One of the biggest priorities for Arsenal this summer is to sign a new centre forward with Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko both touted.

Yet, the Gunners must also bolster their options out wide where Bukayo Saka could do with added assistance on the right wing. Upgrades on Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, the scorers of ten goals apiece last term, could also be upgraded.

Andrea Berta has reportedly been looking at whole host of options with Premier League trio Anthony Gordon, Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers all reportedly on their radar.

However, reports over the last 48 hours have suggested that Noni Madueke is now a very realistic option for Arsenal in the transfer window.

How Arsenal could strengthen out wide

The ever-reliable David Ornstein revealed to his followers on Saturday afternoon that Arsenal have agreed personal terms with Madueke.

Club-to-club talks are yet to take place but the Gunners have clearly not done a lot of work on the player side.

Chelsea are now expecting a bid from the Gunners in the forthcoming days, according to Sky Sports.

Capable of playing on the right or the left, the England international would add solid cover along the Arsenal attack, but truth be told, they can surely do better than this.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Well, one option is Real Madrid’s Rodrygo. They have flirted with making a move for the Brazilian for most of the window and according to prior reports, positive talks have been held regarding a move.

Reports from Spain a few days ago suggested that Arsenal were prepared to put a whopping £78m on the table to prise the winger away from the Spanish capital and it’s now been revealed that he actually fancies a move.

According to Gunners insider, Hand of Arsenal, intermediaries working with clubs in Saudi Arabia have been told that “in no uncertain terms that Rodrygo’s preference is to move to the Premier League.”

The report goes on to reveal that Arsenal is the Brazil star’s “absolute priority” if a deal can be struck with Madrid.

How Rodrygo compares to Noni Madueke

There are understandable concerns from Arsenal supporters that Madueke would be another dud Chelsea player they’ve signed.

However, he does have immense talent. The winger scored a Premier League hat-trick in 2024/25 and despite the wealth of riches available to Enzo Maresca in attack, the England international still started 27 games in the top-flight.

Yet, he’s not Rodrygo, is he? The Brazil “superstar”, as he’s been dubbed by former teammate Luka Modric, has a history of scoring plenty of goals in Spain and the best campaign of his career came back in 2022/23, when he found the net on 19 occasions.

He may have only scored six times in LaLiga throughout the last campaign but he found the net 14 times across all competitions. He also supplied 11 assists to rubberstamp his threat as a creator too.

Madueke, on the other hand, only scored 11 goals in all competitions and registered just five assists. Already, we can see that Rodrygo produces better output. But, where else does the 24-year-old Madrista thrive?

Goals per game

0.24

0.25

Assists per game

0.11

0.20

Shots *

3.54

2.52

Key passes *

1.42

2.29

Progressive passes *

3.05

5.05

Shot-creating actions *

3.50

4.95

Successful take-ons *

1.99

2.29

Progressive carries

6.81

5.28

Carries

28.4

41.5

Touches

43.4

62.6

Well, in 80% of the metrics analysed, it’s the Madrid sensation who comes out on top. Not only does he produce more goals and assists per game, but he’s just overall a much greater threat in the final third of the pitch.

Madueke does trump him for progressive carries, but that aside, there are some big wins for Arsenal’s £78m target, perhaps most notably in a creative sense, where he registered more progressive passes, shot-creating actions and key passes.

Yes, Arsenal had problems scoring goals last term but with Saka out injured, they also lacked a bit of creativity. After all, no one in the Premier League came close to matching his level of output in that regard.

Saka produced the highest number of expected assists per 90 minutes last term (0.52) in the entire division, more than even Mo Salah, who produced 0.48.

So, with Rodrygo looking a lot more like the complete package when compared to Madueke, he must be Arsenal’s biggest priority once they’ve got a striker over the line.

The dream squad Arsenal could build: £235m stars & "the new Haaland" sign

Here’s what the Arsenal squad could look like at the end of the summer.

ByMatt Dawson Jul 6, 2025

“We’re picking the best team for here and now, and if that does encompass a younger player, then we’ll head down that direction,” McDonald said

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Oct-20241:16

Manjrekar: India will hope Rohit, Kohli fire in Australia

Andrew McDonald, the Australia head coach, has said 19-year-old Sam Konstas would not be held back from a Test debut against India due to his lack of first-class experience if the selectors believe he is the best option.Konstas, who will play for Australia A against India A in Mackay from Thursday, is in the mix to open in the Test series after making back-to-back hundreds in the first Sheffield Shield game of the season then a hard-fought 43 against Victoria on a tricky pitch at the MCG.He has played just six first-class matches so the most he will have under his belt, if he were to debut in Perth next month, would be eight, but the selectors will purely be considering whether he is the ideal person for the vacant role alongside Usman Khawaja in a series that will be vital in determining Australia’s World Test Championship hopes.Related

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“I think we’re picking the best team for here and now, and if that does encompass a younger player, then we’ll head down that direction,” McDonald told ABC’s . “And clearly Sam Konstas, on the back of his first Shield match, and the way he went about his work in the second innings at the MCG against Scott Boland, has definitely made some noise.”I’ve heard people commentating ‘do you protect the player?’ If they’re ready, they’re ready in our mind, and if Sam’s capable and we feel as though is capable to fill that spot I don’t think that the opponent should come into the equation.”Andrew McDonald on Nathan McSweeney: ‘He’s a legitimate chance to put his hand up for selection at some point in time’•Getty ImagesKonstas’ mentor, Shane Watson, has termed the current selection debate a “perfect storm” for him to be propelled into the Test side.”I think it’s purely is this player good enough to play Test cricket?,” McDonald said. “You’ve got to start against someone, and you shouldn’t be holding back and protecting someone from a potential opponent, and India is a strong opponent but also the advantage of a player playing in Australia for their first Test summer is that the conditions are familiar. What better place to start than in your own back yard.”However, despite the decision to move Steven Smith back to No. 4, McDonald continued to believe that a middle-order batter could be converted to a Test opener if that was felt the best solution. McDonald has previously been strong on picking the best six batters available.McDonald cited the examples of Watson and Simon Katich who moved from middle-order roles to the top with success while also drew on India’s last visit when Matthew Wade took the role amid injury issues for first-choice options.Nathan McSweeney, the South Australia captain who will lead Australia A, has put his name in frame for a call-up with an impressive start to the season at No. 3 in state cricket

“The way our batters speak about his [Shami’s] relentless nature, his line and lengths, the way he goes about his business, a real good complimenting skill set to Bumrah so think that one-two combo they’ll lack a little bit, and they’ll miss that.”Andrew McDonald on Mohammed Shami’s absence

“I think he’s a legitimate chance to put his hand up for selection at some point in time, whether that be in the middle order…or whether that his technique can push for an opening slot,” McDonald said. “I think he’s technically capable and definitely got the mindset to be able to achieve good things at the top of the order, but whether that’s the time and place for him right now, that’s to be decided.”McDonald also felt Mohammed Shami’s absence from the India squad was significant but cautioned against any suggestions they would not be able to cover the gap given what happened on their previous tour to Australia where an injury-depleted side famously won at the Gabba to take the series.”Mohammed Shami is a big loss,” he said. “The way our batters speak about his relentless nature, his line and lengths, the way he goes about his business, a real good complimenting skill set to Bumrah so think that one-two combo they’ll lack a little bit, and they’ll miss that. But needless to say we saw what happened last time, they had reserves that came in and did the job as well so they cannot be underestimated at all.”

Inglis-Carey stand breaks England before keeper’s maiden ODI hundred seals stunning chase

Danyal Rasool22-Feb-20252:04

Agar: Inglis controlled the innings, the rest could bat around him

By the time Australia’s fourth wicket fell, Josh Inglis had switched into declutter mode. There remained more than 200 runs still to get, the asking rate nearing eight, and there wasn’t too much batting to come. There was little time to regroup and consolidate, and at the same time little room for error.None of this, Inglis understood, would be helpful to worry about. “We were in and around the run rate to start off with, so that was a big help,” Inglis said after the game. “The partnership between Shorty [Matt Short] and Marnus [Labuschagne] was really important. They sort of set the platform there, got us off to a good start. And then me and [Alex] Carey, we didn’t really say too much out there. Carey is pretty quiet when he’s batting, so I think we were going pretty well. So, I just tried to not look at the scoreboard too much, [not] look at the run rate, just keep batting the way we were going.”Australia were in pursuit of what would be the highest chase in an ICC tournament, and despite his obvious talent, Inglis hasn’t had an ODI career of particular note yet. In 28 matches, he had scored 543 runs, averaging under 22, a quickfire 65 against West Indies in February 2024 his most significant ODI contribution. If Australia were to get close, he had to produce an effort little in his career so far provided reason to expect.Related

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In the immediate term, Carey and Inglis minimised risks while keeping the asking rate under control. Like Australia, England had opted for the security of a deeper batting order, and would have to compensate for it with part-time bowling. In just the second over after the partnership came together, Carey struck two fours of Livingstone, before Inglis launched him for six the following over. It balanced out the respectful caution they treated Adil Rashid with without falling too far behind.”We trained here at night for the last couple of days and it got really dewy around half past seven or eight o’clock,” Inglis said. “So, we sort of knew that was in our favour during the run chase and if we could take it deep enough it would be tough for the bowlers at the back end. It made life easier for us, the wicket skidded on beautifully and it really helped our run chase.”And we knew if we could get close enough with Maxi [Glenn Maxwell] still to come – we’ve just seen what Maxi can do and everyone’s seen it for a while now. So, to get close enough for him to be able to explode like that at the back end was probably in the back of our thoughts.”Inglis and Carey worked the run chase so expertly they didn’t necessarily need any explosions. They added 146 in just 116 deliveries, and by the time Carey holed out to mid-off, Australia just needed to stick with a similar rate of scoring.Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell celebrate Australia’s win•Associated Press

That fireworks came via Maxwell’s bat wasn’t especially surprising; he took the sting out of England’s two gun seamers in Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, scorching them for 31 in 11 balls. Inglis, however, wasn’t far behind, his last 36 coming off just 14 balls. It included a huge six over midwicket off Archer to bring up his hundred, and another one in the same region off Wood to seal the win.”Maybe under the circumstances [it’s my best innings]. It’s really special. I think in an ICC event, you want to have an impact and you want to help your team win a game, so maybe – I’ll reflect on that in the future.”Inglis’ personal history with England perhaps adds a further layer of intrigue to the story. He was born in Leeds and only moved to Australia as a teenager, and said as recently as 2022 that he still supported England at cricket. Those days, he said today, were “long gone now”.”It doesn’t matter who it’s against,” he said. “It’s a really tight, quick tournament. We knew how we started the World Cup in India last year and we weren’t able to get a good start, we knew you can’t work your way into this Champions Trophy. You’ve got to be right on it from the first game. So, I think that’s probably the most pleasing thing, to get a win on the board in game one.”And if there’s little doubt about Inglis’ loyalties now, the same couldn’t necessarily be said about the crowed. With 26,232 packed into the new Gaddafi Stadium, Australian and English flags were visible in roughly equal measure, and celebrations at each six or wicket, almost irrespective of who they came from. The quality and intensity of the game, without doubt the best of this tournament so far, meant the spectators’ attention was held right through the end, with few leaving before Inglis had struck the final blow.”I thought the atmosphere was amazing all day today. It’s obviously the new stands. I think the ground and the stadium looks amazing. To play tonight in front of a packed crowd was unbelievable and the noise at times was deafening, especially with the Mexican wave. I saw that going around a few times and it was a really nice crowd and good atmosphere tonight.”

MatériaMais Notícias

da lvbet： Eurocopa – Qualificações, Brasileirão – Série B e Brasileirão – Série A são os principais destaques desta sábado (14) de futebol. Confira onde assistir ao vivo e os horários das partidas.

da brwin： + Eles têm o faro! Aposte R$100 e ganhe mais de R$750 com Sané, Højlund e Chiesa na Data Fifa!

+ Sábado recheado! Aposte R$100 e ganhe mais de R$830 com combinada da Série B

تعادل مانشستر يونايتد أمام نوتينجهام فورست بهدفين لمثلهما في الجولة العاشرة من منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وكان مانشستر يونايتد قد افتتح التسجيل عن طريق لاعب خط الوسط البرازيلي المخضرم كاسميرو برأسية رائعة في الدقيقة 34.

وفي دقيقتين متتاليتين نجح نوتينجهام فورست في العودة في نتيجة المباراة بواسطة مورجان جيبس وايت في الدقيقة 48 بعد بداية الشوط الثاني.

وفي الدقيقة 50 أحرز نيكولو سافونا الهدف الثاني للفريق المضيف بعد أن استغل خطأ من دفاعات مانشستر يونايتد ليسدد في شباكه.

أقرأ أيضاً.. ديفيد فيا: محمد صلاح أفضل لاعب إفريقي في العالم

وحاول مانشستر يونايتد وضغط بشراسة في نهاية الشوط الثاني، وفي الدقيقة 80 نجح أماد ديالو في تسجيل هدف التعادل بعد أن تابع كرة طائشة بتسديدة رائعة من أول لمسة في شباك نوتينجهام فورست.

وكان روبن أموريم مدرب مانشستر يونايتد قد بدأ اللقاء بتشكيل مكون من: “لامينز، يورو، دي ليخت، لوك شاو، دالوت، فرنانديز، كاسميرو، ديالو، بريان مبيومو، كونها، سيسكو”.

بهذه النتيجة يصبح مانشستر يونايتد برصيد 17 نقطة في المركز الخامس، ونوتينجهام فورست في المركز الثامن عشر بـ6 نقاط.

“Either Shivam Dube has put on about 25mph with the ball or Harshit has really improved his batting,” says the England captain

S Sudarshanan31-Jan-20250:53

Butller: Rana for Dube wasn’t a like-for-like replacement

There was scrutiny around India’s move to bring on Harshit Rana as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube during the fourth T20I against England, with England captain Jos Buttler saying after the match that this did not fit the definition of a like-for-like replacement. The television commentators who were on air at the time of the substitution – Kevin Pietersen and Nick Knight – had also questioned the swap. Dube did not take the field in the chase, after taking a blow on the helmet on his way to 53 off 34 balls.”It is not a like-for-like replacement. We don’t agree with that,” Buttler said after India completed a 15-run win. “Either Shivam Dube has put on about 25mph with the ball or Harshit has really improved his batting. It’s part of the game and we really should have gone on to win the match, but we disagree with the decision.”There was no consultation [with us]. That’s something I was thinking as I came out to bat – who is Harshit on for? They said he is a concussion replacement, which I obviously disagreed with. It is not a like-for-like replacement. They said that the match referee had made the decision. We had no say in it or any part of it. But we’ll ask Javagal [Srinath] some questions just to get some clarity around it.Related

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“Like I said, it was not the whole reason why we did not win the match. We had our chances to win the game which we could have still taken. But I’d like to have a bit more clarity on that.”As per the ICC’s playing conditions for men’s T20Is, “The ICC Match Referee should ordinarily approve a Concussion Replacement Request if the replacement is a like-for-like player whose inclusion will not excessively advantage his/her team for the remainder of the match. In assessing whether the nominated Concussion Replacement should be considered a like-for-like player, the ICC Match Referee should consider the likely role the concussed player would have played during the remainder of the match, and the normal role that would be performed by the nominated Concussion Replacement.”Dube scored a half-century after walking in at 57 for 4 and stitched an 87-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Hardik Pandya. It allowed India to post 181 for 9. On the penultimate ball of the innings, Dube was hit on the helmet by Jamie Overton’s 141.5kph bumper.India had batting allrounder Ramandeep Singh on the bench, who might have better fit the definition of a like-for-like replacement for Dube. For a short while, Ramandeep came on as a substitute for Varun Chakravarthy.3:48

How allrounders test the limits of concussion sub rules

“He [Rana] is not the like-to-like replacement for Shivam Dube,” Pietersen had said on air. “You ask anyone in the world, and they will say the same thing. Dube is not a genuine pacer, but Rana is.” Knight also echoed these thoughts.India’s assistant coach Morne Morkel said: “Shivam came off the field in the innings break with mild headache symptoms. We took a name forward to the match referee in terms of a suitable substitution, and from there it is up to the match referee to make the decision. When the decision was made, Harshit was having dinner. So we had to get him ready as quickly as possible to go on the field and bowl.”It goes to the powers above me – match referee makes the decision. We can only take the name forward and from there it is out of our hands.”Rana, who was playing his first T20I, was brought into the attack in the 12th over and he struck with his second ball. He got a short-of-good-length ball to bounce extra to take the outside edge of Liam Livingstone, who had looked to guide it through third. Rana bowled his full quota of overs and picked up three wickets. He also was at short third to catch out England captain Jos Buttler, who walked back fuming and had a few words with head coach Brendon McCullum, perhaps regarding the approval of Rana as the concussion substitute.”Two overs into the chase, I was told [about being the concussion substitute],” Rana said after the match. “I have been preparing for a while, not just for this series. I have been waiting for this moment [his debut] to prove myself. When I got the chance, I did not think of the circumstances and just thought about delivering. I have experience of bowling at the death [for KKR in the IPL] and relied on that.”

On T10 cricket: “It’s completely different than I thought. I think you’re never too old to learn, so that’s been brilliant”

Aadam Patel01-Dec-20211:43

Will Faf du Plessis turn out for South Africa again?

When Faf du Plessis retired from Test cricket earlier this year, he said that he was “making T20 cricket the priority in the short-term”. There were T20 World Cups scheduled in 2021 and 2022 – his mind was made up. But he wasn’t part of the 2021 T20 World Cup squad, named in September.As if to make a point, he hit 84 off 54 balls in the CPL for St Lucia Kings two days after the squad had been named and, not long after, finished the IPL – played in the same neck of the woods as the World Cup – with a magnificent 86 off 59 balls in Chennai Super Kings’ triumph in the final. He ended the competition as the second-highest scorer with 633 runs.Related

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In case anyone has been wondering what could have been, du Plessis is “on a different journey now”, so it doesn’t matter.”Last year, when I played for South Africa against England in the series there, the plan was still very much to play in the World Cup. And the talks were that leading up to that. But at that time, it was just really difficult for Cricket South Africa and myself to find something that allows me to still play overseas,” du Plessis explained to ESPNcricinfo. “Because that was the reason why I obviously retired from Test cricket especially. So they tried to, but we couldn’t find a middle ground and I think they wanted people that are available all the time. That made it a challenge for the guys like myself and Imran Tahir, because we were playing overseas [franchise leagues] as well.”So I think that’s the challenge now, because we are playing overseas, if they don’t want us to play all the games, it’s probably an unrealistic expectation.”Nevertheless, du Plessis feels fit and in the mood to play as much cricket as possible, even if it’s restricted to short-format, franchise cricket.”I still feel physically like I’m in a really good condition to play for however long I want to play for”•CPL T20/ Getty Images”I still feel physically like I’m in a really good condition to play for however long I want to play for, so I’m fortunate that physically I can do that,” he said. “For me, age doesn’t really matter, like it would for someone else maybe. So it’s the mental freshness and the motivation that becomes the two challenges for me. And I’m still very motivated.”After winning the IPL with the Super Kings in the UAE, du Plessis is back in the region captaining Bangla Tigers in the Abu Dhabi T10 competition. The Tigers are through to the playoffs already, and du Plessis is enjoying leading the likes of James Faulkner, Johnson Charles and Mohammad Amir.He has enjoyed playing the super-short format too, but the speed of the action has taken du Plessis by surprise. After a poor start with a hat-trick of single-figure scores, his last two innings have been 26 off 16 and 22* off eight.”It’s completely different than I thought,” he said. “I would think that, in a game like this, you still feel like you have time as a batter, but it feels so quick. So it’s been great for me to learn a little bit. I think you’re never too old to learn so that’s been brilliant.”Normally, as an opening batter, you’ve got a bit of time and the first two overs of the powerplay to have a look, but it’s exactly the opposite in T10 cricket. You almost have no time in the first two overs of the powerplay because you have to maximise the way that you play. So we’ve actually just adjusted our tactical approach a little bit, to send the boys upfront that are just full and swinging as hard as they can, to try and maximise those first two or three hours.”

David Miller on taking more responsibility, the 2023 World Cup, and working with Mark Boucher

Firdose Moonda29-Apr-2020In 2010, David Miller entered international cricket as a confident 20-year-old with a reputation of being a big-hitter and a rhyme to match his style. “If it’s the v, it’s in the tree; if it’s in the arc, it’s out the park,” he said, repeating a phrase his father had taught him. For five years, he thrilled with cheeky cameos before finally getting his first international hundred. Today, Miller is the most experienced member of South Africa’s ODI side. He has played in two 50-over World Cups, two Champions Trophies and two T20 World Cups, and is a few matches away from becoming the country’s most-capped T20I player.He spoke about his new-found seniority in the side, his lesser-known love for the longest format, and the legacy he hopes to leave behind.Last summer was a particularly tough one for South African cricket, with only one series win from the five at home. Lungi Ngidi recently revealed it was a pep talk by you that sparked the turnaround and ultimately led to the ODI series win against Australia. Can you tell us a little more about that?
It was during the first match of the ODI series in Paarl. Everyone knows what had gone on with Cricket South Africa and the number of retirements we’ve had, and that we have a new crop of players in the team. I always thought, even with all those things, we were in a great space because we had a lot of guys who have been around the block, even though not at international level. They are all very experienced domestically. So I just told them that now is the time we need confidence and self-belief to go forward and we need a shift in mindset.With respect, international cricket is just another game. I said to the guys that all of them have been there before and played in must-win situations at domestic level. All that’s changed is the situation has heightened. I told them that everyone is capable of performing, everyone deserves to be here, and it’s about not waiting for a Quinton de Kock or David Miller to score the runs. Or even for Dale Steyn or Faf du Plessis to come back. This is the game now and we’ve got to play it. I think when that realisation that they can do it happened, things changed.ALSO READ: 2019: South African cricket’s annus horribilisIt sounds like you have really stepped up into a position of seniority. Are you surprised your name has not come up much in captaincy discussions?
I enjoy being a leader, and off the field and during practices, I like to help the guys. When I came up, there were a lot of leaders around and I learnt a lot from them. Then there comes a time when you have to step up and you realise you can lead too. After the 2019 World Cup, I had some time to reflect and I realised that maybe because I always had senior players around me, I didn’t necessarily need to step up, but now that they are gone, it’s my responsibility to lead. So I changed my mindset.I don’t have to be the captain to take on a leadership role. Quinton de Kock is a good captain. He doesn’t overcomplicate things and he gives us a sense of calm. He is also very switched on in the field and knows what he wants from his bowlers and his field placings. He is street-smart and it helps having some senior guys from the domestic scene, like Rassie van der Dussen and Jon-Jon Smuts, around. That’s helped me too.When you look back at the fallout from the World Cup, and given you had already stopped playing first-class cricket, did you consider walking away from international cricket and becoming a T20 freelancer?
With a World Cup, we know that only one team can win, but the way we played and the number of things that didn’t go our way – it was really tough.I thought about things a lot. My priority is still South Africa. I love playing for the country and I love the challenge of playing against the best in the world, so it’s never been an option for me to give it up. I know that I play in a few leagues, but that’s always outside of my national duties. And I am only 30. I still feel like I have a huge amount to offer.David Miller made 64 in the first ODI against Australia in Paarl. South Africa went on to win the series 3-0•AFP/Getty Images Does that mean you might consider changing your decision to retire from first-class cricket? You averaged 67 and 44.37 in the last two seasons you played in, so do you think there’s a chance you could come back and push for a Test place, especially as batting is such a big focus?
I’ve never been one to rush into decisions, so when I made the decision to stop playing first-class cricket, I had thought about it for a long time. I knew I didn’t start well in my first-class career and that had pushed me to the back of the pecking order, which was fair enough. I also knew I couldn’t pick and choose between T20 and first-class, so that’s when I made the decision. But things can change and there may still be hope. I might have to have a discussion with Graeme Smith and Mark Boucher and it could be a possibility.Do you enjoy red-ball cricket?
I absolutely love it. I still love watching Test cricket and I always wanted to play Tests. That was my goal growing up. And after my start, I found that in the last few years of my first-class career, I was scoring heaps and I was really enjoying it. I think I got better as I got older. I was building my innings better.Time in the middle has been a consideration for you even in limited-overs cricket, where you sometimes get to the crease with just a few overs or balls left and are expected to make a big impact. Would you like to have time to set up your innings or the chance to bat longer?
I’ve always wanted to bat higher, but at the same time, I felt really privileged to be playing. As you move on in your career, you want more responsibility and more time to get set and then finish off. We all have dreams, but it is also about what’s best for the team.ALSO READ: Mark Boucher excited ‘to see the guys grow a bit’ in white-ball cricketHow have you dealt with the expectation that comes with being labelled a finisher?

It’s part of the position that I play, so I’ve become thick-skinned. No one has to tell me that I should have won a game because I am the first one to know that I should have. It’s taken time for me to get used to that role and to what gets said about you when things don’t go your way, but then, on the other side, when the rewards come, they are so high that it makes it worthwhile.How do you train for the role? Is it just about big hitting?
Power-hitting and clearing the rope are things I worked hard on earlier in my career. But now, mentally I am in a great space, so I am working on a few other things. It makes a big difference having Mark Boucher around. He has taught us that the game is always evolving. Guys are getting quicker and smarter, and if you don’t keep working to get better, you will fall away. He has got us working on different skills and shots and putting myself under pressure in the nets so that I am prepared for different game-day scenarios.Has your game progressed more under Boucher than other coaches?
He is so experienced and has played for so long, and him and I have had similar roles in the middle order, so I can pick his brain. He is honest and open, but he is also cut-throat, which you want as a player. There’s no beating around the bush. You know exactly where you stand.”The IPL is a cut above the rest, in terms of pressure. In every game, you are playing in front of 40,000 to 90,000 people. Then, off the field and in hotels, there are a lot of demands”•BCCI What are the big goals for the rest of your career?
The 2023 World Cup is one of my goals and I am excited for what we can do in that tournament. We have a group that is in a similar space – a lot of young guys who are all a similar age and we know they will be available. It’s not a case of a whole lot of guys retiring after two years. It’s almost like we can grow for the next four years and it’s only a matter of time before things click.So you think South Africa have a chance at the 2023 World Cup?
We are right up there talent-wise and we produce a lot of good players. Maybe what we’ve lacked is pressure in domestic cricket, because we don’t draw the crowds that other countries get and that plays a big role in helping you cope with pressure. That could be something we need to look at and it’s started with the Mzansi Super League.You’ve played in various leagues around the world. Could you describe the differences in the leagues you have played in? And do you intend to continue playing in them?
All the leagues are unique. The ones I have played in most are the IPL and the CPL. The IPL is a cut above the rest, in terms of pressure, which is what you want. In every game, you are playing in front of 40,000 to 90,000 people. Then, off the field and in hotels, there are a lot of demands, from the public and the owners, so there’s a lot going on.The CPL has a bit more flexibility. They call it the biggest party in sport and I guess it is. I do hope to keep playing, but moving into the latter part of my career, I want to play as much as I can but also listen to my body.ALSO READ: Alternative Universe: South Africa win the 2015 World CupWhat has been the highlight of your career so far?
The 2015 World Cup, which might be surprising. It was disappointing to lose and maybe we played some average cricket through the competition, but it was just a really good team vibe and a really good time in my career. I felt like I was playing well and the environment was good and the two months we spent in Australia and New Zealand were really special, even after how it ended. So hopefully we can create something similar again.Although you’re very excited to play cricket, we know live sport is unlikely to return for a while. How are you coping with the current lockdown?
It’s tough. I’ve got a back garden, so I am doing some workouts there, and I’ve got a passage, so I am hitting tennis balls, which takes me back to my days as a youngster. But that’s it. It’s frustrating because going into the nets is also a release for me. It gets me in a good space and it’s what I love, but I can’t do that at the moment. But I also know we are all in the same boat, so it’s just about dealing with it for now. And once the lockdown ends, we can see what we can do in terms of team camps and hopefully we can get going again.

Everything you need to know about the new West Ham United kits for the 2025-26 season.

West Ham head into the 2025-26 season with Umbro once again supplying their kits, continuing a partnership that was extended in 2023 in a deal reportedly worth over £7 million per year. The club's shirts will have new commercial elements as well, with Boyle Sports making an appearance as the main shirt sponsor and QuickBooks on the sleeve.

Shop West Ham kits at UmbroBuy now

As always, fans can expect a blend of classic claret and blue heritage with modern design touches, as Umbro aims to deliver kits that honor tradition while fitting the demands of today’s game. With a deal with New Balance reportedly on the cards from the 2026-27 season, the current manufacturer will be looking to sign off with a bang.

• New 2025-26 football kits: All kits in one place

GOAL takes a closer look at what the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus and the rest of the Hammers squad will be wearing this season.

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  West Ham 2025-26 home kit, release date & price

  West Ham United have officially revealed their new home kit for the 2025/26 season, continuing their partnership with Umbro in a design that blends modern simplicity with timeless club tradition. The shirt presents a refined take on the Hammers’ iconic claret identity, introducing a stripped-back aesthetic that highlights the strength of the club’s visual legacy while offering a fresh, minimalist look.

  The 2025/26 home shirt is predominantly claret with subtle tonal blue inserts beneath the arms, creating a sleek, uninterrupted silhouette. The smart ribbed collar and sleeve cuffs are detailed with alternating claret and blue stripes – a respectful nod to the club’s storied heritage. The front of the kit features a reinstated full-color West Ham United crest, paired with Umbro’s white logo for contrast and clarity. Adding a final, thoughtful touch, a subtle crossed hammers motif is placed on the back of the neck, paying homage to the club’s deep-rooted identity and its historic symbolism. Clean, classic, and unmistakably West Ham, the new kit is now available via the club’s official store, with the short-sleeved version available at £75.

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  West Ham 2025-26 away kit, release date & price

  West Ham United have revealed their new 2025/26 Umbro away kit, blending nostalgia with modern design in a tribute to a memorable era in the club’s history. The shirt features an elegant Ecru base complemented by Navy detailing and subtle flashes of Claret – a colour combination last worn by the Hammers nearly 30 years ago.

  Drawing inspiration from the 1996/97 campaign, the kit is designed to stir memories of iconic figures such as Julian Dicks with his fearless tackles, John Moncur’s flair in midfield, and Ian Bishop’s pinpoint passing.

  Adding to its retro charm, the shirt includes a stylish mono-colour version of the club crest, along with branding from Principal Partner BOYLE Sports, Technical Partner Umbro, and Sleeve Partner Intuit QuickBooks. The new away kit is available now both online and in-store, priced at £75.

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  West Ham 2025-26 third kit, release date & price

  No leaks yet regarding the third kit of West Ham for the upcoming season. It is expected to be launched later this year.

  The third kit for the 2024/25 season showcased a clean white design, accented with a burgundy polo collar and cuffs trimmed in gold. An embossed zig-zag pattern featuring the Hammers crest added texture, celebrating the shared heritage between the club and Umbro. This kit was first worn in the Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace.

  Fans eagerly await the unveiling of the 2025/26 kits, hoping for designs that continue to honor the club's rich history while introducing fresh elements.

• West Ham 2025-26 goalkeeper kit, release date & price

  As of now, there have been no leaks revealing the design of West Ham's 2025-26 goalkeeper kit.

  The adult version of the goalkeeper jersey is usually listed at around £75 ($95).

Shakib’s presence makes Barishal formidable, Dhaka has the Mahmudullah-Mashrafe-Tamim combo, while Sylhet have great balance

Mohammad Isam19-Jan-2022 Comilla Victorians Team overview
Comilla Victorians, the two-time BPL champions, return to the tournament after missing the 2019-20 season. And Comilla, who won the 2015 and 2019 editions, will be boosted by the return of their head coach Mohammad Salahuddin.They have one of the most balanced squads in the tournament, with a good mix of experience and local expertise. Faf du Plessis and Sunil Narine are their marquee players, while Mustafizur Rahman, Moeen Ali and Cameron Delport are big names in T20 cricket in most places around the world.Among the other batters, Liton Das is in good form, while Imrul Kayes has plenty of BPL experience. Parvez Hossain Emon is the wildcard in the top order, having struck the fastest hundred by a Bangladeshi in T20s, in 2020. Comilla have also roped in allrounder Nahidul Islam, a known T20 specialist, to add to the spin-heavy bowling attack.Related

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BPL: Lewis, Tanvir and Jacks among players to watch

Strengths
A potent spin attack led by Narine, in addition to allrounders like Mahedi and Nahidul. Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam could be one to look out for, too.A well-balanced batting line-up led by du Plessis. Liton and Imrul are capable of giving the team big starts, while Moeen will be in charge of providing a late flourish if needed.Weaknesses
A pace attack in which Mustafizur will have to do most of the heavy lifting. Oshane Thomas and Karim Janat are useful, but Shohidul Islam, Sumon Khan and Abu Hider all have their work cut out.Squad: Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Sunil Narine, Mustafizur Rahman, Liton Das, Shohidul Islam, Imrul Kayes (capt), Tanvir Islam, Kusal Mendis, Oshane Thomas, Ariful Haque, Nahidul Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Sumon Khan, Mominul Haque, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Parvez Hossain Emon, Abu Hider, Mehedi Hasan, Cameron Delport, Karim Janat.Shoriful Islam will lead Chattogram’s bowling attack•ICC via GettyChattogram ChallengersTeam overview
Chattogram Challengers will hope to go a step further than they did at the 2019-20 BPL, where they made it till the second qualifier, where they lost to eventual champions Rajshahi Royals.But Chattogram overall had a decent outing in that season – which is probably why they have retained Rayad Emrit, Enamul Haque, Nasum Ahmed and Chadwick Walton, as well as head coach Paul Nixon. However, they are yet to name their captain for this season.The line-up looks promising. Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain and Zakir Hasan are all in-form Bangladesh players, and they have the overseas trio of Kennar Lewis, Will Jacks and Chadwick Walton to complement them well. Sabbir Rahman, who has now fallen off the radar, is also part of the team.Shoriful Islam and Benny Howell will lead the bowling attack which also has Mehidy Hasan and Nasum Ahmed in the spin department.Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, a left-arm quick who has impressed in the Under-19 and domestic circuit, is an interesting pick. Chattogram also have three wicketkeeping options in Walton, Zakir and Akbar Ali.Strengths
They have quite an impressive batting line-up that includes several foreign and local big-hitters, so they would hope their batters turn up well at the tournament and provide them with some solid starts up front.Weaknesses
The big names in the side will be expected to keep up with the pressure especially in the back-end of the tournament, where they let it slip last season.Squad: Nasum Ahmed, Benny Howell, Kennar Lewis, Will Jacks, Shoriful Islam, Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Mukidul Islam, Chadwick Walton, Rayad Emrit, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Sabbir Rahman, Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, Mehidy Hasan (capt), Akbar Ali, Naeem Islam, Enamul Haque, Zakir Hasan.With a captain-coach combination of Shakib Al Hasan and Khaled Mahmud, Barishal Fortune have plenty of experience in the think-tank•AFP/Getty ImagesFortune BarishalTeam overview
A Barishal franchise returns to the BPL for the first time since 2016. Burners and Bulls had their moments in the first four editions, but now we have Fortune Barishal.Fortune Barishal had finished fourth – out of five teams – in the Bangabandhu T20 Cup in December 2020.For the BPL, they signed up Shakib Al Hasan and coach Khaled Mahmud first up, which gives them a great think-tank. Shakib and Mahmud are linking up again after a coach-captain partnership for several seasons with Dhaka Dynamites, including their triumph in 2016.They have picked a number of young Bangladeshi batters, a Mahmud hallmark. Najmul Hossain Shanto leads this pack that also includes Towhid Hridoy, Munim Shahriar and Salman Hossain. Chris Gayle will join the set-up slightly later on, adding a truckload of firepower and experience to the batting line-up.They have a strong pace attack with Alzarri Joseph and Obed McCoy in lead roles, complemented by local left-arm quicks Mehedi Hasan Rana and Shafiqul Islam. They also have quality spinners to call upon, including Shakib and Taijul Islam, and Afghanistan ace Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who is likely to join the side a bit later on.Strengths
Variety in the spin attack. They have orthodox left-arm spinners in Shakib and Taijul Islam, and left-arm spin of the unorthodox kind from Jake Lintott. Mujeeb Ur Rahman adds a bit of mystery, while Nayeem Hasan is an accurate offspinner who’s in great domestic form.A pace attack with three left-arm quicks. Obed McCoy will bring pace and guile, while Mehedi Hasan Rana and Shafiqul Islam have the local know-how.Weaknesses
If Shakib bats in the Barishal top three, that makes eight top-order batters in their squad. It would mean some of the younger openers may have to do an unfamiliar middle-order job.Not enough allrounders apart from Shakib and an aging Dwayne Bravo. Evidence from previous BPL seasons suggests that bowling allrounders are useful on slow and low pitches where teams tend to pick fewer out-and-out fast bowlers.Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Chris Gayle, Nurul Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehedi Hasan Rana, Fazle Mahmud, Obed McCoy, Alzarri Joseph, Towhid Hridoy, Ziaur Rahman, Shafiqul Islam, Shykat Ali, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Salman Hossain, Irfan Sukkur, Dwayne Bravo, Munim Shahriar, Jake Lintott.Mushfiqur Rahim will lead a team that has the quality to go all the way•BCBKhulna TigersTeam overview
Khulna Tigers, a team built around allrounders, are sending out positive vibes, they look like a team that can go all the way. The closest they got to that was the last time the BPL was held, in 2019-20, when they reached the final before losing to Rajshahi Royals.Led by Mushfiqur Rahim and coached by Lance Klusener, Khulna’s player choices, even the overseas ones, are tailor-made for Bangladeshi conditions.Mushfiqur has Soumya Sarkar, Yasir Ali, Rony Talukder and Andre Fletcher as the main batters. Mushfiqur is also the wicketkeeper, Soumya bowls useful medium-pace, and Talukder is another keeping option.The genuine allrounders include Thisara Perera, Mahedi Hasan, Seekkuge Prasanna and Sikandar Raza, with support from domestic stalwarts Farhad Reza and Mohammad Sharifullah. Most of them are capable middle-order batters, but they will mostly be required to do the job at the death.Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Naveen-ul-Huq will lead the pace attack, while Khaled Ahmed is there to provide support. Rabbi has made his name as a good death bowler in recent BPL seasons, and has a burgeoning reputation as a big-hitter too. Veteran left-arm spinners Sohrawardi Shuvo and Nabil Samad will come in handy as the pitches get weary.Strengths
Allrounders. Perera, Raza and Prasanna have international pedigree while Mahedi isn’t too far behind, particularly in the BPL.Weaknesses
Managing the expectations could be a big challenge for Khulna. They were finalists in the last BPL and given their overall strength this time, taking them down will give most teams a lot of pleasure.Squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Mahedi Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Farhad Reza, Yasir Ali, Rony Talukder, Jaker Ali, Khaled Ahmed, Mohammad Sharifullah, Sohrawardi Shuvo, Nabil Samad, Seekkuge Prasanna, Sikandar Raza, Thisara Perera, Naveenul Huq, Andre Fletcher.Mashrafe Mortaza and Mahmudullah, in the same corner this time•BCB Minister Group DhakaTeam overview
Dhaka’s ownership changed dramatically the night before the player draft last month when the consortium that had initially bought the franchise couldn’t pay the bank guarantee. It left the BCB to take over the team, with selector Habibul Bashar getting only a few hours to prepare for the draft.He went on to pick Mahmudullah, Tamim Iqbal and Mashrafe Mortaza. It was an interesting call because this showed the BCB’s faith in these three senior players, who they have felt, at three instances between 2017 and now, were well past their prime, at least for T20s.They have also roped in Mohammad Naim, Shamsur Rahman, Jahurul Islam and Shuvagata Hom among the local batters, apart from the Afghan quartet of Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Shahzad, Qais Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi.They later signed Andre Russell, who at USD 250,000 is the most expensive player in the tournament.They also have Isuru Udana of Sri Lanka, Rubel Hossain and Ebadot Hossain to round off a steady bowling attack.Mashrafe, meanwhile, will miss the first few matches because of a back injury.Dhaka are the most expensive team in the competition at USD 900,000. Comilla and Sylhet Sunrisers are next in line, but their respective spending in players has been less than half that of Dhaka, at around USD 426,000 and USD 418,000.Strengths
Balance in the line-up. They have a strong top and middle order, with Mahmudullah and Russell taking care of the death overs. The bowling attack is also well stacked up with the pace and spin bowlers.Weaknesses
The same as their strengths – they might be a bit over-reliant on those experienced players.Squad: Mahmudullah (capt), Isuru Udana, Qais Ahmad, Najibullah Zadran, Tamim Iqbal, Rubel Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza, Shuvagata Hom, Mohammad Shahzad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mohammad Naim, Arafat Sunny, Imran Uzzaman, Shafiul Islam, Jahurul Islam, Shamsur Rahman, Ebadot Hossain, Rishad Hossain, Andre Russell.Taskin Ahmed will lead Sylhet Sunrisers’ pace-bowling attack•Getty ImagesSylhet SunrisersTeam overview
Sylhet Sunrisers have picked a pretty balanced squad on paper, but a lack of genuine T20 match-winners may leave them short at some stage in the tournament.Anamul Haque is set to lead a side that includes Colin Ingram, Lendl Simmons and Ravi Bopara among their marquee foreign players. He will also have batting cover from Mohammad Mithun, Alok Kapali, Mizanur Rahman and Nadif Chowdhury among the locals, while Mosaddek Hossain, Sohag Gazi and Muktar Ali are the main allrounders.Taskin Ahmed will lead the bowling attack, along with Kesrick Williams, Shiraz Ahmed and Al-Amin Hossain. The spinners include Nazmul Islam, Jubair Hossain and Sunzamul Islam.Mervyn Dillon, the former West Indies fast bowler, will coach the side; it’s his first assignment in the BPL. Given their lack of top T20 names, Sylhet might have to play out of their skins to compete against top sides like Dhaka, Khulna and Comilla.Strengths
A lot will depend on Bopara, Ingram and Taskin. Ingram has to score quickly at the top while Bopara’s middle-order contributions and four overs with the semi-new ball will be crucial. Taskin has to pick up wickets at the top, and fire in his yorkers in the death overs.Weaknesses
Very few match-winners and allrounders. Sylhet could perhaps load their team with bits-and-pieces cricketers, but that approach is seldom successful in T20s.Squad: Anamul Haque (capt), Taskin Ahmed, Kesrick Williams, Colin Ingram, Shiraz Ahmed, Mosaddek Hossain (capt), Mohammad Mithun, Al-Amin Hossain, Nazmul Islam, Ravi Bopara, Sohag Gazi, Alok Kapali, Muktar Ali, Jubair Hossain, Mizanur Rahman, Nadif Chowdhury, Shafiul Hayet, Sunzamul Islam, Lendl Simmons, Devon Thomas.