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Courtney Walsh began his first training session as bowling coach of Bangladesh getting to know all the players and asking them to target the stumps in six-over spells

Mohammad Isam05-Sep-2016If young seamer Kamrul Islam Rabbi’s description of Courtney Walsh’s first training session as bowling coach was any indication, the Bangladesh players’ excitement at working with one of the best fast bowlers in history won’t be fading anytime soon.”We have been regularly talking among ourselves over the last week about our new bowling coach and when we heard that it was Courtney Walsh, we all became very happy,” Rabbi said. “He observed us today, without pointing out any mistakes. When he applauds at something that we do, it means a lot to us. Those of us who are in the pipeline looking forward to playing international cricket, we can learn a lot from him.”Walsh began his routine by asking the players to introduce themselves and their style of bowling, and made them target the stumps with no batsman facing.”After asking everyone’s name, he asked whether we are left-arm or a right-arm bowlers,” Rabbi, or Rab as Walsh calls him, said. “He didn’t tell us much since there is a [practice] match tomorrow. He told us to focus on the game. He made us do spot-bowling for six overs each. We bowled yorkers and length deliveries specifically [to prepare] for [the inter-team] match. We bowled yorkers to left-handers and length for right-handed batsmen.”He looked into our grip, run-up and action. I have been seeing his Youtube videos in the last few days. He is such a legendary bowler. We were little when he used to play. From what I saw today, I think he likes the basics, like a basic action. He said that my run-up is smooth and looked at the grip of Al-Amin [Hossain] and Rubel [Hossain].”Rabbi, 24, hoped Walsh’s experience would help educate uncapped fast bowlers like him about playing at the top level.”He knows what goes on in an international match. He can bring back a bowler from bad form. He would know my mental state when a batsman dominates me. He can prepare the bowler better in the next game.”

Journalist Jacque Talbot has claimed that Liverpool could surprise fans this summer just like they did with the signing of Cody Gakpo.

What are the latest Liverpool transfer rumours?

Heading into the January transfer market, the Dutch winger was expected to end up at Old Trafford with Manchester United heavily linked with the player.

However, the Reds shocked many by popping up seemingly out of the blue and hijacking the transfer after agreeing on a £37m deal to bring him to Anfield instead.

Up to this point, however, the Premier League club don't seem to be not holding their cards close to their chest with their interest in Alexis Mac Allister widely publicised.

Even so, while talking about this on his YouTube channel, Talbot suggested that Reds may yet spring an unexpected transfer just as they did with Gakpo.

He said (3:14): "I think it's important to sort of say as well, Liverpool have been quite open about who they like.

"But you know, there could be another Cody Gakpo on the cards there with regard to like who they bring in.

"You just don't know what's going on under the surface, you know.”

What sort of player will Liverpool sign?

Liverpool certainly will be expected to have a rather busy summer, with first-team regulars Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all leaving Anfield this summer.

As evidenced by that list, the club will be in need of a new midfielder this summer and Orkun Kokcu has been touted alongside the aforementioned Mac Allister (via Football Transfers).

The same report also noted, Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram and Manu Kone of Borussia Monchengladbach are potentially going to be considered.

Manager Jurgen Klopp has remained pretty vague about who the club are potentially targeting, telling the press ahead of Liverpool's draw with Aston Villa this weekend: "We look in all departments apart from goalkeeper at the moment.

"Yes, if there is a good [defender] out there, I would not deny it. That's all. We look at all areas of the pitch, definitely."

With that in mind, there certainly is space for the club to land an unexpected transfer as they appear to be in the market for defenders, midfielders and attackers this summer.

All in all, then, it seems wise to keep an eye out for almost anything and not rule out any transfers just yet.

Bangladesh will tour India for a one-off Test, their first in the country, from February 8 to 12 next year

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Aug-2016Bangladesh will tour India for a one-off Test, their first in the country, from February 8 to 12 next year. The match will be played in Hyderabad.India is the last of the Full Members to host Bangladesh for a Test. Bangladesh have only featured in two limited-overs tournaments in the country – the 2006 Champions Trophy qualifiers and the 2016 World T20 – since getting Test status in 2000.”As a leading Test playing nation it is BCCI’s responsibility to give opportunity to every Test playing nation. It is my pleasure to announce the historic one-off Test match against our neighbours – Bangladesh early next year,” Anurag Thakur, the BCCI president, said. “This will be a great addition to our home season 2016-17.”In all, India’s 2016-17 home season will include 13 Tests, eight ODIs and three T20Is; 13 Tests equals the world record for the highest number of Tests in a home season. Apart from Bangladesh, New Zealand, England and Australia will also visit during the season.The one-off Test against Bangladesh will be played a week after the limited-overs series against England concludes in Bangalore on February 1.Nazmul Hassan, the BCB chief, said the match is a cause for celebration. “For the cricketers who will be representing Bangladesh and India this will be a much-anticipated game and, given the competitive nature of their limited-overs matches in the recent past, I believe the clash between these two cricket crazy nations will catch the imagination.” he said. “The long wait for us to play a Test match on Indian soil is finally over and this is a time for celebration.”This [Bangladesh’s first-ever Test in India] is certainly a big relief. It is just one Test match, it is nothing big. It won’t be doing much for the development of Bangladesh cricket. But this will be the first Test in India. It was a huge challenge for the board. It was supposed to happen earlier but we are happy that the date has been announced. At least we are starting to play there.”

Everton's remarkable 5-1 thrashing of Brighton & Hove Albion has left the Toffees in charge of their Premier League destiny as they continue to fight against the drop.

Sean Dyche faces a crucial last three games of the top-flight campaign as he aims to secure the Toffees' survival, and their heroics on the south coast will surely leave his side brimming with confidence ahead of a defining few weeks.

However, their next fixture sees them take on reigning champions and leaders Manchester City, before clashes against Wolves and Bournemouth determine their Premier League fate.

Football FanCast has previewed those three fixtures and how they are expected to pan out…

Everton fixtures 14 May: Man City (h) 20 May: Wolves (a) 28 May: Bournemouth (h) Everton v Man City

Who knows what's in store after the events of the last few days? Everton went to high-flying Brighton and picked up the result of their season, while Manchester City will come into this tie off the back of a pulsating Champions League battle with Real Madrid in sweltering conditions.

Everton, of course, also took a point from their trip to Eastlands earlier this season, and while there have been many changes since then, there are other reasons to suggest they could pull off yet another miraculous result.

The Toffees defeated City's title rivals, Arsenal, in Dyche's first game in charge at Goodison Park, while Pep Guardiola could well have an eye on next week's second-leg affair with Los Blancos. With Everton's players also benefiting from added rest and preparation for the game, we wouldn't be surprised for the masterplan to be well-drilled into the side at Finch Farm before Sunday's clash.

That said, City are purring in the league, and while they might not have it all their own way, they should show the mark of champions they have displayed all too often over the last few seasons.

Prediction: Everton 1-2 Man City

Wolves v Everton

Wolves' victory over Aston Villa last weekend means the Old Gold are now safe, which means attention may already be turning to the summer for Julen Lopetegui's side.

This can play into the hands of the Toffees, who will have plenty of heart to take from their previous away fixture – and hopefully, the subsequent meeting with Man City.

But while the clash against the Citizens may be seen as a free hit, the trip to Molineux will be anything but. If Everton are looking for omens, though, their last win over their opponents was on the penultimate day of the 2020/21 season – which put Carlo Ancelotti's side in a lofty position of 8th.

Dyche also has a remarkable record against Wolves, losing just one of his previous 11 meetings as a manager. Continuing that record could be what keeps the Toffees up, and their recent performances against Leicester and Brighton could even make them favourites for this one.

Prediction: Wolves 0-1 Everton

Everton v Bournemouth

Everton could even be safe heading into the final day, while the same will almost certainly be said for their opponents. That may not exactly make for a party atmosphere, but with the pressure off, players may have licence to have some fun.

Only Leeds United have a worse defensive record than the Cherries, and without the need for results at this stage of the season, Gary O'Neil's men could be there for the taking – which will be music to Everton's ears if they are still in trouble themselves.

The team stepped up when it mattered last season, and even if there are any lingering final-day nerves, with the support of the Toffees faithful, everything surely points to a home success here.

Prediction: Everton 2-0 Bournemouth

Predicted run-in points: 6/9 Predicted total points: 38

Bangladesh’s strength and conditioning coach Mario Villavarayan has said that it will take Mustafizur Rahman one month to recover from the hamstring and ankle injuries he picked up during the IPL

Mohammad Isam16-Jun-2016Bangladesh’s strength and conditioning coach Mario Villavarayan has said that it will take Mustafizur Rahman one month to recover from the hamstring and ankle injuries he picked up during IPL 2016. Villavarayan said that his improvement will be assessed weekly.”Ideal [time to be fully fit] would be one month,” Villavarayan said. “But we will see how he does this week and take it from there. As of today, there’s marginal improvement. It was a long season for him, so we are working on him. We assessed him yesterday and he has improved, and we will assess him again next week and take it from there. He has responded well.”Mustafizur, who has already missed four Royal One-Day London Cup and five NatWest T20 Blast matches for Sussex, will be unavailable for another six T20s and rest of the group stage matches of the one-day tournament. He is expected to be available for three T20 games in the end of July, and will be available for the latter stages of both competitions if Sussex qualify.Last month, Mustafizur had informed those close to him of the fatigue he was suffering after playing continuously in the IPL.This prompted Sussex to give him some time off from his contract, at least until June 10, as well as abandon ambitions for him also to play some Championship cricket during his stay.Sussex have remained patient throughout and are hoping to have further conversations with Bangladesh representatives early next week. They have covered Mustafizur’s absence by extending the contract of David Wiese, but he is due to be with Barbados Tridents at the Caribbean Premier League by the end of the month, leaving Sussex with a potentially tricky period unless Mustafizur feels fit enough to begin his education in English conditions slightly earlier.Last week, Bangladesh’s physio Bayjidul Islam had said that he would be assessed for two weeks before any decision is taken on his stint with Sussex.

Dujon Sterling has passed a Glasgow Rangers medical ahead of a summer move to Ibrox, according to The Scottish Daily Mail.

What’s the latest Rangers transfer news involving Sterling?

The Gers have seemingly acted quickly prior to the transfer market officially opening, looking to bolster Michael Beale’s squad ahead of his first full season in charge.

Sterling was linked with a move to Glasgow earlier this week, with Beale looking to pip Championship side Stoke City to his signature.

Reports then claimed that Chelsea had given Sterling the green light to move north. A transfer still needed final contractual details and a medical to be completed, and it appears as if the latter has been ticked off.

Ibrox News relayed an update from Friday’s edition of The Scottish Daily Mail (back page and page 77, 12 May) regarding Rangers and Sterling. They said:

“Rangers have reached an agreement to sign Chelsea’s Dujon Sterling on a free transfer this summer.

“Chelsea had the option to extend the defender’s contract, but decided against taking advantage.”

Rangers not messing around…

Sterling, who is sponsored by Nike, can play as a right-back or left-back and has been hailed as a “powerful” player by Stoke manager Alex Neil, so should offer some versatility to Beale’s squad for the 2023/24 season.

Alongside the 23-year-old, Rangers are also closing in on signing Kieran Dowell and Jack Butland for free, showing that the club are looking to get plenty of business done in good time. Up to 10 new signings could be made this summer, so it does make sense to look to tie up free transfers as soon as possible.

You’d expect that Sterling will come in to provide competition for club captain James Tavernier, and after previously impressing former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel back in 2021 and gaining plenty of experience out on loan in the Football League, a cut-price transfer may prove to be a wise one by the Gers.

Montu Datta, the match referee of the halted Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club v Abahani Limited DPL Super League match, has said that he has not submitted his report to the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis

Mohammad Isam14-Jun-2016Montu Datta, the match referee of the halted Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club v Abahani Limited DPL Super League match, has said that he has not submitted his report to the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis, the BCB standing committee that runs the tournament. He said that he only sent them an email containing his version of the events that transpired on June 12.The match was halted on Sunday when on-field umpires Gazi Sohel and Tanvir Ahmed walked off the field citing “illness” as the reason, after the Abahani players and fans protested when umpire Tanvir adjudged Raqibul Hasan not out following an appeal for stumping in the 16th over of Doleshwar’s innings. The umpires consulted with Datta and subsequently left the field. The match was not played on the reserve day, Monday.CCDM’s Dhaka Premier League coordinator Amin Khan had claimed on Monday that Datta had submitted his report which effectively postponed the game as it was not held on the reserve day too. Amin said that Datta only mentioned that the umpires cited illness as the reason to not conduct the match and did not write anything about any team, players or supporters using abusive language or threatening the umpires.But Datta said the match referee’s report is based on the umpires’ report which has not been submitted to him yet. He further said that both reports had to be submitted only after the match was completed.”How can I submit my match report before the game is completed?” Datta said. “Until the match is completed you cannot really propose any action against anyone. You cannot take anyone to task without a hearing and if we had completed the match today [Monday] we could have followed the steps required to implement our verdict.”What I gave [to the CCDM] wasn’t a report. I sent them an email telling them what had happened on Sunday. At the time of sending them the mail, the umpires hadn’t even submitted their report. How can a match referee prepare his report when the umpires haven’t given theirs?”Datta also said that his report would also include what the umpires had written about Tamim Iqbal, who was seen arguing with Sohel after the stumping appeal.

Sky Sports journalist Lewis Jones has condemned Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes for a “naughty” challenge.

What’s the latest on Arsenal and Newcastle United?

Looking to give their Champions League ambitions a big boost, the Magpies played host to Arsenal at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon.

Eddie Howe and co came into the game 13 points behind the Gunners – who are fighting for a Premier League title – but only two points ahead of top-four rivals Manchester United.

With that in mind, plenty was on the line for both teams and the game reflected that as Newcastle nearly got off to the perfect start as Jacob Murphy hit the post before VAR correctly overturned a penalty for a handball against Jakub Kiwior when the ball actually hit his thigh.

It was Arsenal, however, who then took the lead when Martin Odegaard fired into the back of the net from over 25 yards as his effort arrowed past Nick Pope into the bottom corner.

Shortly before the break, though, the Gunners were breaking forward on a quick counter but as Bukayo Saka raced up the field, he was caught by Guimaraes.

As noted on the Sky Sports coverage of the game, Jones slammed the challenge and suggested that it may have been deliberate.

Indeed, he remarked: “You can feel the needle factor growing by the second. This is one is going to kick off at some point. That was a tad naughty from Bruno on Saka.”

What did Guimaraes do against Arsenal?

Of course, there is no sure way of knowing if it was deliberate or not and referee Chris Kavanagh didn’t even award a foul.

Indeed, he seemed to ignore or miss the challenge, even though Saka’s boot flew off after £120k-p/w midfielder Guimaraes raked his studs down the Englishman’s Achilles.

It was a heated end to the first half so this sort of incident just outlined how up for it all the players were on the day as duels were flying in all over the place both on and off the ball.

The Brazilian international certainly isn’t shy of a yellow card, but doesn’t have the worst record in the world with only four to his name in the league this term.

Perhaps the referee took this into consideration when letting this “naughty incident” pass without punishment.

Joe Root has admitted he should already have up to double his nine Test centuries and can’t quite work out why he does not convert into three figures more consistently

Andrew McGlashan07-Jun-2016Joe Root has admitted he should already have up to double his nine Test centuries and can’t quite work out why he does not convert into three figures more consistently.Since the beginning of 2015, Root has scored four centuries in 19 Tests but has been dismissed between 50 and 98 on a further 13 occasions, the most recent being in the first innings at Chester-le-Street when he got into a tangle against Nuwan Pradeep and spooned a catch to cover, having move serenely to 80 – a shot he termed as a “car crash”.He is not letting the issue weigh too heavily on his mind – “I feel I am contributing consistently” – but knows that the best Test batsmen in the world he is jostling with to be ranked No. 1 are judged on their century output.”You are always striving to get better, and it’s an area that over the last few months has been very frustrating for me because I am playing well, but you don’t win games with 70s and 80s. You want to make sure you cash in,” Root said.”There have been a few decent deliveries in there but mainly it’s been batsman error so it’s an area that needs to be addressed in practice – and it has been – and the only thing I can really do is make sure I don’t make the same mistake twice.”You look at the dismissal [in Durham] and it was a car crash, really. It was awful. It’s hard to put your finger on it. I don’t think I change my approach or the way I play when I get to a certain score. I’d like to think it was a bit of a coincidence and it’s all happened together.”I feel my game is in a good place, I’m moving well. If anything maybe I get slightly complacent for the odd ball, sometimes you get away with it and it goes unnoticed and sometimes it catches up with you and you are made to look very silly. I don’t think that’s the case, but it may come across that way. I’m working really hard and it’s something I want to address.”Root stressed how he is not a player too fussed about personal landmarks and suggested that, on occasion, he may get caught up in the natural free-scoring pace that he operates at and that encapsulates this England side.”Complacent is probably the wrong word, maybe concentrating is a better way to put it. Maybe you are caught in the flow of the game, scoring at a certain rate and you try to score against deliveries that don’t allow you to,” he said. “It’s not something that’s really concerning me to be honest, but it’s an annoyance that I want to put right. If I’ve been got out, fair play, but I don’t want to throw it away.”Joe Root passed 50 without going on to score a hundred once again in Chester-le-Street•AFPDespite the issue of reaching three figures on fewer occasions than he would have liked, Root’s game has developed enormously over the last two years – since his recall against Sri Lanka at Lord’s in 2014 when he scored a double-century following omission at the end of 2013-14 Ashes whitewash – to make him one of the most complete batsmen in the world. But in his determination to further improve, he watches his contemporaries closely.”As a kid growing up I would look at the best players and think there’s a reason they are at the top, they are doing something that sets them apart,” he said. “These days, AB [de Villiers], Virat [Kohli] in the shorter formats, then Steve [Smith] and Kane [Williamson], it would be silly not to look at the way they play and try to add bits to my game. If you can take any little nugget hopefully you will benefit from it.”Although Root remains a delightful touch player – his innings in the World T20 against South Africa where his 83 off 44 balls marshalled England’s huge chase was a stand-out example – his boundary-hitting has been one of the areas that has developed most significantly since the early days of his international career when a slight, scrawny 21-year-old made 73 off 229 balls against India in Nagpur.”It’s a slow process when it comes to the gym side of it, a long-term improvement I’m looking for,” he said. “If you don’t practice hitting it for six you won’t do it, either. It’s an area I want to keep developing and it’s good to see it going in the same direction.”With boundary-hitting in mind – and his flamboyant whip over deep midwicket in the recent Roses T20 against Lancashire was the latest example of what he is now capable of – Root joked that he would like bats to get bigger, rather than smaller as the ICC cricket committee has recently suggested, but he remains sanguine about any potential changes to the tools of his trade.”If they feel it’s making an unfair advantage then fair enough, as a batter you have to be skilful and strong enough to find different ways of scoring if restrictions will be put in place,” he said. “There’s no less skill in being able to hit it out of the park to being able to flick it as long as it goes for six. If players are good enough they will find ways of doing it.”Root is clearly good enough to adapt to whatever shape (or size) the game takes. He would just like a few more hundreds to show for it.Investec is the title sponsor of Test match cricket in England. For more on Investec private banking, visit investec.co.uk/banking

Leeds United are reportedly willing to meet the financial demands of Real Madrid forward Mariano Diaz ahead of a potential summer transfer.

What’s the latest Leeds transfer news involving Diaz?

On the pitch, the Whites are currently looking to avoid relegation from the Premier League in the final five games of the season, with this weekend’s trip to Bournemouth appearing to be key.

However, off the pitch, it appears as if the club, who look likely to be under new owners in the 49ers Enterprises this summer, are working on possible signings. Diaz is one player who has been linked with a move to Leeds recently, and a further update has now emerged.

Sport Witness shared news from Defensa Central regarding Diaz in the last 48 hours. They said that the Whites have come forward to sign the forward on a free transfer.

The report claims that Elland Road could be an option for Diaz if he wants to earn €4.5m-a-year (£3.98m) as Leeds are ready to meet his ‘financial demands’.

Only if Leeds are in the Premier League…

The figures shared in the update work out at £76,500-a-week, which could see Diaz become the second-highest earner in Yorkshire behind top scorer Rodrigo.

He has been earmarked as a potential replacement for Patrick Bamford, whose costly late miss against Leicester City could prove pivotal in the club’s survival hopes come the end of the season.

However, if Leeds manage to remain in the top flight for a fourth successive season, Diaz could be a risky signing. The 29-year-old, an out-and-out centre-forward, has won 11 major honours with Madrid but has made just 82 appearances for the club across two spells, contributing to 15 goals.

His only eye-catching campaign came with Lyon, scoring 18 Ligue 1 goals during 2017/18 season, where he was labelled as a “powerful” player by Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas during his time in France.

Diaz has struggled for game time at the Bernabeu in recent years, though, so offering him a big deal could be a major gamble, but it looks as if Leeds may be willing to take that risk over the coming months.