Newcastle United have become big spenders in the transfer market since they were bought by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in October 2021.

Although the 2024 summer window was quieter for the Magpies, they have not been afraid to splash the cash on new signings since the takeover.

Four of their five most expensive signings, as per Transfermarkt, have come with the new owners at the helm. That includes Alexander Isak, who cost £63m, a club record deal, and Sandro Tonali, with the Italian midfielder costing £55m.

Prior to the takeover, however, the Magpies did not spend money nearly as much and were a selling club rather than a side that spent millions of pounds on new stars.

Newcastle’s record sales

The North Eastern outfit have certainly sold players on for hefty profit during the Premier League era. Within their top eight most expensive sales of all time, just three of them came in the past two summer windows.

Market Movers

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

That includes Elliot Anderson, who moved to Nottingham Forest for a fee which is reportedly worth upwards of £35m. Yankubah Minteh also left the club this summer to join Brighton, and Allan Saint-Maximin left in 2023 for Saudi Arabain outfit Al-Ahli, although he now plies his trade at Fenerbahce.

The other expensive departures from St James’ Park date further back than that. It includes the likes of Yohan Cabaye, who made the move to PSG for a fee of £20m, and Netherlands midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, who moved to Liverpool for around £25m.

Player

Joined

Fee

Year

Elliot Anderson

Nottingham Forest

£35m

2024

Andy Carroll

Liverpool

£35m

2011

Yankubah Minteh

Brighton

£30

2024

Moussa Sissoko

Spurs

£30m

2016

Ayoze Perez

Leicester

£30m

2019

Georginio Wijnaldum

Liverpool

£25m

2016

Allan Saint-Maximin

Al-Ahli

£23m

2023

Yohan Cabaye

PSG

£20m

2013

There is one name on that list in particular whose sale proved to be a stroke of genius from the Magpies, given the money they got and the fact he is worth so little nowadays. That player is Andy Carroll.

Carroll’s Newcastle career

A graduate of the Newcastle academy, striker Carroll had a successful time of things across two spells at St James’ Park. He made 134 appearances for the North Eastern side, scoring 34 goals and grabbing 26 assists.

It took a while for the England international to score his first goal in that famous Black and White striped shirt. First breaking into the first team in 2006/07, it took the striker until January 2009 to find the back of the net, coming against West Ham in the Premier League.

Sadly for the Magpies, they suffered relegation that same season. This arguably benefited the 6’4 striker, however, and he really found his shooting boots. Carroll was prolific in the Championship, scoring 17 goals and grabbing 12 assists in 39 league games, helping the Magpies to promotion at the first time of asking.

That season was not a fluke, and the centre-forward continued his efforts in the top flight. In 2010/11 for the Magpies, he scored 11 goals and grabbed eight assists in just 19 games, which included a hattrick against Aston Villa. His form was so good that Newcastle legend Alan Shearer, speaking on Match of the Day: Top 10 podcast, described him as “unbelievable” when reflecting on Carroll at his best.

His outstanding form earned Carroll a January move to Liverpool, who paid £35m for his services, at the same time as they signed Luis Suarez. That happened to be Newcastle’s record sale, which has since been equalled by Anderson’s move to the City Ground.

Sadly, it did not work out for Carroll on Merseyside. The centre-forward managed just 11 goals in 58 games for the club and ended up back at St James’ Park a few seasons later via West Ham. He managed just one goal on his second spell in the North East.

Nowadays, the former England international plays for Girondins Bordeaux in the fourth tier of French football, after the legendary club were declared bankrupt and relegated. He has five goals in three games for the six-time French champions.

Unsurprisingly, Carroll’s value has dropped considerably. Most recently, Transfermarkt valued the former Magpies man at just £200k. There is certainly an argument that Newcastle made the right choice to sell him for a club-record fee all those years ago.

Not only has his value decreased a lot since the sale, but he was simply never the same prolific goalscorer he was as a Newcastle player for those 18 months in the Championship and Premier League.

Looking back on it, the Magpies may well be relieved they sold the striker for such profit. It has certainly proven to be a smart choice in the long term.

Cost the club £35m: Newcastle star is now worth millions less after leaving

Newcastle made the right call selling star who’s value has plummeted

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 25, 2024

Stats highlights from Netherlands’ historic win against Ireland in Sylhet

Shiva Jayaraman21-Mar-2014

• The six-wicket victory was Netherlands’ first against Ireland in four T20 matches. Ireland had won two of their previous three contests, with one no result.
• Netherlands’ 193 for 4 is the highest total a team has made in 13.5 overs in any T20 cricket. The previous best was 175 by South Africa against England in Centurion in 2009-2010.
• Netherlands made their highest total, beating 172 for 5 against Kenya last year. Ireland’s 189 was their second highest.
• Stephan Myburgh’s 17-ball fifty equalled the second fastest half-century in T20Is. Ireland’s Paul Stirling had hit a 17-ball fifty against Afghanistan in the final of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in 2012. Yuvraj Singh holds the record for the fastest fifty – 12 balls against England in the 2007 World T20.
• Netherlands hit 91 runs in the first-six overs – a record for the Powerplay overs, beating the 90 New Zealand scored against Scotland in the 2009 World T20. Netherlands’ previous highest in the Powerplay was 67, against UAE in an earlier league match of this tournament.
• The Netherlands batsmen hit 19 sixes in this match – the most in a T20 international innings. The previous best was Australia’s 18 against England at the Rose Bowl last year.
• Ireland hit 11 sixes in their innings, their most in a T20 international, taking the tally of sixes in this match to 30, which is a record. India and New Zealand had hit 24 sixes in Christchurch in 2008-09.
• The 101-run partnership between Kevin O’Brien and Andrew Poynter was only the second hundred partnership for Ireland in T20 internationals and their second highest for any wicket. William Porterfield and Paul Stirling had added an unbeaten 109 for the first wicket against Canada in the World Twenty20 Qualifier preliminary final in 2011-12.
• Netherlands’ chase was the fastest – in terms of run rate – of a target of 190 or more in T20 internationals. Netherland scored 193 at a run rate of 13.95. The previous record was held by South Africa, against West Indies in Johannesburg, when they chased down a target of 206 with 14 balls remaining.
• Wesley Barresi and Tom Cooper added 61 runs in 24 balls for the fourth wicket, scoring at 15.25 runs an over, after Peter Borren and Stephan Myburgh had added 91 runs in 36 balls at 15.16 for the first wicket. They were the seventh and eighth fastest 50-plus partnerships in World T20s. Michael Hussey and Mitchell Johnson added 53 runs in 16 balls in the semi-final of the 2010 World T20.

It’s a new season and a new European format, yet it was the same old Manchester United on Wednesday night, with the Red Devils slipping to a 1-1 draw at home to FC Twente on their first Europa League outing of the campaign.

Having finished bottom of the group in a calamitous Champions League run in 2023/24, Erik ten Hag and co would have been looking to get going in a far more positive fashion this time around – although former Rangers man Sam Lammers, aided by first-half goalscorer Christian Eriksen, put paid to that following his clinical second-half strike.

The hosts had taken a deserved lead at Old Trafford following a thumping finish from a resurgent Eriksen on what was his fourth successive start, although there appeared to be a lack of impetus to want to go and kill the game off – a fact that was duly punished.

Having been held to a goalless draw away to Crystal Palace last weekend, United – who have missed the most ‘big chances’ in the Premier League this season – appear to be lacking that cutting edge in front of goal, with the 7-0 thrashing of League One side Barnsley perhaps representing something of an anomaly.

The 3-0 victory over a winless Southampton is the only other game this season in which Ten Hag’s men have scored more than once, with a solution needing to be found to get the attacking unit firing again, even if it comes at the expense of Bruno Fernandes.

Bruno Fernandes' performance vs Twente

The star man of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, Fernandes has so often been the shining light in recent times, having chalked up 149 goals and assists in just 241 games for the club to date.

Even with four assists to his name across all fronts this season, however, the 30-year-old hasn’t quite looked like his usual self, particularly over the past week or so, having even lost possession on 34 occasions during a grim outing at Selhurst Park.

In what was a largely controlled performance in south London, the former Sporting CP star was far more chaotic, seemingly working at odds with those around him.

The same was true again on Wednesday evening, as he provided just a solitary key pass from his 76 touches, while also completing just two of his five dribble attempts and losing the ball 19 times.

That latter metric can be somewhat misleading, as it merely illustrates his desire to create and make things happen for his side, although at present, nothing is seemingly working in his favour.

While Ten Hag would have to be a brave man to oust his captain in the coming weeks, it’s certainly worth considering a new approach which could allow the frontline to finally click into gear.

Man Utd's attacking solution

One of the key issues facing United is the lack of a reliable goalscorer to lead the line, with new man Joshua Zirkzee – who has missed four ‘big chances’ in the league – operating far more comfortably in his side self-styled, ‘9.5’ role.

As MEN journalist Samuel Luckhurst stated following the midweek stalemate, the Dutchman offers ‘productive link-up play outside of the box without looking like scoring inside the box’, handing Ten Hag something of a dilemma over who to select.

With Rasmus Hojlund now available once again, the easy solution would be a straight swap of the Dane for Zirkzee, yet with the latter man having shown glimpses of his innate link-up play of late, it could be time for Ten Hag to try something new instead.

The solution staring the 54-year-old in the face could be to drop Zirkzee into more of a number ten role, with the 23-year-old operating in such a berth anyway, while the returning Hojlund can then slot in as the leading, orthodox number nine.

With the former Atalanta man having only just made his return from injury at Palace after limping off against Arsenal in pre-season, the United boss hasn’t been able to trial this duo as yet, although Fernandes’ limp form could provide the perfect opportunity.

With Zirkzee – who ranks in the top 16% among European forwards for progressive passes – acting as the link between midfield and attack, the Red Devils would then have a proper focal point in Hojlund to lead the line, with the 21-year-old more likely to stretch a backline as he is “lightning quick”, as per Owen Hargreaves.

Debut seasons of selected Man Utd strikers – all competitions
Player (season)	Games	Goals
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (1996/97)	46	19
Ruud van Nistelrooy (2001/02)	49	36
Louis Saha (2004/05)*	22	2
Wayne Rooney (2004/05)	43	17
Dimitar Berbatov (2008/09)	43	14
Javier Hernandez (2010/11)	45	20
Robin van Persie (2012/13)	48	30
Anthony Martial (2015/16)	49	17
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2016/17)	46	28
Romelu Lukaku (2017/18)	51	27
Edinson Cavani (2020/21)	39	17
Rasmus Hojlund (2023/24)	43	16
Stats via Transfermarkt
*(Signed in Jan 2004 – Scored 7 in 14 games in 2003/04)

Operating with two, towering forwards in a frontline may be a relic of the past, but at a time when United – who only scored 57 league goals last season – are looking blunt in attack, a Hojlund-Zirkzee partnership may be the ideal way to sharpen things up.

That may represent bad news for Fernandes, but having relied so much on the Portuguese playmaker for so long, the Old Trafford side may now need to find a new way to win.

Lost the ball 19x: Ten Hag must drop 4/10 star who cost Man Utd vs Twente

He was worse than Christian Eriksen on Wednesday night…

1

By
Joe Nuttall

Sep 26, 2024

da apostebet： Manchester United have been in talks with Ruben Amorim to become their new manager this week, but they have also made an approach for a “fantastic” manager, according to a new report.

da bet sport： The Red Devils have begun their search for an eighth manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired back in 2013, and INEOS will hope they can find the perfect fit this time, as they try desperately to get the club back fighting for the top honours in football.

Related Not Ruud: Man Utd face Solskjaer 2.0 by hiring "bland" Ten Hag successor

Ruud van Nistelrooy will only be in temporary charge of Man Utd

Posts ByJoe Nuttall Oct 29, 2024 Man Utd manager latest

Since United announced the departure of Erik ten Hag on Monday morning, there have been several names linked with the vacancy, as there were even before the Dutchman had left his post.

Spanish great Xavi Hernández was a name that emerged recently, as it was reported that Omar Berrada held meetings with the now unemployed manager in Barcelona. However, that looks to be a non-starter, as Xavi is keen to take a year away and then start a new project in the summer. Meanwhile, Julian Nagelsmann also emerged as an option on Monday for the Red Devils, but as of yet, that is as far as it’s gone.

The frontrunner and the man who looks set to land the Man United job is Sporting CP manager Amorim, as he’s agreed in principle to take the United job. United are now working on completing a deal with the Portuguese side and are ready to pay his 10 million euros (£8m+) release clause in order to bring him to the club.

However, it doesn’t stop there for United, as a report from a top Spanish reporter overnight revealed there is another name in the frame for the managerial role.

Man Utd have approached "fantastic" Fulham manager

According to Guillem Balague, Manchester United have made an approach to Fulham manager Marco Silva. Amorim looks to be the favourite to secure the job still, but he could opt to wait for the Manchester City opening instead, revealed the reporter late on Monday evening.

Balague adds that United are pushing to complete a deal for the 39-year-old Amorim despite his apparent interest in succeeding Pep Guardiola. But even though that is the case, United have made an approach to Silva, who has been described as doing “fantastic work” at Craven Cottage by West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui.

Marco Silva’s Fulham record

Games

151

Won

69

Drawn

29

Lost

53

Silva, another Portuguese manager, has been at Fulham since July 2021 and has taken charge of over 150 games for the club. The 47-year-old guided the Cottagers to Championship promotion in his first season and has since helped establish the club as a solid midtable to top half Premier League team.

Over the years, the Arsenal fanbase have been privileged to be the home of various talents up there as some of the very best during the Premier League era.

The Gunners’ invincible season of 2003/04 will forever cement the club in English football history – winning the league title without losing a single fixture – a feat simply unheard of.

That squad in particular contained numerous icons, with the likes of Thierry Henry playing a huge part in their success under former boss Arsène Wenger.

The French forward scored 228 times in 377 appearances for the club, with his impressive record earning him top spot as the club’s all-time goalscorer.

Fellow attacker Dennis Bergkamp also captured the hearts of many during his 11-year stint in North London – featuring over 300 times and scoring one of the club’s most iconic goals with his spin and finish against Newcastle United.

The Dutch star was also a part of the invincible squad, registering 11 goal contributions that season as he headed towards retirement – but still demonstrating the endless quality he possessed.

However, despite the aforementioned duo’s impact under Wenger during the early 2000s, one other player was an integral part of the Frenchman’s plans – providing a solid foundation at the heart of the side during his time in the capital.

Patrick Vieira’s time at Arsenal

Upon Wenger’s appointment at Highbury back in the summer of 1996, the club already employed numerous key talents such as Ian Wright, Tony Adams and Martin Keown – with the Frenchman tasked with taking the club to the next level.

It’s safe to say, that after his 22-year spell in North London, he did just that, winning three Premier League titles, alongside seven FA Cup triumphs, helping the Gunners become the most successful team in the competition’s history.

However, during his earlier years at the helm, he was reliant on midfielder Patrick Vieira, with his fellow countryman turning himself into a club icon following his time in the capital.

He arrived just before Wenger in 1996 after an unsuccessful stint at Italian giants AC Milan, with the midfielder an unknown quantity to many – but he would quickly establish himself as one of the club’s best-ever midfielders.

Vieira cost the Gunners just £3.5m, slotting straight into the spine of Wenger’s side and becoming a pivotal cog in his compatriot’s success during his tenure as the club’s manager.

The midfielder’s no-nonsense approach made him a monster hit with the supporters, allowing him to make 405 appearances for the Gunners during his nine-year spell at Highbury.

He was part of an infamous battle with then Manchester United man Roy Keane as the two sides often battled it out for bragging rights as England’s biggest side during the late 90s and early 00s.

However, Vieira would eventually depart the club in 2005 for £13.75m, joining Juventus and banking Arsenal a profit of over £10m – whilst leaving his imprint on the club forever.

The now 48-year-old won four FA Cups and three Premier League titles during his time at the club, with the club desperately missing his presence at the heart of midfield after his departure.

That was until the summer of 2018, when the club made a big-money addition off the back of the World Cup, with the new signing potentially becoming their new version of the French superstar.

The player who was thought to be Arsenal’s new Vieira

After starring for Uruguay at the 2018 World Cup, midfielder Lucas Torreira joined Arsenal in a £26m deal from Sampdoria, with real expectations of transforming the side under new boss Unai Emery.

He may have been small in stature, but his aggressive ball-winning playing style made him an instant hit and a key part of the first team, making 50 appearances in all competitions during his first year at the Emirates.

Whilst he was still a key member of the squad during his second season in London, Torreira’s game time decreased, featuring 39 times in all competitions upon the appointment of new manager Mikel Arteta in December 2019.

The 28-year-old would subsequently be sent on two separate loan spells to Atlético Madrid and Fiorentina to gain valuable first-team minutes, all but ending his time as an Arsenal player.

His decline in minutes in the capital certainly took many by surprise, with many of the fanbase comparing him to club legend Vieira during his early months at the Emirates.

However, his four-year spell as a Gunner would come to an end in the summer of 2022, departing the club for £5.5m and joining Turkish Süper Lig side Galatasaray – allowing for fresh blood in Arteta’s side as he aimed to push the club towards a first league title since the invincible season.

Ultimately, given his huge transfer fee, the move was a failure, with Torreira costing the club a fortune despite his early promise during his time in North London.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

How much Torreira cost Arsenal

As previously mentioned, the midfielder joined the club for £26m six years ago, a hefty fee at the time as the Gunners looked to make a big start to life after the departure of Wenger.

However, when combining his transfer fee with his weekly earnings, the deal cost the club a huge amount, especially considering his lack of impact during the latter stage of his time in the capital.

Per game

89

£380,000

Per goal

4

£8.5m

Per assist

4

£8.5m

Per yellow card

14

£2.4m

Per minute

5266

£6.5k

According to Capology, the Uruguayan earned a reported £75k-per-week, which saw him pocket £3.9m per season he featured in the club’s first team.

His two-year spell at the Emirates saw him take home £7.8m in wages alone, which when combined with his transfer fee saw him cost the club a whopping £34m.

His early promise gave supporters a reason to be positive about his move, but ultimately the move didn’t work out as they expected – costing them a fortune by the time of his departure.

The club and Arteta made the right call offloading Torreira, allowing him to play regularly elsewhere, whilst also cutting their losses and preventing them from losing any more money in their hunt for title glory.

He's like Sesko: Arsenal targeting amazing Gabriel Jesus replacement

Mikel Arteta could further bolster Arsenal’s attacking department in January.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 15, 2024

Chelsea have held exit talks with interested clubs over one player ahead of January, as it is believed he has his sights set on a Stamford Bridge exit.

Players who could leave Chelsea in January or next summer

Enzo Maresca’s side take on Liverpool this Sunday, in what is set to be a mouth-watering contest, as the Blues look to upset Arne Slot’s Premier League title challenge and potentially mount an assault of their own.

Key figures inside Man Utd really want to sign "underrated" Chelsea player

They believe he’d be a great addition.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 15, 2024

It has been an impressive start to the season for Chelsea’s new manager, who has guided the west Londoners to four wins, two draws and just one defeat in the league – which came at the hands of English champions Man City – but now one of their toughest tests of the campaign awaits this weekend.

The likes of Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke, Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo – Chelsea’s top performers of the campaign so far according to WhoScored – will play a key role in attempting to thwart the Merseysiders at Anfield.

Liverpool (away)

October 20

Newcastle (home)

October 27

Man United (away)

November 3

Arsenal (home)

November 10

Leicester City (home)

November 23

However, there are also those squad members who appear destined to play a bit-part role. Maresca has already shown that he’s unafraid to axe swathes of players and let them go, with Ian Maatsen, Conor Gallagher, Lewis Hall, Romelu Lukaku, Omari Hutchinson, Angelo Gabriel, Hakim Ziyech, Malang Sarr, Tino Anjorin, Thiago Silva, Lesley Ugochukwu, Armando Broja, Djordje Petrovic, Trevoh Chalobah, Kepa Arrizabalaga, David Datro Fofana, Aflie Gilchrist and Bashir Humphreys all departing on recent loan, permanent or Bosman deals.

Chelsea are prepared to loan out Mykhailo Mudryk in January, so the Ukranian can get some much-needed game time away, while it is believed both Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile could be sold by BlueCo.

AC Milan have also made contact with Carney Chukwuemeka, via his representatives, with the Rossoneri attempting to convince Chelsea’s £100,000-per-week gem to make a move to the San Siro in January.

Chukwuemeka now wants to leave Chelsea, so he can get first-team opportunities elsewhere, and the situation is very much the same with left-back Ben Chilwell.

The Englishman, who missed a large portion of last season through injury, isn’t enjoying a better time of it under Maresca. Spain international Marc Cucurella is the tactician’s preferred option, and Chilwell has been reduced to very limited cup cameos so far as a result.

Ben Chilwell "now wants out" of Chelsea with talks held

Journalist Simon Phillips, via his Substack, has shared an update on the 27-year-old’s future this week. He writes that Chilwell “now wants out” of Chelsea, and the feeling is mutual among those within Cobham.

It is believed numerous clubs have already been spoken to about Chilwell ahead of the January window, with the in-demand ex-Leicester City star attracting interest from Fulham, Crystal Palace, Ipswich, and Manchester United – as well as from clubs in La Liga and Serie A – who have approached Chilwell’s agents.

Chelsea are actively encouraging clubs to come forward, but as things stand, only loan with obligation-to-buy deals have been offered by interested sides. Todd Boehly and co want a permanent deal, though, and won’t entertain any loan offers – so there is still work to do.

“He’s Premier League ready, we know that having played in this league as well as he has for Leicester and he looked like he’d played for us for a long time,” said former boss Frank Lampard on Chilwell back in 2020.

“I admired him before because of his ability to be so high up the pitch when you want him, not that he’s being reckless by being there. He just arrives, he’s got the capacity to get up and back, great quality on the ball, and he’s a great lad.”

أبدى بيدري جونزاليس، لاعب وسط برشلونة، سعادته الكبيرة بالفوز المثير الذي حققه فريقه على حساب ريال مدريد في كلاسيكو الدوري الإسباني، معترفًا في الوقت نفسه بأن الفريق لم يبدأ اللقاء بأفضل طريقة، كما وجه انتقادات لتحكيم هيرنانديز هيرنانديز، متحدثًا عن بعض القرارات التي أثارت الجدل.

وتغلب برشلونة على ريال مدريد بنتيجة 4-3، في الجولة الخامسة والثلاثين للدوري الإسباني، ويحتاج إلى نقطتين ليحسم لقب الليجا.

وقال بيدري في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية: “الفريق دخل المباراة وهو في حالة شرود غير مسبوقة، لكننا أثبتنا مجددًا أننا قادرون على قلب النتيجة”.

اقرأ أيضًا | تشيزني بعد انتصار الكلاسيكو: عقليًا لم أعد في الملعب.. وزوجتي ستُحدد مصيري مع برشلونة

وعن تمريرته الحاسمة لرافينها، أضاف: “في تلك اللقطة رأيت أن كيليان مبابي كان يريد تحويل اللعب إلى الجهة الأخرى، فافتككت الكرة منه ومررتها لرافا، الذي أنهى الهجمة كما يفعل دائمًا… كأحد أفضل اللاعبين في العالم”.

بيدري أشار أيضًا إلى أن الحكم هيرنانديز هيرنانديز، لم يكن موفقًا في بعض القرارات، وعلّق: “فيما يخص الحكم، أعتقد أن هناك لقطات لم نجد لها تفسيرًا، مثل ركلة الجزاء، تحدثت مع لامين في النهاية وقلت له إنه يجب علينا التحلي بالمزيد من الهدوء”.

واختتم حديثه بالإشارة إلى فرص برشلونة في حسم لقب الليجا مبكرًا، قائلًا: “سنرى ما سيفعله ريال مدريد يوم الأربعاء، ونأمل أن نحسم لقب الدوري يوم الخميس”.

Plays of the Day from the Group A match between New Zealand and Bangladesh in Hamilton

Andrew McGlashan and Devashish Fuloria13-Mar-2015The fieldBrendon McCullum has been employing Test match fields throughout the tournament and today was no different. Two slips were a norm but at times, the number went up to four. However, it was not just about placing everyone for the edge. When Mahmudullah, the first right-hander in the line-up, walked in the third over, two short midwickets were in place. Mahmudullah knew what the ploy was, still he ended up pushing the inswinging Trent Boult delivery in the air towards those two men. Fortunately for him, he couldn’t have placed it better, the ball just out of reach of a diving Martin Guptill.The diveCould Brendon McCullum be Superman? He certainly did a good impression as he chased down a ball heading to the boundary, then flung himself with incredible hang-time to try and flick it back. As he thudded into the ground there were gasps; he pounded into the grass and was a little ginger as he got up. Every run is vital in a one-dayer, but some one-dayers are more vital than others. Next week’s in Wellington is more important than this match. Would it have been worth serious damage? And, in the end, it was still a boundary.The missGiven the high standards New Zealand set on the field, it was surprising to see them drop a few catches. Corey Anderson missed one at second slip, Guptill would have perhaps plucked on another day the one he missed at midwicket or the other one later in the innings had his anticipation been correct, but the one that stood out was McCulllum. As Shakib Al Hasan struck Corey Anderson flat and hard, the ball, as viewed from the press-box, right behind McCullum, seemed to be stuck on the bat for a moment before taking off. It was possibly the angle of the bat when it made contact. McCullum was confused too and reacted too late even though the ball wasn’t too far from his left shoulder. Injury averted, chance missed.The shotThere have been plenty of sixes at the World Cup, but not many off Daniel Vettori. When Mahmadullah, on 77, slog-swept over deep square-leg, it was just the third six Vettori had conceded in the tournament. Not that Vettori’s figures suffered too badly – although 42 was the most he had gone for in six matches – but Mahmadullah’s shot was another example of calculation and composure that has typified Bangladesh’s batting in the last two matches.The firstThe Bangladesh camp hinted strongly they would open the bowling with spin and they did not disappoint. Shakib, the stand-in captain, took the first over then Taijul Islam, brought into the side for fellow spinner Arafat Sunny, took the second. It made it the first time in ODI history that two left-arm spinners had opened the bowling.The failureKane Williamson has been under the weather in the days before this match and he’ll have felt pretty sick when he cut his second ball to point, giving Shakib his second wicket in four balls and leaving New Zealand 33 for 2. It ended a remarkable run of scoring in ODIs for him – this was the first innings since December 26, 2013 where he had not made double figures, during which time he has made 1360 runs at 64.76. But if he has saved a few for the quarter-final, the whole of New Zealand will be delighted.

“Sports can transcend boundaries and nationalities and that’s what we are seeing here”

Firdose Moonda02-May-2022Sana Mir isn’t too sure if she still knows how to bowl a cricket ball, but the next fortnight will tell. The former Pakistan captain has come out of retirement to lead Sapphires at the FairBreak Invitational T20 competition and has temporarily swapped her commentator’s microphone for time in the middle, in the hope of inspiring a new generation of women’s players.”From the very start, I loved the concept of FairBreak. Growing up in Pakistan, we didn’t have a lot of mentors and having mentors increases how you grow as a player. It’s been two years since I’ve played and this concept has brought me back,” Mir said at the captains’ press conference in Dubai, where she made clear her intention to offer herself as a role model to anyone who is interested.Related

Mary-Anne Musonda keeps the Zimbabwe flag flying as cricket creeps towards recognition back home

First-of-its-kind women's T20 event to bring together players from 35 countries

“It’s a great satisfaction to be able to share whatever knowledge I have gained over the years, not only with players from my own country but with players from other countries. It’s great to be back but it has been tough. At one point I thought I forgot how to hold the ball but hopefully, I haven’t. The commentary was great, especially getting to spend time with people like Nasser Hussain and Lisa Sthalekar, that was amazing, but I look forward to playing again.”Mir will lead a team that includes Australia’s, Elyse Villani, Jade Allen and Grace Harris, South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail, England’s Natasha Farrant, and Ireland’s Gaby Lewis and Kim Garth. There are also seven Associate players in her squad, as is the case with all the teams in the competition, which aims to bring together cricketers from 30 countries to increase playing opportunities across the women’s game.It’s this unique blend that got Mir excited enough to compare her comeback to the feeling of waking up on Eid morning, with the same spirit of being part of something bigger than oneself.

Can't stop smiling when you get a chance to play again and with such diverse group of cricketers. Shabnim Ismail (SA), Maryam Omar (Kuwait), Elyse Villani (Aus), Joy ( Philippines)

Feels like Eid already Alhamdolillah @fairbreakglobal #TeamSapphire pic.twitter.com/Aa4SBf8LtI

— Sana Mir ثناء میر (@mir_sana05) May 1, 2022