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Crystal Palace are in the market for attackers this summer and have now received a reply to a bid for a freescoring star who could add another layer across the front four positions, according to reports.

Crystal Palace move on after stalemate with Chelsea

Despite the odds being stacked in Chelsea’s favour, Crystal Palace emerged with a deserved goalless draw at Stamford Bridge over the weekend and will feel a little unfortunate not to have claimed all three points amid Eberechi Eze’s disallowed free-kick.

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Nevertheless, getting off the mark in the Premier League standings will come as a relief to Oliver Glasner, who delivered praise to his side and their core members despite speculation over the future of several first-team stars.

He told Sky Sports: “The 15, 16 players who had the most minutes last year are still here. There are a lot of rumours about Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi but they were 100 per cent with this group in Crystal Palace and they have proved that in a big way.”

Without doubt, transfer activity will be what fans want to see at Selhurst Park. Contact has been initiated to sign Arsenal academy graduate Dan Casey, albeit he is unlikely to be an immediate fixture for the Eagles’ if he does cross the London divide.

In a separate sequence of potential events, Jakub Kiwior could join Crystal Palace if Eze moves to Arsenal, though a swap deal scenario would have to occur in order for both players to head in separate directions.

Glasner has somewhat shot down Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in the England international, and the Eagles boss could now be about to open his own transfer chequebook as the FA Cup holders make inroads on the market.

Crystal Palace could return for Christos Tzolis after bid rejected

According to reports in Belgium via Sport Witness, Crystal Palace have seen a £27.6 million bid turned down for Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis as they look to beef up their forward line.

Regardless, the Eagles could return with another offer, albeit the Belgian giants have no intention of selling the Greece international as they are in a comfortable position to retain his services.

Related Crystal Palace want to sign £26m star from under nose of Nottingham Forest

The Eagles are keen to get one over their divisional rivals…

Posts BySean Markus Clifford Aug 11, 2025

Labelled “excellent” by Stephen Kountourou, the 23-year-old delivered 21 goals and 16 assists across all competitions inside 56 appearances last term.

Continuing that theme, he has put up five goal contributions in seven 2025/26 matches and continues to be a major attacking threat off the left flank for club and country.

Crucially, Tzolis isn’t opposed to a move to the Premier League and if he decides to agitate for a move, Club Brugge may be forced into action, leaving Crystal Palace in a position to try and zone in to land their man.

Ayub, Ahmed, Rauf picked up two wickets apiece to bowl Zimbabwe out for 204 in chase of 304

Danyal Rasool28-Nov-2024Kamran Ghulam’s maiden ODI hundred and a clinical bowling performance saw Pakistan ease to a 99-run win in Bulawayo. The victory sees Pakistan seal the series 2-1, their second consecutive come-from-behind ODI series win after similar success in Australia earlier this month.Pakistan posted 303 after a steady start from the openers, with Abdullah Shafique scoring his fifth half-century, while sloppiness at the death from Zimbabwe helped Pakistan plunder 69 from the final five overs. In response, there was limited substantive resistance aside from a Craig Ervine half-century, and with no one else able to push on, Pakistan continued to strengthen their position until the target became unassailable, with the innings wrapped up in 40.1 overs.While rain had been forecast for today, the skies were clear when Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat. While they didn’t quite motor along at the lightning pace they had set on Tuesday, Saim Ayub and Shafique got Pakistan off to a brisk start, bringing up the 50-partnership inside 11 overs. But Ayub fell soon after miscuing his trademark shot as he picked Faisal Akram up over deep backward square leg, straight to Clive Madande on the boundary.Related

Aaqib: Pakistan's main focus is ODIs and Champions Trophy

Ghulam was uncertain early on, nearly chipping one straight back to Sean Williams off his eighth ball. When Williams dragged one down the following over, though, Ghulam walloped it over deep midwicket for six, and that seemed to free him up. Alongside Shafique, he helped Pakistan tick over at a steady, if unspectacular rate, and the 100 came up in 22 overs. Sikandar Raza broke that stand soon after, though, trapping Shafique in front as he miscued his sweep, right after he got to his half-century.Rizwan and Ghulam combined to put together the largest partnership of the innings, but even as conditions for batting flattened out, the anticipated uptick in the scoring rate did not follow. Rizwan, in particular, coasted at a strike rate of just over 50 off his first 25 balls, leaving Ghulam to push through the gears. He took a liking to Brian Bennett, forcing him out of the attack after taking 27 off his two overs.Zimbabwe reigned the visitors back again with Williams and Akram before Raza got his side the breakthrough. Rizwan had lofted him for six over long-on off a miscue, and when he tried it again off the next delivery, Dion Myers had a simple catch.Ghulam, by now, was powering along to three figures. Akram was dispatched for successive boundaries before a long hop from Raza was put away to midwicket to bring up the ton. Zimbabwe were finally threatening to accelerate but Richard Ngarava removed Ghulam straight after in an attempt to peg them back again.It was the 46th over that the wheels finally came off for Zimbabwe. The Akram over saw six wides, a no-ball, two fours and a six as 23 came off it, and Pakistan suddenly eyed 300. Even Blessing Muzarabani wasn’t spared, taken for 24 in his final two overs as Pakistan eked over the 300 mark, taking all the momentum with them to the break.File photo: Haris Rauf chipped in with two wickets•Associated PressPakistan needed to wait till just the third over to strike, doing so twice in Ayub’s over. Joylord Gumbie and Myers each holed out in an attempt to keep the run rate up, and it was an approach Zimbabwe persisted with even as wickets fell at regular intervals.Tadiwanashe Marumani didn’t last long but was belligerent as long as he did, and was unfortunate to be given out leg before off Abrar Ahmed with the ball likely going down leg. Sean Williams picked up the run-scoring baton briefly, taking the attack to Agha Salman and Abrar after the end of the first powerplay, while Ervine slapped Haris Rauf for a pair of boundaries in what emerged as a menacing partnership for Pakistan.But, like every Zimbabwean partnership, it ended much too soon to allow them to build any real pressure. Williams was done by extra pace from Haris as he chopped on, and it would mark the start of a Zimbabwean slide.The biggest scare Pakistan got was from suddenly converging clouds before the 20th over had been bowled, but on the pitch, wickets were beginning to fall in clusters. Zimbabwe were still picking up boundaries just about every over, with Ervine bringing up his half-century with a miscued sweep off Faisal Akram.But the end was nigh for him. He was reprieved when Tayyab Tahir shelled the simplest chance at midwicket, but Aamer Jamal would not be denied, inducing him into dragging on a short delivery later in the over. He backed it up by dismissing Raza in his following over, Zimbabwe looked to be at the receiving end of a huge defeat.Those blushes were spared somewhat by an entertaining onslaught from Bennett, who took on the spinners with great successive in an exciting cameo that kept the Bulawayo faithful engaged. It wouldn’t last, though, and when he miscued off Abrar Ahmed following a 27-ball 37, any realistic hopes the hosts harboured were gone.Clive Madande and Ngarava soldiered on for a bit, and ensured Zimbabwe crossed 200 and kept the defeat to two figures. But Pakistan would not be denied an emphatic win, Faisal Akram and Rauf removing the last two off consecutive balls either side of the 40th over to make victory official.

أعلن الحساب الرسمي لجائزة الكرة الذهبية عدد النقاط التي حصدها النجم الدولي الإسباني لامين يامال، خلال فوزه بجائزة كوبا 2025 كأفضل لاعب صاعد للموسم الماضي 2024/2025.

وتعتبر هذه المرة الثانية التي يفوز نجم برشلونة ومنتخب إسبانيا كأفضل لاعب صاعد تحت21 عامًا في العالم بعدما توج بها الموسم قبل الماضي.

وكانت مجلة فرانس فوتبول قد أعلنت هوية الفائز بجائزة الكرة الذهبية “بالون دور” للعام 2025، مساء الإثنين الماضي في الحفل الذي أقيم بمدينة باريس عاصمة فرنسا.

وتنافس على الجائزة 30 لاعبًا، بينهم النجم المصري محمد صلاح، جناح فريق ليفربول الإنجليزي، بعد الموسم المميز الذي قدمه مع ليفربول.

اقرأ أيضًا | ديمبلي “ضعفه”.. عدد نقاط محمد صلاح في الكرة الذهبية 2025

وفاز الفرنسي عثمان ديمبلي بالمركز الأول في سباق الفوز بالبالون دور فيما جاء لامين يامال، نجم منتخب إسبانيا وبرشلونة في المركز الثاني، وفيتينا البرتغالي جاء بالمركز الثالث، بعدما توج مع باريس سان جيرمان ببطولات مميزة بجانب فوزه بدوري الأمم الأوروبية مع البرتغال.

وجاء ترتيب لامين يامال في جائزة الكرة الذهبية للرجال في المركز الثاني حاصدًا 1059 نقطة خلف الفرنسي عثمان ديمبلي الذي حصد 1380 نقطة.

وحصد لامين في جائزة “كوبا” 174 نقطة بالمركز الأول بفارق كبير عن منافسه ديزيريه دوي، لاعب باريس سان جيرمان والذي جمع 72 نقطة.

All the details of the second Men’s Kopa Trophy for Lamine Yamal! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/4h6sYEIY1K — Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) September 27, 2025

West Bromwich Albion fans will hope their team is back in the Championship promotion reckoning very soon after stumbling to an unsatisfactory ninth spot in the division last time out.

Ryan Mason is an unknown entity from the dugout – having only ever been an interim manager option at former side Tottenham Hotspur – which could well work in his favour, as the exciting 34-year-old rookie prepares to try and guide his brand new side back into the playoff positions.

He has been backed in the transfer window so far, with George Campbell the latest addition from CF Montreal, on top of Aune Heggebo joining the group from Brann for a whopping £4.7m.

Whilst that lavish fee will of course have caught the eye of the Hawthorns masses, Mason might well have another trump card in his back pocket when attempting to finally bring in the likes of Mikey Moore to the West Midlands on loan, owing to his ex-Spurs connections.

West Brom's ongoing pursuit of Moore

It’s been well documented across this chaotic transfer window to date that West Brom are keen to add Moore to their ranks this summer, knowing full well he was coached by Mason back in North London.

On top of that already healthy working relationship being a major plus, Moore does look ready for a chance to shine in the demanding EFL, having lit up youth pitches at Spurs for some time now, away from also scoring his first ever senior strike for his boyhood employers last season in the Europa League.

Moore’s silky surge forward against IF Elfsborg, and the subsequent finish that was drilled into the back of the net, would have got Spurs supporters out of their seats, with the 17-year-old finally off the mark for the club at a senior level, after collecting 29 goals and assists in U18 Premier League action.

The trail has gone slightly cold involving the Baggies hunting down Moore’s services, however, with German outlet BILD even speculating that Borussia Dortmund are now looking at the raw attacker.

Therefore, it might not be as straightforward as once thought for Mason to flex his close-knit ties if the might of Dortmund are sniffing around, which might now lead West Brom down a different avenue for another rising Premier League starlet…

The "special" PL ace who could be Mason's next Moore

West Brom will be seen as a worthwhile working environment for Premier League youngsters to join, considering the likes of Harvey Barnes and Romelu Lukaku called the Hawthorns home briefly on loan as wide-eyed starlets, before going on to have lengthy careers at the very top.

James McConnell will hope he’s the next up-and-coming youngster that finds his brief stay at West Brom to be as transformative as others have experienced, with journalist Lewis Steele recently revealing that the highly-rated Liverpool midfielder is on the Baggies’ radar, after news came out that he was being allowed a loan opportunity away from Anfield.

Whilst Moore is the talk of the town based on his Europa League exploits, McConnell – who is more mature at 20 years of age – would be another exciting talent to obtain, in the same mould as his 17-year-old counterpart.

Firstly, the Reds number 53 can boast that he has a solitary appearance in the more luxurious Champions League, whilst he also looked assured and confident at Wembley back in 2024 when trusted with a 33-minute cameo in the EFL Cup final versus Chelsea.

McConnell would come away from that short stint on the Wembley turf with many a notable voice showering him with praise, with Jurgen Klopp even going as far as to hail the 20-year-old as “special”.

Lastly, his adaptability for the cause, away from Moore primarily favouring a spot down the wing or as a striker, will also make him an attractive prospect to pick up on loan, as West Brom attempt to gun for promotion during the intense 46-game marathon.

CM

35

5

7

DM

28

1

3

AM

7

1

1

RM

2

1

0

RB

1

0

0

CF

1

0

0

LW

1

0

0

LM

1

1

0

McConnell has even lined up as a right-back on occasion across his entire Anfield stay, with Mason now surely viewing the Liverpool man as a versatile gem that’s worth pursuing, over holding out hope a move for Moore gets off the ground.

The new Fellows: West Brom racing EFL rivals to sign £5m sensation

West Bromwich Albion are interested in a move for a £5m ace who could become the club’s next Tom Fellows.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 18, 2025

With Callum Osmand signed and delivered, Celtic have now reportedly turned their attention towards another young talent in what is a hectic race for his signature.

Osmand "really excited" by Celtic move

Following Kieran Tierney, Benjamin Nygren and Ross Doohan through the door, Osman officially put pen to paper at Celtic earlier this week. Arriving from Fulham, the 19-year-old will have his sights set on breaking into Brendan Rodgers’ first-team plans as soon as possible in Scotland.

After arriving, the young striker told Celtic’s official website: “It’s a massive move. I’m really excited and I can’t wait to step out at Celtic Park in front of all the fans.

“The winning mentality at Celtic is obviously unbelievable and I want to win trophies here. Every game that I step into here, I want to win, and I feel like we have all the facilities, players and staff to do so.”

The former Fulham man is also not the first to swap the Cottagers for Celtic Park, with Moussa Dembele and Matt O’Riley paving the way before Osmand, who took the chance to mention both players: “Obviously, there has been multiple names that have come to Celtic like Moussa Dembele and Matt O’Riley.

“I have spoken to Matt on the phone, so he has given me advice. He talked me through some stuff, that I knew about too. He was telling me about how big the club is, how amazing the fans are and it’s a new life really. So excited is definitely the word for me.”

Following Osmand’s arrival, Celtic’s focus isn’t destined to change anytime soon. Reports are now indicating that they’ve now instantly turned their attention towards signing another impressive young talent.

Celtic join race to sign "special" O'Sullivan

According to the Irish Independent, Celtic have now joined the race to sign Cathal O’Sullivan from Irish club Cork City this summer. It will be a complex deal to do, as the Scottish champions have joined the likes of Brentford and Preston North End in an already hectic battle to land the 18-year-old midfielder.

Like Osmand, O’Sullivan is full of talent and has often found himself at the centre of praise as a result. When speaking about one of Ireland’s top young talents, former Preston and current Cork City forward Sean Maguire told reporters: “He’s one of the best young fellas I’ve played with, and that includes in England. Not just because of his talent, it’s just his attitude towards everything.

More exciting than Inamura & Osmand: Celtic could sign "jaw-dropping" star

Celtic could land a signing that is more exciting than Callum Osmand and Hayato Inamura with this star.

ByDan Emery Jun 30, 2025

“That’s what teams in England will look for first, because you can just see it clear as day how good he is on the ball. He’s a joy to play with. When he eventually goes to England, I’ll be gutted not to play with him again, because of how good he is. “

“But I’ll be keeping tabs on his career, because he’ll definitely play for Ireland. He’s that good. I genuinely think he’s special… Whatever the club gets from him, he probably should be worth 10 times more.”

Liverpool are showing “concrete interest” in signing a hugely talented young player in the summer transfer window as FSG kick their summer plans into overdrive.

Fabrizio Romano: Liverpool "on fire" in summer transfer window

With Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez expected to join the Reds imminently, from Bayer Leverkusen and Bournemouth respectively, attention may now turn to a new striker, amid exit claims surrounding Darwin Nunez.

Liverpool have reportedly made an approach for RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko, seeing him as an alternative option to Eintracht Frankfurt marksman Hugo Ekitike. The Slovenian is also seen as a leading target for Arsenal, so the Premier League champions could be looking to swoop in ahead of them.

Another fresh face in the Reds’ midfield also wouldn’t go amiss before next season gets underway and Crystal Palace youngster Adam Wharton has been backed to move to Anfield. The England international is a hugely exciting player who also possesses so much maturity, and he could be perfect as a squad option to begin with.

Luis Diaz continues to be linked with a move away, with Barcelona mentioned plenty in recent weeks, and Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has been mentioned as a possible replacement.

Indeed, Fabrizio Romano reported on Sunday evening that Liverpool are “on fire” and “busy” in the market, and it seems they’ve now turned their attentions to a youngster with massive potential.

Related "Here we go is coming" – Romano says Liverpool will sign two stars imminently

He is perfect for the Reds.

Posts ByHenry Jackson Jun 16, 2025 Liverpool interested in signing £51m star

According to a fresh claim from Caught Offside, Liverpool have “concrete interest” in Southampton teenager Tyler Dibling this summer.

The 19-year-old is expected to leave Saints before the end of the window, following their relegation from the Premier League to the Championship, and the Reds are one of many clubs keen on him. Manchester United, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Tottenham and Manchester City all get a mention in the report, and he is valued above £50m.

Dibling looks like an outstanding prospect, having stood out as a rare positive in a dreadful 2024/25 season for Southampton, scoring four goals and registering two assists in all competitions.

An aesthetically-pleasing player to watch, the Englishman has a lovely ability to glide across the turf and create with his left foot, with Danny Murphy not holding back in his praise for him last December.

“It is difficult to get too over the top with these young players, because he has just come on to the scene, but he is going to be something special. It is great for him getting all these minutes at Southampton. They are giving him the freedom to play and giving him time to learn the game. He is just enjoying himself and he is playing with a real belief in himself. He is just instrumental in this team.”

Related Better than Ekitike: Liverpool make approach to sign "the new Haaland"

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Jun 16, 2025

Granted, Dibling wouldn’t be a cheap signing, and he would have to bide his time before becoming a regular, but he has the tools to grow into an elite footballer, proving to be adept at shining in his preferred right-sided role or as a No.10.

There will be plenty of change at Ibrox this summer after Glasgow Rangers confirmed that several players will be moving on from the club ahead of next season.

A new head coach will also be in the dugout when the 2025/26 campaign gets underway, as the Light Blues have confirmed that Barry Ferguson will not be getting the job on a full-time basis after his interim spell.

As well as the Scottish interim boss, Rangers have revealed that three first-team players will be leaving Glasgow as free agents at the end of this month.

The Rangers players being released this summer

Rangers have announced that Tom Lawrence, Leon Balogun, and Ianis Hagi will not have their contracts renewed, making them free agents ahead of the summer transfer window.

They are three experienced operators who will be moving on from Ibrox, and two of them – Balogun and Hagi – were part of the 2020/21 title-winning campaign under Steven Gerrard.

Hagi, in particular, played a big role on the pitch this season with four goals and five assists in 24 appearances in the Scottish Premiership after coming in from the cold.

These three stars are not the only experienced players who should be ruthlessly ditched by the 49ers, once the takeover is completed, and Kevin Thelwell this summer, however, as Robin Propper should also be on the chopping block.

Why Robin Propper should be sold this summer

The Gers swooped to sign the Dutch defender from FC Twente to bolster their backline in the summer transfer window last year after Connor Goldson moved on from Ibrox.

Unfortunately, the 31-year-old centre-back does not seem particularly suited to the physical nature of the Scottish Premiership, as opposition forwards have found it too easy against him at times.

Rangers only conceded nine goals in the 11 matches that he did not feature in and 32 in the 27 that he did play, which suggests that they were better defensively without him.

Appearances

30

27

Goals conceded

22

32

Dribbled past per game

0.2x

0.4x

Ground duel success rate

73%

62%

Aerial duel success rate

67%

64%

Fouls per game

0.7

0.9

As you can see in the table above, the Light Blues made their team worse by replacing Goldson with Propper, who has failed to offer more quality in the centre-back position, as shown by the stark contrast in goals conceded.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Back in December, pundit Neil McCann outlined how concerning Propper’s performances were in the Premiership. He said: “Propper is struggling. He’s been pretty vocal over the last couple of weeks that he’s finding it tough in our league. He’s been asked the question early on. It’s quite worrying when you see him struggling as bad as that. Look at the body language – he’s looking for a way out already.”

This is why the 49ers must ruthlessly axe the central defender from the squad in the summer transfer window, if there are any clubs interested in snapping him up, because he has not adjusted well to Scottish football.

Whilst he is not the only player in the defence, it is worrying that there has been a huge drop off in defensive form since he was signed to replace Goldson, and that the team has a better defensive record without Propper in the side.

Therefore, Rangers must move on from Propper in the summer transfer window after they have already made the ruthless decisions to release Balogun, Hagi, and Lawrence.

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ByBen Gray May 21, 2025

Arsenal are set for a significant call over potentially selling a “difference-maker” this summer, amid a serious issue which could determine his long-term future at the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta makes PSG vow after Arsenal loss to Bournemouth

The Gunners have a season-defining Champions League semi-final second leg tie against PSG on Wednesday – a match that will truly shape the course of their 2024/2025 campaign and determine the success of Arsenal’s year.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes May 6, 2025

Mikel Arteta’s side trail 1-0 on aggregate, courtesy of Ousmane Dembélé’s early winner at the Emirates Stadium last weekend, and they go into a testing clash at the Parc des Princes off the back of a shock defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League.

Arsenal’s final Premier League games

Date

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

However, Arteta has vowed to use the frustration and upset from that loss to Andoni Iraola’s side as fuel to overcome PSG in the French capital.

“We certainly wanted to create a really good vibe, a positive result would really help us to build what we wanted towards Wednesday,” Arteta said in a post-match press conference.

“What we have created now is a lot of rage, anger, frustration and a bad feeling in the tummy. So, make sure that we use that for Wednesday to have a massive performance in Paris, win the game and be in the final.”

One player who has been unable to contribute recently is 2024 summer signing and Italy international Riccardo Calafiori.

The £42 million arrival has spent the last month out with a knee injury, and despite some excellent performances, injury absences have been the story of his first season.

Arsenal set for "big decision" over selling Riccardo Calafiori

Calafiori has been called a “difference-maker” for Arteta when fit and available, but reports from Italy are now claiming that Arsenal are prepared to sell the defender this summer as a result of his fitness issues.

Speaking to Football Insider, former chief Man United scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the beautiful game, says that Arsenal have a “big decision” to make over letting Calafiori return to Serie A.

“It’s a decision Arsenal and Arteta have got to make,” he told Football Insider.

“They will know the extent of his injury issues and whether it’s going to keep cropping up. Then, they’ll weigh that up against what they know he can do when he’s fit and they’ll decide whether it’s worth keeping him on.

“There is interest in a move back to Italy and AC Milan have been mentioned as one of those teams. If Arsenal can make back the money they spent on him last year, they might think it’s the best thing to do given how many games he’s missed.

“His injuries are a major concern because if he can only play in 15-20 games a season, he’s not going to be somebody they want to keep on the books. But at the same time, there are a few players who look like they’ll leave Arsenal this year.

“They can’t let too many of them go because their depth is already an issue. So it’s a big decision for them to make and one they’ll sit down and discuss soon.”

The left hander has worked on being a little less hard on herself when things don’t go to plan

Andrew McGlashan04-Jul-2024Phoebe Litchfield believes the lean run she endured during the latter half of last season will make her a better player in the long run with her winter having focused on both some technical work and learning to be less hard on herself when things don’t go well.Litchfield’s form slipped significantly early in 2024 following an impressive ODI series in India late the previous year where she averaged 86.66. The runs started to dry up after that tour with a thin return across formats against South Africa, a WPL for Gujarat Giants where she averaged 10.33 then capped off by struggles in tough batting conditions in Bangladesh where five innings brought 19 runs in four knocks.Related

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“It was a bit of a dry patch to put it bluntly,” she told ESPNcricinfo. “I was training fine, I was in a good headspace, so I feel I just found ways to get out and probably made the wrong decisions at times. Towards the back end of the Bangladesh tour I got a golden [duck], got run out, so it was like it couldn’t really go to plan, but that’s cricket.”It’s actually been really nice to go through that and learn from it. I could have scored runs and happy days, but to go through that, especially as a young player, it has taught me ways to reflect and ways to learn and also ways to train. Whilst it was pretty shit while I was going through it, I’m better for it hopefully.”The strain of an increasingly busy calendar played a part – such is the maturity that Litchfield portrays, it’s easy to forget 2023 had been her first full year at the top level – but some technical issues had also crept into her game, and by the end of the Bangladesh tour she needed a break.Having managed that during April and May, she is now well back into building towards a return to action which will come in the Hundred next month. The international focus then turns to a series against New Zealand that provides a lead-in to the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh which will be Litchfield’s first global event. After that comes an ODI visit from India, a brief pre-Christmas trip across the Tasman then the multi-format Ashes in January. Throw in the WBBL from late October and it’s another hectic schedule.Litchfield on Bangladesh tour: ‘I’ve never played on anything like it’•Getty Images”Towards the backend [of last season], the WPL and the Bangladesh series, I probably felt it a bit, going ‘wow, we have to play cricket again today’, it does get pretty hectic,” Litchfield said, speaking at the launch of the Sydney Thunder Tape Ball League. “It is a game at the end of the day. But I sat down with the coaching staff, we looked forward and I’m just really excited. I kind of look at all the fixtures and each one’s new, each one’s different. But there are times when we need to switch off and that Christmas break will be important.”Amid the runs becoming a trickle there was a low score in the Test against South Africa in Perth when Litchfield edged to slip in the opening over of Australia’s innings. A little while later, the TV cameras showed her sitting alone outside the dressing looking less-than-pleased with life and it prompted conversation about how harsh Litchfield can be on herself.”I didn’t really know that camera was even out there,” Litchfield recalled. “It wasn’t until my team-mates were listening to the comms and they were like ‘Phoebs, come back inside’. I didn’t score a run during that South Africa series, and was pretty disappointed with myself, so that was probably true emotion shown there.

There were a few things with my backlift and we’ve sorted through that and worked out a few trigger options, trying to make things simpler…with that, learning how to get over things, so training, being okay with mistakes, learning from them rather than spitting the dummy

“Yeah, I am hard on myself, but I think it works both ways: it drives me to be better and there are probably times when I’m too hard on myself and it’s detrimental. I’m trying to work that out and think I’ve learnt from that and I’m definitely less hard on myself now.”Litchfield is eager to put her pre-season work into action, starting with Northern Superchargers in the Hundred then back to T20Is where, last season, she exploded in the middle order against West Indies and India, striking at 184.94 across those two series including a record-equaling 18-ball fifty at North Sydney Oval before batting became harder work.”Definitely some technical stuff that crept in, especially throughout India and Bangladesh,” Litchfield said. “There were a few things with my backlift and we’ve sorted through that and worked out a few trigger options, trying to make things simpler, that’s basically my goal for this pre-season. With that, learning how to get over things, so training, being okay with mistakes, learning from them rather than spitting the dummy. Really excited to work through this technical stuff.”Although the Bangladesh trip was not one that Litchfield will remember too fondly from a batting point of view, the lessons from it could yet be important come the World Cup even though the expectation is that the pitches will be flatter for a global event.”It was very different to anything we’ve played on, even compared to India,” she said. “You try and read the pitch, but it just has some hidden demons so playing six games on there, hopefully it’s given us some experience and learnings.”I’ve never played on anything like it. You tap and go ‘okay, that’s alright, it’s a bit soft’ but for it to turn the way it did, even our pace bowlers got some purchase off it as well. Hopefully we get some truer pitches for the World Cup, but you never know so those six games we did have, and they were all different, will hopefully stand us in good stead.”

The left-arm seamer first made his name in Pune club cricket before graduating to the big leagues

Shashank Kishore04-May-2022On May 1, Gopal Choudhary and Prembai Choudhary travelled over 500km from their home in Yavatmal, Maharashtra, to Pune to watch their son Mukesh play cricket live at a ground. It was a first for them, and being driven to the ground, offered premium seating, and generally being treated like royalty only added to it. They left the stadium smiling as Choudhary picked up four wickets to keep Chennai Super Kings’ IPL hopes alive this season.”It was an amazing feeling to watch him play live and do so well,” Gopal says. “I had only watched him live on the internet earlier. Before the Mushtaq Ali T20s in Lucknow [last November], Mukesh called and asked us to subscribe to Hotstar to be able to watch him play [on TV]. But this experience was something else.”As Gopal watched the IPL game, he recalled the time his younger son packed his bags as a 13-year-old and left Jaipur with his older brother to move to study at the Sinhagad Institute in Pune. “He always liked cricket, but he moved mainly to study,” Gopal says.The family had no background in sport. Gopal, a stone crusher, moved near Yavatmal in Maharashtra in the mid-1980s for work, but left his sons back in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, where they grew up in a hostel close to their maternal grandparents’ home. Bhilwara back then had just one multi-purpose ground, which used to host carnivals more often than it did cricket matches.Choudhary’s cricket skills were spotted during his days in Pune. One of his friends, a club cricketer, saw him bowl at Pune’s Law College grounds in a league game and suggested he train at the 22 Yards Cricket Academy, co-founded by former Maharashtra captain and national selector Surendra Bhave. There, he could hone his game on turf wickets instead of bowling on cement pitches.At the academy Choudhary caught the eye of several senior Maharashtra players who came to train there during the off season, including Kedar Jadhav, Rahul Tripathi, Swapnil Gugale and Ankeet Bawne, Maharashtra’s current captain.Choudhary’s Maharashtra captain Ankeet Bawne: He is a bowler who a captain can throw the ball to at any stage without thinking about whether he’s ready or not”•BCCI”This was around 2015 that he first came to our academy,” 22 Yards head coach Rajesh Mahurkar remembers. “He didn’t have much pace, but there was something we could work with. Along with him there were two other left-arm pacers. We spoke to all three of them and told them that there is talent, and we could work with it if they’re serious. That is how he started.””We worked on his action, pace, and got him up to speed with his fitness. What stood out was, rain or shine, he was very punctual. He wouldn’t miss training.”As we got him in shape to become a competent bowler, we had our next challenge. How do we get him to play more matches?”The academy wasn’t eligible to field a team at the Maharashtra Cricket Association’s invitational tournament, which featured the state’s top club sides and was a key event for the state selectors picking teams across age groups and for first-class cricket.”One of his friends, who happened to know Pravin Tambe, helped find a corporate team he could play for,” Mahurkar says. “In one of the matches he picked up a five-wicket haul and suddenly came into the limelight.”In 2017, Choudhary impressed with his pace and accuracy at the RedBull Campus Cricket tournament, where he played for MMCC College. Among his team-mates was an upcoming batter, Ruturaj Gaikwad, who would go on to recommend Choudhary as a net bowler to Chennai Super Kings in 2021.By then Choudhary had already bowled in the nets in the IPL, for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians, after fine-tuning his action during a two-year stint at the MRF Pace Academy in Chennai, which he joined in 2016. There he trained under head coach M Senthil Nathan, who has been associated with the academy for over two decades and has worked alongside Dennis Lillee and Glenn McGrath.During his time at MRF, Choudhary would return to Pune to work with his early mentors whenever possible, but he needed to find a club that could compete in tournaments like the MCA Invitational.Harshal Pathak, the former Maharashtra cricketer who now coaches the Thailand women’s national team, signed Choudhary for Cadence Academy, one of the top clubs in Pune, soon after he returned from his first stint at the MRF Academy. A year later, on Tripathi’s recommendation, Choudhary moved to Deccan Gymkhana, the city’s oldest and most prestigious club, to train under former Maharashtra cricketer Satyajit Satbhai.Rajesh Mahurkar, Chouhdary’s mentor in Pune: “Over the past year or so, he’s been working hard to improve his pace. He has identified what he needs to do to get there. He has tremendously improved his fitness and diet”•BCCIImpressive performances for Deccan got Choudhary into the Maharashtra Under-23 team and the senior Ranji side in the same year. He made his first-class debut in November 2017, and now, at 25, is Maharashtra’s front-line seam bowler, now that Samad Fallah and Anupam Sanklecha have moved on.”He’s at that stage where he isn’t insecure anymore,” Bawne says. “He knows he is a regular. He is a bowler who a captain can throw the ball to at any stage without thinking about whether he’s ready or not. I remember a game against Odisha, which we needed to win outright. There was just one session left and we needed to pick up six wickets or so and then chase down a small total.”He bowled ten to 12 overs on the trot, took four wickets, and we won the game.”That attitude comes from within – the willingness to wheel away even on the most placid pitches. It’s no surprise CSK have backed him despite some tough games, where he has been hit for runs. He’s a quick learner, persistent, and a honest trier.”Everyone in the Pune circles describes Choudhary as shy, polite and simple. Mahurkar, who perhaps knows him better than most, speaks highly of his discipline and work ethic.”You will never see him gossiping about anyone. Hardly uses a mobile phone, max one to two hours a day. No WhatsApp, no Facebook. If he must communicate, he’ll just prefer to call.”He comes, quietly trains, does all his drills, he’ll come up and talk to us about something he wants to work on the coming week, and that’s that. You won’t see him idling. If he’s happy with one aspect of his bowling, he will work on the next. Lately, over the past year or so, he’s been working hard to improve his pace. He has identified what he needs to do to get there. He has tremendously improved his fitness and diet. That way he’s very systematic.”Before this year’s IPL auction – his first – Choudhary appeared confident about being picked up by a franchise. “He said MS Dhoni liked his bowling and has been encouraging him a lot, and possibly CSK could give him a call-up,” Mahurkar says. “It’s no surprise they actually bid for him and picked him up at the auction.”Having watched Choudhary’s evolution from close quarters, Mahurkar believes the next step in his journey is for him to become consistent across formats. “His strength is to bowl the ball across the right-hander, but lately he has developed the ball that moves into the right-hander, away from the left-hander.”He mentions the dismissal of Mumbai Indians opener Ishan Kishan from earlier this season as an example. In a game-changing new-ball spell, Choudhary knocked out an off-balance Kishan’s off stump with an outswinger and finished as Player of the Match with 3 for 19.Mahurkar brings up the two other left-arm seamers who first came to train at 22 Yards along with Choudhary. Following his IPL success, they returned to the academy to ask if they could start training again.”The same guys who at the time appeared to have more pace than Mukesh,” Mahurkar says. “They came back wanting to train again after seeing how far this boy has gone.”Can there be a bigger validation than that?”