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It’s no surprise to see Manchester United working tirelessly in the summer transfer window, especially after the dismal 2024/25 campaign which saw them break records for all the wrong reasons.

The Red Devils registered their lowest-ever Premier League finish since the division’s formation, notching just 42 points in their 38 matches – achieving another club-low tally.

Ruben Amorim will desperately be wanting added reinforcements to his first-team squad, needing strength and depth in numerous key areas if he is to be a success at Old Trafford.

The 40-year-old’s time in the role has failed to take off, unable to transform the situation after taking the reins from Erik ten Hag following his dismissal back in November.

With the window now fully underway, countless names have already been mentioned, with work needing to be made in the next few weeks to get the additions through the door.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions

Ollie Watkins has been a name massively linked with a move to United this window, with the 29-year-old costing a fee in the region of £60m during the off-season.

A move would hand Amorim the centre-forward he desires, potentially being a key talisman given his record of 17 goals across all competitions for Aston Villa last season.

However, another name that has been constantly touted with a move to Old Trafford is Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo, with a deal edging ever closer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

He claims that the Red Devils are advancing talks to land the 25-year-old’s signature this summer, with a transfer expected to be completed by the end of next week.

The journalist also states that despite the delay, the Cameroonian only wants a move to the Theatre of Dreams, but his £65m asking price will need to be met for any agreement.

Why United’s £65m target would be a better signing than Watkins

There’s no denying that Watkins would be an excellent option for United this summer, with his goalscoring prowess in the Premier League crucial in the club’s hunt for success.

The Englishman has registered 75 top-flight goals for Unai Emery’s side, breaking the record and being their highest-ever goalscorer in the competition.

However, as previously mentioned, he would cost a pretty penny, as is expected from a striker in England, with talismen in this country always commanding a higher price tag.

There’s no denying his goalscoring ability, but at 29, he’s undoubtedly coming into the back end of his career at the top level, with no resale value coming from their big-money investment.

As a result, Mbeumo would be a better option for the Red Devils this window, offering a more expensive option, but younger and more impactful given his form in recent times.

When comparing his stats to those of Watkins from the 2024/25 campaign, he’s managed to massively outperform him in numerous key areas, subsequently demonstrating the talent he possesses.

Mbeumo, who has been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, has registered more combined goals and assists, along with a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – handing the United side the added threat they’ve been lacking in front of goal.

Games played

38

38

Goals & assists

27

24

Shot on target accuracy

44%

43%

Progressive carries

3.4

1.9

Progressive passes

3.7

1.1

Key passes made

1.9

0.8

Take-on success

47%

24%

Carries into final third

1.8

0.7

He also registered a higher tally of progressive passes and key passes per 90, potentially having the tools to offer other attackers the chance to improve their own tallies.

The Brentford star has further impressed by notching a higher take-on success rate, whilst making more carries into the final third – having the ability to thrive with the ball at his feet.

Whilst £65m may appear to be a hefty sum, it’s one that would hand the side an added threat, whilst offering a better option than fellow transfer target Watkins.

If he can replicate his form at Old Trafford, Mbeumo will certainly be a key addition, with the club hopefully finally landing their man given their long-standing pursuit of the attacker.

Biggest deal since Ronaldo: Wilcox plotting Man Utd move for £70m striker

Manchester United could be about to make a huge move in the transfer market this week.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jul 13, 2025

In search of completing a 10-man overhaul at the club this summer, Everton are now reportedly progressing towards a deal to sign an impressive talent.

Moyes confirms Everton need "9 or 10 players"

Having so far welcomed just three players in Thierno Barry, Carlos Alcaraz and Mark Travers, Everton boss David Moyes revealed at a recent Men in Blazers event in New York that Everton still need “9 or 10 players” before next season gets underway.

With that being the case, The Friedkin Group could be in for a busy month or so away from the action on the pitch as Everton get their pre-season underway.

The big question on Everton fans’ lips will be who those nine or 10 players could be this summer.

Already, the Toffees have reportedly submitted an opening offer to sign Juventus’ Douglas Luiz, with finding a replacement for Abdoulaye Doucoure one of their main priorities in the next few weeks, while James McAtee also remains a top target.

Earlier reports indicated that Friedkin are in a position to spend around £150m this summer if they see fit and that makes Moyes’ desire to welcome a much-needed overhaul all the more realistic.

Luiz’s arrival would particularly make a statement. The former Aston Villa man may have endured a nightmare spell at Juventus, but Premier League fans will still remember the quality that he had when leading the Villans to Champions League qualification.

Signing players from some of Europe’s best seems to be Everton’s chosen plan too, with those at the Hill Dickinson Stadium now turning their focus towards a Bayern Munich sensation.

Everton progressing towards Adam Aznou deal

As reported by The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland, Everton are now progressing in their deal to sign Adam Aznou from Bayern Munich this summer.

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Posts ByWill Miller Jul 26, 2025

Still just 19 years old, Everton could land quite the coup if they manage to welcome Aznou. The teenage left-back endured a difficult loan spell at Real Valladolid last season, as the La Liga side finished bottom of Spain’s top flight, but will now be hoping for better fortunes if he completes a summer switch to Merseyside.

League stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Adam Aznou

Vitaliy Mykolenko

Minutes

893

3,082

Assists

0

2

Tackles Won P90

2.12

1.11

Ball Recoveries P90

5.76

2.57

Although his work going forward needs improving, there’s no denying that Aznou would provide Everton with a high-energy player out of possession and that could eventually see Vitaliy Mykolenko replaced.

Dubbed a “generational talent” by scout Jacek Kulig, the Bayern starlet is one to watch wherever he plays his football next season. And if it is to be at the Hill Dickinson, then Everton fans could be in for a treat.

Elsewhere, Fabrizio Romano suggests that the deal for Aznou is actually further along, even giving his famous ‘were we go’ tagline, but a deal is never done until the player signs on the dotted line.

Newcastle United are beginning to motor this summer and could now be in the running to sign one of Europe’s most prolific marksmen, according to a report.

Newcastle United look to follow up Anthony Elanga's arrival

Eddie Howe has taken a measured approach this window and had to bide his time in the hunt for a big-money signing to follow Antonio Cordero’s arrival in the North East.

However, Anthony Elanga is now officially a Newcastle player after joining on a long-term deal from Nottingham Forest in a transfer said to be worth around £55 million.

Signalling his intention to hit the ground running at St James’ Park, he stated: “I’m ready to put on this black and white top to really fight for this team and give everything for the passionate fanbase that lives and breathes football.

“I had an amazing two years at Nottingham Forest, they really helped me to become the player I am today, but I’m really happy to be here now. The club won a trophy last season and are building something unique, something special that I really want to be part of.”

Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike is also on Newcastle’s radar and could represent a statement piece of business at the club. Meanwhile, Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins could be a left-field solution to strengthen their forward line.

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ByRoss Kilvington Jul 13, 2025

Missing out on Joao Pedro to Chelsea will have come as a body blow in the North East. However, with Champions League football on the table, there is far more in the way of optimism than pessimism on Tyneside.

Now, Newcastle are said to have been contacted over the availability of another exciting marksman who could answer the call to fill one of their striking berths.

Newcastle contacted by Benjamin Sesko's agent

According to TBR, Newcastle have been contacted over RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko’s availability by his agent, and Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United are also being kept in the loop regarding his future.

Arsenal had been heavily linked with a swoop for the Slovenia international earlier this summer, but it looks as if Viktor Gyokeres will move to the Emirates Stadium instead, and there are indications from Sesko’s camp of a willingness to move to England.

Hugo Ekitike in senior football

Benjamin Sesko in senior football

Appearances – 150

Appearances – 251

Goals – 50

Goals – 106

Sesko, who has an asking price of £78m, could now be eager to try his hand at the English top-flight and is on the market after missing out on a move to the Gunners, but the scenario of him staying in Germany for another season hasn’t been discounted.

Should Newcastle accelerate their hunt for a new striker, being able to bring in someone who has claimed a wealth of senior experience despite only being 22 years of age would be a statement of intent ahead of their return to the Champions League.

Glamorgan 177 for 7 (Northeast 67, Carlson 54, Brooker 3-31) beat Middlesex 173 (Andersson 57, Crane 3-28, van der Gugten 3-30) by three wicketsSam Northeast made it over 400 runs in his two visits to Lord’s this season as Glamorgan beat Middlesex by three wickets to win their first ever T20 encounter at the home of cricket.Northeast, who made a record red-ball score of 335 on the hallowed turf in the County Championship back in April struck 67 in 45 balls (1×6 8x4s) as the visitors chased down a target of 174 with 10 balls to spare, despite 3 for 31 for Middlesex quick Henry Brookes.Northeast was aided by Kiran Carlson (54), whose landmark came in only 21 balls with five sixes.Earlier Middlesex were given a wonderful start by Martin Andersson 57, from 34 – his first T20 half-century as he and skipper Stephen Eskinazi (48) shared an opening stand of 108. However, Mason Crane (3 for 28) began the collapse before Timm Van der Gugten’s triple-wicket maiden (3 for 30) including the scalps of Luke Hollman, Tom Helm and Brookes saw Middlesex collapse to 173 all out.Eskinazi provided early impetus before Andersson, employed as a pinch-hitter in the continued absence of Leus Du Plooy, smote Van Der Gugten back over his head for six.Another followed before he was dropped at short fine leg on 29, Dan Douthwaite the unlucky bowler, the ball travelling to the fence. To rub salt in the wound, Andersson struck three further boundaries in the over.With Eskinazi plundering two sixes off Crane the hundred stand came up in the ninth over. However, Andersson’s dismissal stumped attempting a reverse sweep, ending a stand of 108, changed everything.Max Holden went cheaply to Crane and when Eskinazi fell in identical fashion later in the over the hosts hit the skids.Only Luke Hollman cleared the ropes in the remainder of the innings and Van der Gugten’s party piece in the 19th over, helped by a stunning catch from wicketkeeper Cooke left Middlesex looking well short.Noah Cornwell had Eddie Byrom caught at slip from the first ball of Glamorgan’s reply, but Carlson came out bristling aggression, striking first Helm and then Brookes for six.Helm switched to the Pavilion End only for Carlson to club him straight for another maximum as the 50 came up inside five overs.Pace gave way to spin but all were alike to the 26-year-old who planted successive balls from Josh De Caires over extra cover into the Compton Stand to race to 50 in 21 balls.The fun ended when he holed out at deep mid-on from the bowling of Ryan Higgins and when Australian Test opener Marnus Labuschagne was trapped in front by Hollman, at 84 for 3 the Seaxes sniffed a way back.De Caires bowled the dangerous Colin Ingram to heighten the intrigue, but first Northeast and then Cooke were given lives in the 13th over bowled by Hollman, wicketkeeper Davies missing a regulation stumping to reprieve the former on 44, before the latter was spilt at backward point.Middlesex paid for their profligacy, Northeast reaching 50 from 38 balls, while Cooke, who made an unbeaten 113 in this fixture last season, thrashed a Higgins delivery over extra cover for six.Northeast’s first six came soon afterwards and though he and Cooke fell before the end Glamorgan got home.

From Xavi and Andres Iniesta to modern greats like Kevin De Bruyne and rising stars such as Jude Bellingham, the debate over just who takes the midfield crown has been rumbling on for quite some time.

In many ways, the question is what do you want to see from a midfielder? If you require technical excellence, then look no further than those Spanish superstars and the likes of Zinedine Zidane. They have often been the jewels in football’s crown no matter the occasion.

The best midfielders in the world right now

Rank

Player

Age

Club

Nation

1

Pedri

22

Barcelona

Spain

2

Jude Bellingham

21

Real Madrid

England

3

Rodri

28

Man City

Spain

4

Declan Rice

26

Arsenal

England

5

Florian Wirtz

21

Bayer Leverkusen

Germany

6

Ryan Gravenberch

22

Liverpool

Netherlands

7

Jamal Musiala

22

Bayern Munich

Germany

8

Martin Odegaard

26

Arsenal

Norway

9

Oihan Sancet

24

Athletic Club

Spain

10

Federico Valverde

26

Real Madrid

Uruguay

11

Dominik Szoboszlai

24

Liverpool

Hungary

12

Xavi Simons

22

RB Leipzig

Netherlands

13

Nicolo Barella

28

Inter

Italy

14

Kevin De Bruyne

31

Man City

Belgium

15

Luka Modric

39

Real Madrid

Croatia

But sometimes beauty is in the long-range strikes, the ruthless tackles and the workhorse engines. And if that is the case, then the attention should drift towards stars such as Manchester United’s Roy Keane and Paul Scholes.

If it’s simply a matter of honours on the table, then it would be Barcelona and Real Madrid who shine brightest, as La Liga’s two mega clubs have dominated the European scene while several of their biggest names thrive on the international stage.

Best midfielders of all time in pictures

Then there is the measure of iconic moments to remember. Steven Gerrard in Istanbul, Modric taking the Ballon d’Or crown and Iniesta’s World Cup winning goal – the list could quite easily go on.

Perhaps the best measure of all-round talent however is the verdicts from those who played with the greats, and Spain legend and superstar goalscorer Fernando Torres believes there is only one answer.

Torres says Gerrard is the best player he ever played with

Torres is perhaps one of the best placed figures in football to judge greatness, having starred for Spain’s dominant international side that won the European Championships in 2008 and 2012, either side of the World Cup in 2010.

And the former Liverpool and Chelsea striker, who spent four seasons on Merseyside with Gerrard, revealed the Liverpool captain was even better than his Spain teammates.

From his very first Liverpool game, Torres and Gerrard’s partnership blossomed into one of the most clinical that Anfield has ever seen. The Spaniard was quick and deadly in front of goal and Gerrard was as precise as it gets behind him to form the perfect duo.

Times Steven Gerrard Assisted Fernando Torres

(via LFC History)

2007/08

8

2008/09

2

2009/10

1

2010/11

2

Assisting 13 of Torres’ 81 Liverpool goals, Gerrard’s partnership with the Spaniard was particularly strong during his debut season. It’s then that the forward may have realised just how talented his captain was, perhaps reaching the conclusion then and there that he would never play with better.

Torres played with Frank Lampard – in what is a debate for another day – as well as Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets and others. Yet, even without a Premier League medal to his name, El Nino still believes that Gerrard is the best midfielder that he’s ever seen.

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Posts 3 ByBen Goodwin May 17, 2025

Manchester City could face a fight to hold on to one of their key players this summer, with Real Madrid circling as they look to replace the retired Toni Kroos, according to a new report.

Man City in driving seat for Champions League place

After a dismal start to the season, City have shown signs of a resurgence in recent months. While still some way off the standards that delivered recent domestic dominance, Pep Guardiola’s side are now unbeaten in their last six Premier League matches. This improved form, coupled with others’ struggles, has put Champions League qualification firmly in their own hands.

Ahead of the clash with Aston Villa on Tuesday, City midfielder Ilkay Gündogan spoke about the club’s “responsibility” to secure a Champions League spot.

“Our team is made and built to be more than this, it’s built to be a contender for the title every single year,” said the German star. “For various reasons, we haven’t been at our best for a long period of the season. We are where we are right now, and we need to accept the situation.”

He added: “There are minimum targets that have to be achieved at this club, and that’s definitely qualifying for the Champions League next season. We have to do it – it’s our responsibility.”

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1 ByKelan Sarson Apr 21, 2025 Real Madrid chase Rodri in summer blow for City

If City secure Champions League football for next season, they may have to enter the competition without one of their most influential players – Ballon d’Or winner Rodri.

The 28-year-old has been a pivotal figure for City since his £63m arrival from Atlético Madrid in 2019 and was awarded football’s biggest individual prize last year for his outstanding performances during the club’s treble-winning campaign.

However, he’s missed much of this season due to injury – an absence that has coincided with a noticeable dip in City’s form.

According to Cadena SER, via Sports Mole, Rodri’s fitness concerns haven’t discouraged Real Madrid from identifying him as their ideal long-term successor to Toni Kroos, who retired at the end of last season. Madrid have struggled to fill the void left by the German maestro, and Cadena SER reports that Los Blancos see Rodri as the “perfect” replacement and “urgently” pursuing a new controller in the centre of the park.

Rodri has earned widespread acclaim for his dominance in midfield, particularly after his Ballon d’Or win, which drew praise from several footballing stars.

“Rodri is the perfect midfielder and there’s no one that plays his position better than he does—there are so many clubs in Europe looking for a world-class holding midfielder, but in the end there’s only him!” Gündogan wrote on social media.

Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal added: “Receiving this award and having your work recognized is something incredible. Rodri is a fantastic player and an amazing person.”

Four wins on the trot in the Premier League – the last of which came resoundingly against Manchester United – have put Newcastle United in a strong position as they look to return to the Champions League.

Winning at home against Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening would certainly help to consolidate their position, one point behind third-place Nottingham Forest while holding a game in hand.

The chance to make it count has arrived, but Oliver Glasner’s Palace have been in fine fettle of late and boast a box of dangers that Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones – Eddie Howe is absent, recuperating from pneumonia – will need to ensure do not spring a trap at St. James’ Park.

24/25

Premier League (A)

0-0 draw

23/24

Premier League (A)

2-0 loss

23/24

Premier League (H)

4-0 win

22/23

Premier League (A)

0-0 draw

22/23

Carabao Cup (H)

0-0 (3-2 p.) win

Four of the past 14 meetings between the two sides in all competitions have been goalless draws, but with such impressive attacking armouries, you feel that this evening-lit fixture could bring the fireworks.

Newcastle team news pre-Crystal Palace

Centre-backs Jamal Lascelles and Sven Botman are still sidelined, with left-back Lewis Hall also not expected back before the end of the season.

Tindall is unlikely to make sweeping changes to the team that thrashed the Red Devils on Sunday, but one or two tweaks could be enforced.

Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali should reprise their places in midfield, arguably the finest central trio in the Premier League right now.

However, despite his recent purple patch, there might be just cause for Harvey Barnes to return to the bench for this one. Here’s why.

Why Tindall should drop Harvey Barnes

Barnes put on a second-half clinic to thwart Man United and take his haul, impressively, to eight goals and three assists from just ten Premier League starts this season.

With three in his past two, the 27-year-old is riding the crest of a wave, his clinical edge coming up trumps with Alexander Isak four top-flight games without a goal and Anthony Gordon only returning off the bench on Sunday after his red card suspension.

However, Gordon is now back and offers a more dynamic threat. Given the Eagles’ shakiness during their 5-2 thrashing by Man City at the weekend, Gordon’s multi-skilled approach could be the best way to funnel through to Isak while upholding a balanced attacking threat.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

Jacob Murphy, on that note, is effectively undroppable on the right. So consistent. So cool. So collected.

With a return of nine goals and seven assists across all competitions this season, Gordon knows he could do better in that regard. But the England international brings so much more than direct goal involvements.

As per Sofascore, he’s averaged 1.9 key passes and won 4.7 duels per Premier League game this term, making good on the self-said proclamation that he’s a “nightmare for anyone” he plays against.

With this extra match wedged into Newcastle’s run-in, shuffling the pack would be a good way to keep things fresh and maintain form. Saturday evening, after all, brings an away trip to CL-chasing rivals Aston Villa.

Gordon has been an immense part of the Magpies’ rise, and while Palace’s Eagles are flying high themselves, adding Gordon to the starting line-up would be the perfect way to overwhelm a backline that has shown its chinks in recent games.

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“Opportunity for me to help players reach their true potential and, in doing so, increasing their consistency,” new South Africa women’s coach says

Firdose Moonda03-Dec-2024An increased focus on long-format cricket will help take South African women’s cricket to the next level, according to new head coach Mandla Mashimbyi. Mashimbyi’s tenure officially began on December 1 and will run until April 30, 2027. He will link up with the team ahead of their three-match ODI series against England, which starts on Wednesday, where he expects to be a “little bit of a ghost” as he integrates into his new role.”I will just try to listen and observe a little bit. I don’t want to disrupt much now because they’re already in the series. But obviously, I will say what I feel I need to say for them to make sure that this series goes well because it’s important for us,” Mashimbyi said in Johannesburg before heading to Kimberley, where the team is based. “I’m looking forward to just connecting with all of them and having those one-on-ones with them and making sure that we speak from the same page.”Though Mashimbyi is a seasoned and successful domestic coach, his experience has been with men’s teams so far. Laura Wolvaardt confirmed that she hadn’t “really met him or worked with him” and was not consulted on his appointment, but was “looking forward to someone to come in and hear what new ideas he has”. She may find those particularly interesting ahead of the one-off Test – South Africa’s third in the last two-and-a-half years.Related

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“One of the plans is to play the longer version of cricket at domestic level because it’s easier to adjust from longer version cricket to 50 overs and T20s, not the other way around,” Mashimbyi said when asked about the development of the women’s game at the level below international cricket. “What it brings is a thinking cricketer, a cricketer that’s able to solve problems, a cricketer that’s able to bat for long periods of time and bowl for long periods of time and stay in the field for long periods of time. So, when the time is shortened, you become more effective as well as a player and you think or you feel a lot more efficient.”Exactly when this will be brought into the domestic structure, which has just been professionalised, is unclear but South Africa have time. They are not due to play any more Tests for two years, until the 2026-2027 season, when they will host Australia and India for a Test each. In 2028, they are scheduled to play three Tests: in Australia, England and at home against West Indies. That means South Africa will play six Tests between December 2024 and December 2028, that’s two more than India and one fewer than Australia and England. In the next four years, South Africa will play one more Test than they have in the last 17 years, which included gaps of seven and eight years between matches.”I’m glad that international women’s cricket has got so many more Tests but unfortunately these girls are learning on the job,” Mashimbyi said. “We want a situation where we can expose our players to that type of cricket domestically, and it will also make it easier for them to actually graduate to ODI and T20s.”

“Everybody wants to win the World Cup. I wouldn’t be doing this job if I didn’t want to win the World Cup”Mandla Mashimbyi

In his decade as a coach in the men’s game, Mashimbyi was with Titans as they won three first-class titles, and he called it the “foundation” of the game. They also claimed four one-day cups and four T20 trophies, which perhaps speaks to his point about skill-transfer across formats, and is ultimately what his aim with the women’s team will be. After reaching successive T20 World Cup finals and the ODI World Cup semi-finals, there is expectation that the team will go all the way sooner rather than later.Though it is not in Mashimbyi’s KPIs (key-performance indicators), he understands that there will be pressure on him to take the team to a trophy. “As a mandate, I think it’s a no-brainer. Everybody wants to win the World Cup. I wouldn’t be doing this job if I didn’t want to win the World Cup,” he said. “That’s one of the things that made me apply for this job: there’s an opportunity for me to help players reach their true potential and in doing so, increasing their consistency. And once they’re consistent, they’re more confident, and it will make it easier for us to really compete and make sure that we cross that line.”Mandla Mashimbyi has been a coach for a while, but has never worked in women’s cricket before•Cricket South AfricaSouth Africa, along with Australia and England, have already qualified for next year’s ODI World Cup in India and the upcoming ODIs are a chance to measure themselves against former champions. South Africa have already proved to themselves that they can beat England – at the 2023 T20 World Cup semi-final, for example – and even that they can topple Australia, as they did at this year’s World Cup semi-final. But what they haven’t done yet is challenge them consistently. That is partly due to the vastly superior systems in these two countries, which includes professional domestic contracts and franchise T20 leagues.CSA has made a start on the former but what about the latter? With the Women’s Premier League in India moving to a January-February window from 2026, plans for a women’s SA20 have been dealt a blow, as CSA was understood to be eyeing a similar time slot, which is also when the men’s version is played, and now have to think again.”Obviously, the WPL has taken the window, so we’ve had to internally reassess. And once we’ve reached a point where there’s more clarity, we’ll be able to come out to make an announcement,” Enoch Nkwe, director of national teams and high performance, said. “But it is a work in progress. We’re really working hard to make sure that we are in a strong position to announce the launch of SA20 Women soon.”

He went from being their top wicket-taker to being benched in the space of two IPL seasons, but the mystery spinner believes this is his year to bounce back

Deivarayan Muthu31-Mar-2023Varun Chakravarthy burst onto the cricketing scene in 2018 as a mystery spinner with a bagful of variations, but his life – and career – has had more twists and turns than there are variations in his repertoire.He started his career as a wicketkeeper-batter who wanted to become the “next Dinesh Karthik”, then had a cameo as an actor in a Tamil movie, , when he was trying to break through as an assistant director. Somewhere along the way he ditched cricket and movies for architecture. He then returned to cricket again as a mystery spinner who could turn the ball both ways at a quick pace.Related

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It was those abilities, a prized and uncommon skill set, that gave Kolkata Knight Riders’ attack a potent point of difference in the 2020 and 2021 IPLs. Soon after, Varun played for India in the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE. However, in IPL 2022, his form and rhythm plummeted so much that he was benched for three games. The ball wasn’t quite turning both ways or he wasn’t giving it much of a chance to do so by uncharacteristically tossing it up too full, which allowed batters to get underneath the length and pump him over the top. The mystery in his bowling seemed to have disappeared.

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There is one constant theme in Varun’s life: he has bounced back from setbacks – both on and off the field. In 2017, for example, he started his own architecture business, but the floods in Chennai that year damaged his sites, resulting in heavy losses. He managed to find a way to overcome that disappointment. If anything, setbacks have been catalysts for him to bounce back. Just like when he decided to switch his career path to cricket from architecture.Having experienced such lows in life, Varun didn’t allow a few bad games in the IPL last season to send him into a shell. “Yes, obviously, I take the lessons [from life],” he says. “Cricket is part of my life and whatever happens in life also affects cricket. So I try to implement life lessons into my cricket as well and what I have understood is that even during your ups and downs, you should be level, and the only people who will always be with you are your family.Varun went wicketless in the three T20 World Cup matches he played in the UAE in 2021•Aamir Qureshi/AFP/Getty Images”I know that I’m not foolproof or damage-proof and I was expecting this kind of an [IPL] season at some point. Everyone will go through a low time, but it’s about coming back.”Sriram Krishnamurthy, Varun’s coach at Madurai Panthers in the Tamil Nadu Premier League and a former coach with Northern Brave Men in New Zealand, credits Varun with maintaining an equilibrium in both his cricket and life. “Even though he had that IPL season he had, one good thing about Varun we’ve seen from day one is, he never gets too high and never gets too low,” Sriram says. “While his confidence was dented after the last IPL, he wasn’t broken, and that comes down to the person that he is. He’s very practical and realistic about understanding the game and life per se. That’s a big strength of his because I feel like for someone who has had the life he has – being a late entrant into cricket – and how far he has gone, for anyone else, it could have taken them away from reality. We’ve seen other players get lost after this sort of quick success, whereas I feel with Varun, he is always focused on what he has to do and I feel the mental element of bouncing back from failures is there with him.”

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What went wrong with Varun last season?Having worked his way up from a tennis-ball background, he previously hadn’t played or practised as much as he did in the last five years. As a result, he veered away from his strengths and some undesirable technical changes also crept into his bowling. His run-up became slower, his lengths fuller, and overall his bowling lost some of its fizz.In the UAE, Varun got some of his fuller ones to skid or hold off the pitch, but on fairly easy-paced hit-through-the line Indian tracks last season, batters lined him up easily. According to ESPNcricinfo’s logs, he conceded 107 runs off 48 full balls last IPL.Around the time he was relegated to the sidelines by the Knight Riders, he sat down and watched his old videos to remedy his bowling. “After those games, I had a break,” Varun says. I was basically trying to flight the ball, which was not my expertise. I [now] bowl quicker and that has worked for me. It was better sticking to that. Personally, I worked on my run-up as well. I realised it quite late, but I came to know that was a mistake.Sriram Krishnamurthy, Madurai Panthers coach: “If, with his pace, Varun ensures the batsman doesn’t have much time to think, I feel that will set him up well”•BCCI”I [had] just started running slower because… if a cricketer practises for a long time again and again, there are a few basics you might forget, which you usually get right. It was a case of that and then when I watched previous videos of my bowling, I realised I was running slow. Then my run-up was quicker, like what it was before, and I feel that was the difference. The last three matches for KKR went well for me after the break.”Once he returned to action for Knight Riders in the last stretch of IPL 2022, Varun hit the pitch much harder, increased his pace, dragged his length back, and denied batters easy access to the boundary. He stuck to his guns in the TNPL 2022 that followed and he and Sriram tried to recreate what had worked for Varun when he first broke into the IPL.”I remember having a conversation with him about what he was doing well when he was going well, in terms of the pace and length he bowled,” Sriram recalls. “By being slower through the air and bowling fuller, he was also giving batsmen an opportunity to sort of get to the pitch of the ball, and when you’re doing that you take away the element of [doubt about] which way the ball is going to go. From that perspective, we discussed how he was successful by bowling that length or slightly back of a length, which made the batsmen play him pretty much only off the pitch. The quicker pace with which he bowls means batsmen will have slightly less time to react.”He did go towards doing something different in the last IPL. For a player to evolve, he has to constantly keep working, and that was probably the journey Varun was going on as well. On the basis of performance, it didn’t necessarily reflect too well on how he did for KKR in that IPL, which again dented his confidence a little bit. But again, the clarity he had about his own bowling and whatever the conversation we had was not about me telling him what to do, but it was a process of rediscovering what he did well before, and to his credit, he was fully aware of his strengths. So he recreated that confidence. [Also] there is a difference in the quality of batting in TNPL and IPL. So it gives him a bit more space and time to get his confidence back, so to say.”With the IPL returning to the home-and-away format, Varun is set to play for KKR at Eden Gardens for the first time. He is usually not a big turner of the ball and particularly relishes bowling on bouncier or even flatter pitches. With Eden Gardens no longer the turner that it once used to be, Sriram thinks Varun has the tools to be penetrative at the venue.After his three-game break in the IPL last year, Varun returned to take two wickets in two games•BCCI”Varun is slightly taller than most average spinners and the other thing is his high release point,” Sriram says. “That release point helps him get bounce off the wicket. He has to bowl that length to extract that bounce. If he uses his height and release point… like he said, maybe he’s not a massive turner of the ball, but he turns the ball enough. If he ensures that the batsman doesn’t have too much time to sit back and think, which comes down to the pace at which Varun bowls, then I feel that will set him up well.”Varun has tuned up for the new IPL season after getting ample game time with Tamil Nadu in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Madurai Panthers in the TNPL, and Vijay CC in the Chennai league during the city’s oppressive summer.”At Tamil Nadu and in the TNPL, they’ve been using me as a death bowler, so it’s something that challenges me and hopefully I’ll be able to do the job in the IPL as well,” Varun says. “KKR have shown a lot of faith in me, which is important for any player. The KKR management has always been in constant touch with me on how I’m doing and all those things. I’ll always be grateful to KKR for what they’ve bestowed upon me and the responsibility that they’ve given me.”Right after the end of the IPL, we had another camp at the KKR academy. Normally people have a camp before the IPL, but the same players were part of another camp. You don’t know if you will be retained or not, but still we trained with the same bunch of guys. That’s something I liked about what they did last year, and it basically helped our preparation for Syed Mushtaq Ali [Trophy]. Regardless of whether they’re going to retain that player or not, they called all the Indians for the camp again. Hopefully, I can live up to the expectations this IPL.”As a retained player, the expectations on Varun to deliver are even greater this IPL and whichever way this season goes, it could well add another twist to his career.

Faced with a steep chase and an unfavourable match-up, Dawid Malan proved he is in England’s best XI

Matt Roller01-Dec-2020It seemed like a situation tailor made to expose Dawid Malan’s perceived faults. Chasing 192, England were 25 for 1 in the fourth over, on a Newlands pitch that was supposed to be slow and worn. Surely, this would be the occasion that his penchant for scoring slowly at the start of his innings would catch up with him, and his T20 international form would begin to revert to the mean.Instead, Malan pulled his first ball through square leg, flashed his second through third man and pulled his third over fine leg for six. England’s notorious slow starter was on 14 off 3.Perhaps, then, the real test would arrive when he came up against Tabraiz Shamsi, South Africa’s animated left-arm wristspinner. Shamsi had bowled 14 balls to Malan in his T20 career, conceding only 12 runs and dismissing him once. The fact that Shamsi’s stock ball turns away from a left-hander’s bat made him an obvious bowler for Quinton de Kock to use, creating a match-up that should have suited South Africa.ALSO READ: Marvelous Malan 99* leads England to series sweepIn fact, Malan reverse-swept Shamsi’s first ball for four. In the second over he faced from him, he swept another four; in the third, he lofted him inside-out over extra cover before slog-sweeping him over midwicket.Shamsi’s fourth over was the best of the lot for Malan: another reverse-sweep for four, another booming drive over the cover ring, and a violent crack dead straight back over the bowler’s head. Malan faced 14 balls from the bowler that was meant to trouble him the most, and hit him for 38 runs.There is no clearer sign that a batsman is in a rich vein of form than the cover drive being his most productive shot. No prizes for guessing that 30 of Malan’s 99 runs came in the area between cover and extra cover, 20 of them via sumptuous boundaries.This was an innings to dispel any lingering doubts about his spot. Throughout Malan’s T20I career, there has been a sense that for all his success, his time in the side would be fleeting. With England rarely fielding a full-strength XI in T20I cricket, instead prioritising the 50-over team, it has been difficult to work out exactly where he stands within the set-up.In early 2019, he flew to the Caribbean hoping to “prove a point” in a T20I series against West Indies, at which point he had made four fifties in five innings; he didn’t play a game. Later that year, after hitting only England’s second hundred in the format, he was implicitly criticised by his captain for failing to run a bye off the last ball to protect his average.Earlier this year, he wrote in a column for Sky Sports, “I don’t know how you can be under pressure with numbers like [mine]” immediately before three T20Is in South Africa; he was given one game, out of position at No. 4. This summer, as he became the ICC’s No. 1-ranked T20I batsman, he found himself criticised for his slow starts – including on this website. Before this series, many wondered if he would eventually drop out of the side to accommodate Joe Root ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup in India.But after his Cape Town effort, there can be little doubt about it: Malan has proven unequivocally that he is in England’s best T20I side. His average remains over 50, with his strike rate a tick under 150; he has passed 50 in more of his 19 innings than he has not. Having initially seemed like something of an outsider, attracting little praise from his team-mates, he now has their full support.ESPNcricinfo LtdThere may still be challenges to come, of course. Malan is highly likely to be sought after at the next IPL auction, and his game against spin and high pace will come under scrutiny in that tournament. There is still the best part of a year until the T20 World Cup, and as Jason Roy’s struggles in this series have demonstrated, the vagaries of form can catch up with anyone.And yet there remains a sense that even if his form slumped dramatically in the T20 circuit, he would manage to turn things around in an England shirt. Malan has cited the quality of pitches and the amount of extra preparation that he feels he is afforded at international level as the reason behind his England record outstripping his numbers in domestic T20 cricket, and on this evidence it is hard to question his judgement.The clearest evidence yet of his improved standing in the dressing room came immediately after he had nudged the winning run into the off side to leave himself on 99 not out. “I didn’t know how it would go down if I turned down the single,” he smiled at the post-match presentation, with Morgan lurking over his shoulder. They were not the words of a man fearing for his place.England’s players have repeatedly stated over the last few months that there is no harder task for a professional sportsman than to force your way into their white-ball teams. It is testament to Malan’s performances that he has managed to do just that.