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A heavy downpour just before the start of Bangladesh’s chase of 312 abandoned the second ODI in Dambulla

The Report by Mohammad Isam28-Mar-2017 Match abandoned
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsKusal Mendis overcame a scratchy start to hit nine fours and two sixes in his 107-ball 102•AFPThe second ODI between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh was called off due to incessant rain in Dambulla. Play was called off at 8.45pm, an hour and 15 minutes before the cut-off time.It was an anti-climax after the game was shaping up to be an intense contest. Kusal Mendis’ maiden ODI hundred took Sri Lanka to a formidable 311, but Taskin Ahmed’s hat-trick in the last over capped off a fine last 10 overs for Bangladesh.Taskin first had Asela Gunaratne caught at mid-off off the third ball of the final over. Suranga Lakmal was the next to go when he holed out to midwicket. Nuwan Pradeep, having the unenviable task of keeping out the hat-trick, was bowled off an inswinging yorker.That meant Taskin was the fifth Bangladeshi after Shahadat Hossain, Abdur Razzak, Rubel Hossain and Taijul Islam to reach this milestone, which he celebrated with his typical spread-eagle celebration.A win for Bangladesh would have given them their first bilateral ODI series win over Sri Lanka, but that was always going to be tough given no side had ever chased down over 300 to win in Sri Lanka.That Bangladesh got into the game was thanks largely to a lower-order collapse from the hosts – they lost their last six wickets for 40 to end up at least 20 short of what they looked set to get. Mendis built the platform through two vital stands: 111 for the second wicket with Upul Tharanga and 83 for the third wicket with Dinesh Chandimal before the collapse.Tharanga, playing in his 200th ODI, steadied Sri Lanka after they lost Danushka Gunathilaka in the third over. He struck Mehedi Hasan, the offspinner, for two fours in the eighth over before leaning into a beautiful cover drive off Mustafizur Rahman in the 10th over.Mendis was scratchy to begin with, a healthy edge flying between Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah at a wide slip position to reprieve him early on. Having scored just seven off his first 25 deliveries up until then, the boundary released the pressure. From there on, though, he was a different batsman.The control with which he was batting resulted in Tharanga slipping into the role of an accumulator. The pair raised the century stand and looked good for more, but Bangladesh had a breakthrough in bizarre circumstances. Tharanga, trying to steal a run after Mushfiqur half-stopped a Mustafizur beamer, was run-out for 65 at the bowler’s end through a direct hit from Mahmudullah at short fine leg in the 25th over.Mendis hammered the next ball, a free-hit, for a six and then reached his fifty with a boundary off the fifth delivery. Mustafizur conceded 20 off the over, with Sri Lanka showing no signs of slowing down. He reached his century in the 36th over, thereby raising the possibility of hauling his side close to 330. But the dismissals of Chandimal and Mendis in successive overs set them back.Mendis’ dismissal – taken off the rebound by Taskin on his followthrough – left Sri Lanka at 216 for 4 in the 38th over. Milinda Siriwardana and Asela Gunaratne then patched things together with a 55-run stand for the fifth wicket.Mehedi who dropped Siriwardana on 24 at midwicket had the last laugh when he bowled him in the next over. Gunaratne though continued to bring out his paddles and the big heaves to hit a 29-ball 39 to take Sri Lanka past 300 before Taskin took centrestage in the final over. However, rain had the final say.

West Ham United target Alex Scott has 'huge potential' and could help to fill the void that Declan Rice will leave once he completes his move away from the London Stadium, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Alex Scott and Declan Rice?

According to The Daily Mail, Arsenal have booked in a medical for Rice as they look to seal the signature of the England international for a fee in the region of £105 million.

The 24-year-old looks likely to be joined by Ajax defender Jurrien Timber and there is hope that both transfers can be officially announced by this weekend.

As per the same outlet, West Ham United are keen to add some personnel to their squad that may take the form of younger players and Bristol City playmaker Scott has been touted with a potential £22 million switch to the London Stadium.

Discussions are underway over a swoop for the player at the figure mentioned. At the same time, the likes of Denis Zakaria, Tyler Adams and James Ward-Prowse have been earmarked as David Moyes aims to strengthen his midfield.

Football London claim that Tottenham Hotspur have asked to be kept informed regarding Scott's situation this window and the race for his services continues to gather momentum.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones believes that Scott could be an exciting replacement for Rice in east London if he was to join West Ham United.

Jones said: "The saga is over and now West Ham are looking for their new Declan Rice. They will sign two midfielders with the right level of experience and quality to go straight in at the beginning of the season, but also they are interested in players that can make a big breakthrough with them. In that sense, one that really interests them is Alex Scott at Bristol City.

"He’s got huge potential. He’d be a player the fans can really get behind and watch grow, similar really to how they have with Rice on this stage. He’s only 19 and I think his £25m price tag is considered a little too high right now, but if they can find a way around that, they could have a new gem on their hands that grows into a Premier League star."

Would Alex Scott be a good addition for West Ham United?

Scott established himself as a shining star in the Sky Bet Championship last term and it is easy to see why Premier League clubs would be interested in his services.

In 2022/23, the 19-year-old amassed 49 appearances in all competitions for Bristol City, registering two goals and five assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Earlier this year, Manchester City star Jack Grealish took to Twitter to praise the starlet following Bristol City's 3-0 FA Cup fifth-round defeat at home to the eventual winners of the competition, labelling him as a 'top top talent'.

As per FBRef, Scott also successfully carried out 87 shot-creating actions in the English second tier, showcasing his exciting potential as a creative midfielder.

With club captain Rice set to exit the London Stadium this summer, Scott could help to soften the blow and could become a star of the future for West Ham United.

A selection camp featuring 50 players has been scheduled for March 16 to 19 to pick a 14-man squad for the WCL Division Three in Uganda

Peter Della Penna14-Mar-2017Former Hyderabad wicketkeeper Ibrahim Khaleel is one of three former first-class players to be invited to a USA selection camp from March 16 to 19 in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the camp is to pick a 14-man squad to tour Uganda in May for WCL Division Three matches.Khaleel, 34, last represented Hyderabad in January 2015, having played 57 first-class matches in the Ranji Trophy since his debut in 2002. He has been playing league cricket in Chicago for the past several summers and was identified by selectors at an ICC Regional Combine held in Chicago last May.It was understood that Khaleel has not yet met the eligibility threshold – a non-citizen can represent his resident country provided he has spent a minimum of 183 days per year over four consecutive years prior to a tournament – but would be immediately eligible if he were to secure a US passport. According to a source, Khaleel currently has US permanent residency status and was in the latter stages of obtaining US citizenship.Roy Silva, the Sri Lankan batsman who played 87 first-class matches, and Camilus Alexander, the former Windward Islands legspinner, were also called up to the selection camp.Silva, 36, played his last first-class match for Colombo CC in March 2013 and has been a heavy scorer in the Georgia and Florida leagues since moving to the USA. Alexander, 35, was the leading wicket-taker at the USACA T20 National Championship in 2014 while playing for the South East Region. Both would be eligible to play for USA under the ICC’s four-year deemed national rule.The 19 players from the camp are expected to link up with a training squad of 31, which had been assembled prior to USA’s title-winning run at WCL Division Four.The other talking point was the potential returns of offspinner Abhimanyu Rajp, batsman Charan Singh and left-arm spinning allrounder Mrunal Patel. Rajp and Charan last played for USA during the Auty Cup tours to Canada in 2013 and 2011 respectively while Mrunal had been part of the team that went to Ireland in 2015 for the World T20 qualifier.Four recent USA Under-19 representatives will be part of the camp as well. New York batsman Randall Wilson is a strong contender for a batting spot after solid performances at the ICC’s Regional Combine in New York last June and a half-century against a touring MCC side in September. Batsmen Gauranshu Sharma, Sagar Patel and Tohidul Islam were the other former U-19 players up for selection.Danial Ahmed (left) was unavailable while Timroy Allen (right) has issues over taking time off work•Peter Della Penna”When considering players to add to the trial, the [selection] panel wanted to predominantly focus on youth players, young guys who stood out at Combines last year or in previous USA U-19 teams,” selection chairman Ricardo Powell said in a press release. “It will be good to give them some additional exposure in this environment. Those young players are accompanied by a couple more experienced players who have been consistent performers in the US and abroad.”The large number of invitees was partly because seven of the most recent USA squad members were unavailable, including four who were a part of either the Division Four squad or the one for their previous assignment, the Auty Cup. Fast bowlers Hammad Shahid and David Pieters, and allrounder Srini Santhanam have been ruled out due to injury while seamer Aman Lobana and left-arm spinner Danial Ahmed were unavailable.Shahid’s absence was the biggest blow. He had taken three wickets in two matches, with an exemplary economy rate of 3.55 in the Auty Cup last October. He had a strong chance of being among the final 14 to play in Uganda but sustained a torn posterior cruciate knee ligament (PCL) during a recent training session and was expected to be out for up to three months.Santhanam had surgery on his right shoulder in December and cannot play cricket at least until the second half of 2017. Pieters, who has yet to debut for USA, tore a meniscus at a trial match in Florida last August ahead of Division Four. Subsequent tests revealed cartilage damage in his right knee. After going under the knife for a second time last week, he has been ruled out of action indefinitely.There were doubts over batsman Alex Amsterdam and allrounder Timroy Allen attending the camp as well. Both spent a month in Barbados with the ICC Americas squad at the WICB Regional Super50 in January and February, making it difficult for them to take more time off work again, especially considering the team would be away from home for up to three weeks for the Division Three tour. Allen, one of USA’s most valuable assets, was recently retained by Jamaica Tallawahs in the CPL draft.A six-day pre-tour to South Africa has been organised for USA before they land in Uganda for the start of the matches on May 23. In addition to the hosts, USA will be competing against Canada, Malaysia, Oman and Singapore in the next phase of the qualification process for the 2019 World Cup. The top two finishers at Division Three advance to Division Two, expected to be held in late 2017 or early 2018. It is the last step prior to the 2018 World Cup Qualifier, currently slated for Bangladesh in April 2018.

Aston Villa aren’t giving up hope just yet in their pursuit to sign Ferran Torres, as new revelations claim the Villans could strike late to score the Spaniard.

Unai Emery and Monchi are planning to take the Midlands club to the next level, as highlighted by their rumoured targets this summer.

With a reported £150m in the bank and European football confirmed, may now be the prime time for the Spanish duo to seek star names to adorn the claret and blue ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Could Aston Villa sign Ferran Torres?

Late last month, reports in Spain claimed that Villa could seek a loan move for Ferran Torres with an option to buy, as Barcelona face critical financial woes that could see them offload talent in abundance.

However, news this week via transfer insider Dean Jones explained that Villa could present an offer to the Catalan giants later this window in the bid to secure the 23-year-old.

Talking to Football FanCast, Jones said:

"I think the Ferran Torres one could still become interesting. He obviously doesn't want to leave Barcelona, and it seems like he's made that pretty clear. But the deeper we get into this transfer window, the more I wonder if he might actually end up leaving.

I mean, if we get to a situation whereby the season in Spain begins in August, and he's not in the picture, and you get him towards the back end of the transfer window. I wonder if that's when Villa might be able to activate a deal like that."

Valued by FootballTransfers at €40m (£34m), Monchi could pull off a marquee deal for the Spaniard if a loan deal with a reported €25m (£21.5m) option to buy is struck.

How good is Ferran Torres?

Hailed as “prolific” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 23-year-old could arrive at Villa Park already equipped with Premier League experience, after making 28 league appearances for Manchester City.

In that time, the Foios-born whiz secured two Premier League medals, as well as winning the Carabao Cup with the Citizens in a trophy-laden spell in Manchester.

The one thing that was missing from his time under Pep Guardiola was consistent game time, making just 15 starts in his first season at the Etihad where he averaged a goal every 186 minutes.

Scoring seven and assisting three in his first term in England was an impressive feat, however, with the talent on show at City, the timing wasn’t right for the Spaniard to exercise and develop his talents.

Similar has happened at Barcelona, where the 23-year-old started just 14 La Liga games due to competition in the squad, however patterns have also continued in his scoring, averaging 0.39 non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, via FBref.

His numbers with reference to his playing minutes show for pleasant viewing, and indicate the calibre of player Emery could sign this summer, with him being statistically similar to a Premier League star.

As per FBref, Torres is comparable to Manchester United's Player of the Year Marcus Rashford, who scored 17 goals in the league last season.

In the Premier League, the Englishman averaged an impressive 3.38 total shots per 90, as well as recording 1.69 successful take-ons per 90 to express his devastating quality in the final third.

Similar numbers were hit by Torres in La Liga last campaign, who averaged 2.39 total shots and 1.94 successful take-ons per 90, as well as averaging 0.27 xAG (expected assisted goals) to Rashfords 0.11 per 90, via FBref.

An area of his game that could be beneficial to Emery’s side’s progressive approach is his positioning to receive a pass to turn into a threat, with the Spaniard averaging a huge 11.64 progressive passes received, in comparison to Rashford’s 7.66 per 90.

If given sufficient game time and a licence to develop, Villa could have a leading young talent in Europe in Torres, should a deal be struck this summer.

South Africa’s current coach Russell Domingo’s contract expires at the end of the England tour in August

Firdose Moonda18-May-2017Cricket South Africa has nominated a five-man panel including two former national coaches, Gary Kirsten and Eric Simons, to recommend a suitable candidate for the position of head coach, which it aims to fill by the beginning of September. Current coach Russell Domingo’s contract expires at the end of the England tour in August and while free to reapply for the post, he has not indicated whether he will put his name in the hat.If Domingo does apply, he, along with other candidates will be screened by a panel which consists of CSA’s lead independent director Norman Arendse, board member Rihan Richards, transformation and cricket pipeline committee member Oupa Nkagisang and the two former coaches. It is not clear whether the panel will search for suitable candidates or whether applications have been opened, but either way, the panel will have about three months to decide on their recommendation. It will then be up to CSA’s board to ratify that choice.Domingo has been in charge of South Africa since after the Champions Trophy in mid-2013 and has had his contract renewed three times but cannot be rolled over again in order to meet corporate governance requirements. Domingo enjoys widespread player support and is the only coach to oversee a South African victory in a World-Cup knockout match – the 2015 quarter-final. He has also been in charge through a severe dip in form – when South Africa crashed from No. 1 to No. 7 on the Test rankings – and a subsequent revival that has seen them climb to No. 2. They cannot move any higher in their next series against England – even with a 4-0 victory – but that is unlikely to have as much effect on whether Domingo stays on as head coach or not as the Champions Trophy. With the new coach’s tenure set to include the 2019 World Cup, CSA is likely to lean towards someone who it thinks will bring the team success there.CSA has already put faith in the current crop of selectors, whose tenure began after the 2015 World Cup. Convener Linda Zondi, along with Hussein Manack, Errol Stewart and Lux Qoboshiyana (who replaced Ashwell Prince after he became Cobras’ coach last September) have had their term of office extended until after the 2019 World Cup. The selection panel has presided over the rise of several stars for South Africa, including Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj, and has done so while adhering to strict transformation targets.The only other notable change to the structure is the appointment of Robin Peterson as the eminent past-player representative on the cricket committee. Peterson replaces Prince in that role.

Liverpool could make a move for Benfica midfielder Florentino Luis during the summer transfer window, according to a key update from reliable journalist Neil Jones.

Who is Florentino Luis?

The 23-year-old is currently a key man for Benfica, proving to be an influential figure sitting in front of the defence and shining in the No.6 role. Last season, Luis featured in 33 of his side's Primeira Liga matches, starting 25 of them, and he averaged 2.5 tackles per game in the competition, as well as completing 90.1% of his passes. In total, he has appeared 86 times for the Portuguese giants, maturing all the time and becoming a very strong player for them.

With Fabinho looking almost certain to leave Liverpool for Saudi Arabia this summer, and Jordan Henderson also likely to go the same way, the Reds will be in desperate need of further reinforcements in the middle of the park, having already brought in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai from Brighton and RB Leipzig respectively.

Could Liverpool sign Florentino Luis?

Speaking on his YouTube channel [via Empire of the Kop], Jones talked up Luis as a possible signing for Liverpool this summer, potentially coming in as Fabinho's replacement:

"A name that I would urge you to look out for is Florentino Luis, who plays for Benfica. I think he’s one who could come into consideration. He’s a very Fabinho-type player in terms of defensive midfielder, gets about the pitch, gets his foot in, strong in the tackle, really good defensively. If Liverpool are looking for a like-for-like replacement for Fabinho, they could do a lot worse than look at Florentino Luis.

"Just keep an eye on that name. I haven’t heard if there’s anything moving yet in that regard but it’s certainly one I would keep in mind."

Luis could be precisely what Liverpool are looking for when aiming to fill the Fabinho-shaped void in front of the defence, coming in as a younger version of him who can excel at Anfield in the same way the Brazilian has over the past five years.

The 12-cap Portugal Under-21 international could feel that he has outgrown Benfica at this point in his career, and the lure of playing under Jurgen Klopp could also be too great to turn down.

Granted, Luis is far from the only rumoured Liverpool midfield target, with a host of other names on the list, from Romeo Lavia to Khephren Thuram, but he is an exciting option whose best years should still be ahead of him.

Former Benfica youth coach Joao Tralhao has waxed lyrical over Luis in the past, further highlighting why he could be a fantastic option for the Reds:

“He has the talent and quality to play in elite teams. Remember when Real Madrid had the Galacticos? They needed someone to balance the team, and [Claude] Makelele was so important. More recently, Casemiro did that job, allowing [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Luka] Modric and [Karim] Benzema to attack. Florentino has those capabilities. He’s having an amazing season under Roger Schmidt."

Liverpool could be wise to at least consider a move for the Benfica ace, as this crucial summer window at Anfield continues, and it is imperative that they nail their business following a disappointing 2022/23 campaign.

ECB Reporters Network19-May-2017
ScorecardJoe Leach made an early breakthrough for Worcestershire•Getty ImagesAustralian Test star Nathan Lyon was overshadowed on his County Championship debut by the Worcestershire seamers on a rain-shortened opening day of the Division Two match against Derbyshire at Derby.The offspinner bowled overs seven without reward as Joe Leach, Jack Shantry and Josh Tongue each took a wicket with Luis Reece scoring an unbeaten 53 for Derbyshire who closed on 111 for 3.Rain prevented any play until 4pm with Derbyshire going into the game without South African fast bowler Hardus Viljoen who will be out until the end of June with a hip injury.Derbyshire’s director of cricket Kim Barnett said: “It’s typical of cricket that things come to test you and this is a test of our guys and the resilience of the squad.”We had a meeting yesterday when it was decided he wasn’t fully fit and I think he knew that. We just want him to do himself justice, it’s no use him going out at 70% fit and not bowling to his standards so we must get him fully fit and healthy to do what he can do when he comes back.”It was no surprise given the damp, cloudy conditions that Worcestershire chose to bowl and Leach struck with the sixth ball of the game by bringing one back to knock out Ben Slater’s off stump.Leach found enough movement to beat the bat numerous times and was unlucky not to pick up two or three wickets during his seven over opening spell from the City End.Reece and Shiv Thakor needed some luck to survive but they also showed good judgement to add 55 in 21 overs before Shantry made the breakthrough.Thakor could do nothing with a ball that lifted sharply to take the shoulder of the bat and Shantry was close to having Reece lbw with one that swung back in his next over.Tongue produced another fine delivery to remove Wayne Madsen who edged a ball that moved away late and was caught behind in the 30th over but Reece and Billy Godleman batted through 10 overs to stumps.

Faf du Plessis wants Kagiso Rabada to stay fierce and fiery and thinks cricket is poorer following his sanction. Rabada will miss the second Test at Trent Bridge after earning the suspension

Firdose Moonda10-Jul-2017Despite earning a sanction for a shove and a vociferous send-off, Kagiso Rabada does not need to tone down his aggression. That’s the message from Test captain Faf du Plessis, who is on three demerit points himself after shining the ball with saliva that had also come into contact with a mint during the series against Australia last year, and who has taken a grim view of the ICC’s code-of-conduct protocols in the past.Not only would du Plessis like to see a clearer definition for the artificial substances that are not allowed to come into contact with the ball but he also wants Rabada to stay fierce and fiery and thinks cricket is poorer following his sanction. Rabada will miss the second Test at Trent Bridge after earning the suspension.”I would never say to KG change the way that you are. It’s important that he plays the way that he plays the game. Every guy within cricket needs your natural instinct and personality to come out because that creates the best you,” du Plessis said, after South Africa were defeated in his absence at Lord’s.Stand-in captain Dean Elgar revealed that Rabada had said sorry to senior management and felt he had let the team down with his behaviour but du Plessis said he did not expect Rabada to do any more. “I would never expect him to apologise to the team. For me that’s showing what you’re made of. He is showing that he wants to do desperately well for his country,” du Plessis saidHe also does not expect Rabada to change the way he approaches the game, saying the isolated incident in which he swore at Ben Stokes was simply a moment of frustration for a bowler who did not have things going his way and was not a personal attack on the batsman involved. In fact, du Plessis believes Stokes is capable of dishing out much of the same medicine and has even given him a nickname to reflect his on-field anger.Kagiso Rabada earned a fourth demerit point for giving Ben Stokes a send-off•Getty Images”I don’t think it was anything to do with Ben. I think it was a little bit of frustration from KG. He didn’t have the rhythm that he wanted to and it was just frustration coming through,” du Plessis said. “I played with Ben and I can tell you he is just as fiery and that’s what makes him so competitive and so skillful. I called him ‘The Dragon’ in the IPL because he breathes fire when he gets angry. That’s important, when you have characters to come through like that. That’s what I say about KG. Not for one second must he lose that.”South Africa have lost Rabada for the second Test though and du Plessis, like Elgar, thinks both the team and the fans will miss out. “It’s a big disappointment for us not having him. It’s a shame. He is a real big part of this team. In big Test series like this you want to see your big Test players compete against each other,” he said.Rabada should be back for the third match at The Kia Oval and du Plessis hopes Rabada will pick up where he left off at Lord’s, but perhaps be a little more mindful of saying things a safe distance away from the stump mic.”When you play Test cricket you are fighting for your country and you are doing everything you can to win a game of cricket. Controlled emotion is really important. For me, it’s the most important thing as long as it doesn’t take you away from your skill. KG doesn’t do that, that was just frustration,” du Plessis said. “I know his personality. He is a very relaxed and quiet guy. He hardly ever swears at the batsmen in the times we’ve played together. That was purely just frustration.”

Nottingham Forest are reportedly interested in Juventus defender Andrea Cambiaso, as Steve Cooper eyes star quality for his side ahead of the upcoming season.

Adding sufficient reinforcements this summer is integral to ensure that the Reds move away from the relegation zone, after leaving it to the penultimate game of the campaign to confirm safety.

Could Nottingham Forest sign Andrea Cambiaso?

As reported in Italy, both Forest and Tottenham are interested in Juventus left-back Cambiaso.

The report claims that the two Premier League sides have approached the Italian giants over the availability of the 23-year-old.

It’s added that Juve would expect a fee of at least €20m (£17m) for the youngster to allow him to depart.

How good is Andrea Cambiaso?

A product of Genoa’s academy, the defender was snatched by Juventus last summer after a series of loan spells around Italy.

Making a permanent exit to Turin didn’t halt the movements of the 23-year-old, who departed on loan last season to Bologna to gain added experience under the watch of the Bianconeri.

With his future at his new club unknown, fellow suitors have come knocking, which may see the Italian re-locate once more in his budding career.

The full-back made 32 appearances for Bologna last term, making the loan move a positive one in terms of his journey in Serie A.

For Forest, the signing of Cambiaso could be an encouraging coup, with the left-back showcasing the potential to be the dynamic defender that is required to spice things up at the City Ground.

Lauded as being “on fire” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Juve youngster could be the perfect acquisition for Cooper to chase in the absence of Renan Lodi, who shone on the left side for the Reds last term.

The 25-year-old spent the year on loan in the Premier League from Atletico Madrid, before returning to Spain and being swiped up by Marseille shortly after his return.

The Brazilian added a host of quality to the squad, however, Cooper may have the opportunity to swoop for a player of similar potential in Cambiaso.

While the two are competent defenders as highlighted by their averages in their respective 2022/23 league campaigns, with the Italian averaging 2.36 tackles per 90 to Lodi’s 2.11, the 23-year-old showcased a more progressive side to his game.

As per FBref, the Forest target made an average of 74.24 touches per 90 for Bologna in comparison to their former left-back's mere 46.46, highlighting his desire to be involved in the game.

Influential in his progressive game, Cambiaso averaged 2.65 progressive carries and 3.44 progressive passes per 90 in Serie A, while maintaining a pass completion rate of 84.0%.

Despite being adored at the City Ground, Lodi’s numbers in the Premier League last term were incomparable to those of the Juve man, averaging a pass completion rate of 66.5% and making 1.26 progressive passes.

A prominent area of the Italian’s game is his eye for playmaking, evidenced through his average of 1.16 key passes per 90, presenting Cooper with the option to recruit added quality and a fresh outlet in defence.

With Spurs also watching the 23-year-old, the Welshman must act fast if he is to obtain the young talent.

As day turned to night a familiar figure made light of the creeping darkness to leave England in the pink

The Report by Andrew Miller17-Aug-20171:13

Root and Cook set solid platform

England 348 for 3 (Cook 153*, Root 136) v West Indies
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAs day turned to night, and while a historic fixture was being graced with a far more impressive sunset that a dank morning in Birmingham had threatened, a familiar figure made light of the creeping darkness to leave England in the pink and Edgbaston’s 21,000 punters in beery good spirits – not that West Indies’ toiling attack had quite so many reasons to be cheerful.Alastair Cook has been threatening a big score all summer long – his 88 against South Africa at The Oval was arguably the most important innings of England’s season to date – but at the scene of his career-best 294 against India in 2011, he racked up his 31st hundred, and his first since returning to the ranks, to grind England into a position of utter dominance in their maiden pink-ball Test.He did so, for the most part, in the company of the man to whom he had passed the reins. In the course of a stand that spanned 66.5 overs and the best part of five hours, Cook and Joe Root added 248 for the third wicket to atone for another flimsy display from their top-order rookies and cement England’s status as runaway favourites in this three-Test series.Root, in keeping with a remarkable run of form that has now carried him to half-centuries in each of his last 11 Tests – a new England record – was, as usual, the principle aggressor. Until he missed a loose drive in the 75th over – beaten by late inswing from Kemar Roach, the most energetic and impressive of an outclassed pace quartet – he had scarcely played a false stroke in racking up 136 from 189 balls, his 13th Test century and second of the summer.West Indies’ hangdog day in the field was epitomised in bizarre circumstances in the closing half-hour of play. For reasons known only to the captain himself, Jason Holder chose, in the 81st over, to pass over the chance to attack England with the shiny new pink ball and instead brought himself on to bowl three tepid deliveries before limping off the field with cramp.To compound the sense of a side that had lost their bearings, the spinner Roston Chase was called upon to complete an over in which England brought up their 300th run, and he might have carried on for the 83rd as well had it not been for late change of heart – presumably initiated by the coach Stuart Law on the player’s balcony.That passage of play was a dereliction of opportunity from West Indies, particularly given how tentatively Dawid Malan had been playing since replacing Root at the crease – he had been dropped on 2 as he cut Kraigg Brathwaite through the hands of slip, before completely losing sight of a Roach bouncer that didn’t get up nearly as dramatically as the jerk of his head had indicated. But Malan endured to the close, on 28 not out, still a long way from convincing as a Test batsman but armed with the sort of reconnaissance that could yet pay dividends when play resumes tomorrow afternoon.In a parallel universe, West Indies might have been drawn to the lights like a swarm of moths and given England’s middle-order the sort of test that the conditions merited. But they already had the look of a team that had seen enough. Cook, crucially, had not, and though the prospect of an evening new-ball attack from James Anderson and Stuart Broad surely will not be passed over should England be in a position to declare at tea tomorrow, he has a monster in his sights if he can get going again.Throughout the first two sessions, both of which had been played without the floodlights so much as blinking, only two deliveries had truly troubled any of the batsman – it just so happened that both claimed wickets in England’s wasteful first half-hour, as their unstated ambition of using this series to resolve their top-order issues in good time for the Ashes received an early reality check.Mark Stoneman, whose impending debut had been confirmed on the eve of the game, duly received his cap from Jonathan Trott in the team huddle before play and emerged from the pavilion shortly before 2pm to become Cook’s 12th opening partner since the retirement of Andrew Strauss in 2012.And briefly, he looked like one of the more accomplished candidates for the long-term role. After being granted a yawning sighter from Roach – a Harmison-esque wide that stung the fingers of second slip – Stoneman eased himself off the mark with a beautiful cover drive from his second legal delivery, before clipping a second four, off his pads and through square leg, in the same erratic over.But Roach, it transpired, was merely finding his range, and with the first ball of his second over, he nailed it to deadly effect. Stoneman propped half-forward to a good-length delivery on middle and leg, only to lose the top of his off stump as the ball zipped off the seam and past his outside edge.Enter Westley, who once again looked settled at the crease in an 18-ball stay, without translating that serenity into a telling performance. He too chipped in with a brace of boundaries – all told England amassed 22 in the morning session alone, more than 80% of their lunchtime total of 102. But, without addition to his 8, Westley was pinned on the front pad by Miguel Cummins’ third delivery and sent on his way via a review.Cook, as he has become accustomed, watched the events unfold at the other end with a faint air of bemusement, and simply got on with his job. His innings was a classic example of playing each ball on its merits – he got off the mark with a first-ball tap into the covers, and had picked off five fours from his next 13 balls before resorting to another single.Once Root had joined him, with the score on 39 for 2 in the eight over, he reverted to his familiar holding role – not that either man needed to be especially sluggish against a samey attack who served up too many freebies on both sides of the wicket. With his cut, flick and punch through the covers in full working order, he ground his way towards one of his trademark daddies.Cook’s 150 arrived via a familiar nudge off the hip for four, as Edgbaston burst into a tuneless chorus of “Ali-Ali-Cook Nah Nah Nah” that must nonetheless have sounded like a celestial hosannah to Edgbaston’s beancounters. By that score, at least, the first day of floodlit Test cricket in England had been a resounding success. The future of the format may, however, rely on stiffer competition in the long run.