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One cannot often learn much from pre-season results, but Everton’s need for reinforcements has certainly been crystallised.

On Saturday, the Toffees were demolished 3-0 by Bournemouth at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, outplayed and outclassed throughout.

Before travelling to the US, the Blues had also lost 1-0 to Blackburn Rovers and been held to a 1-1 draw by Accrington Stanley, which isn’t really generating excitement ahead of the grand opening of their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

Speaking to the Men in Blazers Podcast, manager David Moyes asserted that he needs “nine or ten” new players before the season begins, so are Everton about to secure the signature of a “magnificent prospect”?

Everton's search for attacking quality

So far this summer, there’s been a bit of a clear-out at Everton.

Goodison stalwarts Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucouré are the most high-profile players to have departed, but Ashley Young, Mason Holgate, Asmir Begović, and João Virgínia have all also been released.

In their place, Mark Travers will be the new back-up goalkeeper, while centre-forward Thierno Barry has arrived from Villarreal for £27m, and is the service the 6 foot 5 in (196cm) striker will receive about to exponentially increase in quality?

Well, according to a report by Patrick Boyland and Matt Woosnam of the Athletic, Everton are “in talks” with Lyon as they seek to sign winger Malick Fofana.

Despite having been spared relegation to Ligue 2 following an appeal, Olympique Lyonnais are still in a huge amount of debt, so are currently in the midst of a fire sale; Rayan Cherki, Lucas Perri, Alexandre Lacazette and Thiago Almada are amongst those who’ve departed already.

With that in mind, Alan Myers claims that les Gones value Fofana, who has three years remaining on his contract, at around £43m including add-ons, amid talk that there is “strong interest” from the Toffees in the player.

So, could the 20-year-old soon swap Décines-Charpieu for Merseyside?

How Malick Fofana will improve Everton

Fofana began his career at Gent, scoring just five goals in 64 senior appearances for the Buffalos, but doing enough to capture the attention of Lyon, who signed him for around £15m as recently as January 2024.

Since making the move to France, his career has really taken off, bagging 15 goals and seven assists for les Gones, earning widespread praise.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels him a “magnificent winger prospect”, while Astorre S. Cerebróne of Breaking the Lines believes he has ‘huge potential’, impressed by his ‘technical qualities’ and ‘directness’.

Elsewhere, Fintan O’Reilly of Total Football Analysis agrees, highlighting his ‘strong attacking contributions’, concluding that, given Lyon’s financial turmoil, he would represent a massive bargain in the transfer market.

In terms of Everton, Iliman Ndiaye was their top-scorer last season with nine goals, while Beto was the only other player to bag more than four.

Like Fofana, the Senegalese international arrived from Ligue 1 just 12 months ago, joining from Olympique de Marseille for a reported fee of £16.9m.

If Fofana is equally as productive and impactful as Ndiaye, Evertonians would almost certainly be satisfied, so let’s assess how the two wide players compare to one another.

Appearances

41

46

Minutes

2,280

2,476

Goals

11

4

Assists

6

5

All statistics below are on a per-90 basis:

Shots

1.5

1.6

Shots on target

1.3

0.6

Shots on target %

84.09%

37.98%

Chances created

1.5

0.8

Take-on success %

42.28%

57.94%

% of touches in the box

14%

10%

Average Sofascore rating

7.24

6.82

As the table outlines, in Ligue 1 and the Europa League, Fofana comes out on top for pretty much every metric included; Ndiaye boasted better figures in terms of shots per 90 as well as successful take-ons.

Nevertheless, Fofana’s numbers in terms of shots on target ratio, chances created and pure goals and assists are very eye-catching, underlining that his signing would represent a massive coup for Everton, one that they badly need with the start of the season fast approaching.

Better signing than McGinn: Everton hold advantage in race for £34m “engine”

Everton targeting a former Premier League star in statement of intent

1 ByWill Miller Jul 25, 2025

Ishan Kishan will lead Jharkhand in the upcoming Buchi Babu tournament, a pre-season red-ball competition in Tamil Nadu starting August 15. Kishan, who was not part of Jharkhand’s original long list, will link up with the squad in Chennai on Wednesday.The move is seen as the first step towards the wicketkeeper-batter’s full-fledged return to first-class cricket. ESPNcricinfo understands Kishan took the decision to participate, and he was drafted in when he communicated this to the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA).A return to the Ranji Trophy fold is also expected during the 2024-25 season, after Kishan informed the state selectors of his desire to return. His last domestic first-class game was in December 2022. He stayed away from the Ranji Trophy towards the end of the 2023-24 domestic season, and this proved costly for him, with the BCCI removing him from the central contracts list for not prioritising domestic cricket.”With Ishan, it was never about ability,” a JSCA functionary said. “It was only about whether he was ready to return. The decision was with him. When he was not included in the initial list, it was only because we hadn’t heard from him. The moment he expressed his keenness to return, he was drafted in.”Kishan’s return to red-ball cricket comes at a time when India are heading into a long Test season, comprising 10 games over the next five months, but a comeback won’t be easy. Kishan made his Test debut during India’s tour of the West Indies last year, when Rishabh Pant was recovering from injuries sustained during a car accident in December 2022.The second Test of that Caribbean tour, in July 2023, remains Kishan’s last first-class game. He was picked in the Test squad for the 2023-24 South Africa tour too, but he asked to be released citing mental fatigue.Kishan now finds himself behind Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel in India’s Test-match queue•Associated Press

He may have been in line for a Test return during the five-Test home series against England earlier this year, but lost out to KS Bharat and Dhruv Jurel after he informed the selectors that he wasn’t ready. He did not take part in the Ranji Trophy either, and the selectors, whose inputs are taken on board by the BCCI when it draws up the central contracts list, were not pleased that Kishan used his time away from the game to train privately with his IPL captain Hardik Pandya in Baroda, instead of playing for Jharkhand.Pant is now back in action, and Jurel, who impressed with both his batting and glovework against England, particularly during a Player-of-the-Match display in Ranchi, has moved ahead of Kishan in India’s red-ball queue.Kishan, who had a Grade C contract until losing it this year, featured in two Tests, 17 ODIs and 11 T20Is in 2023. He was also part of India’s squad during their run to the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup, and featured in two matches at the top of the order when Shubman Gill was out ill.”When you take a break, people gossip about it a lot, they say a lot of things on social media,” Kishan had said in April, referring to his time away from the game. “But I feel it’s important to understand not everything is in players’ hands. We can only make the best use of the break.”This is what adopting a good mindset is. There is nothing like I want to prove to someone. I just have to go there and enjoy. I have learned that you do not have to add pressure on yourself about these things, which are not in your hand.”

India captain dismisses talks of complacency in the wake of India’s 2-0 series loss

Shashank Kishore07-Aug-20245:39

India’s batting (except Rohit’s) against spin a sign of concern

“We need to talk about it.”That was India captain Rohit Sharma when asked if being spun out on dry Colombo surfaces to lose the ODI series against Sri Lanka 2-0 was a result of their lack of application against the turning ball. India lost 27 wickets to spin, the most by any team against this variety in a three-match series.”I don’t think it’s a concern,” Rohit said after India’s first ODI series loss to Sri Lanka since 1997. “But it’s something we need to look at seriously, into our individual game plans. We were definitely put under pressure throughout the series. We need to look into it, do something differently, need to talk about it and come back with different plans.”Rohit struck two half-centuries and was comfortably India’s best batter in the series. He provided barnstorming starts to every run-chase, but once the field spread, the ball got older and began to take turn, it became difficult for batters to maintain that tempo. Especially new ones. India’s middle-order were unable to find a way past this problem.In the series opener, India lost 5 for 57 after racing to 75 without loss chasing 231. On Sunday, they collapsed from 97 for 0 to 147 for 6 in a chase of 241. On Wednesday, Rohit struck 31 of the 37 runs for the first wicket before they lost 6 for 45.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Were India complacent?”It’s a joke,” Rohit responded. “When you’re playing for India, there’s no complacency as long as I am here captaining the team. It’s not going to be the case. You come here trying to win every game, give your best and find answers, but yes, we were outplayed. You’ve got to give credit where it’s due, Sri Lanka played better cricket than us.”India lost all three tosses and ended up chasing. In all the games, the amount of turn on offer under lights made batting progressively tougher. On Wednesday, with the series on the line, India strengthened their batting by including Riyan Parag in place of a second fast bowler in Arshdeep Singh.Related

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This meant Shivam Dube had to share the new ball with Mohammed Siraj. Rohit explained the shake-up in the bowling was dictated largely by the conditions, but also to an extent borne by the need to give some of the younger players opportunities. Parag, who impressed in the T20I leg of the tour with his assortment of legspin and offspin, was the pick of India’s bowlers with 3 for 54 on ODI debut.”We looked at the conditions and thought taking pace off is an ideal combination,” Rohit said. “Having said that, we also have a lot of players waiting in the wings. We have to look at some of the guys who haven’t got an opportunity. All in all, we didn’t play good cricket throughout the series, hence we stand here.”Were there any positives?”A few, like how our spinners bowled,” Rohit said. “But even though you want to look at the positives, I feel there are a lot of areas we need to look at rather than the positives. We will go back, chat about what we need to do when we come up in conditions like this.”India don’t play an ODI series until January against England leading into the next major global event, the Champions Trophy in 2025. They also have a longish break and don’t play international cricket until late September, when the home Test season kicks off with a series against Bangladesh.”A series loss doesn’t mean the end of the world,” Rohit said. “These guys have been playing good cricket for the past few years. Yes, we will lose a one-off series here and there, what’s important is how we move on from this and how we can come back.”

Celtic are active on the market and Brendan Rodgers is reportedly closing in on a bargain deal to strengthen his backline, according to a report.

Celtic begin to motor in summer transfer window

The official opening of the window for Celtic will take place next week, but they are already moving down the line with several deals as scaling up becomes the mantra at Parkhead.

Recent interest in Brondby forward Mathias Kvistgaarden and Telstar’s Youssef El Kachati has cooled. However, supporters would have been delighted to see Kieran Tierney officially announced, following months of waiting for his signature to be confirmed.

Looking forward to working with a player who delivered so much during his first spell in charge, Brendan Rodgers believes his ‘elite’ qualities will bring an element of stardust as Celtic chase more success domestically and on the continent.

The Irishman stated: “We are so pleased to bring such an elite player back to the club and I look forward to working with him again and the rest of the squad, as we face the many challenges ahead at home and in Europe.”

Not to be deterred there, Celtic have identified Michel-Ange Balikwisha as a top summer target, amid holding a concrete interest in his services over the past year.

The latest names on Celtic’s summer transfer wishlist

Ross Doohan

Aberdeen – deal near completion

Harley Mills

Peterborough United

Lennon Miller

Motherwell

Demir Tiknaz

Rio Ave (on loan from Besiktas – buy option)

Callum Osmand

Fulham – deal near completion

As mentioned above, a compensation package for Fulham striker Callum Osmand is on the verge of going through to solidify Rodgers’ striking options, representing smart business as the Hoops aim to find value for money in the market.

Now, a young defender is also set to join the Parkhead ranks in a similar agreement, even if he won’t be thrust into the first team straight away.

Celtic set to sign prospect Isaac English

According to The Scottish Sun, Celtic are on the verge of signing defender Isaac English from Greenock Morton and are set to agree a bargain fee of £50,000 with the Scottish Championship side ahead of his proposed move.

Scouts were alerted to his potential off the back of his displays in the second-tier outfit’s Club Academy Scotland Performance League title win at Under-18 level.

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Admittedly, not much is known about English in the public domain. The 17-year-old hasn’t made a senior appearance at Cappielow Park, though he has trained within Dougie Imrie’s senior set-up and looks to be one for the future.

After losing youngsters such as Daniel Cummings, Rocco Vata and Daniel Kelly in recent times, news that Celtic have a prodigious star ready to walk through the Lennoxtown entrance will be a welcome boost in their mission to stockpile emerging talent.

Chelsea are now stepping up their efforts to sign a “prolific” striker, who is also being targeted by Premier League rivals Arsenal, according to a report.

Blues still battling Arsenal for Sesko

Both Chelsea and Arsenal should be well-positioned to sign Benjamin Sesko this summer, given that the Slovenian has previously made it clear he would be keen on a move to London, and they continue to battle it out for his services.

Last week, it was revealed the Blues were leading the race for Sesko, despite Andrea Berta already holding direct talks over a deal for the RB Leipzig star, however, the Gunners still remain confident they will be able to get a deal over the line.

The race for the 22-year-old remains open, with the Gunners yet to make a formal bid, but he is not the only striker of interest to both Mikel Arteta and Enzo Maresca, with the London rivals also both vying to sign FC Porto’s Samu Aghehowa.

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which has revealed that Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, are now stepping up their efforts to sign the Porto centre-forward, with the likes of Aston Villa and Arsenal also in the race.

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A deal could be on the expensive side, however, with the Portuguese club looking to receive around €70m – €75m (£59m – £63m), and they are by no means looking to force the Spaniard out the door this summer.

"Prolific" Aghehowa could be ideal Sesko alternative

With Arsenal now feeling positive about securing a deal for Sesko, the Blues may be forced to move on to alternative options, and the Porto star’s exploits in the Liga Portugal last season indicate he could be an exciting signing.

The Spain international reached the 25-goal mark in all competitions, with six of those coming in the Europa League, and at just 21-years-old, the forward is likely to have plenty of room for development.

In light of his stellar goal return last season, football talent scout Jacek Kulig also heaped praise upon the starlet, describing him as “one of Europe’s most prolific players” back in December.

That said, there may be concerns over the fact that Aghehowa is yet to prove himself in a major European league, and Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, who netted a remarkable 39 goals in 33 Liga Portugal games last season, is available for a similar price.

Everton had a busy summer in 2024. The Toffees brought in seven new players, looking to strengthen right across the board to help keep them in the Premier League. Well, whilst that has been all but achieved this season for the Toffees, it was at the expense of their former manager, Sean Dyche.

One could certainly argue that this summer is even more important. Everton are in their new era under David Moyes and are about to move to Bramley Moore Dock, their new stadium. Getting this summer right is imperative to starting life strong at the new ground.

Already, they have been linked with one new addition for the summer, Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff.

The latest on Everton's move for Longstaff

It would be an ambitious move to bring Longstaff in from high-flying Newcastle. He has been an important player under Eddie Howe throughout the duration of his tenure and played a role in the club’s Carabao Cup campaign, a competition in which they tasted success last month.

According to a report from Joe Thomas, a journalist for the Liverpool Echo, a move for Longstaff ‘was explored by Everton in January’ and it seems like he could ‘come under consideration again in the summer’, with the Toffees considering a move.

With the Newcastle-born midfielder’s contract up in just over 12 months’ time, a transfer this summer is a possibility. Howe explained in a recent press conference that his “long-term future is slightly more unclear”, suggesting a move is on the cards.

A price for the 27-year-old is unclear at this stage. However, he is valued at £18.7m by Transfermarkt, so it is safe to assume that he could cost anywhere in that region if the Toffees wanted to do a deal.

Interestingly, Everton actually have a player who is actually worth more than Longstaff who could be equally important as they enter their new era next season.

The Everton player worth more than Longstaff

Although signing Longstaff might not be the most glamorous of deals on the face of things, there is no doubt about his quality and work ethic that he will bring to this Everton side. Well, perhaps the same could have been said about Dwight McNeil when he first joined the club.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

The 25-year-old, who was born in Rochdale, made the move from Burnley to Everton back in 2022. He cost them £20m at the time, but that value has since risen up to £21.2m, even more than Longstaff is worth.

It has been a good campaign for the former England under-21 international. Despite being sidelined with an injury, McNeil has been exceptional. He has four goals and five assists so far in just 16 games across all competitions.

That includes three different instances this season in which he has scored or assisted multiple times in the same game. He grabbed two assists against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Goodison Park earlier in the campaign in a brilliant 4-0 win.

Indeed, Everton’s number seven, who has shown excellent versatility so far in a Toffees shirt, has put up some impressive Premier League numbers. In 85 top-flight appearances for the club, he has 13 goals and 14 assists.

Football statistician Statman Dave once described McNeil as a “constant threat”. His contributions in an Everton shirt so far have been impressive, and the money they invested in him has certainly been worth it.

His short spike in value has highlighted his importance to this Everton side, and they will surely be hoping this can only increase over the next few seasons.

Moyes may have found the new Gareth Barry in Everton's £100k-p/w "leader"

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Angus Sinclair

Apr 3, 2025

Keith Stackpole often set the tone for Australia’s innings in the early 1970s, with his steely presence and bat that spoke volumes

Greg Chappell24-Apr-2025Australian cricket has farewelled one of its most combative and charismatic characters with the passing of Keith Stackpole on Tuesday. A fierce competitor, courageous opening batter, and fiercely loyal team-mate, Stackpole’s influence during a formative period in the game’s evolution was as significant as it was deeply felt by those fortunate enough to share a dressing room with him.Keith’s Test journey began in the middle order, but it was his shift to the top of the order that defined the cricketer – and the man – he would become. It wasn’t just a tactical move; it was transformational. His temperament was perfectly attuned to the demands of facing the new ball. He relished the responsibility, often setting the tone for Australia’s innings with a steely presence and a bat that spoke volumes.What truly set Keith apart was his fierce love of fast bowling. The quicker they came, the more alive he became. His cross-batted strokes – especially the pull and hook – were trademarks, and he never blinked at short-pitched hostility. But it wasn’t just about technique; it was his intent. Defeat stung him personally. He wore responsibility like a badge and took it upon himself to alter the course of matches.Related

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There’s a story, often retold, that speaks volumes about the man. It was Jamaica, 1973, just before the West Indies series. Word had spread about a young Jamaican quick, Uton Dowe – touted as the next Wes Hall. When news came through that Dowe would be rested for a warm-up match, most of the touring side breathed easier. Not Keith. He was genuinely furious – pacing the dressing room, lamenting the missed chance. He wanted to face Dowe, to test himself, to measure the mettle of this rising force.When the first Test came round and Dowe took the new ball to the roar of Kingston’s crowd, Keith was ready. The first ball was short; Stackpole sent it racing to the boundary. He went on to smack seven fours in a fiery innings of 44, dismantling the youngster’s confidence – and with it, his career. It was Stackpole in full: courageous, combative, and utterly unwilling to let reputations go unchallenged.As Ian Chappell’s vice-captain, Keith was steadfast. He gave unwavering support, both on and off the field, and the two forged a friendship that lasted decades. He would not abide criticism of his skipper and was a pillar of strength during Australia’s rise in the early 1970s.Of all his performances, his knock at The Oval in 1972 remains etched in memory. With the Ashes on the line and Australia needing 242 to draw the series, Keith launched into the English attack of John Snow, Geoff Arnold, Tony Greig and Derek Underwood. He belted a commanding 79 – bold, belligerent, and calming to those watching on. It helped secure a pivotal win and symbolised so much of what he brought to Australian cricket: nerve, heart, and a flair for the moment.To his beloved wife Pat and the entire Stackpole family: the thoughts and deepest sympathies of the cricketing community are with you. Keith Stackpole’s legacy won’t just live on in statistics or archives – it endures in the hearts of those who played with him, watched him, and knew what it meant to have “Stacky” at the top of the order.Vale, Stacky.

He dug in when needed, but also displayed skill and nous to go in an exhilarating direction

Andrew Fidel Fernando18-Jul-2023Some days, you get to be on the ground floor of something special.Before this game, Saud Shakeel had a Test average of 72.50, seven fifty-plus scores in 10 innings, and a reputation for being a little old-school. His Test strike rate was 41.66.In balls-to-the-wall 2023, this reads like a stat out of the Triassic. An object of curiosity.Related

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If Shakeel has not moved the needle a lot outside of Pakistan, though, that’s not really his fault. In Multan, in December last year, there was a defiant 94 off 213 in the second innings. But England won that game, narrowly, after Shakeel was out, though not without controversy.He made 125 not out off 341 (you read that right) against New Zealand in January, before following up with a 32 off 146 in the second innings. But because fellow Karachiwallah Sarfraz Ahmed hit a second-dig century to seal an excellent comeback series in his hometown, the Shakeel slow-burns were lost in the grand narrative.Innings with strike rates like 36.65 and 21.91 kinda have a habit of getting lost.In Galle, he arrived with the score on 67 for 3, and soon worsened to 101 for 5. But not long after that, Shakeel was 33 off 53, then 50 off 69, then 64 off 82. Uhhh, is this the same guy? The guy who played the innings that felt like they’d been dug up by archaeologists? Is that him slog sweeping hard and flat? Him flitting down the track, making room, blasting the left-arm spinner over cover?In between, he played a believable impression of the batter international cricket had previously known him to be. The defence against quicks was almost always organised, even if his stance more open than most, though not nearly as open as that of, say, Fawad Alam, who he replaced in the Pakistan batting order, and who also learned his craft in Karachi, but spiritually, is from outer space.Against spin, Shakeel was judicious. Moving forward quickly when the bowlers pitched too close, sliding backwards when the length was short. And crucially, between the fours, he picked the gaps like a master.Visually, you might say, there is not a lot to recommend his batting. But he doesn’t seem the type to care. The whip through midwicket, the chop square of cover, the boring old conventional sweep to the legside sweeper – the kind where the fielder moves towards the ball because even the batters know there’s only one run there – these are the Shakeel specialties.Saud Shakeel’s 208*, unlike his previous innings, won’t get lost in the grand narrative•AFP/Getty ImagesHe said as much after play on day three.Is it because of your Karachi training that you play spin so well, he was asked.”Usually, in first-class cricket in Karachi, we don’t get many turning pitches,” he said. “But my strength is I like to rotate the strike. You’ll have noticed I like to take singles as regularly as possible, and I can find singles on both sides of the ground. I tried to apply that strength, First-class cricket also helps, but the way I’ve been brought up and learned the game actually helps me way more than any first-class cricket I might have played.Essentially: It’s hard not to love.But for those of us who need the boxes, Shakeel swept exceptionally well, and scrapped when the scrapping needed to be done, which are both understood to be Karachibatting things. Most predictably of all, he stepped happily back into the defensive version of himself when he ran out of batting partners and had only the tail to work with.At one stage in his innings – in the company of Agha Salman – Shakeel made 83 off 88 deliveries. After Salman was out, slow-burn Shakeel returned, blocking out the first few balls of every over, turning down the singles on offer, pouncing on only the bad deliveries. His batting partners played bravely at the other end. The journey from 100 to 200, took 223 deliveries.

“The grand pronouncements are tempting, but in this case it is important to let the innings breathe. Let it rest in its greatness”

Oh, okay. So it him. There’s our guy.We don’t know if Shakeel will be the next great Pakisan batter, because we don’t make predictions here. We only make observations.Observations such as his having arrived at the crease during an incredibly difficult period, his having adopted a batting tactic that he’s never tried at Test level before, and his having marshalled the tail to spectacular effect on this occasion.Whatever the long-view of his career becomes, even from just this innings, it might be fair to conclude that his ceiling is outrageously high. At the end of his 11th Test innings, Shakeel went back into the dressing room on 208 not out, having faced more than four balls on average of the last 44 overs.The grand pronouncements are tempting, but in this case it is important to let the innings breathe.Let it rest in its greatness.Let those of us who saw it in person wonder for a little while longer whether we really were on the ground floor. Wonder how special this something might become.Let it coalesce gently, because while for 88 balls there was the skill and nous to go in an exhilarating direction, Shakeel seems more at home in the ebb of Test cricket, rather than its flow.More at home in its gentleness.

The tournament had several established stars doing well, but the new talent gave it an extra sheen

Saurabh Somani17-Sep-2021CPL 2021 ended with a pulsating final in which St Kitts and Nevis Patriots beat St Lucia Kings by three wickets off the last ball of the match. The tournament had several established stars doing well, but the sparkling new talent gave it an extra sheen. Sifting those players down to the XI who would make up the team of the tournament meant leaving some performers out, as is inevitably the case. Here is ESPNCricinfo’s CPL 2021 XI:Evin Lewis – St Kitts and Nevis PatriotsQuite simply, the best batter in CPL 2021. Evin Lewis was part of the winning team, and though he had a rare failure in the final, he did plenty to drive Patriots to that position. In the semi-final against Guyana Amazon Warriors, he made light work of an imposing target of 179, reeling off 77 not out in 39 balls as Patriots won with a massive 2.1 overs to spare. That performance had come on the back of a sizzling, unbeaten 52-ball 106 against last year’s champions Trinbago Knight Riders in Patriots’ final league game to seal their semi-final spot. Lewis ended as the second-highest run-scorer in the competition with 426 runs, and allied his consistency to big-hitting as a strike-rate of 163.21 showed. As per ESPNCricinfo’s Smart Stats, he was the highest-rated batter too and ranked first on the Smart Runs tally, with 493.68 runs.Faf du Plessis – St Lucia KingsHe brings in a solidity that could nicely complement the slew of big-hitters in the XI. While Faf du Plessis had an up-and-down tournament, two innings in particular were standouts in the league phase: 120* in 60 balls against Patriots and then 84 off 54 against Barbados Royals. He picked up a groin injury in that last game and missed Kings’ last few games, and the team, no doubt, missed his batting form and leadership. The second half of the tournament was much more productive for du Plessis after a sluggish start. The balance he brings to the batting line-up meant he was picked ahead of his closest contender Kennar Lewis, who had blasted runs at a rate comparable to Evin, but got out quicker than du Plessis. It was a close contest between the two, but on the day, du Plessis won the vote.ESPNcricinfo LtdRoston Chase – St Lucia KingsWithout a doubt, the Player of the Tournament. He has still not played a T20I, but Roston Chase was selected in West Indies’ squad for the T20 World Cup on the back of his showing in this tournament. He reached double figures in 10 out of 12 innings, and was the highest run-scorer in the tournament with 446 runs. He did it all at a strike rate of 144.33, and proved to be the perfect all-round package with his more than handy offspin, picking up 10 wickets and conceding at below 7 per over. Chase was the clear MVP on ESPNCricinfo’s Smart Stats too, with a player rating of 66.75, the highest in the tournament. While his batting was a standout, his ability to strike regularly and keep the runs down meant his bowling also proved very valuable. Chase’s T20 reinvention was stark enough to make him not just a likely starter in West Indies’ first XI, but possibly one of their most crucial men in their title defence next month.Nicholas Pooran (wk) – Guyana Amazon WarriorsHe’s not the captain in this team, and there’s a lot more batting depth, which means Nicholas Pooran can bat at a position that seems more naturally fitting for him. Of the ten times Pooran batted in CPL 2021, he batted at No. 4 only twice, spending the rest of the time trying to either shore up or finish an innings from numbers five through seven. He still ended up sixth on the run-getters list and, more impressively, third in the Smart Runs tally, behind only Lewis and Chase. The situations he batted in meant his Smart Strike Rate was 214.9, the highest in the tournament among those who played at least five innings. Pooran mostly came in to bat in the second half of an innings, and had to score quickly from the start, at which he succeeded more often than not. Given the strength of the top three, he might have to do the same in this XI, but he showed with his 75* off 39 against Jamaica Tallawahs that he could grab an innings by the scruff of its neck if he comes in earlier too. Pooran will also keep wicket.Tim David – St Lucia KingsOne of the revelations of the tournament, Tim David’s hard-hitting consistency in the middle order confirmed his growing stature in T20 cricket. He had already had success in the BBL and PSL, and made 15 off 6 in the only match he got to bat in the Hundred, which was the final. In CPL 2021, he began by smashing 56 off 28 in his first game and continued to score consistently thereafter. He batted mostly at No.6 (only three out of his 11 innings were higher, at No.5) and still ended up as the third highest run-scorer with 282 runs, a testament to how little he failed.Kieron Pollard (capt) – Trinbago Knight RidersThere was no title run this time for Kieron Pollard, but he left his stamp on the tournament nonetheless. His six-hitting ability remains undiminished, as 21 sixes in 165 balls faced show, and he was just as much of a looming presence and threat with the bat as he has always been. He was the ninth-highest run-getter with 261 runs, but his true value is brought out by his Smart Runs tally of 307.68 – the fifth highest in the competition. Pollard cut down on his bowling, never bowling more than one over whenever he did opt to take the ball. His team lost in the semi-final, but his leadership was smart as ever, and he’ll be the captain of this team.Odean Smith’s all-round prowess shone through•Getty ImagesOdean Smith – Guyana Amazon WarriorsOne of the breakout stars of the tournament, Odean Smith showed he was capable of hustling batters at 140 clicks, while also being able to muscle the ball over the boundary. Warriors started CPL 2021 by pushing Smith up to No.3, and in his very first match, he turned in a Player-of-the-Match performance with useful contributions with bat and ball. Smith had batted only four times before that game in T20 cricket, never scoring more than 10, but showed his big-hitting promise in List A and first-class cricket with strike rates in excess of 100 in both. Although Warriors didn’t persist with Smith at one-down, he did show his big-hitting prowess from lower down too, in a couple of matches. His bowling was even more impressive, and he ended as joint-second on the wickets tally with 18 scalps. On pitches that were slower, his ability to hurry batters stood out. He missed selection to the T20 World Cup, but if this tournament is any indication, he’ll not be missing out for too long.Romario Shepherd – Guyana Amazon WarriorsAlongside Smith, he was the other standout all-round performer for Warriors. Shepherd took the same number of wickets as Smith did with 18, although he played only nine games. He showed incredible bowling smarts, particularly in the Super Over win against Trinbago Knight Riders early in the tournament, not only picking up 3 for 24 despite dropped catches and misfields off his bowling, but defending just 6 in the Super Over.He had shown a brief glimpse of his big-hitting in that game, which came out fully later in the tournament against Jamaica Tallawahs, when he hit 72* off 44. He made it an all-round day to remember, by also taking 3 for 31. On ESPNCricinfo’s Smart Stats too, Shepherd was remarkable, being the third-highest rated player overall, as also the third-highest rated bowler. Like Smith, Shepherd might consider himself a tad unlucky to not make West Indies’ T20 World Cup squad. But like Smith, if he carries this batting and bowling form, it’s only a matter of time.Sunil Narine was wily as ever•CPL T20/ Getty ImagesSunil Narine – Trinbago Knight RidersNone of the old skill seems to have faded for Sunil Narine. He picked up 12 wickets in 10 games, which was a good return in itself, but he did it at a staggering economy rate of 4.37. The Smart Economy, which factors in the match situation a bowler has bowled in as also the batters facing up, was a jaw-dropping 2.51, streets and avenues ahead of anyone else. The nature of the pitches made Narine’s spin more potent than ever. That oppositions were intent on playing him out rather than taking risks is borne out by his economy, but that he still picked up 12 wickets spoke to how much of a consistent threat he posed even when batters were looking not to take risks against him. Narine’s batting wasn’t nearly as effective as it had been in the past, with teams sticking to the tried-and-tested short ball strategy against him, but it was a bowling tournament for the ages.Dominic Drakes – St Kitts and Nevis PatriotsThe hero of the final, and you suspect, of many greater moments to come in a career brimming with possibilities. Dominic Drakes had more to do with the ball than bat, but even so, he passed 20 on three of the five times he went to bat, each time at a strike rate of over 180. His most telling contribution came in the final of course, with 48* off 24, a match-winning hand. While bowling, he looked sharp when in rhythm, which he was in more matches than not, as 16 wickets – joint fourth-highest – testify. Only 23-years-old, and with cricketing lineage to boot – he said after the final that father Vasbert Drakes gets more nervous than he does before a game – there is a world of possibilities open to Dominic.Ravi Rampaul – Trinbago Knight RidersBefore CPL 2021, the last time Ravi Rampaul had bowled in a T20 game was in 2019. It turned out to be a storming comeback for the veteran seamer, as he ended the tournament at the top of the wicket charts with 19 to his name. The swing, seam and zip of old were all in evidence, and it led to another comeback, this time in West Indies’ T20 World Cup squad. Rampaul’s wicket-taking in the powerplay proved crucial for Trinbago Knight Riders.

On high alert in pursuit of the next generation of stars, Arsenal reportedly had scouts in place as a 17-year-old sensation smashed a Champions League record in midweek.

Gary Neville outlines key Arsenal title difference

Could this be Arsenal’s year at long last? Forever the bridesmaid and not the bride in recent years, Mikel Arteta looks likelier than ever to find himself walking down the aisle in May. The Gunners have been untouchable in recent weeks, having built on their impenetrable defensive record and set piece excellence to take the Premier League’s top spot.

With that top spot has, of course, come plenty of praise from the likes of Gary Neville. The former Manchester United right-back and Sky Sports pundit showered Arteta’s side with praise earlier this week, outlining the key difference between the Gunners and title challengers Liverpool.

Playing host to Crystal Palace this weekend, the champions-elect have the perfect opportunity to prove Neville right and keep hold of their Premier League lead.

Given how they dispatched of Atletico Madrid in midweek, the expectation at The Emirates will be three points in comfortable fashion this Sunday even if Crystal Palace have proved to be giant-killers as of late.

It’s not just on the pitch that Arsenal are looking for success, either. Sporting director Andrea Berta is already looking to build on a solid first summer at the helm by welcoming further reinforcements in 2026. His scouts were reportedly in attendance as a teenage sensation smashed a Champions League record in midweek.

Arsenal battling to sign Lennart Karl

As reported by Caught Offside, Arsenal scouts were spotted watching Lennart Karl on Wednesday as he became Bayern Munich’s youngest-ever Champions League goalscorer at 17-years-old and 242 days. Scoring from range in sensational fashion, the teenager broke the record previously set by Jamal Musiala.

With Berta battling the likes of Chelsea to sign what looks to be a future star, Arsenal could make a huge statement by securing his signature in 2026. Whether Bayern will allow anyone to even get close to their talented star remains to be seen, however.

Karl’s moment in the headlines has been coming since the summer, when he broke into Vincent Kompany’s first-team for the first time. Since then, it has been one step after another for the 17-year-old, before he tiptoed into shooting range against Club Brugge.

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The vision is clear for Arsenal, who could land one young winger to match their own rising star in Max Dowman. In one move, Berta may well secure the future of Arteta’s attack when the summer transfer window swings open.