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Arsenal are believed to be hopeful of securing the signing of Leeds United winger Raphinha, amid the ongoing battle for the Brazilian’s signature.

What’s the word?

As per Goal’s Charles Watts, the Gunners are still ‘firmly in the hunt’ to land the 25-year-old this summer – as well as compatriot Gabriel Jesus – with the Premier League outfit holding the belief that they can secure a deal for the forward, so long as rival suitors, Barcelona, do not ‘rekindle their interest’.

The La Liga giants had been heavily linked with a move for the nine-cap gem, although their ongoing financial woes have seemingly put paid to any hopes of a deal, for now, with Jesse Marsch’s side set to demand around £45m.

The Emirates outfit are believed to be joined in their interest, however, by north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, while Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea are also said to be monitoring the situation, albeit with the Blues concentrating on a deal for Ousmane Dembele.

Imagine him and Vieira

Sporting director Edu has already acted swiftly this summer to secure the notable arrival of Porto star, Fabio Vieira, with the Portuguese playmaker set to join the club in a £34m deal having shone for the Primeira Liga champions in recent seasons.

Despite only making his senior, first-team debut at the tail end of the 2019/20 campaign, the 22-year-old has gone on to score ten goals and register a further 18 assists in the club in all competitions, proving himself a real dynamic, creative presence in the final third.

The attacking midfielder enjoyed a particularly profitable 2021/22 campaign in which he scored six goals and provided an additional 14 assists in just 27 outings in the league alone, unsurprisingly recording an outstanding 7.45 average match rating, as per Sofascore – the fifth-highest in Sergio Conceicao’s squad.

The £22.5m-rated starlet will provide further creativity and attacking spark to a squad already littered with young, explosive talent, with Arteta set to have a wealth of forward options at his disposal next term.

That competition for places could be strengthened even further by the addition of Raphinha, however, with it a mouthwatering thought as to just how devastating both the “outrageous” talent – as he has been dubbed by Anthony Lewis – and the aforementioned Vieira can be in partnership next season.

With the younger man likely to operate in a more central, midfield role, the former Rennes star – who made the move to Elland Road from France in a £17m deal two years – is likely to provide further threat from either flank, posing a real danger to any defence with his lethal left foot.

That quality was evident last term as the £40.5m-rated “baller” – as described by teammate Tyler Roberts – recorded an impressive haul of 11 goals and three assists, taking his total tally to 29 goal contributions for the Yorkshire outfit in the top-flight over the last two campaigns combined.

With his 14 goals and assists from last term, as well as the 20 goal contributions of potential colleague Vieira, Arteta and co could potentially be gaining 34 extra goals and assists to their squad next term, with that added quality only set to boost their hopes of a top-four berth.

There may still be work to do to get the deal done, although bringing in the Leeds man could help Arsenal form a devastating attacking duo.

IN other news, Arsenal now plotting record-breaking bid for £100m gem, he’d be a “superstar” signing

Celtic are reportedly closing in on securing a deal for Bayern Munich midfielder Christopher Scott ahead of the upcoming summer window.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from Ghana Soccernet (via Scottish Sun), the Hoops are favourites to sign the 19-year-old and will secure the signing if they pay Bayern’s asking price of £250k.

After making 61 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen’s youth sides in which he scored 32 goals and provided two assists, the midfielder joined Bayern’s U19 side back in the 2020 January transfer window.

Since then, the teenager, who turns 20 tomorrow, has gone on to make 53 appearances for the youth teams, finding the net 12 times and delivering 15 assists in the process.

The youngster also has two senior appearances for the German giants under his belt.

On the international stage, the player has made appearances for Germany across their U15, U16, U17, U19 and U20 sides.

Celtic fans will be buzzing

The above shows the attacking and creative talent he has and why the Bhoys are reportedly close to signing him. However, it also underlines why supporters will be buzzing to see him sign.

According to Celtic Analytics on Twitter, Scott’s strengths are “offensive and on the ball as a strong passer and ball carrier,” as well as being a player who “generates a lot of threat from finishing and creativity.”

Thus, taking into account how Ange Postecoglou has shown that he is not against signing young players from abroad and giving them the chance to shine in his side such, notably Liel Abada, Scott could well be the next one in line to become a household name at Celtic.

With the likes of Nir Bitton, Tom Rogic and now Luca Connell waving goodbye to Parkhead, this could give the Bayern prospect an easier shot of making it into the first team at Celtic should he end up joining.

With all of this in mind, it’s safe to say that should the Hoops secure the German youth star’s signature in the coming days or weeks, it would definitely be an exciting signing for the club. He is capable of scoring goals and creating them for his teammates, something that makes him a real nuisance for defenders.

Given the talent he has at such a young age, the potential he has to grow into a senior star at Parkhead is a mouth-watering prospect for everyone connected to the club.

In other news: Ange can land his own Denayer as Celtic eye £7k-p/w gem who has “fire in his belly”

Aston Villa could have a big say on where the Premier League title ends up this season as they prepare to take on Manchester City on the final day of the campaign.

If the Villans can stop Pep Guardiola’s side from winning on Sunday and Liverpool win at home to Wolves, then Steven Gerrard’s former club will be crowned champions.

While the Midlands club will undoubtedly be aiming to get a result for themselves and their own fans rather than anyone else, it seems as though the Villans have been dealt a double injury blow which could impact their chances of doing just that.

What’s the news?

City’s defensive duo of John Stones and Kyle Walker are reportedly in contention to feature in Sunday’s clash after returning to training, having recently been sidelined with injuries.

Taking into account how Guardiola’s side have the best defensive record in the Premier League with just 24 goals conceded in 37 games, having two of their main defenders back in the frame will undeniably make them a tougher opponent for Villa to try and beat.

With Stones having one of the highest percentages for passing accuracy (93.2%) and has the highest percentage for aerial duels won out of players to be involved in more than two per game in the top flight this season, he will be a welcome addition back in City’s line-up.

The England centre-back is also listed higher than the likes of Aymeric Laporte, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake in terms of overall performances this season according to WhoScored, with a rating of 7.13/10.

As for Walker, the fact that City have conceded 10 goals in the league throughout the 17 games in which he hasn’t played this season suggests that they are much better defensively when he’s in the team.

Taking this into account, if the league leaders are able to play both England internationals this weekend, it will be worrying for Gerrard and undoubtedly make it harder for Villa to end their season on a high note with a win against the title-chasing Citizens.

The Villa manager must now be hoping that his attacking players have what it takes to trouble City’s defence and give their travelling fans something to shout about after the 1-1 draw against Burnley on Thursday.

In other news: Gerrard already heading for big summer disaster at AVFC over £13.5m-rated “magician”

Newcastle have been hit with a frustrating injury setback as an update has emerged regarding Ryan Fraser…

What’s the latest?

Eddie Howe revealed in his pre-match press conference that the Scotland international is set to miss out this weekend.

The Magpies travel to face Burnley in their final Premier League match of the campaign later today, and it appears as though they will have to make do without the 28-year-old.

After the press conference, journalist Jordan Cronin tweeted: “Ryan Fraser felt his hamstring again versus Arsenal and is unlikely to feature.”

Supporters will be gutted

This injury update will surely leave Newcastle supporters gutted, as it means that they will now have to wait until next season to watch the winger in action again.

Fraser has not started a game for the Magpies since 8 April against Wolves, while he came on as a substitute in the recent 2-0 win over Arsenal. This latest claim means that his next start will not be until August at the earliest, hopefully after a strong pre-season without any fitness issues.

After a difficult start to the campaign under Steve Bruce, the ex-Bournemouth man then found his feet on Tyneside and showed signs of promise out wide. He has averaged a solid SofaScore rating of 6.86 across 27 appearances this term, chipping in with two goals and three assists along the way.

The winger was not at his blistering best all the way through the campaign, as shown by the statistics, but he came alive in flashes. This indicates that the potential is there for him to play a big role for the club next season if he is able to maintain his fitness.

In the 2018/19 campaign, Fraser managed seven goals and 14 assists in the Premier League for Bournemouth. This proves that the talent is there and that Howe has previously been able to unlock it on the south coast, which is why there may be hope that the 44-year-old can do so again.

Newcastle supporters will be keen for the Scottish wide man to hit the ground running next season so that they can see him scoring and setting up goals on a regular basis. That is why this latest blow for the 28-year-old is a frustrating one which will leave the Toon Army gutted ahead of today’s clash, as he will not be able to go into the summer on a high.

AND in other news, “Sources at Newcastle”: Huge transfer update emerges that’ll leave supporters gutted…

He’s begun to find his feet as an India player, and a couple of startling stats suggest he could do the job at No. 4 in the IPL as well

Sreshth Shah in Kolkata23-Mar-2019Since the start of the new year, only one Indian cricketer has been written about more on ESPNcricinfo than Virat Kohli. Who? Vijay Shankar.From a sluggish display with the bat under excruciating pressure in the Nidahas Trophy final to a nerveless final over to close out a tense second ODI against Australia, Vijay’s reputation as a white-ball cricketer has swung from one extreme to another, all in the space of 12 months.And as he returns to Sunrisers Hyderabad, the team he was part of in 2016 and 2017, life comes full circle for the 28-year-old.Tom Moody gushed, his face flushed with redness, when asked about Vijay’s role in the 2019 Sunrisers squad. Moody was the Sunrisers’ coach in 2016 too, and he has witnessed a raw version of Vijay develop into a thoroughbred, overseeing his development up until his switch to Delhi Daredevils in early 2018. He seemed delighted to have the allrounder back in his team.”The growth and improvement in Vijay Shankar’s game has been a pleasure to watch, particularly given he was part of our family originally,” Moody told the media on the eve of Sunrisers’ opening game against Kolkata Knight Riders. “Seeing him progress and do well for India… that’s one of the pleasures of coaching. To see players evolve like that and blossom.”But in a team that has a prospective middle-to-lower order of Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Nabi, Yusuf Pathan and a wicketkeeper, where does Vijay fit in best? Can he bat at No. 4, as he has done recently for India? It would give Sunrisers an aggressive, six-hitting option in a middle order that has otherwise found it difficult to accelerate and dominate bowlers in the recent past.Vijay Shankar punches into the off side•BCCIHere’s a stat. Among batsman who have faced 100 or more balls in those particular innings phases in the IPL, Vijay has the highest batting average in the death overs (54.33, with a strike rate of 163.00) and the second-highest average in overs 7-15 (70.00, SR of 123.89). He has only been dismissed three times in ten innings in the last five overs, and only twice in eight innings in the middle eight. These are unexpected numbers, and they point to the kind of role Sunrisers could use him in – a middle-order cog capable of scoring quite quickly himself, around whom batsmen such as Nabi, Shakib and Yusuf can go hard at the bowling.In the first of two batting sessions at the Eden Gardens before Sunrisers’ first match, Vijay walked in at second-change in the nets. Batting without a helmet, he took on the Sunrisers spin bowlers – Rashid Khan, Yusuf and Shahbaz Nadeem – using his feet to get close to the pitch of the ball. Some shots over the bowler’s head clattered into the bucket seats, some flew off the bat’s edge and zipped across the net. Vijay, however, did not bowl on either practice day.If Vijay plays the role of an out-and-out batsman, which he can in a team full of allrounders, including Rashid and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the lower order, it would mean that one Deepak Hooda or Pandey may not find a spot in the XI. But Vijay’s inclusion would give Sunrisers a versatile performer capable of tailoring his game to the demands of both 100 for 2 after 10 overs and 15 for 2 in the Powerplay.It’s a flip-switch that Sunrisers’ middle order has lacked for a few years, and it has been one reason for their being a team most suited to defending totals or chasing down middling targets in the 160s. Vijay has the game to give them an extra dimension.He still has to go out and prove all of this, of course, and do it when more eyes are watching him and expecting things from him than ever before. Will the pressure get the better of him? Or will it bring out his best, with only weeks to go for the World Cup? We don’t know yet, but it’s a question that’s occupying the minds of fans all over India.

Plays of the day from the second ODI between Australia and Pakistan at the MCG

Daniel Brettig15-Jan-2017The shuffleAustralia’s top order did not function particularly well at the Gabba and a neck injury to Chris Lynn meant further instability for the hosts. David Warner walked out accompanied by Usman Khawaja, his third partner in as many ODIs after Aaron Finch was dropped and Travis Head then demoted back to the middle order. For Khawaja, this was a first chance in canary yellow since an ODI against Ireland that served as prelude to the South Africa limited-overs series in October, and his cramped edge from the bowling of Junaid Khan meant that the Australians ended the day none the wiser as to the identity of their best opening combination.The straight ballA slowish MCG surface rewarded spin bowlers who maintained a disciplined line while mixing up their pace. Fortunately for Pakistan’s stand-in captain Mohammad Hafeez, he had three such operators, including himself, and all were able to capitalise on Australian imprecision when trying to force the pace. Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith and Matthew Wade were all bowled by deliveries that did not deviate off the pitch. The last of those was uncannily similar to the way so many Australian batsmen have been dismissed in Asia in recent times, as Wade played for turn from Shoaib Malik and lost middle stump.The phantom edgeJunaid’s first ball to Pat Cummins was swift and well directed, cramping Australia’s No. 10 for room as he tried to force through the off side. The ball went through to Mohammad Rizwan and the Pakistanis went up in unison to appeal, but umpire Chris Gaffaney did not deduce an edge. Pakistan’s one referral had already gone earlier in the innings, and Wade had also evaded a caught-behind decision at the other end by reviewing to find the ball had brushed thigh rather than bat. This time the HotSpot and Snicko showed a clear edge, its evidence lost in the din of a noisy crowd and a breezy afternoon.The spin thriftWhere Pakistan used 24 overs of spin, the hosts offered up only one, delivered by Travis Head in the 14th of the chase, before the match was effectively decided. Australia had indicated their views of the pitch by leaving out the one specialist spin bowler in their squad, Adam Zampa, but while the visitors were able to utilise slow bowlers, the way Head’s first over was treated dissuaded Smith from delving any further. Hafeez hammered a pair of boundaries through backward square leg and down the ground, effectively neutering a bowler who had cost just 28 from 10 overs in Brisbane.

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Sep-2015Shoaib Malik, however, fashioned a recovery with his 35 off 24 balls. Mohammad Rizwan then provided the late boost with an unbeaten 33, despite late wickets, helping Pakistan finish at 136 for 8•AFPLeft-arm spinning allrounder Imad Wasim, though, made the total look bigger, as he removed both the Zimbabwe openers•AFPHe showed good control and ended with career-best T20 figures of 4 for 11•AFPElton Chigumbura mounted a late fightback but the regular loss of wickets continued to hurt Zimbabwe as they eventually fell short by 13 runs•AFP

Otherwise known as part two of the Curiously Disappointing in a Particular Batting Position Test XI

Andy Zaltzman13-May-2014A reminder of the top five in this historic XI that will unquestionably lead to a deeper understanding of the human condition and, from this, world peace:1. Geoff Boycott – averaged 43.9 at number 1; 55.2 at No. 2
2. Mark Taylor – averaged 36.1 at number 2; 52.0 at No. 1
3. Norman O’Neill – averaged 32.0 at number 3; 57.4 at No. 4
4. David Gower – averaged 38.3 at number 4; 49.4 at Nos. 3 or 5
5. The Nawab of Pataudi jnr (captain) – averaged 26.2 at No. 5; 46.0 elsewhereNumber 6. Ian Botham (94 innings at 6, average 29.2; 54 innings at 5 or 7, average 44.8)
No. 6 was, unquestionably, Botham’s position. He owned it for as long as he was fit. Or, in the latter stages of his career, even partially fit, when injuries had taken such a toll that his aura had far better averages than his body. Botham is one of the first names on most all-time England XIs, a match-shaping force of nature, who, in his early years in Tests, was the most complete allrounder that cricket has produced. Botham at 6, plus ten others. In fact, if we are talking about a Botham in his magnificent, statistic-melting, and disappointingly short-lived pomp, you could pick Botham at 6, plus seven or eight others, just to give him a challenge.How do we explain then, that, of the 39 batsmen who have played 30 or more Test innings at No. 6, England’s greatest allrounder has the 38th best average, with only Dwayne Bravo (26.6) beneath him? Batting at 5 (average 53) and 7 (average 40), Botham compares well with the best the Test game has seen, albeit from relatively few innings. He clearly responded well when batting with the extra pressure of the number 5 position. And to the reduced pressure of coming in at 7.Number 7 & wicketkeeper: MS Dhoni (India; 97 innings at 7, average 30.8; 28 innings at 6 and 8, average 67.5)
Counting only innings at 6 and 8, out of the 411 batsmen who have played in those positions a minimum of ten times, Dhoni has the best average in Test history. He averages mid-to-high 60s in both positions. As a No. 7, however, where he has played more than three-quarters of his Test innings, he nestles in the statistical foothills, amongst the likes of less-garlanded and lower-earning wicketkeepers Ridley Jacobs, Prasanna Jayawardene and Rashid Latif, and only slightly ahead of his Indian predecessor Parthiv Patel. A statistical quirk of the highest order.It seems clear from these stats that Dhoni’s mind is focused by not batting in his listed position – it worked for him in the 2011 World Cup final, after all. He should be India’s official No. 11. Then, wherever he bats, he will be like a cross between Gilchrist and Bradman.Number 8. Graeme Swann (England; 13 innings at 8, average 12.5; 61 innings at 9 or 10, average 23.7).
I have bent the qualification criteria to include Swann, because his average as a No. 8 batsman, although garnered from only 13 innings, was what initially sowed the seeds for this blog. Statistically, Swann is Test cricket’s best ever No. 10, and second only to Broad as an England No. 9 (15 innings minimum in both cases). He was a magnificent striker of the ball, and played a number of important innings under pressure. Technically, you would assume there is no practical difference between batting at 8 and batting at 9 or 10. But Swann, in his innings at 8, has a highest score of 32, and had the fifth worst average of the 43 players who have batted at least ten times at No. 8 for England, behind Andy Caddick (who, conversely, averaged 14 at Nos. 8, 10 at number 9, and a pitiful 6.9 at No. 10).Was Swann a talented lower-order batsman who was most comfortable batting in positions that he was too good for? Was he good under certain types of match-play pressure, but not under the added expectation of batting as high as 8? Was Caddick a genuine tailender who, when asked to bat higher up the order due to England’s selectors opting for a tail-end that almost defied cricketing science in its ineptitude, reacted with determination and fortitude, spurred to play above himself by the responsibility thrust upon him? Or are they just the kind of numerical coincidences that cricket pukes out on a daily basis? Send your answers to the International Institute For Cricketing Psychology, c/o La Paz University, Bolivia.Oddly, Swann’s tweaking predecessor for England, Hedley Verity, one of his rivals to the claim of being England’s best ever tailender, suffered a similar failure to replicate low-order effectiveness in the loftier realms of the batting order. The Yorkshire war hero averaged 26.9 at 9 and 10, but only 14.5 at No. 8.Number 9. Ray Lindwall (Australia; 37 innings at 9, average 15.5; 33 innings at 7 or 8, average 29.2)
Lindwall’s bowling was so brilliant that his excellence with the bat is sometimes overlooked. The Eddie Hemmings of his day. The post-war paceman scored a 90-ball century in his fourth innings for Australia, batting at 9 at the MCG against England. For the rest of his career, however, he averaged under 13 when batting there, despite it being his regular position in the order. As a 7/8, however, he was statistically more effective than either Benaud or Davidson, both of whom are more highly regarded as allrounders.Number 10. Phillip DeFreitas (England; 13 innings at 10, average 4.6; 26 innings at 9, average 14.2; 21 innings at 8, average 21.1)
A decent No. 8; an acceptable No. 9; a truly abysmal No. 10. DeFreitas seemed to bat according to the expectations of his batting position. If England had grabbed hold of the promising 20-year-old DeFreitas who toured Australia in 1986-87, and told him to bat at 3 for his entire career, he would have been the new Wally Hammond.Number 11. Lance Gibbs (West Indies; 71 innings at 11, average 4.9; 31 innings at 9 or 10, average 10.3)
Despite a healthy proportion of not-outs, Gibbs was next to useless when going in last. He seemed to thrive on the added excitement and self-esteem of having someone even worse than him in the batting order.This XI will play a five-Test series against the forthcoming Confectionery Stall Brilliant In One Position Only XI, at some point in the next two months. Subject to (a) logistics; (b) TV money; (c) reversibility of retirement/old age/death; and (d) me writing the Brilliant In One Position Only XI.

When others experience problems and he finds a point to prove, Kevin Pietersen flourishes

George Dobell in Mumbai25-Nov-2012There may have been more reliable batsmen, there may have been more responsible batsmen and there may have been more consistent batsmen. But there have been very few batsmen to have been so destructive, so often, as Kevin Pietersen.Certainly it is hard to think of another England batsman of recent vintage who could have played the innings Pietersen played. On a pitch offering substantial assistance to the spinners and on which other batsmen have struggled for fluency, Pietersen created the illusion that he was operating on a batting paradise. Only when others, some of whom are considered experts in such conditions, prodded and struggled were the true nature of the conditions exposed.This was an innings that many thought could never be played. When Pietersen was dropped from the England team in August, bridges were smouldering and, so deep were the divisions between him and his colleagues, that it looked for a while that there could be no return. It is surely for the best that a rapprochement was achieved. At a time when Test cricket is fighting for relevance and room, talents like Pietersen are to be savoured by anyone from any nation. His return is an asset not just to England, but to the game. Players like this do not come around very often.Pietersen is often at his best with a point to prove. It was after a poor tour of the UAE earlier this year that he produced the innings of 151 in Colombo; as the chasm between him and his teammates grew that he produced the innings of 149 in Leeds and as he sought to restate his worth after “reintegration” that he produced this innings. Most players are at their best when they feel comfortable; Pietersen is at his best when he feels doubted.Each great innings has been produced as his colleagues have struggled. Here, apart from the excellent Alastair Cook, no other England batsman could manage more than 29. At Leeds, Matt Prior, with 68, was the only other man to get out of the 30s and, even in Colombo, where England started well, Pietersen’s departure saw England lose their last five wickets for 49 runs. He has produced three match-shaping centuries in his last eight Tests. No-one in the world has scored more runs in first-class cricket this year, either. He is a great batsman at the peak of his powers. His worth to the team is immense.We should not be surprised. After all, before Pietersen, England had never won a global trophy. Before Pietersen, England had not won the Ashes in nearly two decades. Before Pietersen, England could barely dream of reaching No.1 in the ODI, Test or T20 rankings. It is largely through him that all those hurdles were cleared. He was, remember, the man of the tournament when England won the World T20 in the Caribbean in 2010 and it was his century at The Oval that clinched the 2005 Ashes.

It was masterful innings containing a medley of Pietersen’s greatest hits. But what made it all possible was the fact that he was prepared to wait for the opportunity to play them.

Yet, despite it all, some will never take to Pietersen. They doubt his motives, his commitment and his loyalty. It is a state of affairs that perhaps says more about the doubters than the doubted. Pietersen, like everyone else who has ever played the game, will be a mixture of virtue and vice and it is often unwise to judge a sportsman on anything other than their performance. Whatever Pietersen’s qualities off the pitch – and the truth is that most with an opinion are basing it on presumption rather than evidence – as a batsman it is hard to dispute his greatness.His technique may, at times, look idiosyncratic, but there is thought and logic behind it. At his best, his eyes, his hands and his feet work in harmony consistent with most great players. It is just that, such is Pietersen’s reach, his strength and his range of stroke, that he has more options than most. There will be occasions when he over-reaches or when his ego – so often a power of good in his batting – seduces him into danger. But that’s the price you pay for the wild genius. Viv Richards was not so different.So dominant was Pietersen in the opening session of the third day that he took a game in the balance and stole the initiative for England. He read R Ashwin’s variation and, having done so, was confident enough to use his feet to hit the ball into the gaps and produced strong evidence to scotch the theory that he struggles against left-arm spin: at one staging thrashing Pragyan Ojha for two fours and three sixes in a 17-ball spell.It was masterful stuff containing a medley of Pietersen’s greatest hits: the slog-sweep, the reverse sweep, the scoop, the cover drive, the cut and the lofted drive. But what made it all possible was the fact that he was prepared to wait for the opportunity to play them. There was none of the premeditation we saw in Ahmedabad, as Pietersen demonstrated the patience and the technique to block the good balls and wait for the bad ones. And when you have the arsenal of scoring options of Pietersen, you never have to wait too long.Cook is a different creature but must also be defined as great. Like Pietersen, Cook now has 22 Test centuries – no England player has scored more – and both should have plenty to come. Critics often judge a player’s merit or talent not on effectiveness, but on aesthetics. While it is true that Cook may not time the ball with the sweetness of Ian Bell, the more apt criteria for judgement should be who you would rather bat in your team. Cook, by such a benchmark, scores well. His mental strength and determination may not create the pleasing elegance of Bell, but they will win more matches.The excellence of Pietersen and Cook helped England to a first innings lead of 86 and, just as relevant in the long-term, a score of 400 for two innings in succession. On surfaces designed to exploit their weaknesses, that is an encouraging statistic.It may be mis-leading, however. Cook and Pietersen apart, England’s batsmen continued to struggle against spin. Jonny Bairstow showed some understandable naivety in playing across the left-arm spinner and Samit Patel has yet to justify his reputation against spin. England still look overly reliant for their runs on a couple of individuals.The success of their spinners was a major boost, though. To lose the toss on a wicket tailor-made for the opposition and beat them at their own game would be a remarkable achievement. It may also provide India with some food for thought going into the rest of the series.But let us not get ahead of ourselves. Bearing in mind England’s struggles against spin this year, and the ghost of Abu Dhabi hanging over them, a target of as little as 120 may still provoke discomfort. This beguiling game may offer us another twist or two yet.

Plays of the day from the third day of the second Test between Sri Lanka and West Indies in Colombo

Andrew Fernando in Colombo25-Nov-2010The déjà vu feeling of the day
Yesterday, Kumar Sangakkara danced down the track to loft Shane Shillingford over mid-on for six and then four off consecutive deliveries. Another left hander, West Indies no. 3 Darren Bravo, must have been taking notes. In Rangana Herath’s sixth over, Bravo waltzed down to hit him over long-on for a six, and then dispatched his nex ball for four. Same ploy, same end, same area, same result.The catch of the day
Rangana Herath is, perhaps, the least athletic looking player in the Sri Lanka side. Standing at a smidgen over five feet and with a portly build, he is not known for his fielding prowess. But today he pulled off a blinder that would have made even Jonty Rhodes or AB de Villiers proud. Spotting a leading edge off Darren Bravo that spooned towards extra cover, Herath sprinted in from backward point and launched himself horizontally towards the plummeting ball with arms outstretched. His teammates swooped in delighted, and Bravo departed – scarcely able to believe what he’d just seen.The ramp of the day
Cricket helmets have changed a lot since they first arrived on the scene, and Kumar Sangakkara’s preferred model, which is sleeker and flatter than most other helmets, might just be the next wave of them. When Sangakkara was hit on the helmet by Kemar Roach in his third over of the morning, rather than lobbing lamely to slip or gully, the ball ramped up over the smooth beak and flew high over the wicketkeeper for four leg-byes.The riposte of the day
What’s the best way to reply to being hit on the lid by a pumped up fast bowler? Slam him for consecutive boundaries. After Kemar Roach caught a ducking Kumar Sangakkara in his second over of the morning, the batsman responded in style. The next delivery was dispatched emphatically to the square leg boundary, beating the man at deep backward-square and the following ball rocketed to the fence through the covers.The party pooper of the day
If there is one thing cricket in the West Indies and Sri Lanka have in common, it’s the music in the stands. But just as the band were getting warmed up for the day, Chris Gayle stopped Suranga Lakmal in his run-up to ask the musicians to stop playing. Apparently, if it’s not calypso, it’s distracting. He wasn’t even on strike.