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Pakistan needed 16 runs in 21 balls when their last wicket fell, consigning them to two entire World-Cup campaigns without a single victory

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jul-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsDilani Manodara struck a career-best 84 off 111 balls•Getty/ICCPakistan flirted with their first victory in 14 World Cup matches several times over the course of the action in Leicester. They had Sri Lanka at 98 for 5 in the 27th over but somehow let them scramble to 221. Then, in the chase, they were 134 for 4 with a well-set Nain Abidi finding the boundaries at will. But she would be run out – the result of a mix up with her captain Sana Mir – as self-inflicted wounds eventually led to a defeat most agonising. They needed 16 runs in 21 balls when their last wicket fell.Will come back stronger – Mir

After finishing a second successive World Cup campaign without a victory, Pakistan captain Sana Mir highlighted weaknesses in their batting line-up as a major area that needed improvement.
“Our batters have been under pressure throughout the tournament but they put up a fight today,” she said. “Mostly we are not able to finish matches when we get on top as we give away wickets at crucial times and that happened again today.
“We are very disappointed. But in life, these things happen but you have to bounce back. We will learn from the tournament and the younger players will come back stronger.”

Watching the chaos unfold from behind the wicket was Dilani Manodara. Thirty-four years old, and perhaps playing her last World Cup game, she couldn’t have hoped for more as she first resurrected Sri Lanka’s innings with a career-best 84 off 111 balls and then savoured a hard-fought victory – the only one her team will take home. Could she have imagined that when she had been at the crease, trying determinedly to glue Sri Lanka together? She might have despaired as her top four couldn’t move past a score of 27, but in Eshani Lokusuriyage, she found someone willing to stick around. The two batsmen put on a pivotal 76 runs in 16.2 overs and the momentum shifted.The other major contributor was left-arm spinner Chandima Gunaratne, who, also, at 35, might wonder if she can stay on the radar until 2021. Perhaps that had only spurred her on to grab her chance. She was given the new ball and it worked for her so well that her first spell lasted eight overs and fetched two wickets – Nahida Khan, bowled by the quicker ball, and Ayesha Zafar, caught off the slower one. Sri Lanka saved the last of her overs for the death, and that too proved a master stroke – she was brought back in the 34th and with her first ball she pinned Mir lbw and eventually finished with 4 for 41.Abidi, by this time, was left to stew in the dressing room. Having come in at 43 for 2 in the 14th over, she did her best to upset the strangle Sri Lanka were so desperate to pull off. She was adept at finding gaps through point, third man and fine leg and her her free-flowing innings – 57 off only 68 balls with nine fours – seemed to suggest Pakistan might not have to walk away from another World Cup winless; they had lost all of their four matches in 2013.But it was not to be. She was run out with the target 88 runs away. Asmavia Iqbal took up her place and fought bravely, guiding a brittle tail so very close to the finish line. But she ended up at the non-strikers end, with 38 off 45 balls, when Sri Lanka captain Inoka Ranaweera bowled No. 11 Sadia Yousuf to cap a special spell. Forty-six of her 58 deliveries were dots and then she took the match-sealing wicket.It was Sri Lanka’s first win in seven World-Cup matches, secured under the watchful eyes of Kathy Cross and Sue Redfern, the first set of female on-field umpires to officiate an international game since at least 2000.

Leeds United will remain confident that their return to the Championship following relegation from the Premier League does not stick despite losing several key stars already this summer.

A host of first-team stars – including top scorer Rodrigo, Brenden Aaronson, Robin Koch, Marc Roca and Rasmus Kristensen – have all completed moves away from Elland Road, with just the one acquisition at present, in the form of £7m plus add-ons man Ethan Ampadu from Chelsea.

Transfer insider Dean Jones even went as far as to say that the Whites' transfer strategy has been "all over the place", given that only one deal has been finalised with the second tier kicking off the term in less than two weeks, which means manager Daniel Farke might be wise to act upon interest in Nottingham Forest forward Emmanuel Dennis.

How much is Emmanuel Dennis?

Earlier this month, Football Insider reported that the Whites had turned their attention to the Nigerian ace, who has endured a tough spell at the City Ground after arriving from Watford in a deal worth approximately £20m one year ago and has consequently been made available for transfer, as per The Athletic.

The Athletic also claim that the 25-year-old is keen to remain in Europe despite ostensible interest from the affluent Saudi Arabian clubs, circling like sharks this summer and swiping many players from Europe's top five leagues.

How many goals has Emmanuel Dennis scored?

Despite his relatively high fee, Dennis failed to impress for the Garibaldi and plundered only two goals and assists apiece in the top-flight from 19 outings.

However, if his exploits the previous term are anything to go by with Watford, Leeds could provide their forward ranks with a dynamic and destructive striker to lead the line with aplomb, with ten goals and six assists from 33 games his conclusive tally for the 21/22 Premier League season.

And given that Rodrigo has left Leeds after scoring 13 goals from just 23 starting appearances in the Premier League, a prolific talisman is most certainly required to tread water above the pack in the Championship, navigating a course back to the light.

While Leeds will be hoping for a term fighting at the reverse end of the table that has housed the side over the past two years, Farke will hope for cohesion and tenacity from all facets of his squad, which bodes well for Dennis given that he ranks among the top 10% of positional peers over the past year for tackles, the top 4% for blocks and the top 20% for clearances per 90, as per FBref.

He could also revitalise stricken striker Patrick Bamford, who has somewhat flattered to deceive over the past several seasons after bagging 17 goals in the league upon Leeds' return in 2020.

Admittedly, injuries have been the detriment to his craft over the past two years, but the 29-year-old boasts just six Premier League strikes to his name over this period nonetheless, and Dennis, who Transfermarkt claim has missed just five games across the duration of his professional career, could provide both a new dimension and a greater sense of striking reliability.

With the pair on the pitch together, however, Farke's side could wreak havoc on hapless Championship defences, with Dennis previously lauded for his "electric" presence on the pitch by reporter Josh Bunting, utilising his blistering pace and directness, while Bamford thrives as more of an offensive focal point, a conduit to link the play.

The partnership could play into that old footballing flow of traditional centre-forward – although Bamford arguably boasts an array of skills to navigate away from such a single-minded tag – melding with the pacy, fleet-footed strike partner, and Dennis could prove to ignite the frontline with a move to West Yorkshire.

Kieron Pollard’s 33-ball 62 gave Jamaica Tallawahs a few jitters in the end overs but Mohammad Sami’s four-for ensured an opening win for the defending champions

The Report by Peter Della Penna in Lauderhill06-Aug-20171:07

‘I overthought the situation’ – Pollard

Jamaica Tallawahs took the occasion of Jamaica’s Independence Day to claim their first win in Florida, beating Barbados Tridents by 12 runs. After posting the highest total of the weekend, Tallawahs appeared to have a lock on defending 154 before Kieron Pollard gave them some late jitters, blasting 62 off 33 balls, with six sixes. Tridents needed 25 off the last two overs with Pollard still at the crease, but Mohammad Sami had him sky a catch to point for his fourth wicket to end any doubts about the result.Double dose of déjà vuOn Saturday, Ravi Rampaul had Kumar Sangakkara caught driving at backward point. Later in the match, Kane Williamson took a salmon-leap catch on the midwicket boundary. On Sunday, the characters and storylines converged.Having collected a golden duck a day earlier, Sangakkara nearly fell without scoring again, but this time, his drive off Wayne Parnell pierced the gap past Williamson, who was patrolling backward point. After being driven through cover for four early in the second over, Ravi Rampaul dropped short to Sangakkara, who middled a cut, only for Williamson to fling himself to his left and snaffle a one-handed stunner.Wahoo for RiazAfter the fall of Sangakkara, Andre McCarthy and Lendl Simmons put on 51 for the second wicket to take Tallawahs to 65 when drinks were called for at the 10-over mark. Whatever energy-booster Wahab Riaz drank had the desired effect when he came out in the 11th and took three wickets in four balls.A pull by Simmons, on 30, was intercepted by a leaping Kieron Pollard at midwicket. Wahab then angled in a fuller delivery to Imad Wasim that beat him for pace and pinged him in front. After Rovman Powell was able to leave the hat-trick ball alone outside off, Wahab followed with one tighter on off-stump that Powell dragged on. Two dots to Shakib Al Hasan rounded off a triple-wicket maiden.McCarthyism CPL styleThe Tallawahs No. 3 had scratched to 22 off 30 balls on Saturday, and had a life on 22 when Williamson spilled a sitter at extra cover in the 12th over. He had faced 24 balls at that point and the extra chance seemed to spur his batting to life.McCarthy began the following over by smacking Akeal Hosein’s left-arm spin through cover and over midwicket for four and six. He then took on Shoaib Malik’s offspin in the 16th for another six over midwicket, before cutting him for four. Having raised his 50 in 37 balls, his good fortune continued, when soon after, Pollard missed a chance at deep midwicket off Rampaul, spilling the ball over the rope for six. He eventually fell in the final over for 60.Shakib’s surgeShakib was content to ride in McCarthy’s slipstream during their 84-run fifth-wicket stand until the 19th over, when he went toe-to-toe with Wahab. A length ball at the start was creamed over long-off for six, before Shakib charged him to pull a short ball over wide long-on for four. Wahab tried to go full next ball and Shakib responded by walking across to paddle through fine leg for four.He then carved one over cover off Wayne Parnell in the 20th, and finished unbeaten 44 off 32.Pollard’s powerTridents looked dead and buried when their captain came to the middle at 48 for 3 in the 10th over, with the required run rate a shade under 10. By the end of the next over, it was 52 for 5 with 103 needed off the last nine. Pollard took another over to settle down before tearing into Kesrick Williams, putting him away for a four and a six over long-on to end the 13th.Two overs later, he creamed back-to-back straight sixes off Krishmar Santokie, one of them cannoning off the TV broadcast scaffolding above the sightscreen. Even though wickets were falling around him, he kept going big, driving Shakib for four and six in the 18th, and suddenly the equation was down to 32 off 15.Super SamiSami had already taken 2 for 8 in three overs when he was brought back in the 19th to halt Pollard’s onslaught. After nabbing Wahab with a wide bouncer with the third ball of the over, Pollard mistimed a pair of slogs that fell safely.As Sami ran in for the final ball of the over, Pollard opted to shuffle across for a premeditated scoop. Sami followed him outside the stumps, and Pollard miscued over point, offering a simple catch to McCarthy. Santokie then claimed Rampaul with the final ball of the match as Tridents were bowled out for 142.

Wolverhampton Wanderers electing to sell Daniel Podence this summer would be a 'big risk' to take at Molineux this summer, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Is Daniel Podence leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers?

According to The Daily Mail, Wolves are expected to sell Podence this summer as he hasn't travelled to their pre-season training camp in Portugal and will instead train at their Compton Park complex.

The Portugal international is out of contract in 2024 and could be joined by teammate Ryan Giles, who is in talks over a £5 million move to Premier League newcomers Luton Town.

Last term, the £60k-a-week ace made 37 appearances for Wolves in all competitions, registering six goals and one assist in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

As per Portuguese journalist Pedro Sepulveda via Sports Mole, Real Betis have made inroads to try and offer Podence an escape route from Molineux this window over a deal that would see the 27-year-old join the La Liga outfit for a fee of between £7-10 million.

Podence was charged with spitting at Nottingham Forest striker Brennan Johnson in a 1-1 draw in the Premier League between both sides in April, though he was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing due to insufficient evidence, as per BBC Sport.

Nevertheless, it looks like it may be time for Podence and Wolves to go their separate ways if recent reports are anything to go by in regard to his future at the West Midlands outfit.

Speaking to Football FanCast, transfer insider Jones thinks that Wolves would be taking a 'big risk' by selling Podence this summer.

Jones told FFC: "I just think they've got to be a bit careful about how many of the team they are willing to actually lose right now. They've lost a lot of players already, especially experienced ones that have been around the place. Personally, I think Daniel Podence is great, I've always been an admirer of his. I think that his style of football is really exciting. But they are open, as I'm told, to selling him and I just feel like it's a big risk, the turnover of this squad is huge right now and I know a lot of that was necessary."

What now for Wolverhampton Wanderers?

Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui has made two signings this window in the form of Republic of Ireland defender Matt Doherty and experienced goalkeeper Tom King on a free transfer, with more expected to follow in the coming weeks, as per Transfermarkt.

In conversation with GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Jones revealed that former Chelsea star Joao Felix has been linked with Wolves; however, he indicated that the Old Gold would need a 'huge level of investment to be able to pull off an ambitious move to land the Portugal international.

The West Midlands-based outfit are locked in talks with West Ham United to sign left-back Aaron Cresswell in a deal that could be worth in the region of £5 million, according to The Athletic.

Over the next few weeks, it wouldn't be a surprise to see a few arrivals at Molineux, especially if they were to lose someone of Podence's calibre.

Fulham have opened talks to sign Everton forward Demarai Gray as manager Marco Silva looks to reinforce his attacking options, according to The BBC.

Who will Fulham sign?

As we enter the final stretch of this summer transfer window, Silva's side are running out of time to make more major signings, having already sealed deals for both Raul Jimenez and Calvin Bassey.

The latter star joins from Ajax in a deal worth around £18.2 million, with the centre-back putting pen to paper on a four-year contract, while Mexico international striker Jimenez has swapped Wolves for Craven Cottage.

Fulham have been linked with a plethora of other names slowly heading towards deadline day. Indeed, central midfield is an area Silva could look to strengthen, with Man United's Fred and Fluminese star Andre among the targets.

The west Londoners enjoyed a solid 2022/2023 league campaign, comfortably avoiding relegation and securing a top half finish above cross-town rivals Chelsea. However, if they're to build upon that success, new signings are an absolute necessity.

As star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic pushes for a move away from Fulham, amid interest from Saudi Arabia, the club have been tipped to move for extra forward options.

One of those options could be Everton's Gray, as The BBC claim they've opened talks to sign the Jamaica international.

"Fulham are in talks to sign Jamaica international winger Demarai Gray from fellow Premier League side Everton," wrote the broadcast giant.

"Crystal Palace, Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas and clubs in Saudi Arabia have also been interested in signing Gray.

"But BBC Sport understands Gray's preference is a move to Fulham, who require reinforcements in attack. Former Leicester player Gray only recently returned to training after competing at the Concacaf Gold Cup."

The 27-year-old made 33 league appearances under both Frank Lampard and Sean Dyche last season, scoring four goals and notching one assist in the process.

How good is Demarai Gray?

Gray was indeed a regular at Goodison Park over 22/23 as the Toffees narrowly avoiding relegation to the Championship.

His attacking stats make for solid reading, with the winger sitting in Everton's top three for attempts at goal, key passes completed and successful take-ons per 90 (WhoScored).

Gray has also been subject to praise from esteemed pundits, like former England international and Man United star Rio Ferdinand.

“Demarai Gray’s the only one. Unbelievable find," said Ferdinand on his YouTube channel (via TBR) after Gray starred in an Everton loss.

"He’s the one, in recent weeks anyway. He hasn’t done it over the course of the whole season, but in recent weeks, he’s been the one. They need more."

Meanwhile, Dyche also praised Gray for his influential performance during a 2-2 draw away to Nottingham Forest in March.

"He (Gray) was just someone who I thought could effect the game and he showed a strong workload, which is good for Dimi," said Dyche.

“He’s technically very good and he’s stronger than you think. I mean, he’s not a big figure but he is strong. I was pleased for him."

The attacker was arguably one of Everton's shining lights at certain points and he could be a good option for Fulham.

Pakistan lost a Test match in Abu Dhabi for the first time, as 16 wickets fell on a nail-biting final day on which Rangana Herath became the first left-arm spinner to break the 400 barrier

The Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando02-Oct-20174:36

Arnold: Was important for SL to arrest the tide

How did we get here? How did we hurtle, from the dullest 11 sessions of Test cricket possible, to this stirring, heart-palpitating, dramedy of a conclusion? Sri Lanka, out of the match surely when they set out to defend 136 after lunch, yet victors by 21 runs, Rangana Herath breaking records, scuttling Pakistan again – 6 for 43 to his name. The pitch began to sing for him, the batsmen played him with fatal hesitation, Dilruwan Perera was even denied the winning wicket by a no-ball, just so Herath could complete 400 Test wickets – the first left-arm spinner to the milestone.With this mild insanity of a spell, he has confirmed himself one of the greatest defenders of scores in Test history. He has 11 fourth-innings five-wicket hauls now. Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne? Puh, only seven apiece.When he floated one up beautifully to Mohammad Amir, and then got it to connive between bat and pad to hit middle stump, Herath also became the first bowler to complete 100 wickets against Pakistan. Perera thought he had Yasir Shah caught at short leg, prompting wild Sri Lankan celebrations, but was found to have overstepped. Herath doesn’t over step. His was the final triumphant act – a slider to nail poor Mohammad Abbas in front of off stump.Pakistan were visibly heartbroken. How had they lost this Test after Yasir’s 5 for 51 had swung the match almost completely in their favour? How had they been such kings with the ball in the morning, taking 6 for 69, and then become such klutzes with the bat in the next two sessions, surrendering all ten wickets for 114? So go Sri Lanka v Pakistan Tests, though – surely the most unpredictable and close-run rivalry of the past 10 years. The last time these two teams played, Sri Lanka set Pakistan a mammoth 377 runs to win, and still managed to lose.Dilruwan Perera thought he took the final wicket, only for it to be deemed a no-ball•Francois Nel/Getty ImagesIt was Herath himself who had set Pakistan’s slide in motion, fooling Sami Aslam in the fourth over of the chase, getting the batsman to play for the turning ball, but sliding it into his outside edge – eventually gobbled up at slip. After Suranga Lakmal dismissed a leaden-footed Azhar Ali and Perera took two wickets himself, Herath produced perhaps the two biggest wickets of the innings. Asad Shafiq shaped to cut a Herath delivery bowled shorter, and a little quicker, but managed only to send it to slip. Sarfraz Ahmed seemed to be winning a little momentum for Pakistan as he and Haris Sohail put on a partnership of 42 runs, but could not get bat on ball when he ran at Herath, and the ball dribbled off his pads to Niroshan Dickwella, who completed the stumping with Sarfraz barely in the frame.Following those dismissals, Sri Lanka appeared the likelier side to lock the match down. The Sri Lankan fifth-day tropes were evident in abundance: the over-appealing wicketkeeper, the non-stop yammering around the bat, the exuberant celebrations. Kusal Mendis even experienced a moment of instant karma, when he took what he thought was the winning catch, performed Hasan Ali’s trademark celebration in the direction of the dressing rooms, only for the batsman to be recalled because it had been a no-ball.In the end, the final celebrations were a little more muted, both on the field and among the support staff. Following the lavish home thrashings suffered at India’s hands, Sri Lanka were desperate for a victory to win their public back. Herath was the perfect figure to lead the PR exercise, but Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Perera and Dimuth Karunaratne, had all played their roles as well.Pakistan, meanwhile, came face-to-face with life post Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan. They have collapsed this way even with those two in the team, of course, but perhaps not quite so meekly. Yasir had bowled with venom, turning his legbreak practically out of the next district, slipping in that slider that seemed no less destructive. Abbas took the first wicket of the day, seaming one away, then back into Mendis who was hit in front of off stump. The remainder of the morning belonged more or less to Yasir. He dismissed the opposition spinners, getting Perera lbw with a slider, before having Herath caught at short leg next ball. No Sri Lanka batsman failed to suffer nervous moments against Yasir. In fact, Dickwella, who got what is in retrospect an invaluable 40 not out, had considerable luck as he swept, reverse swept and drove Yasir for runs. Pakistan, understandably, had left for lunch with a strut.The last-day surprise is now something of a trope of Sri Lanka-Pakistan matches, several compelling conclusions having been summoned by these teams since 2009. This game, perhaps has had the strangest final five sessions at all. At one stage, Sri Lanka were in control. Then Pakistan took the match by the collar. The first innings, after which only three runs separated the teams, now seems like a long set-up for what eventually became a gripping second-innings shootout.

Stafanie Taylor shows value with bat and ball, yet again

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Oct-201745 overs
CWI MediaIn 2013, Stafanie Taylor broke records across men’s and women’s cricket when she topped the ODI rankings for both batsmen and bowlers. In helping her team to a 3-0 series sweep over Sri Lanka, she showed once again why that was possible. In the final ODI, which along with the other two counted towards points in the ICC Women’s Championship, Taylor top scored with 55 to help West Indies along to 182 in the 45 overs they got to bat. Then, she knocked over three Sri Lanka batsmen with her offspin – and helped effect a run out – as Sri Lanka tumbled to 142 all out. And Taylor, with 117 runs at 58.50 and eight wickets at 10.50 in the series, once again topped both batting and bowling charts.Sri Lanka chose to put West Indies in and would have been happy to have the early breakthrough in the wicket of Kycia Knight, but Taylor and Hayley Mathews combined for an 83-run second-wicket stand to steady the ship. Once they were separated though, wickets came freely and it was only a brisk, unbeaten 37 from Merissa Aguilleira that carried them past 150. Offspin-bowling allrounder Shashikala Siriwardene was the most successful of Sri Lanka’s bowlers, claiming 3 for 26.The visitors were in trouble straightaway in the chase, falling to 18 for 2 in the seventh over, both blows struck by new-ball bowler Shakera Selman. They did not really recover and, despite resistance from Dilani Manodara and a small counterattack from Rebeca Vandort, fell well short.

Liverpool have been dragged into a huge transfer saga surrounding Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo over the last 48 hours and Jurgen Klopp will surely be unimpressed with the ongoing situation.

How much did Liverpool offer for Moises Caicedo?

The Reds agreed a huge record-breaking £111m fee with the Seagulls in the earlier hours of Friday morning, however, it has been reported heavily by Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano that Caicedo is only interested in signing for Chelsea this summer.

With just over a fortnight left to secure the much-needed reinforcements in midfield before the transfer window closes, the powerbrokers at Anfield need to quickly identify alternatives to sign instead of the Ecuodorian, which shouldn't be too difficult to achieve considering there is clearly a healthy budget available.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Who are Liverpool's transfer targets?

The Merseyside giants have been linked with a number of midfielders over the summer so far and following the unexpected departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, the midfield rebuild at Anfield has become an even more desperate for the club.

Like Caicedo, Southampton youth prospect has been heavily linked with both Liverpool and Chelsea over the last few months, however, the Reds could now be looking further afield to secure the experience and quality they need in the six role this season.

Liverpool have been again linked with a move for Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni, a player who could be the answer to Klopp's biggest headache.

In a report by The Telegraph at the end of last month, Chris Bascombe revealed that Liverpool could potentially explore another move for Tchouameni in their pursuit to strengthen the defensive roles in the centre of the pitch.

It was also reported in June that Liverpool had made a €55m (£47m) bid, however, the offer was short of Real Madrid's expectations, with Florentino Perez demanding nothing short of €80m (£69m) to part ways with the midfielder.

There is no doubt that Tchouameni possesses the quality and winning mentality to make an instant impact at Anfield, as well as being the perfect profile of player to work alongside Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister to complete the midfield transformation.

The Frenchman is one of the hottest midfield prospects across the top five European leagues – ranking in the top 15% of his positional peers for pass completion, clearances, aerial duels won and shots on goal, as per FBref.

Over 33 La Liga appearances last season, the 23-year-old – once hailed as "pure gold" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – registered four assists, tallied up an impressive 94% pass completion rate, successfully completed 78% of his dribbles and won 66% of his duels combined, as well as averaging 63.1 touches per game, demonstrating his dominance in the centre of the pitch.

Indeed, Tchouameni previously rejected a move to Anfield when he joined Real Madrid last summer, however, with Jude Bellingham arriving at the Bernabeu and only 24 starts in the Spanish top-flight last season, there is no reason why Liverpool couldn't present an attractive prospect for the player by making him the star man in the six role.

With that being said, it remains to be seen whether the France international would be open to a move to Merseyside this summer, but Klopp is running out of time to fill the position with a return to Premier League football commencing this weekend against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Nottingham Forest are reportedly interested in Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams, as Steve Cooper eyes quality reinforcements this summer.

The Welshman must welcome additional resources to his side, who struggled on their return to the Premier League last season, leaving it until the penultimate game of the calendar to confirm their safety.

With the opening game against Arsenal fast approaching, it’s time for Cooper to weigh up his squad options with the ability to dip into the market before it closes.

What’s the latest on Tyler Adams to Nottingham Forest?

As reported back in June by the Mail, Forest emerged as one of the clubs interested in Adams, who suffered a demotion with Leeds last season.

The American was said to be ‘one of the names’ Cooper was considering moving for, with the 24-year-old having a £20m relegation release clause in his contract at Elland Road.

More recently, however, news has suggested that the Reds should expect competition for the midfielder, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano confirming Chelsea’s desire to make contact with the player.

How good is Tyler Adams?

Having been hailed as a “machine” by journalist Wes Rucker, the USMNT international made quite the impact during his debut season in the Premier League, asserting himself as a rock in Leeds’ midfield.

Despite his debut campaign ending bitterly in relegation, the American midfielder prevailed as one of the Whites’ brightest individuals, hence the increased interest surrounding the 24-year-old’s services.

Obtaining a talent as combative and thorough as Adams could be one of the elements fundamental to take Cooper’s side to the next level, and cementing their status as a top-flight club, moving away from being on the fence between the Premier League and Championship.

The New York-born star showcased the roundedness of his game, and his complete skill set in what it takes to be a top performer in the engine room in England.

Maintaining a pass completion rate of 82.5% per 90, as well as averaging an impressive 5.68 progressive passes per 90 last campaign for Leeds, via FBref, the midfielder is an assured presence in possession and a strong link to transitioning play from defence to attack.

For Forest, Adams could bolster the options on show at the City Ground in such a crucial area, with the youngster having the potential to take the place of some veterans in the position.

Signed in January from Newcastle United, Jonjo Shelvey had all the ingredients to be the reliable source in the midfield to help Forest coast towards safety, however, the Englishman had the opposite effect.

Making just six starts in the league, the 31-year-old dud was kept away from the action after reacting poorly for not being in the line-up against Liverpool in April and has since been segregated from the first team.

The Essex-born midfielder has been excluded from the club’s pre-season festivities, with all signs leading to a City Ground exit, leaving room for a new face to take his place.

Adams is more recently a better performer than the former Newcastle, who fell short in terms of averages per 90 to the American, based on his figures for Leeds last term and Shelvey’s numbers for the Magpies in the 2021/22 campaign.

As per FBref, the 24-year-old averaged an impressive 3.72 tackles and 1.46 interceptions per 90 for the Whites, as well as averaging 1.00 key passes per 90 to highlight his attacking prowess amid his defensive security.

Shelvey averaged 1.36 tackles and 1.00 interceptions for Newcastle in 2021/22, recording 0.73 key passes per 90, via FBref, making Adams’ claim to replace him at Forest a particularly unquestionable one.

The performances of some key players amplified long-standing issues of form, but Sarfraz Ahmed is positive that one innings doesn’t make a bad side as Pakistan look to avoid a first home series defeat in ten years

Osman Samiuddin in Dubai05-Oct-2017What is it stake you ask, in this second and final Test of an always low-stakes rivalry? The ICC will focus on the rankings – if Pakistan don’t win, they drop to seventh, the lowest they have been since January 2010. Late August 2016, when they officially became number one, suddenly feels much more than just 13-and-a-bit months away.That might not sting as much though as, potentially, the end of one of the proudest streaks in international cricket. Two days after the scheduled end of this Test – October 12 – will mark exactly a decade since Pakistan last lost a home series – 1-0 to South Africa.One can crib about the semantics of ‘home’ – that Pakistan have only played one actual series since then in their actual home and the rest in their adopted home of the UAE – but that should actually add lustre to a remarkable run. Since 1970, Australia, West Indies, India and New Zealand have had ten-year plus undefeated streaks at home and they all had the benefit of playing at their real home. Pakistan themselves went undefeated in Pakistan between 1980 and 1995, but given the circumstances of this run, it is at least the match of that.What it will mark, more definitively, is the end of the MisYou era. That end had begun in Abu Dhabi, not so much with the final-day collapse and loss, but with the decision to play three pace bowlers and a lone spinner. Misbah, if he could help it, rarely went that way.Pakistan want to persist with three fast bowlers because they feel it is now their strength, though Wahab Riaz will come in for Hasan Ali, who has a slight niggle in his left glutes that management is keen to rest ahead of the limited-overs games.Asad Shafiq slaps one over midwicket•Tom Dulat/StringerThe pitch is dry, conditions hot and humid and Sri Lanka will play three spinners. This is the problem with two-Test series, that there isn’t enough time to know whether a strategy shift such as this has worked and should be persevered with or dumped. There were murmurs throughout Abu Dhabi about shifting from two spinners to three fast bowlers, but in truth, it wasn’t Pakistan’s bowling, or their bowling combination, that messed up there.By and large, and especially in the second innings, the attack did well. If there was a question mark it was over the most experienced of the trio of fast bowlers. Mohammad Amir went wicketless in the Test and other than a late second-innings spell in which a catch was spilled off his bowling, he did not look quite right.By Mickey Arthur’s admission, Amir started the Test poorly on the first morning and some observers felt the switch in conditions, from bowling in England with Essex and then bowling in the extreme heat of Abu Dhabi played a part. Just two first-class matches ago, after all, he took his second career ten-for, to add to a summer in which he bowled his most decisive spell since his return in 2016 – against India in the Champions Trophy final.It is worth nothing that since his 6-44 in Kingston back in April, he has taken just seven wickets in seven innings. He will play, of course, and Sarfraz Ahmed, his captain, is not concerned.”Amir did bowl well in Abu Dhabi but unfortunately did not get wickets. I’m sure he will give us a better performance here.”Sarfraz Ahmed was aggressive before playing on•Francois Nel/Getty ImagesThe real problem, which pre-dates Sarfraz’s ascension, is with the batting – one might quip that is an issue that pre-dates the creation of Pakistan itself. The last-day collapses are stacking up, but so too is the pressure on Asad Shafiq.Shafiq had as poor a second half of the Test as imaginable, first dropping two catches in Sri Lanka’s second innings at slip, and then undone by a combination of a good ball and indecisive strokeplay when he was on 20 in the chase. His first-innings 39 was more assured but it bore clear signs of the extra responsibility his seniority now demands. It means he is averaging less than 31 in 16 Tests since the start of the England series in 2016 – a curious run given it includes two memorable hundreds and a handful of important fifties.Arthur was unequivocal in his backing for Shafiq after the Abu Dhabi Test, insisting that he was a major part of this side’s future. But Pakistan don’t play another Test till next May, and that too in England, a break long enough to work against a Test-specialist like Shafiq.Sarfraz – and you’ll note a pattern here – is not worried.”Asad was playing really well in that first innings but just got out. In the second innings he got a good ball. I have full confidence in him – he is our main batsman and I’m confident he will show his form in this Test and hopefully help us win it.”Most of Sarfraz’s work in the days since Abu Dhabi has been of this nature – to give his team the confidence that one bad innings does not make them a bad side. Pakistan have chosen not to practice too much in the days since.”We worked on a few key things that we got wrong, like the fact that we went into our shells and played a little slow when batting,” he said. “We’ve spoken about that, but mostly we’ve told the guys to play their natural games and to not be scared of failure. One good or bad performance doesn’t make a difference. The main thing is we have to back them.”Pakistan don’t often go into a Test in the UAE needing to win it to save the series. It has happened only once before, that too against Sri Lanka, nearly four years ago. Then, they produced the memorable chase to level the series. Sarfraz played a key role in it, moved up the order to give the chase some oomph. It is the moment where his rise began to where he now sits. And he now admits he should’ve gone up in the small chase last week. He will learn. Pakistan needs him to.