle order had lost two of its regular occupants to injury.When India next play a Test match, they will need to choose who to leave out – and perhaps even which two – among Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma and Nair, a man with an unbeaten 303 in his last innings. Three hundred and three, not out. A square-cut brought up the landmark; Alastair Cook had brought all his men into single-saving positions with Nair on 299. Adil Rashid dropped short, Nair slapped it away, and Cook just happened to be the fielder diving uselessly to his left from cover point.The declaration came right then, with India 759 for 7. It was their highest-ever total, against anyone. It was the highest total against England, by anyone. It left England, starting their second innings with a deficit of 282, 16 minutes to get through to stumps.By the time Virat Kohli called his batsmen off the field, they had inflicted as much mental disintegration upon England as they have faced anywhere in the time since Carl Rackemann coined the term during the 1989 Ashes. At lunch, India still trailed by 14 runs. At tea, they led by 105. So far, so Mumbai, on a pitch that was rather flatter than Mumbai, and England didn’t seem in any immediate danger of defeat. By the time India declared, an innings defeat wasn’t out of the question. Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings got through to stumps unscathed, but their task has barely begun.England have it all to do on the last day of a sapping tour of the subcontinent. This is still a flat pitch, by the standard of Indian pitches, but R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja bowling on it with raucous voices clustered around the bat is an entirely different prospect to England’s spinners bowling with five fielders on the rope.Ashwin and Jadeja did their bit with the bat as well, scoring 67 and 51 as the sixth- and seventh-wicket partnerships added 319 to India’s total. Post-tea, India clattered 177 runs in 25.4 overs. That’s 6.9 runs per over. Nair, on 195 at tea, scored his last 108 runs in 78 balls. If his triple-hundred wasn’t uniformly Sehwagian in tone, it certainly was now.Karun Nair executed the flat-batted pulls and the ramps superbly•Associated PressEngland tried to bounce him with a fine third-man – almost a long stop – in place for the ramp over the keeper. Nair tennis-forehanded Jake Ball through the vacant mid-on region. Then he played the ramp anyway, against Stuart Broad, and it carried all the way for six. When the spinners returned he reverse-swept Moeen Ali, and tonked four fours and a brutally clubbed six off successive overs from Adil Rashid. This when Rashid had five men on the boundary.Nair’s innings wasn’t chanceless, of course. Cook had put him down at slip on day three, a hard chance flying to his right when Nair edged Ball on 34. Then, on 154, he had tried to reverse-sweep Rashid and sent the ball into Jonny Bairstow’s gloves. Replays and Ultra Edge suggested it had deflected off the face of his bat. The umpire said not out, and England had no reviews left.On 217, he edged Ball again, the third new ball going low to Joe Root’s right at slip. He only got his fingertips to the ball. And finally, on 246, he stepped out, heaved at Moeen, missed, and turned around to see the unsighted Bairstow fluff the stumping chance. Destiny was clearly on Nair’s side, and he chased it in a hurry, scoring 57 off 39 balls after the missed stumping.All this merrymaking, of course, would not have been possible without the restraint he displayed on day three – he walked in with India 211 for 3 and still trailing by 266 – and in the morning session of day four. India went at less than three runs an over in the session before lunch, but lost only one wicket, M Vijay lbw to a Liam Dawson arm ball.Resuming on 71, Nair took 49 balls to reach his maiden Test hundred. M Vijay saw him through a nervy period in the nineties, exhorting him from the other end to stay calm and wait for the scoring opportunity. Having played out five dots from Ben Stokes on 99, he reached the landmark by defying a packed off-side field, which included two short covers for the uppish drive, stretching out to a full, wide ball and letting it come to him to steer it past the diving backward point fielder.That was only the third boundary Nair hit in those first 49 balls – and one of them had been unintentional, off an edge when he tried to leave the ball. It reflected the hard-nosed approach India had had to take in a session where England set defensive fields, bowled with discipline, and got a bit of help from the surface, largely through inconsistent bounce. Dawson nearly bowled Vijay with one that crept low, and Ben Stokes, hitting the pitch hard, got the ball to lift disconcertingly as lunch approached, taking a chunk off the shoulder of Nair’s bat and hitting Ashwin’s right glove.Cook’s use of his spinners also contributed to India’s caution in the first session: he bowled the accurate Dawson unchanged from one end – he sent down 13 overs for 31 runs – and his seamers from the other, only using Rashid for one over – the last one before lunch – and not using Moeen at all.Rashid’s introduction brought a little spike of aggression from Nair, who made himself a bit of room and drove him inside-out to the cover boundary. It was just a teaser of what was to come after lunch.