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The Sri Lanka captain said his team expected the pitch to be good for batting from before the game began, and wanted it to be so, but failed to execute their plans

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Galle29-Jul-20173:15

Maharoof: SL selectors need to make serious decisions

Sri Lanka had specifically ordered the unusual batting-friendly Galle deck, on which India achieved their biggest ever victory in terms of runs. Rangana Herath did not reveal why such a request should be made when facing a team who have an outstanding top order. Instead, he laid the blame on his team’s execution of what he felt was a good strategy.Where India made 840 runs at a run rate better than 4.5 an over across the match, losing only 13 wickets in the process, Sri Lanka mustered just 536. They were without Asela Gunaratne in both innings, however.”I think we made this pitch because we had a plan,” Herath said. “I said before the match that it will be a track that’s good for batting. We should take the main responsibility for the nature of the pitch. We didn’t bat or bowl well on it. We shouldn’t blame anyone else. We have to resolve our own issues.”Chief among those issues, Herath felt, was the batting. Three India batsmen made hundreds in the match, including two – Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara – who passed 150. Sri Lanka’s top score, meanwhile, was Dimuth Karunaratne’s 97. Dilruwan Perera also hit 92 not out in the first innings.”A few of our batsmen got close to three figures and got out, but the Indian batsmen not only got their hundreds, they went further. That was a big difference too in the game, and an area that we have to work on.”Herath also felt Sri Lanka gave a poor account of themselves with the ball. This was the first time since March 2013 that Sri Lanka conceded 600 runs or more in an innings – the last occasion having been against Bangladesh in a high-scoring draw in 2013. They have since given away 524 for 5 in New Zealand and 575 for 9 in England, but have generally been more penetrative at home.”We are a better team than this,” Herath said. “We really are. I felt that it was after a long time that a team scored 600 runs against us. We should have bowled better.”Sri Lanka’s worst bowling in the match perhaps came on the first day, when Shikhar Dhawan hit 190 off 168 balls. Only Herath maintained an economy rate of below four in the first innings.”At that point, we had a few plans for Shikhar Dhawan, but we failed to execute them,” Herath said. “For example, we allowed him too much width. In the first session of the match itself the game started slipping away from us. We bounced back well but he had by then got off to a terrific start.”Unusually for a Galle track, the quicks outperformed the spinners on what is traditionally one of the most spin-friendly tracks in the world. Of the 31 wickets to fall in this match 16 fell to seam bowlers – 10 of those breakthroughs shared between the two Sri Lanka quicks. This was the first occasion since 2014 in which fast bowlers were more successful at the venue. And where the track typically begins to offer drastic turn on days four and five, this pitch had remained relatively good for batting throughout.”I thought that on the fourth or fifth day there would be something for the spinners,” Herath said. “But there wasn’t as much help for the spinners as I expected at those late stages.”The seamer-friendly conditions allowed Nuwan Pradeep to become the first Sri Lanka bowler to claim a six-wicket haul at home since Chaminda Vaas, in 2005. His 6 for 132 in the first innings was also a personal best for Pradeep, who had never previously taken five wickets in an innings.”I think it was after a long time a fast bowler has taken a five-wicket haul in Galle,” Herath said. “There’s so much pressure on spinners when we play in Sri Lanka, and Pradeep bowling so well and taking so many wickets will be a huge plus point for us moving forward. He was outstanding in this game and his effort was fantastic. That was one of the positives.”

ESPNcricinfo previews the second Test between England and South Africa at Trent Bridge

The Preview by Alan Gardner13-Jul-2017Match FactsJuly 14-18, 2017
Start time 11am local (1000 GMT)Big PictureAs far as Test captaincy debuts go, it’s fair to say Joe Root got off to a flyer. An important toss won, a statement innings provided (with a little luck along the way), and an emphatic victory secured. Things may never seem this easy again.South Africa will certainly looking to make the challenge a little tougher, now that they have their permanent captain back at the helm. Faf du Plessis is the sort of player who sprinkles hard knocks over his cereals in the morning and will be out to inspire a reaction from his wounded side; South Africa have not lost a Test series in England in almost 20 years and the battle to preserve that record will now intensify.The wounds are mostly figurative, although Kagiso Rabada has absented himself from the second Test after a salty outburst at Lord’s led to him accumulating a fourth demerit point. South Africa’s problems in defeat were largely of the batting (and catching) variety, however, which has led to JP Duminy being dropped for what may be the final time.England, meanwhile, have only good options to mull over. Moeen Ali claimed his first Test ten-wicket haul but will happily play the second spinner’s fiddle, while Root will look for more from Mark Wood and Ben Stokes on a ground where both played a key role with the ball when England regained the Ashes in 2015.Wood knows England have the likes of Chris Woakes and Jake Ball returning to fitness, which will put his place under pressure later in the series. But for now, England have settled quickly under their new captain and it is South Africa who need to summon a response.Joe Root enjoyed a dream start in his first Test as captain•Getty ImagesForm guideEngland WLLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa LDWDWIn the spotlightGary Ballance received words of praise from captain and coach for stubborn innings of 20 and 34 on his latest comeback. The latter was particularly valuable in retrospect, as he and Alastair Cook pushed England into a much stronger position than was immediately apparent on the third evening, before the clatter of wickets the following day. But it will only be hundreds and (to an extent) fifties that determine how long Ballance remains in the team. The fact Morne Morkel dismissed him twice bowling round the wicket at Lord’s ensures he will be tested there again.He is only one match into his Test career but already Heino Kuhn will be acquainted with the gauntlet of life in South Africa’s top order. Kuhn faced 42 balls for two single-figure scores at Lord’s, undone by a perfect Stuart Broad delivery in the first innings and perhaps a little unlucky to edge James Anderson down the leg side second time out. He came into this series in good form, having made two centuries (including 200 not out) on the South Africa A tour of England, but will want to spend longer in the middle in Nottingham to start feeling comfortable about life as a Test opener.Team newsHaving stuck with the same 12-man squad, England named an unchanged team – meaning Toby Roland-Jones continues to wait for a Test debut. With Moeen Ali now considered a “batsman who bowls a bit” and Liam Dawson in the side as the main spinner, they appear a balanced side.England 1 Alastair Cook, 2 Keaton Jennings, 3 Gary Ballance, 4 Joe Root (capt), 5 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Liam Dawson, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Mark Wood, 11 James AndersonThe suspension of Rabada and dropping of Duminy, as well as du Plessis’ return, means South Africa have some rejigging to do. Duanne Olivier has been confirmed as Rabada’s replacement but they still have a decision to make over whether to stick with Theunis de Bruyn or bring in Chris Morris to further strengthen the bowling.South Africa (probable) 1 Dean Elgar, 2 Heino Kuhn, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Faf du Plessis (capt), 5 Temba Bavuma, 6 Quinton de Kock (wk), 7 Chris Morris, 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Duanne Olivier, 11 Morne MorkelPitch and conditionsThe pitch being used is the same as that for the 2015 Ashes. Yes, Broad’s 8 for 15 and all that. Trent Bridge usually aids swings and seam, which might actually be to South Africa’s liking after a surprise trial by spin at Lord’s. The forecast is generally clear throughout the Test, although temperatures may be on the cooler side.Stats and trivia South Africa last played a Test at Trent Bridge in 2003, when they lost to a James Kirtley-inspired England. The 1998 match on the ground is best remembered for Allan Donald’s duel with Mike Atherton as England levelled the series. Alastair Cook is 45 runs behind Allan Border, who lies ninth on the Test run-scorer list. Hashim Amla needs just eight more runs to become the third South African to 8000 in Tests.Quotes”I’m still desperate to make an impact with runs and get another win out of the lads. They performed brilliantly last week and it’s important we keep that hunger and really drive forward as a team and keep improving as a side.”
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Crystal Palace could be in for a busy few weeks ahead of the start of the new Premier League campaign as they are potentially forced to seek a replacement for in-demand Marc Guehi.

The Eagles are interested in signing Torino's Perr Schuurs, according to the Evening Standard, and journalist Dean Jones believes he could be the perfect player to replace Guehi at Selhurst Park.

What is the latest with Marc Guehi?

Football Insider reports that Liverpool are ready to battle it out with Premier League rivals Newcastle United for Guehi, who is valued in the region of around £60m by Palace.

That fee would allow Roy Hodgson's side to bring in a high-quality replacement, and Jones is not surprised Schuurs is wanted by so many of Europe's elite clubs.

Speaking to FootballFanCast, the reporter said:

"If Guehi was to leave, and they got the money in for him that they want, they'll have to scout around quickly to find a talent as good – and Schuurs is a big talent.

"He's got a great ability to read the game, so no surprise at all that he's been on the radar of the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool – he has a profile that fits those sides well."

Schuurs is under contract with Torino for another three years, with the option of another, meaning the Serie A side are under no real pressure to cash in unless their reported €40m (£34.2m) valuation is met.

How good is Torino defender Perr Schuurs?

Schuurs joined Torino from Ajax last August and played 30 times in 2022-23 for a side boasting the fifth-best defensive record in the Italian top flight.

The Netherlands U21 international rated particularly highly in metrics such as possession won and aerial duels won, with The Analyst ranking him in the top 7% and 23% respectively among defenders across Europe's top five leagues.

For comparison, Guehi – eight months younger than Schuurs at 22 – was among the top 10% for possession won and in the bottom 45% for aerial duels won.

The youngster's strengths do not necessarily lie in winning the ball in the air, but he was also outperformed by Schuurs in terms of defensive actions – tackles, interceptions and blocks – as he was in the bottom 19 percentile and the latter in the bottom 37.

That is not to say Guehi is necessarily a worse player than Schuurs – his huge valuation says as much – but the Dutchman appears a more-than-adequate option to come in for half the price.

Indeed, Schuurs also came out on top last season in areas such as passing accuracy (88.1% v 85.3%), take-on success rate (71.4% v 66.7%) and direct goal involvement (0.08 goals or assists per 90, compared to 0.03 for Guehi), which is always a handy bonus for a centre-back.

In an ideal world, Palace would have Schuurs and Guehi lining up alongside each other in one of the most talented partnerships in Europe next season. But if the former Ajax player is instead bought solely as a replacement, then he would be close to the ideal successor for the Eagles.

Ben Coad’s joyous season came up Roses as he demolished Lancashire at Headingley with career-best figures

Paul Edwards at Headingley02-Jun-2017
ScorecardThe first day of the Roses match began late, ended early and saw 216 runs scored, most of which had to be chiselled like flakes of granite from the rock face of the Yorkshire attack. A few followers of county cricket may view such a rate of progress in 69.2 overs as suggestive of slightly turgid cricket; yet to those schooled in the tempo and ethos of these encounters, such stately progress is familiar and almost reassuring. And for Ben Coad the afternoon’s play could scarcely have been more exciting, for it saw him pick up a career-best 6 for 25, thus setting a seal on an early season which has been overflowing with delights.Bowling from the Football Stand End, Coad removed the heart of Lancashire’s batting in a seven-over spell during which he took 4 for 16, at one stage taking three wickets in seven balls. When he had Stephen Parry, Lancashire’s joint top-scorer with 30, caught by Adam Lyth to end the innings, he joined Hampshire’s Kyle Abbott as the leading wicket-taker in Division One with 29 victims. No one has taken more than his 32 wickets in all first-class cricket this season.Coad is a remarkable young talent; he effervesces with slightly abashed enthusiasm and there are Test cricketers in this Yorkshire side who should yield their places to him should Andrew Gale and Gary Ballance ever have a full-strength squad from which to select.Coad is 6ft 3ins and still willowy; he has achieved his success by bowling a yard quicker than he managed last season and so straight that he rather deserved the leg side strangle to Andy Hodd that caused the dismissal of Dane Vilas. Much more typical of his virtues was the ball that nipped away yet caught the edge of Haseeb Hameed’s bat when the opener had laboured to good purpose for an hour over nine runs. Equally incisive was the lifting delivery on off stump which took the edge of Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s bat and gave a comfortable catch to Peter Handscomb at fourth slip.He nipped one back off the pitch to have Steven Croft leg before on 16 and later returned from the Kirkstall Lane End to lull Tom Bailey into chipping a catch to midwicket before that final dismissal of Parry was the prelude to as warm a standing ovation for a young cricketer as Headingley has seen in its recent summers of glory.”We couldn’t have asked for anything more today and I think that’s the best I’ve bowled this season,” said Coad. “Obviously the pitch has benefited me massively and the overhead conditions helped me out but I’m very happy with that. It’s a great feeling to be bowling as I am at the moment and I do know there are times when it’s going to be tough, so I’m just loving cricket at the minute.”Ben Coad rocked Lancashire with four wickets in 18 balls•Getty ImagesAnd Yorkshire supporters in their turn are warm in their appreciation of Coad, no one more so than the county’s former president, Dickie Bird, who said yesterday that he would select him for next month’s first Test against South Africa. That Bird should express such a view is hardly astonishing; he would also have Ballance in Joe Root’s eleven, yet those who might mock his partisanship should not overlook his passion, his loyalty, his service. And after all, who was selecting Haseeb Hameed for the tour of India at this time last year?For Lancashire’s cricketers this was a desperately disappointing day. Parry and Ryan McLaren offered as much stern resistance as they could manage but McLaren eventually became Ryan Sidebottom’s third victim, the left-arm seamer having confirmed his return to full efficacy by removing Alex Davies and Luke Procter with successive deliveries in the seventh over of the day.Yet as Lancashire’s innings disintegrated before them, travelling supporters may have been wondering why their captain had chosen to bat when Yorkshire officials had been insisting all week that there would be “a bit in the pitch”. Perhaps coach Glen Chapple and captain Steven Croft were relying on the 12th axiom of Harry Makepeace to the effect that when a Yorkshireman says one thing about a Roses wicket, it’s a good idea to believe the opposite. If so, they were grievously in error and should have trusted the evidence of their eyes, not least the cloud cover and the moisture left in the atmosphere after the rain which had wiped out the morning’s cricket.Yorkshire’s pursuit of Lancashire’s poor total lasted 25.4 overs before rain returned. In that time Alex Lees batted very skittishly to make five and Handscomb played some lovely strokes before an ugly cut edged a catch to Davies off Procter. Lancashire had to be happy with such scraps of consolation, just as Hameed had to be content with the calmness and composure he showed in batting an hour against the Yorkshire’s pack of slavering seamers.Immense comfort settles on an opening batsman when he lets the ball go and ponders the energy expended by the panting bowler. Hameed reconnected with his strengths on the first day of this game, albeit in an innings of only nine runs. All the same, his innings in the Rajkot and Mohali Tests must seem distant memories for him just as this season is still fresh as paint for the immensely likeable Coad.The day’s cricket ended with Adam Lyth, another opener, making 40 not out, his best first-class score of the season, and some Lancashire supporters doubting whether the game would last beyond Sunday. They were not prophesying an away victory

Glasgow Rangers don’t appear to be completely finished with their transfer business this summer, with a few more players likely to arrive in the coming weeks to bolster Michael Beale’s squad.

That is despite seven signings already, as a total overhaul has been underway at Ibrox since the Premiership season finished in May.

The player trading model also appears to be in full swing at Rangers, with Beale maximising the value of his outgoings. Antonio Colak was signed for £1.8m last summer and has recently departed for a fee of £2.5m, while Fashion Sakala, who cost nothing in 2021, now looks set to leave for £4m, an impressive profit which could benefit the squad.

This should now be reinvested into the team, especially in regard to signing another centre-back as this remains the biggest issue at the club currently, despite the recent signing of Leon Balogun.

Leon King is injured, Ben Davies has attracted interest and although John Souttar ended last season well, he has a long history with injury problems and this could potentially disrupt another campaign, leaving Beale with a need to add someone else to his defence.

Are Rangers still keen on Jonathan Panzo?

According to Football Scotland, Rangers are still keen on signing Panzo this summer, although the finances still have to be ironed out if they are to secure his signature.

It will take a fee of £2.5m to sign the Englishman from Nottingham Forest and if Beale manages to move a few more players out the door in the next week or so, this shouldn’t represent much of a problem.

Could Jonathan Panzo improve Rangers?

The 22-year-old spent last season on loan at Coventry City from Forest and came so close to leading them back to the Premier League following a 22-year absence, losing in the playoff final to Luton Town.

Across his spell in the second tier, Panzo made 1.6 tackles, 1.7 interceptions and 2.9 clearances per game, and these figures would be good enough to rank him as sixth, first and second across the whole Rangers squad for the same metrics, suggesting he could offer some excellent qualities.

He even impressed compared to positional peers across the next big eight leagues in Europe, ranking in the top 8% for interceptions per 90 (2.01) and the top 15% for tackles per 90 (1.81) and given that he is only 22, there is still plenty of scope for improvement.

The youngster was hailed by Forest U21 coach Dave Rogers previously, who said:

"He is a great professional. He's enthusiastic and has got good experience and energy too. He brings a great vibe to the dressing room too."

These are all wonderful traits and something which Beale looks to be building at the club, filling the Ibrox side with young, hungry players who bring a good energy to the team and Panzo would be an excellent choice.

The Gers conceded 37 goals last year, which doesn’t sound too bad on the surface, yet it was six more than the previous campaign and improvements must be made to this key issue which could hamper Beale if it isn’t solved.

Mauricio Pochettino faces a major challenge as Chelsea manager heading into the 2023/24 campaign, with confidence low following a woeful 12th-place finish in the Premier League last term.

The Blues only conceded 47 goals, with only six teams conceding fewer across the entirety of the season, yet their ability to put chances away was terrible, scoring just 38 times. Relegated sides Leicester City and Leeds United both scored 13 and ten more goals respectively than the Stamford Bridge outfit, and it goes to show just how lacklustre they were in front of goal.

Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz both finished on nine goals apiece, enough to rank them as the joint-highest scorers in the squad, with centre-forwards Armando Broja and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netting just four goals between them, a dreadful return.

In the case of Aubameying, the ex-Arsenal and Barcelona man has been tipped to follow the flock of Blues to Saudi Arabia, while recent reports have suggested that Broja – who missed much of last through injury – also angling for a move.

The duo earn a combined £200k-per-week at the club and Pochettino must surely be tempted to brutally ditch the pair in order to free up some wages for a striker who could arrive at Stamford Bridge and improve their meagre goal tally alongside new arrivals Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson.

Could Chelsea sign Folarin Balogun this summer?

With a new out-and-out striker evidently required if Pochettino aims to deliver some sort of success next season, the club have been linked with a move for Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun and his representatives have spoken to the Blues ahead of a potential move during the summer transfer window.

He won't come cheap however, with the Gunners wanting £50m for the young hitman, yet judging by his form for French side Stade Reims during 2022/23, it could turn into a bargain.

The 21-year-old spent the campaign on loan in Ligue 1 and finished the season having netted 21 league goals, and this was enough to rank him as the fourth-best scorer in the division, finishing behind Kylian Mbappe, Alexandre Lacazette and Jonathan David – not bad company to keep that’s for sure.

Young coach Will Still lauded the youngster for his impressive spell last term, saying: “He's unbelievable, he has real talent but he is also just a top person.

“He's trying to learn the language – we have a bit of banter because his French is terrible (but) I think he realises: being good here will allow him to get the spotlight and attention he needs.”

His spell has certainly given him the spotlight judging by the interest from Chelsea recently and Pochettino could give him the opportunity to turn into a world-class performer.

Balogun ranked in the top 9% across Europe’s top five leagues for total shots per 90 (3.63) clearly indicating that he gets into shooting positions on a regular basis while he also ranks in the top 19% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (5.94) and a move to Chelsea could see this figure get better due to the attacking nature of the Argentinian’s tactical system.

The United States international would be a wildcard choice for the Blues, yet his clinical nature is something that Chelsea desperately require, and he could well be worth taking a chance on.

If they can poach the 5 foot 10 starlet from their London rivals, the Stamford Bridge outfit could then have the licence to show both Broja and Aubayameng the door.

Kings XI Punjab find themselves in a complex qualification battle; but their fate will depend on how they take charge of the controllable factors

The Preview by Varun Shetty08-May-2017Match factsKings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders
Mohali, May 9, 2017
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)4:18

KKR’s brave strategic punts paying off

Head-to-headOverall: Kolkata Knight Riders command a comprehensive 14-6 lead over Kings XI Punjab. Knight Riders have won eight games in a row against Kings XI since 2014.This season: Sunil Narine’s Powerplay blitz, followed by Gautam Gambhir’s unbeaten 72, helped Knight Riders chase down 171 with eight wickets in hand and 21 balls to spare.Form guide

Kings XI Punjab (fifth): lost to Gujarat Lions by 6 wickets, defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by 19 runs, defeated Delhi Daredevils by 10 wickets
Kolkata Knight Riders (second): defeated Royal Challengers by 6 wickets, lost to Rising Pune by 4 wickets, lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad by 48 runs

In the newsKings XI will be without Hashim Amla, who scored his second century of the season on Sunday. Amla and David Miller have left for national duties. Either allrounder Darren Sammy or fast bowler Matt Henry is likely to replace Amla, considering Australian allrounder Marcus Stoinis was ruled out of the IPL with a shoulder injury last week.Robin Uthappa is still being monitored by the Knight Riders medical staff. There’s no confirmation on whether fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile will be available for selection either.Qualification scenarioFor Kings XI to make the top four, they will need to win their remaining three games, and then hope that other results go their way. If Sunrisers lose their remaining fixture against Gujarat Lions, then Kings XI will make the cut with 16 points, but Rising Pune could also be pushed out if they lose their remaining two matches and Sunrisers win their last game. Rising Pune have a NRR of -0.060 compared to Kings XI’s 0.242, so any situation that comes down to run rates will clearly favour Kings XI.Knight Riders are tied on 16 points with Rising Pune Supergiant, and are in second place by virtue of a better net run-rate. A win will help them create a two-point gap in the battle for a spot in the first qualifier.The likely XIsKings XI Punjab: 1 Manan Vohra, 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Shaun Marsh, 4 Glenn Maxwell (capt), 5 Gurkeerat Singh, 6 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 7 Axar Patel, 8 Matt Henry/Darren Sammy, 9 Mohit Sharma, 10 Varun Aaron/T Natarajan, 11 Sandeep SharmaKolkata Knight Riders: 1 Chris Lynn, 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Gautam Gambhir (capt), 4 Robin Uthappa/Sheldon Jackson (wk), 5 Manish Pandey, 6 Yusuf Pathan, 7 Suryakumar Yadav, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Nathan Coulter-Nile, 10 Umesh Yadav, 11 Kuldeep YadavStrategy puntGlenn Maxwell might bowl with the new ball if Sunil Narine opens the batting again – he has conceded only 26 runs in 31 balls against the left-hander in previous meetings, and has dismissed him twice.However, when he had brought himself on in the Powerplay against Knight Riders in their last meeting, he was taken for 18 runs. To avoid an encore, Varun Aaron’s pace and bounce could be utilised instead.Stats that matter Wriddhiman Saha (11.25 in eight innings) has the second-worst average among batsmen who’ve played more than five innings in the top seven. He is led and trailed by Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Shane Watson (11.16 in six innings) and Knight Riders’ Colin de Grandhomme (14.33 in six) respectively. Kings XI’s recent success is down to drastic improvements in bowling: in the first six games, Sandeep Sharma, Mohit Sharma and Axar Patel had taken 15 wickets at an economy of 8.71 and an average of 38.06. In the last five, they’ve taken 23 wickets with an economy of 7.48 and an average of 16.00. Glenn Maxwell has also chipped in to Kings XI’s improved bowling – he has taken six wickets at an economy of 5.92 in their last five games. Gautam Gambhir has hit Maxwell for 42 runs from 24 balls. Maxwell has been dismissed thrice by Umesh Yadav in 19 balls, and twice by Narine in 31 balls. He scores at less than a run-a-ball against both of them.

The Australian batsman was unfazed by the prospect of a law that could put a limit on bat sizes

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Mar-20170:51

David Warner on the proposal to restrict bat sizes

David Warner, who is likely to be among the batsmen impacted if the MCC’s proposal to limit bat sizes is passed into law, has said playing with a slimmer piece of willow would not to make too much of a difference to his game.”We’re just going to have to adapt to the changes,” Warner said on Saturday. “And, you know what, the ball’s still going to go the same distance, the ball will still go to the fence, and we’re still going to get our ones and twos, and the odd nick might not carry this time.”Warner’s T20 bat reportedly measures 85mm at its thickest part. Under the proposed rule, bats will be limited to a thickness of 67mm at the spine and 40mm at the edge.Warner reckoned that these limits would force a number of batsmen to trim down their bats. He said he had been to his bat-maker to have his bats checked by a gauge, and that even the bats from the start of his career did not go through it. He still reckoned he would cope with a slimmer bat, referencing the double-sided model he had used a few years ago in domestic T20 cricket.”I was down there previously, about six months ago, and I had a look, and we put a whole various range of bats, from when I started and a few other guys started, and I’m not sure if they were the correct measurements , but they weren’t going through the measurement thing they were doing,” he said. “But at the end of the day they’ve got to govern that as well.”For us, we’ve just got to use whatever the bat-maker brings us, but remember, I used a double-sized bat which wasn’t even 30 mils or 40 mils. I used that quite well as well.”

Aston Villa are well-placed to sign Matteo Guendouzi should he leave Marseille this summer, according to reports.

Is Matteo Guendouzi leaving Marseille?

The central midfielder still has another two years to run on his contract with Marcelino’s side, but having only completed one full set of 90 minutes across April, May and June combined, Le10 Sport have reported that he has started to “ask questions” about his future.

The France international was attracting significant interest from the Midlands outfit back in January but a deal failed to materialise, though during a Q&A for Birmingham Mail, journalist John Townley recently revealed that Unai Emery is a big fan of the player and is therefore considering making a second approach.

The Premier League boss already holds an existing connection to the 24-year-old having managed him during his time at Arsenal, and the tough-tackling ace also used to be teammates with Boubacar Kamara, so should he be looking for a new club, there’s a chance that a double reunion could be on the horizon.

Italian reporter Fabrizio Romano additionally revealed early on Tuesday morning that NSWE and Monchi are "open to offers" for Leander Dendoncker who despite being "rated" by the boss, is facing a "lot of competition" to nail down a regular starting spot, so a reinforcement will be needed should he depart which is where the former top-flight star comes into play.

Are Aston Villa signing Guendouzi?

According to French outlet La Provence (via Sport Witness), Aston Villa and West Ham United are the two “hottest leads” should Guendouzi leave Marseille. The Ligue 1 ace is “not in the plane just yet” because he’s still in the process of waiting to find out if he figures in his new manager’s plans, but should he be excluded from the fold, a move to B6 or E20 “could be on”.

Emery is clearly serious about securing his services to still be hovering in the background should a deal become available, and having helped him kickstart his career at the Emirates, he could want to unite and start afresh once again.

Would Guendouzi be a good signing for Emery?

Aston Villa will no doubt be attracted to the fact that Guendouzi has Premier League experience under his belt having made 57 appearances here before, and the central midfielder’s relationship with both Emery and Kamara seems to make him even more of a logical target.

The World Cup participant, who earns £63.5k-per-week, posted six goal contributions (four assists and two goals) in 33 Ligue 1 appearances last season and ranked in the 97th percentile for progressive passes by central midfield players, showing his desire to push his team up the pitch and contribute to efforts in the final third.

Guendouzi, who is a versatile operator with his ability to play everywhere across the centre of the park, was previously dubbed the “heart and lungs” of Arsenal’s engine room by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his "amazing" work rate, so he is an extremely well-rounded player and one who could once again excel under the guidance of Emery.

Chelsea will have to spend £50m in order to sign Southampton youngster Romeo Lavia this summer, according to renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano.

How good is Romeo Lavia?

The Belgian is a wanted man this summer, with some of the biggest clubs in the Premier League battling to acquire his signature before the new season gets underway in August.

Lavia enjoyed a highly impressive 2022/23 campaign on a personal level, throwing in some excellent performances for Saints, despite them ultimately propping up the rest of the table in the end.

At just 19, the midfielder was often superb in the No.6 role, playing with eye-catching levels of maturity and class in front of the defence, enjoying an 86.4% pass completion rate.

Chelsea are one of a number of huge clubs thought to be interested in signing Lavia in this current transfer window, but it won't be easy to snap him up, considering the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United are also in the mix.

Are Chelsea likely to bid for Lavia?

Speaking to Caught Offside, Romano gave an update on the situation surrounding Lavia, admitting that Chelsea will have to spend fairly big on him:

"There’s no further news on Romeo Lavia yet; Chelsea links are normal as director Joe Shields had Lavia at Southampton and City, but it’s still not time for advanced talks now. In general, I think the player’s final price tag will be around £50m."

Whoever ends up signing Lavia this summer will be getting a special young prospect, which highlights why Chelsea must do all they can to get him, even if £50m sounds like a lot of money for a teenager who remains relatively unproven.

United legend Paul Scholes has said the Saints gem has "so much potential" as a player, while Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has called him "incredible", even though the Belgium international was allowed to leave the Etihad on a permanent basis last summer.

Chelsea's midfield is such an important area to improve upon in the coming weeks, with N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic both moving on, and finding the right partner for Enzo Fernandez is essential, in terms of balance and longevity.

Lavia could be perfect in that respect, as would Brighton star Moises Caicedo, arguably providing a little more pace and legs than Fernandez, and coming in as not only an immediate key figure but also a regular for many years to come.