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Manchester United have been ‘offered’ a summer move for Bayern Munich right-back Benjamin Pavard, with Chelsea also thought to be in the conversation.

The Lowdown: Pavard among Europe’s best

The 26-year-old has matured into one of the best right-backs in Europe, producing consistently reliable performances for both Bayern and France.

Pavard made 24 starts in the Bundesliga last season and won the 2018 World Cup with Les Bleus, scoring a sensational goal in the last-16 victory over Argentina.

It could be that the Frenchman is allowed to leave Bayern this summer, however, and a fresh update claims United could be in line to snap him up.

The Latest: Man Utd linked with move

According to Sport1 [via Sport Witness], Pavard has actually been offered to both United and Chelsea, potentially leading to a tussle for his signature this summer. It is the Blues who are keener on signing him, though.

His future is described as ‘open’, although Bayern would demand a ‘handsome transfer fee’.

The Verdict: Ideal Wan-Bissaka upgrade

Whether or not a deal for Pavard actually goes through remains to be seen, but he is someone who could be a perfect upgrade for Aaron Wan-Bissaka as United’s first-choice right-back.

While not necessarily as flamboyant as someone like Trent Alexander-Arnold, the France man is technically gifted enough to serve the attacking role Erik ten Hag wants from his full-backs, hailed as ‘wonderful’ by Bayern legend Uli Hoeness and completing 88 per cent of his Bundesliga passes last season.

With Lisandro Martinez already coming in this summer, Pavard, ranked in the 99th percentile across Europe for passes from a right-back, would further sure up United’s unconvincing defence, although Chelsea look to be favourites to get their man.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has said that the Magpies are still looking to bring in “one or two players” in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Quiet summer so far

Following a £105m January splurge in the first transfer window under PIF’s ownership, the Tynesiders have been relatively quiet so far this summer, with just two new faces through the door and Matt Targett’s loan move being made permanent.

The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder has stated that a winger and a striker will be the priority positions for the rest of the summer transfer window, with sporting director Dan Ashworth joining the first-team squad in Austria to get a firsthand look at what business might still need to be done over the next few weeks.

The Latest: Howe looking at more signings

Speaking after the pre-season friendly win over 1860 Munich, Howe gave some insight into Newcastle’s transfer plans for the summer window, casting a wide net as to the possibility of new signings and hinting that the Magpies’ market activity is far from finished.

The 44-year-old said [via The Chronicle]: “I think we are looking at players, not necessarily one area of the team. I think you have to be adaptable. If we can’t find the right player I might have to look at other positions. Certainly, we are looking at one or two players that could make the difference.”

The Verdict: Forwards must be the priority

It should be encouraging for the Toon Army to hear that Howe is keeping his options open rather than pigeon-holing the club’s plans into a couple of positions, and that the club are actively seeking to bring in some game-changing new arrivals.

Having strengthened their goalkeeping and defensive ranks since the end of last season, a centre-forward and a winger ought to be the priorities until the end of August.

There is currently a dearth of options out wide, while neither Chris Wood (two goals in 16 games) nor Dwight Gayle (one goal in 26 league games since August 2020) would appear to be the most reliable backup to target man Callum Wilson, who endured his share of injury troubles last season.

Leeds United are closing in on a deal to bring Charles De Ketelaere to Elland Road this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Sky Sport Italia, who claim that, following the news of AC Milan submitting a €20m (£17m) plus add-ons bid for the Club Brugge KV forward on Monday, Victor Orta is now preparing his own offer for the 21-year-old – believed to be in the region of €37m (£32m) plus add-ons.

Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio takes the claim one step further, suggesting that the Whites have gone as far as to submit an official bid to the Jupiler Pro League outfit – reported to be in excess of €30m (£26m) plus add-ons.

The “complete package”

It is not every day a player comes along who is billed as being Kevin De Bruyne’s heir, but that is exactly the role De Ketelaere has been assigned by those who have closely followed his progression over the past few years.

And, when taking into account the attacking midfielder’s incredibly impressive versatility, his ability to do serious damage in the final third and his exceptional vision with the ball at his feet, it is not difficult to see why comparisons have been drawn between the Brugge starlet and the heartbeat of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side.

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Indeed, De Ketelaere perfectly evidenced all three of these traits over his 39 Jupiler Pro League appearances in 2021/22, with the £27m-rated talent scoring 14 goals, providing nine assists and creating 16 big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 2.0 shots, making 1.8 key passes and completing 1.4 dribbles per fixture.

These returns saw the £17k-per-week forward – who was deployed in no less than 7.25, not only ranking him as Alfred Schreuder’s fourth-best player in the division but also as the 13th-best in the league as a whole.

Furthermore, despite being in a group with Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and RB Leipzig, the player Jacek Kulig dubbed the “complete package” also caught the eye over his six Champions League fixtures last time out, registering one assist and creating one big chance, as well as taking an average of 1.5 shots, making 1.8 key passes and completing 1.0 dribble per outing.

These metrics saw the 21-year-old average an extremely admirable SofaScore match rating of 6.98, ranking him as Brugge’s second-best performer in Europe’s most prestigious club competition – a quite remarkable feat considering the Belgian side finishing rock bottom of the group of death.

As such, it would indeed appear as if De Ketelaere would be an “elite signing” – in the words of James Marshment –  for Orta to get over the line this summer, leading us to believe that the latest updates on the Whites’ pursuit of the Belgian sensation is sure to have left the Elland Road faithful buzzing.

AND in other news: Orta could still land “phenomenal” target as Leeds remain interested in £52m signing

Everton have been linked on many occasions to Armando Broja, and now a new update has emerged that should encourage the club to ramp up their interest in the player this summer.

What’s the latest?

According to GOAL, West Ham United are set to make a £30m bid for Armando Broja this summer.

As per the report, Everton are named as a club interested in the striker alongside Napoli and Atalanta, with the player in the search for regular first-team football, something he is not guaranteed at Chelsea following his return to Stamford Bridge after a season-long loan at Southampton.

Frank must act now

Following the news that West Ham are in hot pursuit and readying an official bid for Broja, Frank Lampard must act now to sign one of the players that has been reportedly been put on the top of the Everton manager’s wish list this summer.

The former Chelsea boss gave Broja his Premier League debut at Stamford Bridge ironically against Everton in a 4-0 victory back in 2020 and Lampard has always had high praise for the young forward hailing him “talented” in a press conference last season:

“He’s a very nice, very good lad and a very talented young boy.

“He’s fast, strong, has a real eye for goal and he’s a very, very good young player so I’m very aware of his strengths in a Southampton team playing very well.”

Last season Broja impressed on his season-long loan at Southampton scoring nine goals and contributing one assist in all competitions, and his effectiveness in the Premier League besides his goal contributions has been capturing the attention of clubs across Europe.

The 20-year-old gem has created two big chances, taking 1.4 shots, winning five duels and completing one successful dribble attempt on average per game, proving he offers more than just goals and assists to his team.

Everton are desperate to improve their squad this summer following a disappointing season in the Premier League, only avoiding relegation in the penultimate game of their campaign, which is a situation Lampard will not want to find himself in again next season.

With that being said, the Toffees boss clearly knows Broja well and will be able to deploy him effectively in the team if the club can complete the signing of the young player this summer.

AND in other news: Contact made: EFC in talks to sign “untouchable” £18m-rated gem, Frank will love him

Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update on the future of reported Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Alessandro Bastoni.

What’s the talk?

In a recent video interview with Chris Cowlin, the Italian journalist revealed that, as of Monday, Fabio Paratici is yet to submit a formal offer to Inter Milan concerning a move for the centre-back, meaning that – despite a number of reports to the contrary – there are currently no ongoing negotiations between Tottenham and the Serie A side.

The transfer insider went on to reveal that Antonio Conte is a huge admirer of the 23-year-old, with the Italian believed to be extremely keen to bring his compatriot to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer, however, the journalist then reaffirmed that Spurs have not yet made an official move for the defender.

Concerning Spurs’ interest in Bastoni, Romano said: “For sure, Tottenham are exploring this possibility, Alessandro Bastoni is a player who Conte loves. So for sure, he is a player who is on Tottenham’s list and he would be a perfect signing for Tottenham. But as of now, what I’m told, Inter are still waiting to see if there will be an official proposal.

“So the two clubs, as of today, are not in negotiations. Inter are still waiting to see what will happen, what kind of proposal will be made for Bastoni. The expectation of Inter fans is that they hope that Alessandro will not leave, but I think it depends on the proposal. I think his agent was pretty clear a few days ago. They are waiting to see how much Tottenham want to spend on him.”

Supporters will be buzzing

While Romano’s claim that Paratici has not yet submitted an offer for Bastoni may come as a surprise to the Spurs faithful, the journalist’s further suggestion that as long as Tottenham meet the centre-back’s asking price a deal for the 23-year-old will be done is sure to have left supporters buzzing.

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Considering just how impressive the £60m-rated defender was over the course of Conte’s two-year stint in the Nerazzurri dugout, the prospect of the youngster once again linking up with the 52-year-old at Spurs is certainly an incredibly exciting one.

Indeed, over his 33 Serie A appearances in 2020/21, Bastoni played a key role in Inter’s Scudetto-winning campaign, helping his side keep 14 clean sheets, registering three assists and creating three big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 61.5 passes, 1.2 interceptions, 1.1 tackles, 2.2 clearances and winning 3.8 duels – at a success rate of 58% – per game.

These returns saw the £85k-per-week talent earn a quite remarkable seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.11, ranking him as Conte’s fifth-best performer in the top flight of Italian football.

As such, with the 23-year-old very much looking to be a perfect fit for Conte’s backline, Romano’s update suggesting that all Paratici has to do is meet Inter’s £54m asking price in order to get a deal over the line is undoubtedly fantastic news for everyone involved with the north London side – particularly the Italian head coach.

AND in other news: Conte could land Spurs’ own Rakitic as Paratici now plots bid for “unreal” £75m target

Long-serving Crystal Palace midfielder Luka Milivojevic could be nearing a departure from the club this summer, according to journalist Matt Woosnam.

What’s the word?

Writing on Twitter about the club captain’s situation, the trusted insider admitted that it might be “time to move on” for the Serbian gem, having struggled for game time under Patrick Vieira this term.

Going into further depth on the 31-year-old’s future in his piece for The Athletic, Woosnam revealed that the 39-cap international had even been booed at the club’s end of season awards night, with frustration brewing among some sections of support for his on-field failings, as well as his reported breach of pandemic restrictions last year.

This follows a report earlier this week that suggested the £4.5m-rated man is considering an exit from Selhurst Park in the upcoming window, with former club Olympiakos – who he left to join the Premier League outfit in January 2017 – keen on a reunion.

Time to go

Although he may not have endeared himself to the club’s supporters for his off-field actions in recent times – as mentioned above – it is his form on the pitch which is likely to be a key factor in his departure, with few sorry to see him go should he find a new home in the coming months.

A solid servant of the south London side over the past five-and-a-half years, the defensive midfielder has netted 28 Premier League goals in that time, proving himself to be a lethal presence from dead-ball situations.

Having bagged an impressive 22 top-flight goals in just his first two full campaigns at the club, the goals have since dried up for the £80k-per-week skipper, however, with the arrival of new boss Vieira also restricting him to just 14 league outings this season – only nine of which have been starts.

Among a largely youthful and exuberant side, the ageing gem has somewhat stuck out like a sore thumb, failing to keep pace with the energetic and relentless teammates around him.

That has been illustrated by his underwhelming statistics so far this term, with Milivojevic averaging just 0.7 interceptions and 0.9 clearances per game thus far, while also winning possession just 0.3 times per 90, as well as providing just 0.8 key passes on average.

The one-time Anderlecht star also ranks poorly among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, as per FBref, ranking in just the top 90% for interceptions made, while he also has a fairly dismal pass completion rate of just 79.8% and averages just 4.14 progressive passes per game, proving himself ineffectual in both attack and defence.

Despite what is set to be a summer of change in midfield – with both Cheikhou Kouyate and James McArthur out of contract and Conor Gallagher set to return to parent club Chelsea – Vieira must not hesitate in wielding the axe on his current skipper.

Although there will be a fondness for his service to the club, supporters will likely be keen to see the back of him at the end of the campaign.

AND in other news: Vieira now heading for 1st summer transfer disaster, Palace supporters will be gutted

Leeds United youngster Mateo Joseph has joined in with first-team training at Thorp Arch, Joe Donnohue of The Yorkshire Evening Post reports.

The lowdown

Joseph, an 18-year-old centre-forward, joined Leeds from Espanyol’s Under-19 side in January of this year.

He’s been playing for the Whites’ Under-21 side at Premier League 2 level, and clearly grabbed the attention of Jesse Marsch when he scored four goals in their season opener against Derby County.

He then followed that up with another strike in a 2-2 draw with Norwich City ten days later.

The latest

Donnohue took to Twitter to share the news about Joseph, who’s been rewarded for an electric start to the season.

He wrote: “January signing Mateo Joseph has been pictured in training with the #LUFC first-team following his five-goal start to the U21s’ PL2 campaign.”

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The verdict

Leeds are down a centre forward option at the moment, and so there may be an opportunity for Joseph to make his debut in some capacity.

His fellow Spaniard Rodrigo faces up to a month on the sidelines after dislocating his shoulder against Everton last week.

Perhaps Joseph, training amongst the senior stars at Thorp Arch, can make his case for a place in the squad against Nottingham Forest on Monday.

If he proves he can cope with the step-up in quality and physicality, then perhaps Jesse Marsch will be tempted.

The manager has already said publicly that Joseph is ‘inching closer and closer to first-team possibilities’.

His coach Michael Skubala called him ‘brilliant’ after his four goals against Derby, and also raved about the player’s application.

“I’ve been here a week and what an athlete Mateo is and what a kid he is, first of all,” he said.

“He works hard, his attitude is brilliant and I look at him and think ‘what you could be for a Leeds player’. If I’m watching that as a fan I’m thinking ‘Wow! I want him in the team’. Today I thought he showed his qualities, he absolutely showed his quality, his spinning in behind and getting four goals.

“I thought he was exciting today.”

Aaron Finch got the man of the match award, but his contribution to the win was lower than that of Australia’s new-ball duo

ESPNcricinfo Stats Team25-Jun-2019Australia recorded their sixth win of the 2019 World Cup, defeating England by 64 runs at Lord’s to seal a semi-final spot – the first to get there. Aaron Finch got the Man of the Match award, but ESPNcricinfo’s Smart Stats show that he was only the third most influential player for Australia, behind Jason Behrendorff and Mitchell Starc.Finch was the first to make a major impact on the game, of course, with his century. In the England chase, Behrendorff picked up five wickets and Starc’s four finished the game. According to our Smart numbers, Behrendorff contributed 19.68% to the win, followed by Starc with 18.46%, and Finch 16.23%.ESPNcricinfo LtdSmart Stats takes into account not only the runs and wickets, but also checks the context and situation of the match in which those runs were scored or wickets taken. It also takes into account the quality of the opposition batsmen and bowlers against whom runs were scored or wickets picked.Watch on Hotstar (India only): Jason Behrendorff’s five-wicket haulBehrendorff bowled six overs at a stretch in his first spell at the start of the England innings, sending back James Vince in the first over and conceding only 26 runs. The required rate had gone to 6.23 by the end of it, after being 5.72 at the start of the innings. He changed ends to bowl his seventh over immediately and got Jonny Bairstow’s wicket. Starc did the honours at the other end, getting the key wickets of Joe Root and Eoin Morgan, and England were four down within 15 overs. Starc then got the key wicket of Ben Stokes in the 37th over to tilt the game completely Australia’s way, before Behrendorff helped finish off the tail.Finch played the anchor’s role in the first innings. He went at a strike rate of 86.20, but his Smart Runs were 105 and Smart Strike Rate was 90.78.

ESPNcricinfo previews Northamptonshire’s prospects for the 2017 season

Alan Gardner01-Apr-2017Last season:

In: Nathan Buck (Lancashire), Max Holden (loan, Middlesex)
Out: Olly Stone (Warwickshire)
Overseas: Rory Kleinveldt (SA), Seekkuge Prasanna (T20)2016 in a nutshell
Northamptonshire had what some critics are calling “their most Northamptonshire season ever” in 2016. They went in with barely 15 men on the playing staff, faced continued uncertainty over their financial position (“we’re counting every loo roll,” said the chairman in May), recovered from a turgid start to finish mid-table in the Championship, lost a thrilling Royal London quarter-final by one wicket off the final ball of the match and lifted the NatWest Blast trophy for the second time in four seasons. Ben Duckett epitomised Northants’ uninhibited approach to the uncertainties around the club, plundering more than 2700 runs in all formats and walking off with the PCA Player of the Year and CWC Young Player awards. The highlight was T20 Finals Day, when their Moneyball approach (perhaps that should be “no-Moneyball”) saw them triumph against the odds once again.2017 prospects
Could well be another rollercoaster. Promising young fast bowler Olly Stone has left for Warwickshire (though he missed most of last season with injury anyway) but Nathan Buck has come in from Lancashire and may prove an inspired signing – still only 25, he was on the radar of England Lions five years ago. What Northamptonshire lack in squad numbers they will attempt to make up for in camaraderie, with continued success in white-ball cricket the primary focus, highlighted by the recruitment of former England batsman James Taylor as a consultant for the Royal London Cup. No team has managed to retain the T20 title but, if Northants can become the first, they will also draw level with Leicestershire on most wins (three). Championship success looks less likely, although they did finish 2016 impressively with four wins out of their last six.In charge
Since taking over in 2012, things have seldom been easy for David Ripley but he has achieved some extraordinary successes. An unexpected Championship promotion came the following year, as well as a first T20 title (Northants’ first trophy in 21 years) as the club began to embrace a data-driven approach to the format, led by their “statto” head coach. Alongside the shrewd captaincy of Alex Wakely, Northants seems to have found an ideal blend, encompassing modern tactics, attention to detail and old-fashioned team bonding. Along with bringing Taylor on board for 50-over cricket, former Wantage Road favourite David Sales is now helping out part-time as batting coach.Key player
Rory Kleinveldt, back for a third season as overseas player, has become symbolic of performance trumping perceptions at Northants. Kleinveldt’s brief international career is now behind him and, although his kit size looks a little closer to XL these days, he is still a vastly effective allrounder at county level. He has taken 124 wickets across all formats for the club, to go along with more than 1200 runs, and is a respected voice in the dressing room where what you can do is valued more than how you look.Bright young thing
Duckett blazed a trail from talented youngster to England international in little more than a season, while 18-year-old allrounder Saif Zaib has long been highly regarded in Northants circles. Hopeful of making a big impact will be Middlesex loanee Max Holden, a year older than Zaib but yet to make his senior debut. A left-handed opener, Holden captains England U-19s in the long format and, on their tour of India earlier this year, scored 170 as part of a record 321-run stand with Somerset’s George Bartlett. Ripley has been a fan for years, having tried to sign him for Northants’ academy in 2011.ESPNcricinfo verdict
When it gets down to brass tacks, you’ve got to credit the Steelbacks. They won’t be much fancied, as the betting suggests, but that will not bother Ripley and Wakely as they look to mastermind further success on a shoestring. The question of whether Duckett finds his groove again, after a mixed winter away with England, might determine how far they go in the white-ball formats and a lack of depth could limit their Championship chances – but for county cricket’s version of the Wimbledon “Crazy Gang”, up against it is how they like it.Bet365 odds: Specsavers Championship: 14-1; NatWest Blast: 12-1; Royal London Cup: 16-1

Cricket in Western Australia has gone from strength to strength since Justin Langer took over as coach. Now, Perth Scorchers have the chance for a third straight BBL title.

Tristan Lavalette21-Jan-2016Sometime before Friday’s BBL semi-final showdown with Melbourne Stars at the MCG, Perth Scorchers coach Justin Langer will meet with revered Australian Rules football coach Alastair Clarkson. A get-together of two of Australia’s most hardnosed coaches is revealing, though hardly surprising. There are many parallels between the tenacious characters credited with almost single-handedly resurrecting their respective teams.As senior coach of three-time defending Australian Football League (AFL) premiers Hawthorn, Clarkson has transformed a group of misfits into a juggernaut. In 11 seasons with Clarkson at the helm, the Hawks have played in five grand finals – winning four- and stamped themselves as once again the AFL’s undisputed powerhouse after being the trendsetters in the 1970s and ’80s.You feel Langer has used Clarkson’s ascension with the Hawks as a template in his own coaching blueprint with Western Australia and the Scorchers. If they defeat the Stars, the Scorchers will compete in their fifth consecutive BBL final on Sunday.Under Langer, the Scorchers have played in three straight BBL finals, winning the last two. Western Australia have been runner-up in the Sheffield Shield the past two seasons having not previously made a final since 1999. They also won the 2014-15 Matador Cup, Australia’s domestic one-day tournament, having not placed higher than third in the previous decade.It has been a remarkable renaissance for WA cricket after such a barren period this millennium, which hit a nadir in late 2012 when the Marsh brothers, Shaun and Mitchell, were axed from the Scorchers’ Champions League Twenty20 campaign in South Africa.They were dumped after a night of partying to celebrate Mitchell’s 21st birthday; it was highly embarrassing for the brothers, putting their international prospects at the crossroads, but, more worryingly, it reinforced WA’s festering culture marked by ill-discipline. It reduced WA cricket to a punchline, as its halcyon days stretching from the 1970s throughout the 1990s had become a distant memory.Disenchanted by this, some of the state’s greatest ever cricket figures pleaded with then WACA vice-president Sam Gannon for a coaching shake-up. Dennis Lillee, Rod Marsh, John Inverarity and Adam Gilchrist wanted Langer, who was then Australia’s batting coach, in the coach’s hot seat in a desperate bid to arrest the decline.For Langer, taking the reins of his beloved WA was a “no-brainer” but the support he received from the top was crucial in his bid to overhaul the team’s culture. “From day one, I had overwhelming support and lots of rope to make changes,” Langer tells ESPNcricinfo. “The most important thing is we had hit rock bottom. There were lots of issues off-field and performances on-field had become mediocre. We needed to be proud to be West Aussie again, and clearly strong change was needed.”Langer had learnt greatly from his captaincy of WA in 2007, after his international career had ended, which was relatively fruitless due to an apparent resistance of his leadership style. “When I was captain in 2007, I was perceived to be too serious and setting expectation too high. It was a good experience in leadership,” Langer says.Immediately after replacing Lachlan Stevens as WA’s coach in November of 2012, Langer made it his priority to seek out Shaun Marsh, who was languishing in WA’s Second XI after having started the year playing Test cricket. Langer’s stern and frank talk with Shaun is credited as the catalyst for the talented batsman’s revival. “I talked to Shaun, his manager and his parents – who are some of my closest friends,” Langer recalls. “I looked him in the face and I said ‘I will always love you but if you step out of place, you can’t be in the organisation … you can’t afford to make one mistake’. I think he appreciated the honesty and from then Shaun has been outstanding.”There was no ranting or raving from Langer to his new players. He knew the team had talent, as evidenced by them making the inaugural BBL final, but it was clearly not being harnessed properly. Respected coaches Tom Moody and Mickey Arthur had previously tried to rejuvenate WA, leaving Langer to think the problems were deep-seated.Helping the Marsh brothers to progress has been one of Langer’s achievements•Getty ImagesOn arrival, Langer realised discipline had been preached but the message was not getting through. There were so many rules that, in effect, it had become too suffocating and confusing. “I went in with a clear message and imparted values that I had learnt from the great WA and Australian teams,” Langer says. “There had to be a buy-in to the values as we hadn’t earned the right yet. The values were based on working hard, respecting the past, looking after mates and celebrating success.”We had rules they must uphold, such as the players were never allowed to get drunk in public, they needed to be responsible with alcohol. Common sense, keeping things simple and no mobile phones at training were other key rules.”Banning mobile phones in the workplace could appear rather archaic, but Langer is unrelenting in his belief that they stymie communication. “When I was playing county cricket, players were always on their phones and it made us look so unprofessional. We are there to do a job,” Langer says. “If people are on their phones, then there is no communication. They don’t talk to each other. I saw this in the Australian dressing room, where players were texting each other in the same room. I have threatened to throw mobiles from the balcony.”Has he ever gone through with that threat?”It’s a secret,” Langer responds slyly.The collective reverence towards Langer from his players is palpable and genuine. That adoration has manifested on-field, with the team showcasing the inimitable traits that defined Langer’s indefatigable playing career.Notably, the Scorchers haven’t been particularly sleek but a healthy dose of resoluteness and pluck has made them the BBL’s trendsetter. You can never write the Scorchers off, even in the direst of situations. They generally find a way to eke out victories. No matter the result, you can’t question their intent.Smartly, the Scorchers have resisted the temptation of splurging on glossy international players, preferring to build around a local core. Continuity has been a trademark of the team and helps explain their sustained success in cricket’s most volatile format. “Cricket Australia probably wouldn’t like me saying this, but we want to build a sustainable program for WA cricket 12 months a year, not 11 months,” Langer says. “We primarily want to give players from our squad a chance and use this stability as our competitive advantage. We have a really clear strategy with overseas players, they are the cream on top. We do not build a franchise around them like some other teams do.”Langer’s overwhelming success has made him the likely successor to Australia coach Darren Lehmann. Accordingly, Langer will become Australia’s caretaker coach during their tour of the Caribbean mid-year in an effort to give Lehmann a welcome break.While a succession plan is seemingly underway, Langer is reluctant to get too ahead of himself. “Life is about timing, maybe I’ll coach Australia one day,” he says. “I look forward to the Caribbean but it is a caretaker role and is about giving Boof a few weeks off. Being an international coach sounds glamorous but you’re away from home 11 months of the year. It’s incredibly taxing.”In typical Langer fashion, he’s only focusing on the task ahead. Right now, his concentration is centred on the Scorchers’ historic bid for a hat-trick of BBL titles.”I am nervous [ahead of the semi-final]. I am always nervous before games,” Langer says. “It is all about creating great memories. Statistics don’t mean a lot when your career is over. Celebrating wins is what I remember from my playing days.”[The hat-trick of titles] is an unbelievable opportunity. We have a chance to create a great legacy.”