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Joe Root enjoyed a rewarding Champions Trophy warm-up – and saw off his brother for good measure in the first time they had met in county cricket

George Dobell29-Apr-2017
ScorecardJoe Root and his younger brother Billy had fielded together for England•Getty Images

Joe Root began his preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy with his highest and, he felt, best List A innings for Yorkshire to help them to a comfortable victory at Trent Bridge.In a match containing 18 international players, and eight in Champions Trophy squads, Root provided the definitive contribution: an hurried, unfussy and unbeaten innings of 75.In a game where only one other man made 50 and against an attack containing five international bowlers, he was calm and restrained. Against three bowlers who are likely to feature in the Ashes later in the year, he made batting look easy.In truth, this was an anti-climactic encounter. On a ground where the average score in this competition last year was an eye-watering 385, Nottinghamshire provided a reminder of the reasons they were relegated in the County Championship with a feckless batting performance that saw them bowled out with more than nine overs of their allocation unused. Their total was 200 below last year’s average and every bit of 100 below par on a slow and perhaps slightly two-paced surface.Just for a moment, as Stuart Broad charged in from the Pavilion End, it seemed we might see a contest. But for all the pace he generated, for the immaculate length he bowled and for all the intimidating stares he aimed in Root’s direction – several of which were met by a bemused grin – there was no way past Root’s bat and no way to apply pressure with such a paltry score to defend.And, having largely seen off Broad and the accurate Jake Ball, he milked the rest with ease. Shortly before the end he reverse swept his brother Billy Root, a spinner with a hint of Murali in his action, for four and then pulled him for six to complete the victory with more than 17 overs to spare.The pair, who had never faced each other in county cricket – although they have fielded together for England when Billy fulfilled 12th man duties – travelled to and from the game together. After the six had landed, they exchanged a hug. Joe will play the next two Cup games for Yorkshire before departing on England duty. Billy, a terrific fielder and more than competent batsman if his List A debut against Worcestershire on Thursday is any indication, may struggle to retain his place if Steven Mullaney, who missed this game with a foot injury, is fit to return next week.”It was a horrible situation,” Root senior said of his treatment of Root junior in the dying moments of the game. “I do feel guilty, but you’ve got to be professional. I know he’d have done the same to me if I’d been bowling. I might suggest on the way home he doesn’t bowl too many half-trackers.”Stuart bowled really well, with good pace. I think he was trying to create a bit of theatre, but it’s hard to take it seriously when you know someone that well.”Playing against this attack is about as close to international cricket as you get. It probably was my best one-day innings for Yorkshire. We were very clinical all day. It was a good, ruthless performance.”The result gives Yorkshire a perfect start to their white-ball season but means Nottinghamshire have lost both their opening matches in this competition. Bearing in mind that the team which qualified for the quarter-finals last year suffered a maximum of three losses from their eight games and the fact that this year’s qualification process – involving a play-off to reach the semi-finals – is even more stringent and you might conclude that Nottinghamshire have, already, left themselves little margin for further error.Yorkshire’s bowlers deserve credit for applying pressure. Liam Plunkett, who didn’t concede a boundary until his eighth over, and Tim Bresnan, who struck Michael Lumb a blow on the thumb that saw him skip fielding in order to go for an X-ray, were especially impressive.But Nottinghamshire would accept that there was a lot of self-inflicted damage within their batting. Having negotiated the powerplay without much alarm (they were 43 for 0 after 10 overs) Alex Hales chipped Azeem Rafiq’s first delivery straight back to him, Lumb pulled a long-hop to mid-wicket and Samit Patel pulled another long-hop to mid-on.Riki Wessels and Brendan Taylor rebuilt sensibly during a fourth-wicket stand of 65 but when Wessels clipped a leg-stump half-volley to deep backward square, it precipitated a sharp decline.Root, arguably the only man in the top six to be dismissed, edged one angled across him, Taylor picked out deep mid-wicket and James Pattinson was run-out having presumed, wrongly as it transpired, that his drive had beaten Rafiq at short extra-cover. The image of Broad, last man out and caught on the boundary despite having 55 unused deliveries, rather summed up the somewhat overly aggressive nature of the innings.Broad struck with his first ball in reply – Jonny Bairstow shuffling in front of a straight one – but the result was hardly in doubt. Adam Lyth took three boundaries off Pattinson’s first over in reply and, although Lyth fell pulling, Root was not to be denied. It was, perhaps surprisingly, only his third List A half-century for Yorkshire. It was also only his 17th innings.Having caressed Broad for boundary through mid-on – his on drive perhaps the highlight of the day – Root eased him off his hip for four more. He only scored off seven of the 22 balls he faced from Broad (four singles and a two completing the picture), but he recognised that seeing him off was more important than seeing him punished and showed the composure and maturity that was lacking in the Notts innings.”Their bowlers created some pressure and we had a few soft dismissals,” Taylor admitted afterwards. “They made it difficult to score, for sure, but 180 is never going to be enough at Trent Bridge. I’d think 260-270 was on the cards on that pitch.”Yorkshire face Lancashire at Leeds on Monday, meaning Root will face, as he put it, “another grumpy fast bower” – in the presence this time of James Anderson. He will then face Mark Wood and co. when Yorkshire host Durham on Wednesday.The pitches may not be quite as quick as those we anticipate in the Champions Trophy, but the level of competition isn’t far short. It bodes pretty well for England that Root, at least, is finding his form.

Everton are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements following another Premier League relegation scrap last season and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

Will Everton sign Allan Saint-Maximin?

According to 90min, Everton are one of the clubs interested in signing Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin this summer.

As per the report, the Toffees have been checking in on the player's situation at St James' Park alongside Crystal Palace and AC Milan, whilst he has also become the latest player to be targeted by Saudi Pro League clubs too as game time has been limited for the Frenchman during Newcastle's rebuild.

What positions can Allan Saint-Maximin play?

There is no doubt that Sean Dyche will be making a rebuild of the forward line at Goodison Park his top priority this summer with both departures and injuries plaguing Everton's ability to comfortably retain their top-flight status.

The Toffees have lost both Richarlison and Anthony Gordon over the last 12 months, whilst Dominic Calvert-Lewin's injury issues have only added to the Merseyside club's plight which led to them being the second-lowest scoring team (34) in the entire Premier League last season.

As a result, the signing of Saint-Maximin could bring Everton's attacking threat back to life next season as his explosive and energetic approach to the wider forward role could cause chaos for opponents and ultimately improve the performances significantly.

Despite the 26-year-old ace – who had his transfer fee reduced to £26m in January – often being pushed out of the first-team by his position competitors, he still managed to outperform Dyche's forward options in a number of key attacking attributes.

According to WhoScored, only Alex Iwobi tallied up more assists (7) than winger Saint-Maximin (5) last season, whilst he outperformed every single Everton player with his successful dribbles completed per game (2.3), as well as offering 1.2 key passes per 90 which is something only Dwight McNeil (1.4) and Iwobi (1.7) managed to better.

Not only that, the Newcastle star ranks in the top 10% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for assists, progressive carries, successful take-ons, shot-creating actions and touches, demonstrating that he is one of the hottest forward prospects in Europe who can offer creative consistency for Everton.

Such numbers could well see him replace Richarlison's output, with the Brazilian impressing in similar metrics during his time at Goodison. Indeed, in his penultimate campaign with the club, he posted 1.8 successful dribbles per game.

The Premier League-proven talent has often been highly praised for his impact on Tyneside in the past, with Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville blown away by Saint-Maximin's skills:

"Honestly, he’s a massive threat and a nightmare for defenders. He creates chance after chance. He’s brilliant for Newcastle fans and a real positive part of the team.

"To see his speed, his movement, it’s absolutely breathtaking. We were defenders in the Premier League and played against lots of good players."

Replacing Richarlison was never going to be an easy task for Everton when he made the move to Tottenham Hotspur, however, there is now a real opportunity for Dyche to bring in a player with bags of technical ability and entertaining qualities in Saint-Maximin who could revive the presence in front of goal next season.

Chelsea capturing Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella would represent 'one of the best midfield signings' of the whole transfer window, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Nicolo Barella?

According to 90min, Inter Milan midfielder Barella has cropped up on Chelsea's radar this summer as the Blues eye a cheaper alternative to Brighton & Hove Albion enforcer Moises Caicedo, who would cost around £100 million to bring to Stamford Bridge.

The report states that Chelsea are reluctant to meet that fee and, in turn, they have turned their attention towards Barella and Southampton youngster Romeo Lavia as cheaper targets.

Newcastle United are also keen on the £152k-a-week ace, though they have reached a deadlock situation due to having a significant difference in valuation with his current employers, according to The Independent.

Liverpool are another suitor in the hunt to sign the 26-year-old, though are put off by the expenditure it would take to entice him to Anfield and view Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram as a more cost-effective option in midfield.

Gazzetta dello Sport via Sport Witness have added Manchester United to the list of competitors that are trying to bring in Barella this off-season.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones thinks that Barella – hailed a "monster" by some – would be an excellent signing by Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Jones told FFC: "If somebody could sign Barella, then it'd be one of the best midfield signings you could make all summer and if Chelsea feel that's achievable, then they should be going and knocking on the door."

Would Nicolo Barella be a good signing for Chelsea?

Barella is an elite-level midfielder who can operate in multiple different functions and would be a statement signing by Chelsea ahead of next term.

In 2022/23, the Italy international was a key player for Inter Milan, racking up nine goals and ten assists in 52 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored also note that Barella was Inter Milan's fourth-most consistent performer during the campaign behind Romelu Lukaku, Hakan Calhanoglu and Lautaro Martinez, obtaining an average rating of 6.94/10 for his exploits on the pitch.

As per FBRef, Barella successfully carried out 146 shot-creating actions combining his work in Serie A and the Champions League, demonstrating his capacity to provide an offensive threat from the middle of the park.

Chelsea are in need of some major surgery this summer to improve ahead of 2023/24 and bringing Barella to SW6 would be a signing that would excite the Stamford Bridge faithful.

Liverpool could soon add another midfielder to their ranks, with AS in Spain, via Paisley Gates, reporting that the Reds are prepared to trigger the release clause of Gabri Veiga this summer.

Are Liverpool going to sign Gabri Veiga?

The 21-year-old midfielder currently features for Celta Vigo and had only played a smattering of times for the Spanish side before the 2022/23 season. In fact, since being handed his La Liga debut in 2020/21, he had only managed 13 appearances in two campaigns for the club before the beginning of 2022/23.

However, having been trusted on a more frequent basis by his club this term, he has paid them back handsomely. Featuring 36 times this year, he has managed eleven goals and four assists along the way.

Even more impressive is how he ranks when compared to some of the more experienced midfielders in the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe. Despite some of the names he is going up against, his stats are incredible for a player still in the infancy of his career. His 0.43 non-penalty goals per 90 rate for example puts him in the top one percent in that area and his 2.67 progressive carries per 90 also has him in the 88th percentile in that area too.

Veiga then looks like the real deal – and that is why there now appears to be plenty of clubs willing to sign him. According to a report from Spanish newspaper AS, via Paisley Gates, Liverpool are not only interested, but FSG and Jorg Schmadtke are actually ready and willing to pay his release clause. The player has also been assured by Celta's president that they will sanction an exit if the fee is met.

What is Gabri Veiga's release clause?

That fee stands at 40 million Euros (or £34.2m), which is more than affordable for the Reds. However, they will face Premier League competition from the likes of Newcastle and Chelsea, who are also named as willing to stump up the cash in the report.

Veiga is seen as a really impressive player already by those in the game, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig calling him a "quality box-to-box midfielder" and adding that he has been a "revelation" over the course of the 2022/23 season.

It bodes well for Liverpool, who need reinforcements in the centre of the field. If Schmadtke and Co manage to snap him up then, it could see them land a really exciting prospect who could instantly improve their team.

Celtic could turn to Manchester City assistant coach Enzo Maresca as an alternative to Ange Postecoglou if the latter is appointed as Tottenham Hotspur manager amid speculation over his future, journalist Dean Jones has suggested.

What's the latest on the manager situation at Celtic?

As per The Independent, Postecoglou is said to be under 'strong' consideration for the vacant managerial position at Tottenham following the Lilywhites' failure to land Feyenoord's Arne Slot as their new manager.

Sky Sports cite that Postecoglou has commented on speculation linking him with a move to N17, stating: "I think anyone who knows me – and I've been asked about this kind of things plenty of times – knows that what's important for me is the here and now."

Celtic have just sealed back-to-back Scottish Premiership titles under the Australian boss and have the chance to secure a historic eighth treble in their history against Inverness Caledonian Thistle this weekend, something that the 57-year-old has indicated he is fully focused on, saying: "It's not every year you get the opportunity to win a treble and if anyone thinks I'm thinking anything other than that, they don't know me."

Football Insider have claimed that Celtic are 'keeping tabs' on Manchester City assistant manager Enzo Maresca in case Postecoglou does choose to seek a new challenge south of the border.

The 43-year-old Italian was previously linked to the managerial role at Celtic back in 2021 before Postecoglou was eventually appointed later in the year while both men have well-publicised links to the City Football Group.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones reacted to the rumours involving the Man City man and thinks that Maresca may be a rout that Celtic would consider going down if they were faced with the challenge of having to replace Postecoglou.

Jones told FFC: "Maresca is definitely an interesting option for them to look at and I think from a fan point of view, they'll be keen to explore more of that profile of manager."

Will Celtic be able to keep hold of Ange Postecoglou?

Celtic will hope they can keep Postecoglou at Parkhead for as long as possible and will take hope from his words following their 2-1 Viaplay Cup final victory over Rangers earlier this year.

As per KeepUp AU, the former Australia boss stated: “I am still here even though people have been getting me out the door and I think you will be surprised how long I am here. All that I do when I am here is just be consumed by what I do and try to make this football club the best it can be and enjoy every minute of it."

Nevertheless, Hoops fans will be aware that the lure of the Premier League is always there when managers succeed in Scotland, which is a path that Brendan Rodgers chose to go down in 2019 when he swapped the Glasgow giants for Leicester City.

Postecoglou will have a big choice to make if he is earmarked as the man to take Tottenham forward by Daniel Levy; however, it doesn't look like too much will be given away surrounding his future until after the Scottish Cup final this weekend.

Manchester United ownership bidder Sheikh Jassim and his Nine Two Foundation may take optimism from the fact that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his firm INEOS haven't gained an exclusivity agreement at Old Trafford, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest takeover news involving Manchester United?

Jamie Jackson, who is a journalist for The Guardian, has given an update regarding the state of play surrounding the ownership situation at Manchester United on Twitter, stating: "As I understand it, Sheikh Jassim is still waiting to hear back from Glazers regarding his last bid for Man Utd."

Sky Sports report that despite the ongoing takeover process, the Glazer family have yet to enter into a period of exclusivity with either Sheikh Jassim and the Nine Two Foundation or Ratcliffe, who is fronting the bid from INEOS to assume control at Old Trafford.

As per The Mirror, Sheikh Jassim wants to assume 100% control of the Premier League side while Ratcliffe is keen to purchase a 69% stake in the club, which would allow Joel and Avram Glazer to stay on as minority stakeholders.

BBC Sport journalist Simon Stone has claimed that Sheikh Jassim may even move to submit a fifth bid to try and win the bidding war for the Red Devils.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs echoes the sentiment that the Nine Two Foundation could offer a higher amount yet to try and seize control of Manchester United.

Jacobs told FFC: "On the flip side, Nine Two Foundation take confidence from the fact that despite that cautious optimism, INEOS have not been placed in a period of exclusivity or given the title of the preferred bidder. What that means is the door is always open. I think the Nine Two Foundation feel like INEOS is almost a stalking horse to try and drive up the price, so if Qatar are to succeed, then they're still likely to have to go higher, which would mean if we include the indicative offer, a fifth bid."

What now for Manchester United?

It remains to be seen off the pitch as this ownership scenario carries which that may deplete Erik Ten Hag's ability to enter into the transfer market this summer for reinforcements if the Glazer family haven't managed to help facilitate a deal before the window opens in June.

As per ESPN, Ten Hag has stated in a recent interview that he isn't sure what the state of play may be with regards to his potential to recruit players in the off-season, stating: "I think it's clear what I want, but it's not up to me. It's about others in this club. The family are the owners, they make the decisions. It's not up to me, so I do everything I can and I influence the processes I'm in charge of.

"I'm focusing on improving the squad, the team development, so I have to make sure the team is progressing and I'm focusing on that.

Manchester United are expected to be in for several additions and Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount is believed to have 'agreed' personal terms over a prospective move to Old Trafford, as per The Guardian.

Nevertheless, we will probably find out more about who's money Manchester United will be spending after this weekend, where the Red Devils face the task of taking on Premier League champions Manchester City in the FA Cup final for another shot at silverware this term.

كشف مصدر داخل نادي الزمالك، عن موقف إدارة القلعة البيضاء من إبرام صفقات جديدة خلال انتقالات يناير الجارية.

وكان الزمالك تعاقد مع العديد من الصفقات جديدة في ميركاتو الشتاء الحالي، وهم  “ياسر حمد – أحمد حمدي – محمد عاطف – مهاب ياسر – محمد شحاتة – زياد كمال – ترافيس موتيابا – عبد الله السعيد – ناصر ماهر – سيف فاروق جعفر”.

طالع.. خاص | رحيل 12 لاعبًا من الزمالك.. والكشف عن القائمة الإفريقية

وقال المصدر لـ “بطولات”: “لن تكون هناك صفقات جديدة أخرى للفريق خلال انتقالات يناير وأي أسماء تتردد لا علاقة للنادي بها في الوقت الحالي”.

وأضاف: “ملف الصفقات انتهى بالنسبة للزمالك بخلاف الثنائي المصري مصطفى أشرف المحترف في صفوف بوروسيا مونشنغلادباخ والسوري محمود الأسود مازالت محاولات حسم انضمامهما مستمرة”.

وأكمل: “مصطفى أشرف انتهينا من كل التفاصيل وتم حجز مقعد في قائمة الزمالك لقيده ولكن نادي بوروسيا مونشنغلادباخ يطالب بمبلغ أكبر من المتفق عليه”.

يذكر أن الزمالك أعلن بشكل رسمي عن التعاقد مع مدير فني جديد لقيادة القلعة البيضاء وهو البرتغالي جوزيه جوميز.

وكان الزمالك خاض معسكرين في دولة الإمارات خلال شهر يناير الماضي، حيث خسر أمام أم صلال القطري والوحدة الإماراتي وفاز على الرجاء المغربي والأهلي السعودي.

Dasun Shanaka took five wickets on his ODI debut and Dinesh Chandimal struck his first ODI hundred for five years as Sri Lanka proved too strong for Ireland in Malahide

Tim Wigmore at Malahide16-Jun-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsDasun Shanaka demanded attention with a fine all-round display in Malahide•Getty Images/Sportsfile

Dasun Shanaka has the batting build of an unobtrusive nurdler, and his bowling seems of the innocuous wicket-to-wicket variety. He is a cricketer who invites underestimation.In his embryonic international career, his impact has been with bat or ball, never both. But on his ODI debut against Ireland at Malahide, he married both disciplines to bring victory to Sri Lanka in spectacular style.There are decent debuts, and then there is this. Shanaka’s day begun by harrumphing 42 off 19 balls, and ended with him becoming only the 12th bowler in ODI history to take five wickets on debut. All enough for Sri Lanka to take victory, by virtue of a D/L recalculation after rain, by 76 runs.All year, he has revelled in embarrassing those who have put him down. In January, 16 of the 46 deliveries the Saracens Sports Club bowled to him in a domestic T20 were pummelled for six.In February, he was used as a relief bowler in a T20I against India and responded with 3 for 16.In May, he was a slightly incongruous name in Sri Lanka’s touring party, until 112 against Leicestershire pushed him into the Test team. Once there, he promptly bundled out three of England’s top four within eight balls.Just as in the First Test at Headingley, Shanaka was brought on more in hope than expectation, with Angelo Matthews needing to end an irritating opening stand.There had been concerns that Sri Lanka’s packed batting – Upul Tharanga returned at No. 8 – would leave too much of an onus on Shanaka’s bowling. But under muggy Malahide skies, Shanaka promptly got a delivery to swing in appreciably to uproot Paul Stirling’s off stump, and soon after tempted Ed Joyce into an aberrant swipe to Dinesh Chandimal behind the stumps.These dismissals, Ireland’s two most prized wickets, gave Sri Lanka a grip on the game, and Shanaka would return to ensure they did not relinquish it.The upshot was that Ireland will have to wait to end their six-year run without defeating a Full Member in a home ODI, a statistic unbecoming for a cricket nation of such aspiration.For spells of Ireland’s innings Sri Lanka’s hold on the game was threatened, as Kevin O’Brien forged worthy alliances with William Porterfield and Stuart Poynter, and an especially fruitful one with Sri Lanka’s fielders.There are two sorts of roulette players: those who cash in when they have struck lucky and those who double down, convinced one moment of fortune will beget another and they can bankrupt the casino by the time the night is out. One imagines that O’Brien is the sort who would either return from Monte Carlo with a new yacht or having lost his house trying.Having reached five, O’Brien advanced down the pitch to Seekkuge Prasanna’s legspin, and attempted to chip the ball to secure a couple. He was too early on the delivery, mistimed his shot and proceeded only to hit the ball straight to Kusal Perera at long on. But Perera misjudged the ball, just as O’Brien had, fumbled a routine catch and ended up taking it while his feet were over the rope.Some would have regarded this as a cue to rein themselves in but to O’Brien this was only an excuse to double down. After facing three more balls, O’Brien pulled Nuwan Pradeep to fine leg, into Dhananjaya de Silva’s hands but then through them: another six. Another five later, and O’Brien heaved Pradeep to long off where Angelo Matthews, running over his shoulder, saw the ball fall to the ground once more.Soon after followed a rain-enforced break, but it did quell O’Brien’s flirtation with peril, especially with the asking rate at nine: he thumped a ball straight to short fine leg, but was reprieved once more. So the four deliveries that could have ended O’Brien’s innings instead produced 20 runs.Given that fielders were never going to dismiss him, Sri Lanka instead relied on the umpire to award O’Brien lbw playing across Pradeep. The upshot was that Sri Lanka’s reputation as merciless against Associates was maintained.As for Chandimal, it has been five years since his last ODI century, and the roar when he ended that run spoke of awareness that such a wait did scant justice to his talent.This was an innings of style, in Chandimal’s pristine drives and flicks to the legside, but above all defined by impeccable placement and savvy. Chandimal did not recourse to power hitting, and nor did he need to: in making 100 not out from 107 balls, he scored only six fours but ten twos and 50 singles.To see this innings it was possible to imagine that the revolution in ODI batting had never happened, but Chandimal correctly deduced that any score over 250 would be onerous to chase.Either side of an 88-run partnership with Matthews, Chandimal forged two substantial stands with debutants. First Kusal Mendis, doughty as a novice number three in the Test series in England, scored a half-century that exhibited finesse and some resplendent straight driving. Then Shanaka emerged, in no mood to play with such subtlety, and plundered 24 in five deliveries from Max Sorensen.For Ireland, the day brought joy to a debutant of their own. Barry McCarthy was handed his Ireland cap by John Mooney, the cricketer who has been anointed to replace.There are obvious parallels. Both are Leinster-reared from strong cricketing families: Mooney’s elder brother and McCarthy’s younger sister are internationals. Both are zestful cricketers who bowl around 80mph, provide ballast to the lower order – not that McCarthy showed it here, slashing his fifth ball behind – and are fine fielders.It was apt that McCarthy’s debut was at Malahide. A testing spell to Ben Stokes in the net three years ago earned him a recommendation to Durham, and then a professional contract. Last summer, he became the first Irishman since the 19th Century to play county cricket before making his international debut.So many felt his selection for Ireland overdue. McCarthy took only two balls to vindicate them, eliciting Danushka Gunathilaka to edge to slip. “It’s a beautiful day,” belted out the tannoy system.McCarthy would doubtless have been of a mind to agree, but not those in the crowd, who had to enlist their umbrellas, which should be compulsory for any Irish cricket fans, for protection from the intermittent showers.A combination of the weather and the football – Ireland are unfortunate that both these ODIs coincide with European Championship matches for the two Ireland sides, and the Malahide club house was packed to witness Northern Ireland’s victory – contributed to an underwhelming crowd, only narrowly into four figures.As McCarthy and Ireland’s other 80mph seamers, O’Brien’s canny cutters apart, were lined up by Sri Lanka, Ireland had cause to be grateful for their returnee: Boyd Rankin, playing his first ODI for Ireland for four years.He had only played one international at Malahide before, when he took 4 for 46 for England against Ireland in 2013. Here, his extra pace yorked Shanaka and helped limit Sri Lanka to just 25 from the last four overs. But Shanka would return to extend Ireland’s anxious wait for a marquee home win, and with bowling of archetypal Emerald Isle ilk.

Ashish Nehra has undergone surgery on his right knee in London, to repair a high-grade tendon injury he sustained during his IPL stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad*. Nehra, 37, sustained the injury during the match against Kings XI Punjab on May 15, when he pulled up while running in to bowl.While the extent of his injury was unknown then, Nehra was advised to consult Dr Andrew Williams, an orthopaedic specialist in London, and the surgery took place on Tuesday night. Nehra also missed four matches in the first half of IPL 2016 with a groin injury.The left-arm pace bowler was one of Sunrisers’ key players, with nine wickets from eight matches at an average of 22.11 and an economy rate of 7.65.

Southampton sit bottom of the Premier League with just six games remaining to save their season and clinch survival. The Saints have been in the country’s top division since their promotion back in 2012, and have since been a club fluctuating in league form and triumphs.

Last season was a warning of things to potentially come should the Saints fail to change things at the club and in the squad, finishing just five points above the drop-zone in 15th after a tough year. This hasn’t always been the story since their promotion, recording a 6th place finish back in the 2015/16 campaign under Ronald Koeman.

Such success seems so long ago and with Championship football next season potentially looming should results not improve, an expected shift in the squad could be the next worry to trouble the Saints.

Southampton have a lot of talent in their possession, talent that would perhaps favour a move away rather than staying on the south coast to play in the Championship.

When players become accustomed to performing among Europe's elite in a league as prolific as England’s top division, taking a step down is far less palatable for some.

The Saints have a vast history of building and supplying some of the best talents in the Premier League.

Take Champions League winner Gareth Bale and 2020/21 PFA Team of the Year member Luke Shaw as an example, the club flexes an imperious history of getting the most out of their youth talent.

The subject of Southampton’s youth talent rises alongside talk of potential Championship football next season, with England’s competitive second-division being a beneficial place for youth to boast their ability. Far away from the south-coast, the Saints could have the next academy graduate on their hands currently playing in the Scottish Premier League.

Could Thierry Small be the next Luke Shaw?

Thierry Small, 18, became a surprise addition to the Southampton B squad following his move from Everton in the summer of 2021. The Englishman was snatched by the Saints for a fee of just £5m after impressing for the Blues youth team and the England U18s side.

The year before his move, the left-back was heavily praised by four-time Champions League-winning manager Carlo Ancelotti, who described him as being "one of the best players in the academy" when speaking to The Guardian as Everton boss.

It’s notable praise from one of Europe’s greatest managers, who handed Small his senior Toffees debut in the FA Cup aged just 16 years and 176 days, making him the club's youngest-ever player at the time.

It’s a huge win for Southampton to have snatched his signature at the age of 18, and the player has the potential to become the next Luke Shaw, mirroring some qualities that took the Manchester United left-back to the top.

Small, like Shaw, enjoys being on the ball, whether it be dribbling or assisting in offensive areas of the field.

The left-back – also hailed for his "quality" and "physicality" by Ancelotti – has shown versatility through his ability to play in defence or acting as a defensive midfielder. The teenager showcased his attacking ability in the 2021/22 Premier League 2 season, registering four goals and one assist in 17 appearances for Southampton B.

His playmaking qualities are similar to that of Shaw, who enjoys being on the ball and has the ability to pick a pass or cross, Shaw now competing at the top level at Manchester United averages 2.57 expected assists per 90 minutes, a strong and necessary quality for the attacking demands of a full-back in the top division.

Small, who is currently on loan at St Mirren, has registered one assist in just five starts in the Scottish Premier League, the full-back has also been described as having strength in crossing and set-piece situations by WhoScored too.

Whilst he may not feature in the Saints' remaining matches as they look to stave off the dreaded drop, the club could well be in good hands later down the line, with Small looking every bit like being able to potentially emulate Shaw's breakthrough on the south coast.