Category Uncategorized

India’s first step into a new era of T20 cricket began with a stumble on Saturday, but they dusted themselves off well and truly to close out the weekend with a portentous win headlined by their most futuristic player. Abhishek Sharma, who lit up IPL 2024 with his incandescent, all-intent displays at the top of the order, gave international cricket its first glimpse of his ability on Sunday, taking Zimbabwe apart with a 46-ball century, the joint third-fastest by an India batter in T20Is.Related

• Abhishek Sharma's territory is expanding

• Stats – Abhishek Sharma hits India's third-fastest T20I hundred

That effort led India to 234 for 2 – their second-highest T20I total away from home – and left Zimbabwe needing to pull off their highest successful chase – they had only once hauled down a target above 199. They didn’t get anywhere near close, as India’s vastly superior bowling attack made full use of a two-paced pitch while defending a total that was well above-par. The margin of victory – exactly 100 runs – perfectly summed up the contest.

A deceptive start

On Saturday, Zimbabwe had opened the bowling with Brian Bennett, deploying his offspin against India’s left-hand debutant, and that had brought a first-over wicket-maiden with Abhishek out for a duck. The same match-up kicked off the second T20I after India opted to bat, and Abhishek got off the mark in international cricket off the first legal ball he faced, pulling it for six.It was a sign of what was to come, but it also wasn’t. International cricket isn’t necessarily a standard than the IPL, but it can be very, very different. This was a Harare pitch with a bit of spongy bounce and seam early on, and Zimbabwe’s attack used it well in the powerplay to keep India to 36 for 1.Shubman Gill fell in the second over, chipping Blessing Muzarabani straight to mid-on, and the towering quick was Zimbabwe’s best bowler in the early stages, troubling Ruturaj Gaikwad in particular with his lift and movement in the corridor. Abhishek took time coming to grips with the conditions too, and at one point was batting on 27 off 23 balls.Then he looked to clear his front leg and hit Luke Jongwe’s nibbly medium-pace over the top, and miscued it high in the air over the mid-off region. Wellington Masakadza got under it, and put it down.Abhishek Sharma’s savours the feeling of getting to a maiden international ton•Associated Press

Abhi shakes the room

From that point on, Abhishek was unstoppable, clattering 72 runs in his last 23 balls at the crease, hitting five fours and seven sixes in that time. Suddenly, the conditions ceased to bother him. He was rocking back to marginally short balls and pulling with fierce power. He was stepping out and freeing his arms gloriously to loft over the covers. A modest Zimbabwe attack, suddenly, was looking like what it was.There was another drop along the way, Tendai Chatara running to his right from long-off and getting only the heel of his palm to a lofted drive off Sikandar Raza, when Abhishek was on 77 off 40. Zimbabwe were in the firing line, though, and with all the batting India had in the dugout – they had left out the left-arm quick Khaleel Ahmed and included an extra batter, handing Sai Sudharsan his T20I debut – he was taking nearly every ball on. Abhishek wasn’t worried about getting out – this is why he made such an impact in the IPL even though his longest innings of the season only lasted 28 balls – and on this day luck smiled on him.Along the way, he left a couple of bowlers nursing vivid bruises. Dion Myers’ slow-medium disappeared for 4, 6, 4, 6, 4 in the 11th over, the pick of the hits a monster pull that hit the roof beyond the leg-side boundary to bring up Abhishek’s fifty. Then Masakadza, unfortunate both to have dropped Abhishek and to be a purveyor of left-arm orthodox, went for 6, 6, 6 in the 14th over – the last of them a one-handed swipe over backward square leg that brought up Abhishek’s century – before a miscue off the next ball ended the onslaught.Abhishek Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad put on 137 off 76 for the second wicket•Associated Press

Gaikwad and Rinku pile it on

Or not, because Zimbabwe still had six overs to bowl and India were in the mood now. Gaikwad’s struggle against the conditions and the rust of playing his first competitive cricket since the IPL extended all the way until his 38th ball, when he brought up his fifty with a pulled four off Jongwe. He took Chatara apart in the next over, the 18th, hitting him for three fours and a six to eventually finish unbeaten on 77 off 47.India’s main source of end-overs carnage, however, was Rinku Singh, who had been unlucky to miss their World Cup campaign while boasting an average of 89 and a strike rate of 176.23 in 11 innings at the time the squad was announced. He was in his element here, promoted to No. 4 with the perfect entry point for his skills, slapping the sixth ball he faced for a charging six over the covers and finishing the innings with a four and back-to-back sixes off Jongwe, who ended with figures of 0 for 53 in four overs. Not what he may have anticipated when he induced Abhishek to miscue on 27.

Mukesh, Avesh and Bishnoi wrap it up

If Zimbabwe had any hope going into their chase, it lay in the composition of India’s attack. Having picked the extra batter, they were playing only four frontline bowlers, which left four overs to be completed by part-timers Abhishek and Riyan Parag.Abhishek isn’t a part-timer in domestic cricket, and has plenty of variations to go with his stock left-arm orthodox, but he discovered how difficult bowling in the powerplay in an international game can be, conceding 19 in the second over with Bennett in an aggressive mood. Bennett took hold of Mukesh Kumar in the next over as well, hitting him for a pair of massive back-to-back sixes – over square leg and then down the ground – but he fell next ball.Brian Bennett got Zimbabwe off to a flying start with 26 off 9 before being bowled by Mukesh Kumar•Associated Press

That was the second wicket Mukesh had taken with an in-ducker, after one in the first over to bowl Innocent Kaia through the gate. That sort of seam movement, with a bit of inconsistent bounce thrown in, was a defining feature of Zimbabwe’s powerplay: they scored 22 runs more than India did in that phase, thanks to Bennett’s aggression, but they lost four wickets to India’s one.One of these summed up how challenging the conditions still were: a bouncer from Avesh Khan skidding onto Sikandar Raza as he shaped to hook, forcing him to fend a catch off the glove to the keeper.Zimbabwe’s innings continued to flounder after the powerplay, with Ravi Bishnoi looking particularly unhittable – Johnathan Campbell, sweeping and reverse-sweeping with increasing desperation, failed to put bat on five successive balls from him, and bottom-edged the sixth into his body. Wessly Madhevere batted from the start of the chase all the way to the 17th over, and made 43 off 39 balls. Zimbabwe were eventually bowled out for 134 with eight balls remaining, with Mukesh and Avesh bagging three wickets apiece and Bishnoi finishing with 2 for 11 from his four overs.

Despite Manchester United’s pending move to sign Bryan Mbeumo, it appears as though the hierarchy look set to continue their hunt for added depth within the forward attacking department.

With Matheus Cunha already the first player through the doors at Old Trafford this summer, the Brentford ace looks set to be the next player to join the Brazilian.

This comes after the Red Devils placed a £60m bid for the 25-year-old attacker, who’s already expressed his desire to link up with Ruben Amorim’s side this summer.

However, the club will have to wait for approval from the Bees to complete any move for the Cameroonian international, with personal terms not expected to be an issue.

Their ambitions of landing added depth in such an area appear to be showing no signs of slowing down, especially considering their interest in other players across Europe.

The latest on United’s hunt for a new striker this summer

Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has emerged as a surprise option for United this summer, with the 30-year-old the subject of keen interest from various Premier League sides.

Hugo Ekitiké remains a key target for Amorim’s side, after the youngster netted 22 goals across all competitions this season, but his £84m price tag may be out of the Red Devils’ budget, given the additions elsewhere.

However, as a result, they could turn their attention to Juventus talisman Dušan Vlahović, with the 25-year-old only having one year left on his deal, according to Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport.

They claim that the Red Devils have been in contact with intermediaries over a potential move for the forward, who appears to be keen on a switch to England.

It also states that current United outcast Jadon Sancho could be utilised as leverage in any potential deal, with the Serie A outfit extremely keen on a move for the 25-year-old this window.

Why Vlahovic would be Amorim’s answer to Osimhen

Victor Osimhen has been a player who has been firmly on United’s radar over the last couple of years, and understandably so given his record across Europe.

The Nigerian has registered 85 goals across the last three campaigns, 37 of which came on loan at Galatasaray this season – catapulting the club to the Turkish League title.

However, it appears he won’t be returning to the Italian side ahead of the 2025/26 season, with Antonio Conte’s side looking to cash in on the 26-year-old.

He’s been the subject of interest from Amorim’s side, but also has admirers in Saudi Arabia, which could see the striker demand a small fortune and price the Red Devils out of any potential move.

It’s been reported that he’s demanding a pay package in the region of £500k-per-week, a ludicrous figure that has seen United move onto other options.

Vlahovic appears to be just one of those, with the Juve star even ranking as a similar player to Osimhen according to FBref, demonstrating the talent he possesses.

When comparing their respective stats from Serie A back in 2023/24, the Serbian has managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, making him a superb pickup if the hierarchy can complete a deal for his signature.

Games played

33

25

Goals & assists

20

18

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.3

Pass accuracy

71%

66%

Progressive passes

1.8

1.1

Take-on success

42%

40%

Aerial success

45%

44%

The 25-year-old, “after Haaland, is the best striker in Europe at his age” in the words of Italian legend Christian Vieri, outscored Osimhen, whilst also registering a better goal per shot on target rate – having the clinical edge over the Nigerian.

He also completed more of the take-ons that he attempted, whilst registering more aerials won, handing Amorim the all-round centre-forward he’s greatly lacked.

Whilst he’s primarily a goalscorer, Vlahovic also completed more passes and more progressive passes per 90, handing the likes of Mbeumo and Cunha the chance to bolster their own tallies at Old Trafford.

It’s unclear how much a deal for the Juve ace would set the hierarchy back this window, but it’s clear he would be a just as effective, but cheaper, alternative to the Napoli forward.

Given the Italian side’s interest in Sancho, it could provide an excellent opportunity to land a bargain deal in the club’s quest to fly up the table throughout the 2025/26 campaign.

He'd be perfect with Mbeumo: Man Utd enter talks to sign £52m forward

Manchester United could further strengthen their frontline after a move for Bryan Mbeumo.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 24, 2025

It has been a bit of an underwhelming season in front of goal for Aston Villa. Despite the firepower at Unai Emery’s disposal, there is certainly a case to be made that they have left a little ot be desired going forward.

They have managed just 58 Premier League goals overall, a tally bettered by eight clubs in the top-flight.

The West Midlands outfit have also massively underperformed on expected goals. According to Understat, the Villans’ numbers for the metric lie at 66.05 xG, an underachievement of over eight goals. That is worse than all but five teams.

With that in mind, it might not be a surprise to learn that Villa are targeting a new attacker this summer.

Aston Villa’s new attacking target

It does seem as though the Villans are looking to add attacking firepower to their squad this summer. One man who could move to the West Midlands is former Manchester City man Ferran Torres, now plying his trade at Barcelona.

Transfer Focus

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

According to a report from journalist Graeme Bailey, they ‘like’ the versatile Spanish forward, and could look to add him to their squad this summer. Crucially, not only is he is a player the club likes, but ‘so does Unai Emery’, as per the report.

The stars may well have aligned for Villa to bring Torres to the club, although they will face competition from a Premier League rival. Arsenal are also interested, and Mikel Arteta has worked with the forward when he was a coach in East Manchester.

A price is yet to be confirmed, but he cost Barca just short of £55m four years ago, so it might be a similar fee.

How Ferran Torres compares to Rashford

It has been a season to remember for Barcelona. They recently secured the La Liga title, beating rivals Real Madrid to the prize. Whilst Torres has by no means been the star of the show, he has played a huge role in their success under Hansi Flick.

The Spaniard has played 45 games in all competitions this season. In that time, the 25-year-old has found the back of the net 19 times and created a further seven goals. Surprisingly, he has played just 1,921 minutes, but that has left him with a goal involvement every 73 minutes on average.

Of Torres’ 19 goals across all competitions this term, he managed six of them in just five games in Barca’s victorious Copa Del Rey campaign. That included a hat-trick in a 5-0 demolition of former club Valencia at the Estadio Mestalla.

One player who Torres could replace in a Villa shirt this season is Marcus Rashford. The Manchester United star has been on loan at Villa Park for the second half of the campaign, where he has contributed to ten goals in just 17 games.

Despite the fact that there is a £40m buy option in his contract with the West Midlands outfit, it is not clear if Rashford will stay at the club.

Simon Stone of BBC Sport recently reported that the attacker thinks United ‘would be prepared to sell him for £40m to anyone this summer’, suggesting he may not stay at Villa Park.

When comparing the pair statistically on FBref, it seems like Torres would certainly be a good alternative to Rashford if he were to replace the Wythenshawe-born sensation. For example, he averages 0.47 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes compared to Rashford’s 0.53 shot-creating actions each game.

Goals and assists

1.23

0.70

Key passes

1.35

1.68

Goal-creating actions

0.47

0.53

Take-ons completed

0.82

1.64

Ball recoveries

2.06

2.43

There is no doubt it would be a shame for Villa if they were to lose Rashford this summer. However, should they sign the “special” talent that is Torres, as Antonio Mango called him, he would certainly be an apt replacement.

Emery loves him and the club wants to sign him, so it seems like the dream addition and someone who can fill the big boots of Rashford next season.

Monchi now in talks to sign "rare" star for Aston Villa in bargain transfer

He could finally replace Jhon Duran.

ByTom Cunningham May 18, 2025

A player who has been really important for Rangers this season could now be tempted to leave Ibrox in the summer and join Besiktas, according to a new report.

Rangers announce new sporting director

Wednesday was a busy day for the Gers, as they confirmed a deal that they hope can help transform them on and off the pitch, as they look to close the gap on arch-rivals Celtic. Rangers are in the middle of trying to find a new manager, but before that appointment is made, they have announced that Kevin Thelwell is joining as their new sporting director.

Rangers in talks over new deal for "wonderful" ace and now think he'll sign

Rangers chiefs have now made a move to keep hold of one of their promising players.

ByBrett Worthington Apr 24, 2025

The 51-year-old will join Rangers once his contract with Premier League side Everton expires at the end of the season. The Gers stated that finding a new sporting director was made a priority in their football review, and Thelwell has stated that it is a “huge honour” for him to join the club.

“This is a huge honour for me to be joining a club with the size, stature and expectations of Rangers. From the first conversations, it was clear to me how ambitious the club is, and I’m excited to play a part in shaping its next chapter.

“I know how much Rangers means to so many people, and that brings both responsibility and motivation. Rangers needs to win. That’s the bottom line. There’s a strong foundation already in place, and I look forward to working closely with the teams across the men’s, women’s and academy programmes to build something that delivers consistently.

“Of course, there’s important work ahead, especially in the men’s first-team structure, but we’ll approach it with energy and purpose. While change takes time, I’m confident that we can make real progress. I can’t wait to get started.”

Rangers star could be tempted to leave Ibrox and join Besiktas

Thelwell is not yet through the door at Ibrox, but he already has a lot of work ahead of him, as according to Turkish outlet A spor, via Inside Futbol, Besiktas have added Rangers’ Vaclav Cerny to their list of targets ahead of the summer transfer window opening.

The report states that Cerny has emerged onto Besiktas’ radar after impressing for the Gers, especially in the Europa League this season. Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in charge of the Turkish outfit, and the club’s board are keen to back him with signings over the summer.

The 27-year-old joined the Scottish side on a season-long loan deal from German side Wolfsburg in the summer, and as part of that deal, Rangers do have the option to make the deal into a permanent switch. It is unclear how much he will cost, but given he has scored 11 goals in 28 league games, it is a deal that Rangers are likely going to want to proceed with.

Apps

12

Starts

12

Goals

6

Shots per game

3.4

Chance conversion rate

15%

Assists

2

Key passes per game

1.2

However, it does state that Cerny could be convinced to join Besiktas, and if the Turkish outfit manage to secure European football for next season, it could strengthen their bid to sign the Czech Republic international.

Fulham were on the verge of signing one player in January, and according to a new report, it is now believed he’ll have a second chance to join the west Londoners when the summer transfer window opens.

Fulham still in race for Europe as Marco Silva attracts interest

A topsy-turvy, inconsistent run of form in recent weeks hasn’t completely ruled Fulham out of the race for European qualification, but Marco Silva will be hoping to get the very best out of his players over a run of games which could make or break their season.

Manager demanding league-record sale to let "monster" player join Fulham

The Whites are serious contenders.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 5, 2025

In the last month, impressive wins over the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool were dampened by defeats to European-spot rivals Bournemouth and Arsenal, while Silva’s side were also knocked out of the FA Cup by Crystal Palace.

Chelsea (home)

April 20th

Southampton (away)

April 26th

Aston Villa (away)

May 3rd

Everton (home)

May 10th

Brentford (away)

May 18th

The games don’t get any easier for Fulham either, with Silva set to host west London rivals Chelsea this Sunday, in what could be deemed their most important Premier League game of the season to date.

So much is on the line this weekend, as Fulham could both seize the derby bragging rights and seriously strengthen their candidacy for a place in Europe next season.

This all comes amid serious interest in Silva from rival sides, with the Portuguese impressing at Craven Cottage yet again this term and drawing admiration from London neighbours Tottenham, who could end up sacking current boss Ange Postecoglou after a torrid campaign.

Silva is emerging as a frontrunner for the Spurs job, according to talkSPORT, with Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola leaning more towards signing a new deal at the Vitality Stadium.

However, Fulham vice-chairman Tony Khan is adamant the Whites want him to remain.

“Marco is a huge, huge asset to Fulham Football Club,” said Khan.

“He is such an amazing person, and he is so important to the football club. Marco has a great relationship with my father and myself, and we really love Marco, and we want him to stay at Fulham Football Club forever. He is a huge part of what we have got going for the future and the present, and he is a great man.”

Fulham given second chance to sign AC Milan forward Samuel Chukwueze

If Silva does stay, he’ll have major input when it comes to the club’s transfer plans.

According to Italian journalist Antonio Vitiello, speaking to Milan News, AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze could come back into Fulham’s thinking after he nearly “packed his bags” and joined them in the winter.

The Nigeria international was on the verge of a move, but both Milan and Fulham couldn’t complete a deal on time. However, as per Vitiello, there will be much more time to iron out an agreement for the “quality” Nigeria international over the summer instead.

“Milan has put Chukwueze up for sale after two years of anonymity,” said Vitiello.

“He is one of the transferable ones on the market after he almost packed his bags in January to join Fulham. The deal fell through due to a question of time, but in the three summer months there will be plenty of time to find a solution.”

The 25-year-old has bagged eight goals and four assists in 65 appearances since joining the Rossoneri, but did impress a lot at previous club Villarreal. Chukwueze is also yet to reach his peak, so there is every reason to believe he could resurrect his career at Fulham.

Reports in Africa claim the cost to sign Chukwueze permanently stands at around £15 million.

After years of setbacks and near-burnout, Rath returns to a familiar place with renewed hope and a joy in cricket he never thought he’d find again

Shashank Kishore07-Sep-2025When Anshuman Rath returned to Hong Kong in early 2023, he was “cooked.” He contemplated a career in insurance, finance or real estate, instead of trying to return to a team he’d captained as a teenager. At 25, a promising cricket career was at the crossroads.Two years of playing for Odisha in India’s domestic circuit had drained him mentally, emotionally, even physically. He was 20 kilos heavier, nursing injuries, and battling a deep sense of disillusionment. The game he loved as a teenager felt like a burden.”I’m someone who enjoys cricket because of the camaraderie, the team environment. In Odisha, I just wasn’t feeling it,” Rath, back as Hong Kong’s batting lynchpin, tells ESPNcricinfo in Dubai ahead of the Asia Cup. “I was questioning myself, doubting every decision I’d made.”Related

Back-to-back games plus travel 'not ideal' – Asalanka, Rashid on gruelling schedules

It's showtime as winless Hong Kong take on wounded Afghanistan to kick off Asia Cup

'Maybe I have something…' – the phenomenal rise of Noor Ahmad

Will UAE punch above their weight in Group A?

All you need to know about the men's T20 Asia Cup

Rath felt stifled by the culture, the regimentation, the senior-junior divide in Odisha. Youngsters would be berated publicly, something Rath, who had grown up in cosmopolitan Hong Kong, struggled to reconcile with.”I remember once being made fun of for eating rice and with a spoon,” he recalls. “It sounds silly, but when you have no one to talk to, no support system, those things hit you hard. No matter what level you play, if you’re not enjoying it or you’re not in the right frame of mind you’re wasting your time.”So I called my dad, literally almost in tears being like, ‘what am I doing here? I just don’t want to do it.’ I had played two years of it, but didn’t have anything more to give.”When I felt it the most, I remember getting injured during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy [2022-23, India’s domestic T20 competition]. Wasim Jaffer was our head coach. He sent me to get a scan in Mumbai. So I went there and started punching myself in the collarbone to make it worse so that I wouldn’t have to play more. It was that bad.”For me, I’m a massive team person. So I love playing with my teammates. That’s why I don’t think of it as work. Whereas when I was in Odisha, the environment wasn’t like that. The coaches had their favourites. I actually played the rest of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with that injury. It was just an awful time.”It was around this time that Rath turned to food for comfort.”When you’re in that state of mind, there are very few things that make you happy,” he says. ‘For me, it was food – eating just to survive, to feel something. It was the only enjoyment I was getting. I piled on 20 kilos. I completely lost the plot.”Anshuman Rath – “No matter what level you play, if you’re not enjoying it, you’re wasting your time”•Getty Images

****

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be.Rath’s journey had already taken him through the heartbreak of visa denials in England – which ended a near-signed deal with Middlesex – and a tough, lonely stint in Christchurch as he tried to qualify to play for New Zealand in late 2018.Canterbury Cricket had sponsored Rath a three-year work-to-residence visa for him to potentially qualify for New Zealand. He’d put his studies on hold for it initially, but found the move harder than he’d thought.”Because I was 21 at the time and the whole Middlesex thing had happened, I hadn’t really processed the whole thing yet,” he says. “The trauma of going through the Middlesex visa stuff, the ECB visa stuff. I didn’t really want to do more qualifying.”To spend another three years, it was kind of daunting. Obviously, they’re lovely people in New Zealand. But, it was the other side of the world. You know, you wake up in the morning, you don’t know who to call. Because all the people you know are asleep.”Rath eventually didn’t sign the document to pledge himself to New Zealand via the qualifying path. He chose something that was slightly easier. At the time, though, he didn’t know that too would be quite be, what he says, was an “un-ending nightmare.””So, then I made the decision. I had an Indian passport, so I thought I might as well use it, so we decided to test the Indian waters,” Rath continues. “I had to start from scratch but I was fine. As long as I didn’t have all these three-year qualifying rules again. I knew I had to serve a one-year cooling off period, and I was fine with that.”After trying with a few teams, Rath identified Vidarbha as his home in India. And for a while, it seemed like the perfect environment. He was received warmly and he thrived in the club cricket ecosystem alongside the likes of Jitesh Sharma, Faiz Fazal, Atharva Taide, and Harsh Dubey among others.”Every time I walk on the field now, I’m smiling, I’m laughing. And I think that shows in my cricket too”•Peter Della Penna”It reminded me of the systems in the UK. Structured, professional, with a clear pathway to the senior team. I loved it,” he remembers.But administrative roadblocks derailed his plans. A registration issue with the BCCI – according to the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) – meant he couldn’t be picked despite completing his cooling-off period. Rath later checked with a lawyer contact in the BCCI if there were issues with his paperwork. He was told there wasn’t any, and he was green lit.”That was a real sinking moment,” he says. “I don’t like politics. I’ve always believed in letting my bat do the talking. To be told I couldn’t play despite doing everything right was hard to take.”What followed was a downward spiral that eventually took him to Odisha, his home state, where his grandparents live. It should have felt like a homecoming. Instead, those three years drained him.”No matter what level you play, if you’re not enjoying it, you’re wasting your time,” he says. “I was just going through the motions.”On a cold January morning in 2023, when Odisha were put in to bat on a green top in nondescript Nadaun (in Himachal Pradesh) in a Ranji Trophy fixture, he finally took a decision that had been simmering underneath for months.”I was like I don’t even want to play on a flat track, let alone here,” Rath says. “I walked up to the coach on day two and told him, ‘please book me a flight back to Bhubaneswar.’ I knew that was that. I spoke to the association people, they said, you’re doing fine, stay back. But I was like no, that was it.”For Rath, a prodigiously talented left-hander who once nearly helped Hong Kong pull off a giant ODI upset against India at the Asia Cup in 2018, it was the closest he’d ever come to turning his back on the game.When Rath returned to Hong Kong in February 2023, he was ready to walk away from cricket entirely.”I told my dad I was never touching a bat again,” he says. “I was ready to try my hand at the corporate world – finance, real estate, insurance, whatever. Just something different.”

“I don’t like politics. I’ve always believed in letting my bat do the talking. To be told I couldn’t play despite doing everything right was hard to take”Rath on his turbulent time in India

That’s when Mark Farmer, Cricket Hong Kong’s High Performance manager who’d known Rath from his younger days, stepped in.”He sat me down and said, ‘Let us know what you need. We’re happy to give you a contract right now.’ I hadn’t even played,” Rath says. “And they were willing to give me that love, that faith. It was the first time I’d felt something like that in five or six years. I almost teared up.”Rath eased his way back, found his rhythm, his fitness, and most importantly, his love for the game. “I wake up in Hong Kong now, have meals with my family, and enjoy the vibe of the city. There’s a sense of freedom I hadn’t felt in so long. I laugh more on the field. I banter with teammates. I enjoy touring again. I’m just grateful to be playing.”For Rath, who once captained his country at 20 and chased professional cricket across three continents only to nearly give it all up, his return to Hong Kong has been a second coming.”This isn’t going to last forever,” Rath says. “So every time I walk on the field now, I’m smiling, I’m laughing. And I think that shows in my cricket too.”

If Temba Bavuma is ruled out of the Cape Town Test, Elgar might be asked to lead South Africa. And that may be the toughest goodbye of all

Firdose Moonda27-Dec-2023Goodbyes are difficult, especially when they come earlier than they should. Dean Elgar’s innings of 140* on the second day of the Centurion Test against India has given us reason to wonder if he falls into that category.His 14th Test century will rank among his best. It came under pressure, in challenging conditions, and against one of the most dangerous new-ball pairs in the game. It amounts to more than half of South Africa’s total so far, underlined the value of an experience – especially in an opening batter – and revealed a desire that has not dimmed.It also showed some aspects of Elgar that have not been seen before: the classy cover driver, the relatively quick scorer, and the ultra-emotionally charged celebrator. And it came from a place of freedom, the kind that a player who is done but not quite done yet has.Related

• Injured Bavuma ruled out of Cape Town Test

• Elgar's hundred gives South Africa the lead

• Hamstring strain puts Bavuma's participation in Centurion Test in doubt

“I don’t think I have a point to prove. I just want to still contribute,” Elgar said at the post-match press conference. “I want to go out with a bang, and try and win a Test match and the series. I don’t have anything to lose. Whether I fail or not, it is still coming to an end.”But there was a lot to lose when Elgar and Aiden Markram walked out to bat an hour into the day’s play – with a heavy cloud overhead, a surface with a good deal of bounce in it, and two of the best seamers in the world to face. It’s no surprise that the opening exchanges were tense, that Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj looked threatening with every ball, beat the bat at least once an over and got an early wicket. Markram eventually had to play at a Siraj ball that took the outside edge.With captain Temba Bavuma unavailable through injury, Markram’s dismissal left Elgar with the least experienced top six line-up for South Africa since 1997 against Pakistan; and things could have gone badly wrong.That it didn’t and Elgar shared in a steadying 93-run with Tony de Zorzi, and a controlling 131-run partnership with the debutant David Bedingham is symbolic of Elgar potentially leaving at the right time: there are others, and they are capable. His time in the middle with de Zorzi was particularly significant because de Zorzi is likely to bat in Elgar’s opening spot in New Zealand, where South Africa will have a makeshift side, and he could end up in the role more permanently in the near future. De Zorzi also has Elgar’s blessing.Dean Elgar had a controlling 131-run partnership with debutant David Bedingham•AFP/Getty Images”That partnership with myself and Tony was pretty important. The ball was going around, Bumrah was swinging it both ways and Tony did bloody well to get through it,” Elgar said. “That period of seeing off that new ball – and getting it old – allowed David to come in and play his natural game – maybe something that won’t be spoken about, but I will speak about it.”Never one to not say what he thinks, Elgar also let his batting do the talking, and in an unexpected way, which he confirmed came from a “mindset of looking to score,” given the difficulty of the conditions. He has never appeared to drive with this much authority in a Test innings before, especially not through the covers. According to ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data, Elgar played 24 drives in this innings against the Indian pace bowlers, and was in control for 87.5% of them, at a strike rate of 179.2.Before today, Elgar had played 20 or more drives off fast bowlers in a Test innings only ten times, and in none of those had he scored at a faster clip with better control. He scored 58 runs off the Indian quicks through the off side – the most he has scored in a Test innings – and though they put the ball there for him, he still had to time and place his shots.”When you look to score, you get into a better position as well,” Elgar said. “After lunch, I came out with more of a positive mindset, got into really good positions, and capitalised.””I didn’t have a Test hundred at Centurion – that’s the one that got away throughout my career” – Dean Elgar•AFP/Getty ImagesAt some point, he would also have realised that a piece of history was waiting because he had yet to score a hundred at SuperSport Park. “We spoke about it the other day, and guys were like ‘I thought you’d got a few [hundreds] here’, and I said ‘No, I’ve been rubbish here’. Maybe not too rubbish,” he said.Before this Test, Elgar had played nine others at SuperSport Park, his adopted home ground after his professional career had begun in Bloemfontein, and with four fifties. The closest he came to a hundred was with a 95 against Sri Lanka two years ago. That was a fixture played under the strictest Covid-19 regulations, with not a spectator in sight. But on Tuesday, there were several thousand, and they all urged him on. As he entered the mid-80s, they upped their encouragement.Elgar got to 87 with a whip through mid-on off R Ashwin, to 91 with an outside edge off Prasidh Krishna – and kept the strike at the end of that over – and then to 96 with an on-drive. By the time the pull-off Shardul Thakur that took him to three figures landed on the other side of the boundary, the enormity of this achievement hit him, and he celebrated in wild, David Warner-esque fashion.Elgar got air time on the leap and saluted the crowd several times, and confirmed it was as much a recognition of the people as of the place. “It’s a special game for me. I didn’t have a Test hundred at Centurion – that’s the one that got away throughout my career,” he said. “My family was here, my friends were here watching, all knowing this is the last international fixture I will play here. I’m happy to be on the SuperSport Park [honours] board. I am now on the board at all the Test venues in South Africa, which is pretty cool.”

“By the time Cape Town [the second Test] is finished, maybe it will sink in for me. I want to do things like I have done today, and carry the mantle forward so the young guys know what it’s all about”Dean Elgar is desperate to help South Africa beat India in this series

That sounds like as good a position as there can be to decide to sign off. Everyone finds it easier to laud a player who leaves on a high, and voluntarily, instead of one who hangs on until he is forced out. And there are also other reasons for Elgar’s decision. At 36 years old, with a dearth of Test fixtures in the near future and a coach who has made it clear he is looking for opportunities to blood new players, it seems the time is right. But there may yet be one big statement for Elgar to make in a series he seems desperate to help South Africa win.”At the moment, it’s about contributing, putting the team in a good position, and influencing where I can,” he said. “By the time Cape Town [the second Test] is finished, maybe it will sink in for me. I think I will be on a wine farm somewhere, drinking copious amounts of wine, and I will maybe sit back and enjoy what’s happened in the past. For now, it’s all about business. I want to do things like I have done today, and carry the mantle forward so the young guys know what it’s all about.”The business could also be bigger than he expected it to be. There’s still no word on Bavuma’s availability to bat in this match, though he did not come out when he could have at No. 7, and given the quick turnaround, whether he will be fit to play in the New Year’s Test. If he is ruled out, there’s a good chance Elgar will be asked to lead South Africa one last time in a bid to deny India a chance to conquer what they have called the final frontier. And that may be the toughest goodbye of all.

All the stats highlights from 2021, when ball dominated bat in Tests, Pakistan called the shots in T20Is, and ODIs faded into insignificance

S Rajesh04-Jan-2022A tough year for battersIn the last 40 years, only once has the average runs-per-wicket figrure in Tests been lower than it was in 2021, when 28.78 were scored per dismissal. This one stat confirms that 2021 was another year when bowlers held sway, and batting was generally a difficult task.The only year in this period when bowlers dominated even more was 2018, when each wicket cost 27.58 runs. In fact, these are two of four years in the last 40 when the average has slipped below 30; the other two were 2000 and 1988.ESPNcricinfo LtdIf you look at more metrics, they all tell a tale of bowlers dominating and batters struggling: 17 team totals of 400-plus were scored in 44 Tests, a rate of one every 2.59 matches. Only thrice in the last 40 years have they been more scarce – in 2018 (2.67), 1992 (2.60) and 1988 (3.00). The story is similar in terms of innings per century: 28.53 in 2021; there have been just two instances of longer waits between hundreds, in 2020 (29.54) and 1988 (34.44).Two-hundred-and-fifty-three 50-plus scores were made in Tests in 2021, of which only 58 were converted into hundreds. That is a conversion rate of 22.92%, which indicates that batting wasn’t easy even after the batters got in. The rate was 20.63 last year, but that was a truncated year, which featured about half the number of matches as in a regular year. Before that, you would have to go back to 1995 to find a year with a poorer conversion rate of fifties to hundreds.ESPNcricinfo LtdUnlike in several other years, 2021 was one in which both fast bowlers and spinners flourished. The pacers conceded 27.14 runs per wicket – an average next only to those of 2018 and 2019 among the last 40 years – while spinners averaged 30.52, second only to 2018 in this period.Of the 24 bowlers who took 20 or more Test wickets in 2021, 20 averaged lower than 30, and eight under 20 runs per wicket. The 11 bowlers who picked up 30 or more wickets in the year included six fast bowlers and five spinners. At the top of the pile was R Ashwin, who had a phenomenal year, picking up 54 wickets at 16.64. Never has a spinner taken 50-plus wickets in a calendar year at a better average: the best before 2021 was Muthiah Muralidaran, who took 90 at 16.90. In fact, Ashwin is in the top five for all bowlers with a 50-wicket cut-off, and features twice in the top eight.