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Versatility of allrounder offers balance as England build towards next T20 World Cup

Matt Roller21-Jan-2022It looked for all money as though Liam Livingstone had produced the decisive moment in November’s T20 World Cup semi-final when he had Glenn Phillips caught at long-off, leaving New Zealand needing 60 more runs off 29 balls with no frontline batters left in the dugout. Livingstone let out a guttural roar of celebration before completing a tight final over to return figures of 2 for 22 in his four; if England’s death bowlers had held their nerve, it would have been remembered as a match-winning spell.It completed a fine tournament for Livingstone, despite the fact he had only faced 29 balls with the bat. Across the World Cup, he conceded 5.73 runs an over and only seven boundaries in the 90 balls he bowled. “People call him a part-timer. He’s not. He’s an allrounder,” Eoin Morgan said. “We trust his bowling a lot.”Livingstone’s emergence as a bowler – and his ability to bowl both legspin and offspin in a single over, depending on match-ups – allowed England to maintain a batting-heavy strategy throughout and also enabled them to bowl more spin in a T20 World Cup than they ever had previously. And while he will not be available for the first T20I in Barbados, after a bout of non-Covid-related sickness earlier in the week, his place in the first-choice XI is now assured.It remains to be seen whether a three-spinner, three-seamer strategy is viable in Australia but following Friday’s World Cup draw, England’s two biggest Super 12s fixtures – against Australia and New Zealand – are at the MCG and the Gabba respectively, both of which have been surprisingly spin-friendly in recent BBL seasons.

The Melbourne Stars batsman previously played two games for Ireland in 2014 before committing to the Australian scene

Daniel Brettig07-Feb-2020If you thought the Melbourne Stars’ green suited Nick Larkin on Thursday, then it’s no coincidence.Larkin may need to weigh up trading Stars green for the emerald hue of Ireland’s national team ahead of the T20 World Cup later this year after a breakout innings to take his Big Bash League side to the competition decider underlined his enormous growth as a cricketer in the five years since he made his first-class debut for New South Wales.Back in 2014, Larkin had only recently concluded two years playing club cricket in Ireland, an experience culminating in two appearances for the national team. He did not make the cut for the 2015 50-over World Cup squad, but marked improvement in his overall game over the past two seasons, including a similar trend of increasing returns for the Stars, could make him an attractive possible choice for Ireland ahead of the T20 World Cup on Australian soil in October and November.It would be a vexing choice for Larkin, given that his performances for the Stars have made him an automatic BBL selection and choosing to take up the Irish option, through the passport he has from his mother’s side of the family, would complicate his existing deals in Australia as a local player. Nevertheless, the lure of an international tournament looms large.”I wouldn’t be calling their selectors and saying ‘pick me’, it’s all contract-based stuff and it changes my status here as well as a local cricketer, so there’s a lot to consider, there’s more than just a cricket decision in a sense,” Larkin told ESPNcricinfo. “I’ve weighed all that up in the past and there’s a reason I’m here right now as opposed to over there, but you never say never.

Ireland's three newest caps – Nick Larkin, Peter Chase & Chris Dougherty! #congrats pic.twitter.com/SVs6iKoJ2G

— Cricket Ireland (@Irelandcricket) July 23, 2014

“It was more or less leading up to the 2015 World Cup and I came home after that second summer and was close to being in the mix for their side, but the way the world pans out I got an opportunity for the [New South Wales] Blues in October that year before the World Cup, got a hundred in my second game of Sheffield Shield and that became my firm focus. It was always an ironclad dream of mine to play for NSW since I was a kid, so I was never going to give that up.”I have never ruled that [Ireland] out – the two winters I spent in Ireland were the best thing that ever happened to me in terms of my cricket development and I owe a lot to my club in Ireland and for Ireland giving me an opportunity as well. Potentially down the track if the stars line-up, so to speak, potentially but I’m really focused right now on playing for the Stars and the Blues and trying to win trophies for both.”The choice to battle his way through the tough school of New South Wales cricket has made for plenty of frustrating times for Larkin, who was previously contracted to the Sydney Sixers before gaining a chance with the Melbourne Stars as an injury replacement in 2017. “Our population’s great, our pathways are unbelievably well run and Sydney and country New South Wales keep producing world class players,” he said. “So I felt like I had to cut my teeth there against some incredible competition, and if you can hang in and get through that you come out a better cricketer for it.”The Sixers have a really good roster, and my skillset was probably covered up there. An opportunity [with the Stars] popped up last year through injury, and they liked what I did and luckily brought me back again this season. That’s just the sliding doors moments with cricket, sometimes those things work out in your favour and you make the best of the situation.”I’ve always considered I’ve got a bit more game than maybe other people think, it’s just getting the opportunity to show it and when you do get the opportunity to show it, actually showing it. I don’t think I’m just a red-ball player, but as a professional athlete you have to go out there and prove it every time.”

Melbourne Stars’ road to the final

Heat, Gold Coast: won by 22 runs

Hurricanes, Moe: won by 52 runs

Strikers, Gold Coast: lost by five runs

Hurricanes, Launceston: won by four runs (DL)

Thunder, Showground: won by three wickets

Renegades, MCG: won by eight wickets

Thunder, MCG: won by six wickets

Renegades, Docklands: won by seven wickets

Sixers, MCG: won by 44 runs

Scorchers, Perth: won by eight wickets

Scorchers, MCG: won by 10 runs

Sixers, SCG: lost by 21 runs (DL)

Strikers, Adelaide: lost by 11 runs

Heat, MCG: lost by 71 runs

Sixers, MCG: lost by 43 runs

Thunder, MCG: won by 28 runs

His major improvements as a cricketer and a person began to be made after he accepted the task of captaining Sydney University in Sydney first grade, a post for which he twice won captain of the year in 2017 and 2018 before he gave it up as New South Wales came calling more often.”It is one of the best things I’ve ever done for my development as a person and as a cricketer, and being able to see how players are feeling and know when you need to put an arm around them or maybe a kick up the arse,” Larkin said. “So my first year was a really steep learning curve and we came 13th, then we won it and then came second, and those years I felt like they matured me as a man a lot, and I learned how to get the best out of other people.”Out of that personal growth came cricketing progress, as he was imbued with the self-confidence that all top level athletes require with the help of three choice mentors: Greg Mail, Ed Cowan and Beau Casson. “I’ve had moments when I haven’t believed I could’ve gone out and done that but I’ve had some really great coaches and mentors who have assisted me with that and made me realise what I’m capable of,” he said. “There’s some people behind the scenes who’ve helped me a lot with that stuff.””Greg Mail who I’ve played a lot of club cricket with was fantastic for me and instrumental in my development as a player coming through grade. Ed Cowan, similar, a really close friend of mine and someone who’s always honest with me about my game. And then Beau Casson…I’ve kept a really close relationship with Beau over the years and he’s probably the guy who really made me believe in myself to be able to come out and put performances like that on the board.”The relationship with Casson has evolved through several distinct phases, as they were together at Sydney Uni, then Casson worked as the New South Wales assistant coach last season, and now this year they have worked more individually in the manner of a golf swing coach or tennis mentor once the older man chose to step away from the formal role.”It’s beyond just the skillset, he knew me as a person, knew what made me tick, and knew how to get the best out of me,” he said. “It’s nice when you feel like you’ve got someone in your corner who’s willing to be maybe more like a golf coach is for an individual golfer or a tennis coach is for that tennis player, where you ask them to be honest and they’re honest in the good times and the bad times and there was a level of improvement that I got through that relationship that I may not have got if I hadn’t stumbled across it.”The next phase for Larkin will be to return to the Sheffield Shield in the hope of churning out more quality runs. Beyond that, the future looks decidedly green, whether for the Stars in Melbourne or for Ireland further afield.

Jack Leiter took a no-hitter into the 7th inning on Sunday against the Houston Astros. There was even a graphic attached to the scorebug pointing out that he had not given up a hit through 6 2/3 innings, which is exactly when he gave up a home run to Yainer Diaz.

The graphic was quickly removed after the ball landed on the wrong side of the wall.

The game was actually kind of a pitchers' duel, as neither Leiter nor Houston's Framber Valdez gave up a hit through three innings. While Valdez gave up three runs and four hits in the 4th, he came back out and had two more 1-2-3 innings in the 5th and 6th.

Leiter came so close to escaping the 7th without allowing a hit, but Diaz homered on a 3-2 pitch with two outs. Leiter then struck out Zach Dezeno to end the inning and still had a 3-1 lead heading to the 8th. And that's where things fell apart for Texas. Leiter gave up back-to-back singles to start the inning and was charged when both crossed the plate after his exit.

The Rangers eventually lost 4-3.

It's a shame we didn't get to see how far Leiter could have gone. He left after 89 pitches and has never thrown more than 92 in a game. His father, Al, only needed 102 pitches when he no-hit the Colorado Rockies 19 years ago.

It just wasn't meant to be.

“Leave the football before the football leaves you.” That was the sentence Jamie Carragher reserved for a certain Manchester United player by the name of Casemiro back in May 2024.

It’s safe to say that the Brazilian, once a football legend, a serial winner at Real Madrid, had seen his powers wane.

He was making countless mistakes, looked like he was running through treacle and was the shadow of a player who had featured on 336 occasions for Madrid.

18 months on and Casemiro looks like a legandary player again. He may not be capable of featuring for a period of 90 minutes but the 2025/26 campaign has arguably been his best since moving to Old Trafford.

The 33-year-old is making a huge impact, notably scoring on three occasions and registering an assist. He’s finally come good in United colours.

However, the fact that he can’t last 90 minutes is the problem. His backup in the shape of Manuel Ugarte continues to struggle.

Why it's time for Ugarte to leave Man Utd

In the summer of 2024, INEOS spent a great deal on bringing the bullish Uruguayan to Old Trafford, as much as £42m.

He was seen as the heir to Casemiro, someone who could fix their lack of energy and tenacity in the middle of the park.

The big Brazilian was floundering and the more minute Ugarte was here to fix the problem. Yet, he has been more of a hindrance, particularly as Casemiro has returned to form.

So far this term, the midfield veteran has only completed one 90 minutes in the Premier League and in a bid to see out the game, Ruben Amorim has usually tried to rely on Ugarte. However, the South American has been anything but reliable.

Arsenal

65

Fulham

53

Burnley

72

Man City

Did not start

Chelsea

45

Brentford

Suspended

Sunderland

85

Liverpool

58

Brighton

70

Nott’m Forest

Was not subbed

Spurs

72

With the 24-year-old out of the team, the Red Devils have scored 15 goals at a rate of twice per 90 and have conceded eight times, once per 90 minutes.

However, with Ugarte in the team, Amorim’s side have scored just four times, 1.3 per 90 minutes and have shipped ten goals, a whopping 3.2 per 90.

The data is clear; United are a poorer side when the big-money midfielder is in the team. While he has come on and helped his teammates to victories over Chelsea, Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton, he has also come on and been a hindrance.

When he entered the action at the weekend in the 2-2 draw with Spurs, it was 1-0 to United at the time. In the 3-1 defeat to Brentford, he came on at 2-1. During the 1-1 draw with Fulham, Amorim’s charges were leading 1-0 when Ugarte was brought off the bench. To make matters worse, he also started the 3-0 loss to rivals Manchester City.

So, why do things go so wrong when he’s on the field? Well, his inability to break up the play and anticipate what happens on the field is a huge issue. That was seen during the draw with Spurs on Saturday when Ugarte simply let Wilson Odobert breeze past him in the build-up to Mathys Tel’s equaliser.

With Kobbie Mainoo on the bench, it does beg the question, why Ugarte? While the Uruguay international is the more traditional holding midfielder, they need more energy and legs when Casemiro heads to the bench. Mainoo would bring that in abundance.

Saying that, the academy graduate isn’t the only Ugarte solution up Amorim’s sleeve. Another future superstar at Carrington is getting ready to make an impact.

Man United's surprise Ugarte replacement

Cutting their losses on the former PSG player would be disastrous from a business point of view but it really does feel as though United need a refresh in midfield.

Chalkboard

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

Casemiro has made great improvements this term but he is not getting any younger and if INEOS are planning to spend big in the future then it must be in a central area.

Players like Brighton superstar Carlos Baleba and Nottingham Forest’s Geordie midfielder, Elliot Anderson, have both been linked with a move. They would be fabulous signings too.

Yet, a ready-made solution could present itself at Carrington. In the form of 19-year-old Sekou Kone, United may well have already signed their dream replacement for Ugarte.

Kone arrived at Man United in the summer of 2024. He was not a marquee arrival, far from it. There was very little fanfare for a teenager who had signed in a £1m deal from Malian side Guidars FC.

An exciting midfield player, the youngster had attracted the attention of United scouts during Mali’s run to the semi-finals of the U17 World Cup in 2023. Since then, he has failed to earn any senior game time under Amorim but he looks like a mighty fine prospect.

Kone featured on 14 occasions for the U21s last season but his prospects of football in 2025/26 have so far been dampened by a fractured eye socket. He has played just one match in the opening exchanges of the ongoing campaign but he is now back in training and first-team training at that. Amorim has already shelved plans of a loan spell, such is the potential in this young midfield player.

So, what’s he all about? Well, a defensive midfielder by trade, he is “uber composed on the ball and so press resistant” in the words of Como scout, Ben Mattinson.

Mattinson continued: “He’s got a tight turn radius and rides challenges well when carrying the ball.” On that evidence, he certainly sounds more promising than Ugarte.

He possesses an exciting ball-winning prowess and has an enormous physical ceiling that Mattinson suggests “is something Manchester United need more of in order for Amorim’s man-to-man press to work effectively.”

On that evidence, it’s hardly a surprise that fellow scout, Antonio Mango, has explained that Kone has “the skillset to be a beast under Amorim.”

This is a player who doesn’t just look capable of ending Ugarte’s career at Old Trafford, but potentially also Casemiro’s.

Despite some negative noise regarding attacking regressions, Tottenham Hotspur have made headway under Thomas Frank’s management, fifth in the Premier League and in a promising position in the Champions League group stage.

But Spurs could certainly do with a bit more fluency and impetus when on the charge, and such creases must be ironed out over the coming months to make this a season to remember.

It was always going to be difficult, selling Harry Kane to Bayern Munich in 2023, and Ange Postecoglou deserves credit for establishing an attractive, entertaining playing style (when things were going his way).

But it’s true that some members of the squad aren’t quite pulling their weight. That said, Tottenham do have some top talents who have the capacity to secure the club’s place at Europe’s elite table and lead Frank toward trophy-winning success.

Mohammed Kudus being chief among them.

Kudus' start to life at Spurs

There was an air of controversy about Kudus’ summer transfer to Tottenham. After all, the Ghanaian winger had plied his trade down the road at West Ham United for the past couple of years, and the sale has left the Irons fanbase feeling hot under the collar.

But West Ham’s loss is Tottenham’s gain, with the 25-year-old having registered five assists in the Premier League this season, more than any other player.

His pace and potency have seen him add a dimension to Frank’s outfit that Tottenham simply didn’t boast last term, and in this, he is offering shades of Kane, taking on the responsibility of leading the club forward, bringing a unique flavour to the table.

Kudus is indeed emerging as Tottenham’s new principal source of attacking inspiration, but there’s actually another member of Frank’s squad who’s looking somewhat Kane-esque.

Spurs' new version of Kane

We’re not talking about one of the Tottenham forwards here. Instead, it’s Micky van de Ven whose growth into a talismanic role down N17 is leaving him in line to take Kane’s leadership berth, belatedly.

The 24-year-old has been a revelation since joining from Wolfsburg for around £43m in 2023, with injuries his biggest weakness. So strong and fast and commanding, with journalist Sonny Snelling even labelling him as “world-class”.

It was the 6 foot 4 star’s injury that derailed the Ange hype train a few years ago, sending that project into a spin. Then, last season, hamstring injuries reigned supreme over the defender’s hopes of availability. He started only 12 Premier League fixtures all season, eight of which came across Spurs’ first nine fixtures of the campaign.

While Cristian Romero is Tottenham’s captain, Van de Ven is the perfect counterpoint and every bit as impressive. It’s perhaps important to remember that, like Kane, Van de Ven is not the skipper, with the Three Lions striker behind Hugo Lloris in that regard.

Of course, Kane and Micky van de Ven are hardly similar players. They are so different across physical and tactical bases as to be diametrically opposed.

But Van de Ven offers so much more than his central defensive role demands, and in this, he shares a likeness with Kane, whose range of passing and ability to drop deep and influence make him a very unique number nine, and with 23 goals from 17 games for Bayern this season, he’s still rather good at his primary job.

Tottenham have struggled to replace Kane since selling him to Bayern, but that’s more because of the 32-year-old’s remarkable, unique qualities. When he left, the Lilywhites didn’t only lose their record goalscorer, but their shrewdest playmaker and source of inspiration across so many years.

But his pace. Such speed. It’s astonishing, in many ways, and hard to define. In the Premier League this season, furthermore, Van de Ven has completed 92% of his passes and come out on top in 63% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.

Micky van de Ven

Tottenham

37.38

Kyle Walker

Man City

37.31

Jackson Tchatchoua

Wolves

37.30

Micky van de Ven

Tottenham

37.23

Micky van de Ven

Tottenham

37.12

It tells much of the Dutchman’s athleticism that he is first, fourth, and fifth on the all-time speed rankings (beginning 2020/21), and is a further illustration of the above-and-beyond approach he brings to his centre-half role.

As per FBref, he also ranks among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90, emphasising an attacking threat that has been on full show this season, six goals from 16 matches in all competitions.

This is a top-class player, and one whose special skills will inevitably see a wave of interest in his signature before long, Europe’s heavyweights squabbling over his signature.

It is perhaps a given that Van de Ven will eventually move on. The lure of Real Madrid and Barcelona, outfits bound to have earmarked the Netherlands international among a list of loose long-term targets, may ultimately prove too much for him to ignore.

This could see him shape into the next version of Kane in more ways than one. But, whatever happens down the line, Van de Ven is a unique player who Tottenham must keep a grip on for as long as they can, for he will spearhead the Frank era toward a surface only scratched when Postecoglou defied the odds and lifted the Europa League title last season, Van de Ven playing that final and thriving.

Spurs have signed a "hidden gem" who's a bigger talent than Troy Parrott

Tottenham need to do more in the final third under Thomas Frank’s management.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 17, 2025

New Zealand captain Tom Latham has been ruled out of the first Test against Zimbabwe, starting on July 30 in Bulawayo, with a shoulder injury. In his absence, New Zealand white-ball captain Mitchell Santner will lead the side.Latham suffered the injury while fielding during a Vitality Blast game for Birmingham Bears earlier this month and did not recover in time for the first Test. According to an NZC release, he will remain with the squad and hope to be fit for the second Test starting August 7.”It’s hugely disappointing for Tom to be missing the first Test, as captain but also as an integral part of the team,” head coach Rob Walter said.Related

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“It’s never great when you lose your captain, who’s a world-class opening batter and a great team man, but that said we’re going to work really hard to have him available for the second Test. “We’ll continue to assess and see whether a replacement player is necessary, but at this stage we are hopeful that he’ll recover in time.”Santner, who’s played 30 Tests, will be leading New Zealand in the format for the first time. New Zealand will go into the Tests fresh off a T20I tri-series win in Harare where they remained unbeaten throughout the series under Santner’s captaincy.”Mitch did a wonderful job with the T20 squad in this recent series,” Walter said. “He was excellent from a strategy point of view, and he has a strong understanding of the game.”Whilst the format is different, he certainly has the respect of the players and will be supported by some highly experienced Test cricketers, so I trust that he’s going to do a great job.”The two-match series will mark New Zealand’s first Test tour of Zimbabwe since 2016.