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Australia’s batsmen tuned up for the Sri Lanka Test series with captain Steven Smith and Steve O’Keefe making half-centuries on the second day, despite a five-wicket haul from Shehan Jayasuriya

The Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando at P Sara Oval19-Jul-2016
ScorecardSteve O’Keefe followed his five-for with a measured half-century•AFPAustralia were given a long-but-light workout against spin on the second day, as all their batsmen hit at least 25, though only Steven Smith and Steve O’Keefe passed fifty. The second-day pitch at the P Sara Oval had begun to take some turn, but Australia can expect significantly drier conditions and substantially higher-quality slow bowling in the Tests. Nevertheless, a team total of 431 for 9 represented a strong outing for the visitors. The Sri Lanka selectors, watching on, would know the Australians have emerged from their first spin trial of the tour in ominous form.The Sri Lankan XI attack, which did not feature the island’s top spin prospects to begin with, operated under a kind of self-prohibition. Perhaps out of a strategic decision not to accustom the Australian batsmen to left-arm spin, captain Milinda Siriwardana did not bowl himself at all in the day. The other left-arm spinner, Chaturanga de Silva, was given only short spells at the top order; only when the tail-enders arrived at the crease was he more liberally used.Sri Lanka will hope this tactic sees Rangana Herath’s threat maximised when the Tests begin on July 26 in Pallekele. Siriwardana may also fairly expect to be named in the Sri Lanka squad, and if the selectors are of a similar view, Siriwardana will have kept his own powder dry.The day’s foremost workhorse was Shehan Jayasuriya, whose offspin may be classified his secondary skill. He delivered 29 overs, took five for 109, and sparked several close shouts while the seamers were rotated at the other end. Vimukthi Perera was the most impressive of the quick men, bringing a ball in to Joe Burns to bowl him for 72 in the morning, but Nisala Tharaka was also sharp in patches.O’Keefe’s unbeaten 62 may be the most consequential of the day’s performances for the Australians, as it raised his chances of entering the Test XI. Having taken a five-wicket haul on day one, O’Keefe was a measured foil to Mitchell Starc’s adventure, as the pair put on 59 runs from 13 overs late in the day. O’Keefe was largely content to nurdle the singles, often using his feet to spin. Starc, meanwhile, deployed a devastating slog sweep several times in his 48-ball 45. The pair did benefit from unimpressive ground fielding, however.Earlier in the day, Adam Voges and Smith had made 88 in each other’s company, largely finding runs on the leg side, as Voges in particular shelved the more aggressive shots. The pair’s frill-free accumulation took the Australians past the Sri Lankan XI’s 229, and formed the foundation of their team’s advance on day two. Smith came down the track to hit the offspin of Jayasuriya over the infield on occasion, but largely reserved his more expansive strokes for the seamers.It was spin that brought both batsmen’s stay to a close. Smith was trapped in front by de Silva, before Jayasuriya turned one in from the developing rough to beat Voges’ sweep shot and rattle his off stump. Mitchell Marsh struck a quick 25 thereafter, but was also out to Jayasuriya – caught behind down the leg side, though he did jokingly ask for a review of the umpire’s decision to suggest he did not hit the ball. Jayasuriya caught a high top-edge off Starc’s bat, and sent one through Lyon’s defences to complete his five-wicket haul.

Chelsea are keeping tabs on Pau Torres ahead of a potential move for the defender according to The Mirror (10th May, p.48, via Chelsea Chronicle).

What is the latest on Pau Torres to Chelsea?

The Blues have struggled to get going this season in the Premier League, with the club currently sat in eleventh place in the division. That's despite the fact that new owner Todd Boehly has bankrolled the Stamford Bridge outfit since taking over, helping the club to add stars such as Joao Felix and Enzo Fernandez.

It hasn't paid off so far though and ultimately ended up costing Graham Potter his job with Chelsea. Even interim manager Frank Lampard has found it hard to generate results from the side, having managed only one win so far during his short time in charge.

Ahead of a new managerial appointment in the summer then – believed to be former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino – the club will be desperate to have a transfer plan in place to add even more quality to the side.

One name that is being linked with a potential switch to Stamford Bridge is Pau Torres, according to The Mirror via Chelsea Chronicle. The report claims that the incoming Pochettino likes the defender and in order to try and mould the squad to his liking, he could add the 26-year-old to his backline. The only stumbling block is that they will face competition from Aston Villa to win the race for the man with a £55m release clause.

Would Pau Torres be a good signing for Chelsea?

The Villareal man looks like he could be a solid signing for any defence in the Premier League. He's exactly the type of centre-back you would want – good with the ball at his feet, able to marshall those around him and not afraid to put in a tackle.

This is showcased by his progressive passes rank in La Liga – Torres has 185 this campaign, which puts him within the top ten in the entire division in that stat despite his position as part of a backline. It shows that he is not afraid to pick out a pass and can do so with aplomb. He also ranks sixth for clearances in La Liga (130) and has an outstanding level of ball control, ranking first for progressive carrying distance (6987). He's a modern defender in every sense of the word then and can contribute effectively in both elements of play.

He's also been praised highly by those involved in the game. Javi Calleja, a former coach of his, called him an "extraordinary talent" for example. From someone who knows the defender well, it is high praise.

Torres then could instantly upgrade the Blues' defence and with his ability to drive the ball forward, he could also have a positive impact at the other end of the field too if he does sign.

With a hearty lead, now worth 385, and a pitch showing glimpses of deterioration, Surrey look well-equipped to prise out ten wickets tomorrow, and so regain a little of their lost swagger

Tim Wigmore at Kia Oval21-Jun-2016
ScorecardGareth Batty continued his fine form to cement Surrey’s position•Getty ImagesEverything about Surrey oozes a Division One club. The Kia Oval is a magnificent modern cricket ground, constantly being refined, and has a guarantee of Test matches the envy of every other international ground bar Lord’s. Nowhere else consistently gets as many through the gates at T20 games: over 100,000 every summer. The club’s annual turnover is £25 million, seven times that of the poorest of the 18 first-class counties.All that is missing, then, is results. Not since Graham Thorpe retired, 11 years ago, has a home-grown Surrey cricketer played for England in a Test. All the while, Surrey have spent more years than they would care to reflect – five of the past seven seasons – in Division Two: less the Manchester United of cricket, as they once liked to consider themselves, than the Queens Park Rangers, floundering despite huge spending.Last season Surrey waltzed to promotion, and so returned to what they would consider their rightful place. But their return to Division One has been grim: three draws and four defeats in their opening seven games. This is not quite an accurate reflection of how Surrey have played: they almost clinched a come-from-behind win at Trent Bridge, endured the agony of a one-wicket loss at Taunton and have suffered rain at inopportune times.Injuries have not helped, either: Mark Footitt and Matt Dunn are still out, and Stuart Meaker. Zafar Ansari and Ravi Rampaul have also been detained at various times. Missing from this game are Jason Roy, on England white ball duty, and Sam Curran, encumbered by A level examinations. Yet all these caveats cannot disguise the underlying truth: that a club with Surrey’s wealth ought to be performing better.Still, this might just have been their best day of the season. The washout of two-thirds of the second day had threatened to consign Surrey to another draw, already of limited value in their attempt to salvage their Division One place for next year. Not, though, with the side in such zesty mood, evident from Rampaul’s in-jagger to snare Brendan Taylor in the third over of the day.Deep into his 39th year, Gareth Batty might just be in the form of his life. In Surrey’s agonising defeat at Taunton, their last first-class game, he took ten wickets in the game. Here he added four more, perfectly exemplifying the subtle chicanery of the orthodox offspinner. A slightly quicker delivery turned and bounced just enough to defeat Michael Lumb’s attempted cut, a particular source of satisfaction, and then the tail heaved limply to fielders, complicit in their own downfalls.Yet, for all Batty’s skill, the most memorable dismissal was that of Samit Patel. Lumb pushed Batty into the offside, and called for a sharp single. Patel was slow replying, and stood motionless and aggrieved while Lumb ran past him, to consign him to his fate while the bails were removed at the striker’s end: run out by virtually the entire length of the pitch. For comic value it fell some way short of Patel’s fall onto his own backside three years ago against Derbyshire, but for his team the consequences were stark.Surrey had mustered a lead of 141, and a position that could have been designed for a return of the Surrey strut. But the ostentatious care with which the openers approached their task – the first 20 overs brought only 41 runs – betrayed the anxiety that has engulfed the club in their underwhelming start. At times more entertainment was to be found in the rooms at The Oval, which were staging trials for the BBC’s talent show The Voice, than in some funereal batting.But Surrey’s supporters had reason to find their own voices in the evening session. Kumar Sangakkara’s exquisite driving imbued the innings with impetus; he forged a 92-run stand with Arun Harinath, who grew increasingly assertive, before, in characteristically unselfish style, getting a leading edge for 83 as Surrey moved towards a declaration.After a rather painstaking effort from Gary Wilson – some members even ironically applauded him getting off the mark, from his 13th delivery – Steven Davies’ arrival was accompanied by the evening sun and the first hints of violence: he smeared his fourth delivery, off Matthew Carter, for an emphatic six over midwicket.In the Adam Hollioake years, such intent would surely have come before the end of the evening, giving Surrey a few overs to prey on any raw Nottinghamshire wounds. Still, with a hearty lead, now worth 385, and a pitch showing glimpses of deterioration, Surrey look well-equipped to prise out ten wickets tomorrow, and so regain a little of their lost swagger.

Matt Prior, the former England wicketkeeper, has backed Jonny Bairstow to start the international season as a more complete gloveman

Andrew McGlashan18-May-2016Matt Prior, the former England wicketkeeper, has backed Jonny Bairstow to start the international season as a more complete gloveman after having some valuable time to work on his game.Bairstow took over the gloves from Jos Buttler in the final Test against Pakistan in Sharjah – after Buttler’s runs dried up – then retained them for the series against South Africa. While he cemented his standing as a batsman of pedigree by scoring a maiden Test century in Cape Town, his work behind the stumps remained under scrutiny with chances being missed.After the Test series Bairstow did not feature in the ODIs and was not part of the World T20 squad. Apart from a one-match flying visit to the Pakistan Super League in the UAE he was able to take a break from the middle until pre-season with Yorkshire and Prior believes it will have been time well spent.”You have one guy who is scoring a lot of runs but has made a few mistakes behind the stumps and one guy whose glovework had gone up a huge amount but wasn’t scoring the runs,” Prior told ESPNcricinfo. “Jonny is the man in possession, he did well in South Africa with the bat and he’s had time to go away and work on the things with his wicketkeeping.”I think this period has been quite good for Jonny, he’s been out of the shop window, and he’s been able to go to the training ground and work hard. It’s very hard to make huge improvements while playing Test cricket, with so much scrutiny, 26 cameras on you, super slo-mo. I’m sure he’s used that time well to go away and work on areas, he’s a hugely determined guy and very resilient as well.”While Prior advocates consistency in the position, he also believes that having two players hot on the heels of each other can benefit both. Buttler has continued to be a force in the white-ball game with back-to-back ODI hundreds against Pakistan and South Africa, the first of them off 46 balls in Dubai to surpass his own record for England’s fastest. He has since gone on to establish his credentials as a world-class T20 batsman as well, with a starring role in England’s World T20 campaign and an impressive maiden IPL season with Mumbai Indians.Jonny Bairstow has been in fine form for Yorkshire after a lengthy break from action•Getty Images”It’s a really exciting time in that role because there are two fantastic cricketers in Jos and Jonny and they will push each other, but also use that pressure to get the best out of themselves,” Prior said at the Chance to Shine MCC Spirit of Cricket Day at Lord’s.Prior’s international career ended two years ago when he succumbed to an Achilles injury having made a Test comeback on Sri Lanka’s previous visit to England. He retired from all cricket last year after a lengthy attempt to recover. But, after a 79-Test career in which he scored 4099 runs, the third-most by an England wicketkeeper, and claimed 256 dismissals, second behind Alan Knott, he was assured a place as one of England’s finest.Like Bairstow, though, Prior had to come through a period in which his glovework underwent forensic examination and he was dropped after the tour of Sri Lanka in 2007. When he returned in late 2008 he did not relinquish his spot – except for a one-off Test in West Indies in 2009 to fly home after the birth of his son – until the Ashes had been surrendered in 2013-14.On the tour of Australia it was Bairstow to whom he handed the gloves and he has passed on advice to both him and Buttler since the end of his England career, something he is more than happy to continue to do should either of England’s current keepers want any further guidance.”I’ve spoken to both of them at different points, Jos when he was in Sri Lanka and I spoke to Jonny when he was in South Africa, and it’s quite interesting being able to look in from the outside – things sometimes look a bit clearer than when you are in the fog and haze of the England bubble. They both know that I’m here if they want advice at any time.”

Liverpool have placed goalscoring midfielder, Jesper Lindstrom, on their wishlist for the summer transfer window.

The priority for FSG and Jurgen Klopp this summer is to invest wisely in new midfielders at the end of the season after a dreadful 2022/23 campaign. At the time of writing, Liverpool are fifth in the Premier League and have very little chance of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

While it's true that there are a myriad reasons why things have fallen apart so spectacularly for the Reds, negligence on the part of FSG has brought these circumstances about.

Will Liverpool sign Jesper Lindstrom from Eintracht Frankfurt?

It's too early to say whether a deal to sign the 23-year-old will happen but Liverpool are interested. According to SportBILD, via Sport Witness, Jurgen Klopp has placed the attack minded midfielder on his wishlist for the summer. Frankfurt are in massive financial danger and need to sell players to balance their books, with Lindstrom valued at over €30m (£26.2m).

Competition for his signature is significant with Arsenal and Napoli also said to be investigating recruiting him this summer – it's easy to understand why he is a sought after talent, putting up 14 goals and assists this term. However, the player is allegedly a lifelong Liverpool fan.

He is by no means prolific but for a team like Liverpool, whose midfielders seem afraid of shooting, increasing attacking output from the centre of the park is important. Only six goals have been scored by Liverpool midfielders this season. The likes of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago, James Milner and Naby Keita have failed to score a single goal.

Could Liverpool poach Eintracht Frankfurt's sporting director?

Not only are Liverpool interested in Jesper Lindstrom but they have also been investigating recruiting Frankfurt's sporting director, Markus Krosche. In February, it was reported by the Athletic that after Paul Mitchell was ruled out, attention turned to Krosche. The 42-year-old has built a stellar reputation for himself and could land a prestigious job with Liverpool if all goes well.

Current sporting director, Julian Ward, took over from Michael Edwards but despite not yet completing a year in the new role, will move to Ajax in a similar capacity. Liverpool's future is unclear on the pitch and off – fans will be hoping for some more clarity on both fronts after a very disappointing season.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy admires Vincent Kompany's style of play, and has now held talks with the Burnley manager, according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri.

Will Vincent Kompany leave Burnley?

The Clarets are on course to break the 100-point barrier in the second tier, having already sealed promotion back to the Premier League, and Kompany has already been linked with a move to a number of top-flight clubs.

West Ham United are interested in appointing the Burnley boss, according to a report from TEAMtalk, with Crystal Palace and Chelsea also named as potential suitors, although the latter club now appear to be edging towards hiring Mauricio Pochettino.

However, the report also details that Burnley are confident about keeping hold of their manager, as he is very much settled in the area, and they are keen to reward him with a pay rise, after a phenomenal first season at the club.

It remains to be seen whether the Belgian is tempted by a move to north London, however, Tavolieri has recently taken to Twitter to claim that contacts have been made, as Levy is impressed with his "unifying profile" and "style of play that would suit Tottenham's identity".

The journalist goes on to clarify the 37-year-old would bring a team of seven people with him, should he be tempted by the move, and he would get a say in who Spurs sign in the upcoming transfer window, although he is currently focused on the task at hand with Burnley.

Should Tottenham appoint Vincent Kompany?

The former Manchester City captain has been hailed by Pep Guardiola for the "unbelievable" job he has done in the Championship, but there are question marks about whether a move to Tottenham may be a bit too soon.

Although he had a great deal of success in the Premier League as a player, winning four titles, the Uccle-born tactician is yet to gain any experience in the top flight as a manager, so it would be a real risk to offer him the Spurs job.

Of course, it could be a gamble worth taking, as leading a team to 100 points in the Championship, as he is on course to do, is no mean feat, given that it has not been done since the 2013/14 season.

However, we think Tottenham should look to bring in a manager with more experience at the top level, such as Julian Nagelsmann.

A number of Arsenal fans online have reacted after spotting Declan Rice celebrating after a recent academy game at the Emirates Stadium.

What’s the latest on Declan Rice?

On Tuesday night, the FA Youth Cup final took place, with West Ham United captain U18s making the trip to north London to take on the Gunners.

Jack Wilshere’s men got off to a good start after scoring the opener early on, but Arsenal collapsed from there on in as the Irons scored five times without response to win the match 5-1.

While this will have been a big blow for the home side, their opponents were understandably jubilant at full-time – and the youngsters would have been delighted when senior club captain Rice showed his face in the winning team’s dressing room.

As captured in this footage online, the £60k-per-week England midfielder was seen dancing, singing and celebrating with the FA Youth Cup winners.

Of course, it’s no shock that he was happy for his team, but his sighting at the Emirates has sparked some interest online. After all, Rice has been strongly linked with a move to the Gunners in recent times.

What’s more, having gone on the record about wanting to play European football in the near future, Arsenal could be the perfect destination as they will almost certainly be playing in the Champions League next term.

With that being the case, some fans were keen to joke that Rice was actually celebrating with the wrong team.

Here are some of the best reactions…

Others now want him to be celebrating at the Emirates next season.

And one supporter didn’t seem too happy with his dance moves at all…

Newcastle United target Yankuba Minteh has admitted during a public interview that he wants to complete a summer move to St. James’ Park.

What's the latest on Minteh to Newcastle?

The Odense Boldklub winger first arrived in the Superliga in August 2022 when he joined the Danish side’s U19s, before quickly being promoted to the first-team in October, where he’s since made 13 senior appearances.

The Gambia international, however, will be out of contract at the end of next season meaning that the upcoming window will present Andreas Alm’s outfit with their final big opportunity to cash in, and he’s already got an admirer in the Premier League.

Danish outlet Sport Fyn have reported that the Magpies are firmly in the running to sign the 18-year-old and that he is close to agreeing a move to the northeast, and the teenager has now, for the first time, publicly addressed the speculation.

Speaking to Viaplay (via Bold.dk and Sport Witness) on Monday evening, Minteh was directly asked about the rumours linking him with a switch to Newcastle, to which he replied:

“You should probably take that with my agent. I don’t know anything about it. I am ready to take the next step, and it will only be good for me. Of course, I want to go to Newcastle. It’s a big club in the Premier League and they’re doing something good. They are fighting for a place in the Champions League.”

Do Newcastle have a shot at signing Minteh?

Newcastle’s “superb” target, as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig, shares the same agent as Alexander Isak, so combining this with the fact that he’s openly revealed his desire to join, PIF have an extremely strong chance at securing the services of Minteh.

The £300-per-week forward has posted 12 goal contributions (seven assists and five goals) in 20 appearances throughout his career and has recorded 24 shots so far this season, which is the fourth-highest across the whole of his squad.

The left-footed ace would also provide some welcome versatility for Eddie Howe to have at his disposal having operated out wide on both flanks alongside in attacking midfield since bursting onto the professional scene.

Odense Boldklub will know that they might have to accept a cut-price deal for Minteh given his contract situation, so the Magpies should capitalise on this by wrapping up a potential bargain for this exciting prospect who could go on to become a key player in years to come at St. James' Park.

Everton midfielder James Garner could make his first start for the Toffees in the near future, according to an update from journalist Paul Brown.

How has Garner fared at Everton?

The 22-year-old moved to Goodison Park during last summer's transfer window, leaving Manchester United after the Red Devils were unable to guarantee him regular playing time. He has had a frustrating time of things at Everton, however, with injuries hindering his playing time significantly.

In total, Garner has only made eight Premier League appearances this season, all of which have come from the substitutes' bench, totalling just 175 minutes of action. The midfielder is therefore still searching for his maiden start in Everton colours, but he has featured since returning from injury, making cameo appearances against Tottenham and his former club.

With Sean Dyche's side preparing to host Fulham in a must-win game on Saturday afternoon, it could be that the young midfielder is finally given a chance to shine from the start.

Could James Garner start against Fulham?

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Brown stated that he was of the opinion that he expects a start to come Garner's way sooner rather than later:

"I think Dyche has used Garner quite a lot, really. It's mainly been him and [Tom] Davies coming off the bench in recent games, giving them a bit of fresh legs – a slightly better passing option, perhaps.

"I think it's quite likely that he ends up starting a game or a few games before the end of the season. Simply because the three that have been in there most of the campaign have played a lot of minutes, and you'd expect them to wear down slightly before the end of the season.

"It wouldn't surprise me at all to see Garner starting soon."

This is a big decision for Dyche to make regarding Garner, with the midfielder clearly a talented footballer – Roy Keane has claimed he is "very good technically" – but also someone lacking experience, especially ahead of such a crucial run of fixtures this season.

It could make the most sense for Everton to continue with Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gueye in the middle of the park against Fulham, as was the case at United last weekend – with Garner used as an impact substitute in the second half, especially if some creativity is required to change the game. Should he shine from the bench once more, it could then be time to give him a go from the start – particularly if the Toffees grow more desperate for points.

Journalist Dean Jones believes that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is starting to unlock Jack Grealish’s full potential at the Etihad Stadium.

What’s Jones had to say about Grealish and Guardiola?

Grealish made the move to Manchester from Aston Villa back in 2021 in a British record £100m transfer and won the Premier League title in his first season with the Cityzens.

However, on a personal note, Grealish endured a frustrating first season at the club, contributing to just six goals in 26 top-flight appearances, resulting in criticism, with the player himself responding by admitting he needs to score more goals.

The 27-year-old has quietly been silencing his critics during the current campaign, though, already surpassing his Premier League goal contribution tally after 22 appearances. The Englishman has scored four times and registered five assists from the left wing, including a man of the match performance against Liverpool over the weekend.

Jones was talking to GiveMeSport regarding Grealish in the last 48 hours after his goal and assist against Liverpool on Saturday. He feels that Guardiola is starting to get the best out of Grealish, saying they may have a “superstar” on their hands.

“Pep Guardiola has been waiting for this all season, he's been convinced that he could unlock Jack Grealish’s full potential and we're starting to see that now.

“It was a lot of money that they paid for Jack Grealish and there's always a risk attached to that. But it is starting to look like they might have a superstar after all.”

Consistency needed for Grealish…

Grealish’s display against Jurgen Klopp’s side rightly came in for plenty of praise, with Guardiola hailing him as “exceptional”. The winger stepped up to the mark in Erling Haaland’s absence, but Grealish will be looking to follow this up with a run of solid performances.

His goals and assists this season have come in purple patches of form, with four of his contributions coming in four games around the New Year and another two in back-to-back games with Arsenal and Nottingham Forest in February. [Transfermarkt]

You’d expect that Grealish will continue in Guardiola’s first-choice XI as a result of his display last time out, starting with a trip to Southampton this weekend, and hopefully, he’ll help City close the gap on league leaders Arsenal, looking to play a starring role this time around as the club search for a third successive Premier League title.