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Sri Lanka’s most-famed England victory may still be their Oval win from 1998, but the team that won the third Test of their 2024 tour on Monday did it in tougher conditions. This is what Sanath Jayasuriya believes, and he would know. Jayasuriya was one of the architects of the 1998 victory, crashing 213 runs off 278 balls in the first innings, clubbing 24 not out off 17 in the second dig, and bowling 39 overs of left-arm spin.As the interim coach who oversaw Sri Lanka’s next victory at the same venue, he was full of praise for the fast bowlers in particular. Unlike the 1998 victory, which came on an exceedingly dry deck and mostly under clear skies, this one came on a green-tinged track, in cold and cloudy weather.Related

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• Classy Nissanka leaves England as the best version of himself

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“About 27 years ago we won here, under Arjuna [Ranatunga]. Murali [Muthiah Muralidaran] got about 16 wickets, I got a double-hundred, Aravinda [de Silva] got a 150,” Jayasuriya reminisced. “It’s a place we’ll never forget – The Oval.”But these guys played in different conditions altogether. It was tough conditions, with the grass, the weather, and everything was cloudy and cold. All credit to these boys. The fielders fielded well and the batsmen took responsibility in the second innings.”Sri Lanka’s quartet of quicks were the primary architects of the victory, sharing 18 wickets between them, largely evenly (series-topper Asitha Fernando took three wickets, Milan Rathnayake bagged four, Vishwa Fernando took five, and Lahiru Kumara six).”It’s the first time we went with four fast bowlers, and we went with that because of the conditions here, and all of them went beyond 100% in their efforts,” Jayasuriya said. “It’s a joy to talk about them. Our second-innings bowling was remarkable – they stuck to the plan and got them out in under 35 overs, all out for a little more than 150.”The attitude Lahiru Kumara brought to the middle is what I expected – I wanted him to show as much of that as possible in the middle. That’s how we need to play cricket. He bowled an excellent line and length.”Asitha Fernando was outstanding right through the series. Rathnayake was really good as a newcomer – he bowled really well. Vishwa Fernando – the way he bowled in the second innings is absolutely what we wanted.”Jayasuriya’s 213 off 278 balls in the 1998 Oval Test was one of his greatest innings•Getty Images

The series also saw the blossoming of young talents for Sri Lanka, with Kamindu Mendis and Pathum Nissanka hitting Sri Lanka’s only hundreds in the series. Nissanka was especially aggressive at The Oval, breezing his way to 64 off 51 in the first innings, then leading Sri Lanka’s chase with 127 not out off 124 in the second dig.”Pathum couldn’t play Tests for a few years because of injuries, but he’s been doing well in T20s and one-dayers, ” Jayasuriya said. “He played his natural game here, and I love to see him doing that. Even the non-strikers can play their natural game when Pathum plays like that. It’s good to see him play good cricket in all three versions.”Kamindu was Sri Lanka’s most prolific batter, hitting two fifties in addition to the century to finish with 267 runs for the series. He made these runs batting at No. 7 and 8.”We shouldn’t forget Kamindu Mendis and his innings right through the series. In pressure situations he he batted like an experienced player.”Meanwhile, Rathnayake – who made his debut in the first Test – took 10 wickets through the series, and produced innings worth 72 and 43 from down the order.”Milan played Sri Lanka A cricket and we knew that he was a good bowler and could bat well. But the world didn’t know he could bat,” Jayasuriya said. “He batted really well and bowled really well right through this Test series. He was a bit stiff in his first Test, but after that he bowled really well and started to relax. We will need a seam-bowling allrounder in the future.”

Adelaide, meanwhile, has secured a seven-year commitment to a pre-Christmas slot for their Test

Andrew McGlashan18-Aug-2024Australia and England will play a one-off Test at the MCG in March 2027 to mark 150 years of the format. The confirmation of the anniversary fixture in Melbourne came as Cricket Australia [CA] and state governments announced that the MCG, SCG and Adelaide Oval had locked in seven-year staging agreements for their regular Tests.The Test in 2027 will replicate the Centenary Test of 1977 which Australia won by 45 runs, matching the margin of the first Test played in 1877. In 1977, Rod Marsh and Derek Randall struck centuries while Dennis Lillee claimed 11 wickets.The annual Boxing Day (Melbourne) and New Year’s Tests (Sydney) have been guaranteed in until 2030-31 while Adelaide has secured a seven-year commitment to a pre-Christmas slot for their Test after the South Australia government made a pitch for the New Year’s Test.Although the current Future Tours Programme (FTP) is only inked up to early 2027, England and India have confirmed tours in the four years after that.Related

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Ashes 2025-26: CA schedules Brisbane day-night Test after Perth opener

Is this the end for the Gabba?

Meanwhile, Optus Stadium in Perth will host the opening Test of the season for the next three seasons. Mike Baird, the Cricket Australia chair, said that it was the Western Australian government’s decision not to seek a longer deal. That means next year’s Ashes will start in the west rather than the traditional Gabba in Brisbane. They will then host New Zealand at the start of the 2026-27 season.The future of Gabba has been left clouded amid uncertainty over the redevelopment plans for the stadium ahead of the 2032 Olympics and only the next two seasons – matches against India and England – have been confirmed with a chance the Gabba doesn’t host a Test for a considerable time after that. The 2026-27 season will be the first time in 50 years that the Gabba won’t host a Test.”In Brisbane it is harder [to plan] because of the infrastructure,” Baird said. “There is just uncertainty, so we’re not sure of the long-term solution. What we do know is the Gabba has a use for life that ends in 2030. We need a solution, and are working with the AFL as well on a long-term solution.”We want a great venue in Brisbane, that can support Queensland Cricket and Australian cricket for years to come.”ESPNcricinfo LtdAdelaide is the traditional home of day-night Test cricket having hosted seven of the 12 matches held in Australia although the new agreement does not guarantee that all future Tests there will be pink-ball encounters and the 2025-26 Ashes Test will be a red-ball game with Brisbane hosting the day-nighter. Adelaide Oval will also host a New Year’s Eve BBL game for the next seven years.England will tour for a five-match Ashes series in 2025-26 and New Zealand will be the visitors in 2026-27. The latter series will be extended to four Tests from the original three on the FTP and be played in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney. Australia are then due to tour India for five Tests in January and February 2027.With the additional anniversary Test, there is a potential squeeze on the calendar in March 2027 with Australia due to host Bangladesh in two matches which are part of the World Test Championship. There is a chance those games will be moved although under the current WTC structure would need to be played ahead of the June 2027 final.Although rival states made attempts to take the marquee Christmas and New Year Tests off Melbourne and Sydney it was always an unlikely outcome. Beyond 2026-27 there could be an opportunity for other venues to compete for a Test should the Gabba be unavailable which would bring Hobart and Canberra into the mix. Tasmania has ambitions to host indoor Test cricket at their proposed new multipurpose stadium although that won’t be available until at least 2028.The staging agreements confirmed on Sunday are one of the final big projects completed by outgoing CA CEO Nick Hockley who announced earlier this month that he would be stepping down next March.A future schedule for women’s internationals will be confirmed in the coming months when the next FTP is complete but Adelaide has been guaranteed an ODI or T20I every season.Cricket Australia match allocationsNew South WalesSeven seasons (2024/25 to 2030/31)
Confirmed matches: Men’s New Year’s Test each summerQueenslandTwo seasons (2024/25 & 2025/26)
Confirmed matches: 1 Men’s Test to be played prior to 30 December each summer and 1 Men’s ODI/T20I each summerSouth AustraliaSeven seasons (2024/25 to 2030/31)
Confirmed matches: Men’s Day/Night Test vs India (2024/25), Men’s Christmas Test (2025/26 to 2030/31), 1 Men’s ODI/T20I each summer, 1 Women’s T20/ODI each summer and BBL match on New Year’s Eve each summerVictoriaSeven seasons (2024/25 to 2030/31)
Confirmed matches: Men’s Boxing Day Test each summer, Women’s 90th Anniversary Day/Night Test vs England in 2024/25 and Men’s 150th Anniversary Test vs England in 2026/27Western AustraliaThree seasons (2024/25 to 2026/27)
Confirmed matches: First Men’s Test each summer and 1 Men’s ODI/T20I each summer

Mujeeb missed the entire IPL 2024 because of the same injury, a sprain in the index finger on his bowling hand

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jun-2024

Mujeeb Ur Rahman will play no further part in the 2024 T20 World Cup after a recurrence of the finger injury that kept him out of IPL 2024. Mujeeb played in Afghanistan’s opening fixture of the World Cup against Uganda, but has not featured since because of the injury – a sprain in the index finger on his bowling hand.He has been replaced in Afghanistan’s squad by Hazratullah Zazai, the opening batter. The ICC confirmed on Friday afternoon that their event technical committee had approved the replacement, following Afghanistan’s victory over Papua New Guinea.Afghanistan had a replacement for Mujeeb in their squad in Noor Ahmad, who played in their last two fixtures. Noor bowled one wicketless over in their win over New Zealand but took 1 for 14 in his four overs on Thursday night, trapping PNG’s top-scorer Kiplin Doriga lbw with a googly.6:50

Ganga: ‘Afghanistan are playing like a top-three-ranked team’

“He’s going to be a big part for us going forward, as these wickets continue to wear,” Jonathan Trott, Afghanistan’s coach, said of Noor. “It’s always nice to have the option of him to come into the side, or the left-arm spin of Nangeyalia Kharote, who can come into the side – he did really well in the last [series] against Ireland – and obviously [Mohammad] Nabi, who can bowl spin as well.”Zazai, the left-hand opening batter, is not a like-for-like replacement for Mujeeb but will bolster Afghanistan’s batting options. He has not played a T20I since February but did feature at the last two T20 World Cups, and has the second-highest individual score in a men’s T20I.Afghanistan sealed their spot in the Super Eight stage by beating PNG and face West Indies in their final group game on Monday in St Lucia.

Arsenal are reportedly set to kickstart a significant squad overhaul over the course of this summer transfer window, as Mikel Arteta attempts to build a Premier League-winning team after missing out on this year’s crown to Liverpool.

Andrea Berta set for busy summer at Arsenal

La Liga expert and respected journalist Guillem Balague has already shared what supporters can expect from new sporting director Andrea Berta, with the Italian already hard at work to back Arteta in the transfer market.

Related £50m star could now reject Arsenal move and sign new deal after talks

He also snubbed an exit last summer.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Jun 4, 2025

Berta has held extensive talks over a move for Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres, and met with RB Leipzig director Marcel Schafer in London to discuss the prospect of a deal for Benjamin Sesko, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Arsenal are working to discover the conditions of deals for Sesko and Gyokeres before deciding which striker to prioritise, according to the BBC, but Berta is believed to have other key items on his agenda this summer as well.

While Martin Zubimendi’s signing is proving more complicated than first thought, with the Spain international now denying he’s set for an imminent Arsenal move, it is also rumoured that the Gunners are actively pursuing a new wide player.

“He’s been described to me by one of the decision makers, one of the ones that decided to bring him in, that he’s experienced, he’s a hard worker, and he’s very brave,” said Balague about Berta to TNT Sports.

“But basically, he’s going to have to be creative as well. Arsenal are not here with the intention of spending £200 or £300 million. They just want to be creative with what they’ve got and what they bring in.

“They’re going to have to create three or four players that go straight into the line-up. I would say a left winger, centre-forward and holding midfielder. Mikel Arteta said it’s the biggest transfer window for a long while and having Berta next to him as a partnership will definitely help.”

Jorginho set for Flamengo medical after leaving Arsenal

A new centre midfielder, which could still be Zubimendi, is especially vital considering Jorginho is leaving the Emirates, with Arsenal announcing his departure today via their retained list.

The Italy international has agreed a pre-contract deal to join Brazilian side Flamengo, and has been in talks to terminate his Arsenal contract earlier than June 30 so he can feature for his new team at the Club World Cup.

That is apparently done and dusted, with GE Globo reporting that Jorginho is set for a medical on Friday ahead of signing a three-year contract at Flamengo.

With the 33-year-old leaving, it makes the arrival of Zubimendi and a potential contract extension for Thomas Partey all the more important, otherwise Arteta risks being left very short in that area.

“I know him a lot, so for me it is nice to play with him, he knows me well,” said Kai Havertz about Jorginho in 2024.

“It makes life easy for me, he is a world-class player.”

The Champions League is the biggest competition in club football. It is a chance for the world’s best to prove their calibre against the finest leagues and teams in Europe for the ultimate prize of ‘Old Big Ears’ come May or June every year.

As is the case with any competition, it is a marathon rather than a sprint, and Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record for most Champions League goals, with 141 in 183 appearances.

However, the way a club starts can often foretell their chances of glory at the end. This came to pass in the first season of the brand new league phase in 2024/25, with three of the top four clubs reaching the semi-finals.

With this in mind, Football FanCast takes a look at the top 12 goalscorers in the Champions League group stage/league phase.

Stats correct as of 14th May 2025.

Rank

Player

Goals

Lionel Messi

Cristiano Ronaldo

Robert Lewandowski

Karim Benzema

Raul

Ruud van Nistelrooy

Thierry Henry

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Mohamed Salah

Antoine Griezmann

Alessandro Del Piero

Erling Haaland

12 Erling Haaland 33 goals

The newest entrant to this list has wasted little time making a name for himself, with Erling Haaland racing into the record books thanks to his incredible knack for goals.

His first Champions League strikes came for RB Salzburg in the 2019/20 season, scoring a hat-trick on his group stage debut against Genk, before scoring five more in the four matches that followed.

Continuing his hot streak for Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City – with whom he won the competition in 2023 – Haaland has already become one of the competition’s best strikers, yet he’s barely 25. If there’s one challenger to the top scorers, it’s him.

11 Alessandro Del Piero 33 goals

Known as one of the great one-club legends, Alessandro Del Piero is another whose talent perhaps deserved more than the sole winners’ medal he earned in 1996. He always favoured loyalty over glory with Juventus, but his 33 goals in the group stages of the Champions League prove his devotion was bettered by his goal-getting instinct.

In the competition’s history, Del Piero is the highest-scoring Italian, with nine goals in the knockouts bringing his total to 42 on the continental stage.

10 Antoine Griezmann 34 goals

Antoine Griezmann may not have got his hands on the Champions League trophy, but his exploits for Atletico Madrid and Barcelona have ensured his place in the competition’s history.

The Frenchman came closest to the trophy in 2016, when his Atletico side were beaten on penalties by city rivals Real. Griezmann missed a penalty in normal time before Los Rojiblancos found an equaliser, though he made up for it somewhat by scoring in the shootout.

With a further nine goals outside of the group stage, he remains one of the best goalscorers that the Champions League has eluded in the modern era.

9 Mohamed Salah 35 goals

Mo Salah was pivotal to Liverpool’s sixth European triumph when his early penalty against Tottenham set Jurgen Klopp’s men on the way to victory in 2019.

On top of this, he has become the club’s top goalscorer in Europe, while across all UEFA club competitions, he holds the record for most goals scored for an English club, previously set by Thierry Henry in 2006.

In the Champions League, Salah has edged ahead of the likes of Sergio Aguero in the group stage, with his contributions for Basel, Roma and Liverpool making him a legend of the competition.

8 Zlatan Ibrahimovic 38 goals

Europe’s finest journeyman, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is known on and off the pitch for his confidence and distinctive maverick personality.

In front of goal, he was a monster, and from 38 group stage goals for seven different clubs, there weren’t too many that weren’t absolutely 10/10 spectacular.

Whether it be with his head, left foot, right foot, or through a volley, rocket, or a swerving, curling strike, Zlatan could score any type of goal from any angle or range.

7 Thierry Henry 38 goals

Also on 38 goals, Thierry Henry had a long and successful time playing in the Champions League.

Before Kylian Mbappe tore up the record books, the Arsenal Invincible was the youngest Frenchman to reach the 40-goal mark, while he remains the competition’s all-time second-highest goalscorer from France with half a century – second only to the marvellous Karim Benzema.

Henry crowned his fruit-bearing European adventure in 2009 when he lifted the trophy with Barcelona after brushing Manchester United aside in the final.

6 Ruud van Nistelrooy 50 goals

50 goals in the Champions League group stage is quite the jump from 38, especially since there were only six such games each year. But perhaps even more surprising is the fact that Ruud van Nistelrooy is the only Dutchman to make the top 12.

Despite the Oranje boasting a successful bloodline of special footballers, it is the striking endeavours of the Eindhoven product turned Man United and Real Madrid superstar that stand at the very top.

The Ruud Devil, however, is another who never lifted the famous trophy. But in 2001/02, 2002/03 and 2004/05, he finished as the competition’s top goalscorer.

Remarkably, he only ever scored six goals in the knockouts, but everything adds up to an impressive overall tally of 60 Champions League goals.

5 Raúl González 53 goals

Raúl is the highest-ranking Spanish player to feature and is one of his nation’s most decorated footballers.

Raúl became the first player to score 50 Champions League goals when he scored in a 2-1 group stage win over Olympiacos in September 2005 and was also the first to make 100 appearances in the competition. He was also the first player to score in two Champions League finals since the competition’s rebrand, notching in the finals of 2000 and 2002.

It is no surprise, then, to learn that the Spaniard is the fifth-highest goalscorer in the competition’s history, while he is joint-fifth in terms of winning the famous trophy thanks to three triumphs with Real Madrid – the benchmark football club on the continent.

4 Karim Benzema 56 goals

Somewhat overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, in his own right, is one of the greatest out-and-out strikers of all time.

He is France’s top goalscorer in European competition with 90 goals in 140 games, and he is the first in this ranking to have won both the Champions League (five times!) and the Ballon d’Or (2022).

3 Robert Lewandowski 71 goals

Robert Lewandowski’s entire career has been enmeshed in near-misses when it comes to silverware. He should have won the Ballon d’Or in 2020, robbed by a pandemic. Yet, his record proves he’s one of the greatest number 9s ever.

Nowadays, he aims for more glory with Barcelona, even in his mid-thirties. The Poland international will hope to add to his tally group stage goals in 2025/26.

Across all stages of the Champions League, Lewandowski has 105 goals – third in the overall ranking once more.

The title is within reach….

Scottish champions Celtic closed in on yet another Premiership crown after recording a resounding 5-1 win over Kilmarnock on Saturday afternoon, with the Hoops responding in perfect fashion following last week’s disappointment at St Johnstone.

That 1-0 defeat at McDiarmid Park highlighted what has been a sticky spell for the Glasgow giants, with three defeats in six league outings, yet those woes were quickly forgotten this time around, as Brendan Rodgers’ men raced into a 4-0 lead inside 25 minutes.

Having put in a disappointing showing last week, Reo Hatate opened the scoring with a thunderous effort from range, before compatriot Daizen Maeda tapped home at the backpost for his 31st goal of the campaign.

Another stunning strike, this time from a surprise package in Cameron Carter-Vickers, was then followed by Hatate’s second of the day, with the Japanese playmaker calmly converting inside the penalty area.

Further gloss was then put on proceedings at the death – following a Killie consolation late in the first-half – as substitute Anthony Ralston lashed in from the angle to make it five. All eyes on Rangers now tomorrow…

Celtic's key performers vs Kilmarnock

It’s certainly worth giving another shout-out to that man Maeda, with the 27-year-old becoming the first player since Henrik Larsson to score in eight successive starts at Parkhead.

That finish may rank among the simplest of 2024/25 thus far, although the same can’t be said of Hatate, with the diminutive midfielder bending home in expert fashion to open the scoring on the day.

The 25-year-old’s second was also further evidence of his class as he delightfully made space for himself inside the area, having also claimed an assist for Ralston’s strike with a delicate dink round the corner.

Elsewhere, it was another fine showing from young Arne Engels, who came close to scoring himself after rattling the crossbar, while Alistair Johnston was also a real outlet again at right-back, with the Canadian teeing up Hatate’s second, having earlier played the pass that led to Maeda’s tap-in.

The former Montreal man – who chalked up 109 touches and achieved a 94% pass accuracy – is among those in Rodgers’ ranks who are simply undroppable, even despite Ralston’s late heroics, with the same also true of another of his teammates.

The Celtic star who showed why he's undroppable

As the Old Firm side slipped to a narrow defeat in the derby, there was perhaps a clear reason for the limp nature of their first-half display, in particular – the absence of Callum McGregor.

It was perhaps no surprise that the league leaders endured an off day without their long-serving skipper in tow, with the academy graduate simply vital to everything that is good about Celtic.

As club legend Chris Sutton noted, the Hoops “missed his leadership” and “missed his quality” in that defeat to Rangers, with McGregor – who was replaced by Engels in that deep-lying role on the day – making “everything look so easy in that position”.

Touches

155

Pass accuracy

97%

Key passes

2

Successful dribbles

2/2

Long balls

2/2

Possession lost

5x

Fouls won

1

Aerial duels

1/3

Ground duels

5/5

Dribbled past

0

Such class was again on show on Saturday afternoon, with the experienced Scotsman quietly pulling the strings in his usual serene style. He may not have stolen the headlines, but the 31-year-old was again the man making everything tick.

Indeed, the one-time Notts County loanee racked up a mammoth total of 155 touches and achieved a stunning 97% pass accuracy rate, having lost possession on just five occasions despite that heavy involvement.

That impact in the centre of the park also saw McGregor complete 100% of his attempted dribbles and register two key passes, having also won all five of his ground duels, thus showcasing the steel to match the silk.

In truth, such a showing was a captain’s performance in every sense of the word, with the question remaining as to how Rodgers will manage to replace his leading figure in the years to come, amid the current lack of genuine alternatives in that number six berth.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

That is a problem for another day, however, with all focus now on just when it will be that a record-equalling 55th league title can be secured.

The new Aaron Mooy: Rodgers has struck gold on "tenacious" Celtic sensation

As Celtic continue their fight for yet another domestic treble, one unsung hero has so far been reminiscent of Aaron Mooy.

ByBen Gray Apr 10, 2025

At 46, the ageless wonder leggie still has what it takes in T20. He talks about his success with Guyana and what keeps him ticking

Interview by Deivarayan Muthu11-Aug-20252:53

‘I know how to respect my team members and that’s most important’

Imran Tahir turned 46 this March but continues his Benjamin Button act in T20 tournaments around the world. In 2023 he led Guyana Amazon Warriors to their maiden CPL title and two years later he captained them to their first Global Super League title. Since turning 40, he has bagged 266 wickets at an economy rate of 6.86 in T20s. Only Rashid Khan, Haris Rauf, Chris Jordan, Wanindu Hasaranga and Shaheen Afridi have taken more wickets than Tahir during this period. The T20 veteran spoke to us during the GSL this July about his cult status in Guyana, captaincy style, Amazon Warriors’ spin depth, and his ambitions for the upcoming CPL season.You have played for a whole lot of T20 teams around the world but you keep coming back to Guyana. You’re the only overseas player with more than 100 CPL wickets. What’s it like to be a cult hero in Guyana?
Look, it’s very special. The team gives me all the confidence and still believes in my ability. The people of Guyana really respect and give me a lot of love, and I think that’s where you want to be. With that kind of love you always want to come back and play for the same badge, and you just want to be here every year.I think I need to do a lot of extra gym work to be here every year (). But as long as I’m doing well for the team and what they require from me, if I justify it, then , I can keep coming back to Guyana.Related

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You turned 46 this year but you keep finding ways to take wickets and win games. How do you manage your body and mind in this fast-paced T20 world?
Yeah, look, it’s tough. But I’m a bit lucky now because I have more time to do training than [having to] keep playing. I think that gives me a bit more benefit – I look after myself well, eat well and try to sleep on time and just be loyal to my job. Then when I get to play, I know I can give my 100% to my team.You had a great GSL, where you led from the front. How has the build-up been, leading into CPL 2025?
Last year it was a bit of a rush. We jumped out of a flight and started playing GSL. So I felt like this year we should get together and have a camp and see how we can improve as a team. All of us, [including] guys coming from overseas, worked very hard and looked to improve on a few things and it paid off for us.Red and green spell go for Tahir: Guyana is home for him, the Pakistan-born leggie says•CPL T20/ Getty ImagesI hope we can carry this form into the CPL, where we also have a couple of youngsters who are not part of the GSL with us. But we picked them for the CPL, and they were there for the training camp, and I’m sure they’ve had a good experience with the senior players before they get to play the CPL. All in all, it was a good effort from the franchise to get everyone together and build this team for the GSL and CPL.In 2023, Warriors won their first CPL title under your leadership, and they came close to defending it successfully last season. How would you describe yourself as a captain?
Yeah, look, I’ve only been given one opportunity in my life as a captain. I just feel like I don’t have to prove anything to anyone about my captaincy or skills. I use my experience during captaincy, and I know how to respect my team-mates. I think that’s the most important thing in a team environment.When you’re happy for each other, play for each other and respect the team culture [success follows]. I’d rather be a player, but whether I play as a captain or player, I want everyone in the team to be happy and respected. That’s what I try to do in this team, and hopefully [as long as] I have this responsibility, I want to share my experience with the players and make sure the youngsters, if they want to learn something, I can try and help them through our senior players.Like we have some really good local players in our squad. Romario Shepherd, Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul have been with the franchise for a long time, and to have them around, I’m sure it’s a great learning experience for the youngsters. And like I said, if there’s any spinners, even batters or bowlers with whom I can share my experience, I want to help them. I feel that’s my job as a captain.Over the years you have been mentoring spinners in leagues around the world. Is that something you enjoy?
Yeah, I think so. I don’t do it for the camera. I just like to share my knowledge. I think not many shared their knowledge with me when I was younger, and that was a bit of a sad part. But if you want to be a professional cricketer and you want to achieve your dreams, then you have to work hard and keep learning and that’s what my belief is.Tahir and Gudakesh Motie celebrate a wicket in the 2023 CPL final, which gave Guyana Amazon Warriors their first title in the tournament•Ashley Allen/CPL T20/Getty ImagesI don’t want youngsters to go through [what I did]. I want them to know what a slider, googly and flipper is. I’d rather want them to know it at the age of 15. Then they can serve their country or franchise in a better way than I did because I came to international cricket very late and showed my skills late in my career. I’m still trying to improve.So from my point of view, wherever I go, I just want to share my knowledge and pass it on to the youngsters. I do like to talk about legspin bowling and see how the other spinners think about the game and how my thinking is. So it’s always nice to talk about the game and share my knowledge. When I do that, I feel good deep in my heart.You were a pioneer as a wristspinner in T20 cricket, bowling flat and quick and getting your googlies to zip. How do you think your bowling has changed as T20 has evolved?
You always want to keep learning. It doesn’t matter how good you are; you always learn about the game every single day, and that’s what the game has taught me throughout my career. Spinners play a big role in modern T20 cricket these days and you need to keep improving your skills.Apart from legspinners, even left-arm spinners and offspinners have high skill levels these days. You have to work hard to be successful in the international arena because you know the batsmen are waiting for any [mistake]. If you see a slow ball [flighted] in the air, they want to hit, and the batsmen have got so many shots these days. So, as a spinner, I always want to keep improving.The googly and the flipper have brought you a lot of wickets. Have you explored any new variations?
Yeah, there are a few, but you’ll only get to see it on TV. I’m not the kind of guy who would talk about it in interviews and put it [the thought] in people’s head (). But yes, I’m still working on a couple of things and hopefully I can be able to bowl those balls in the future.ESPNcricinfo LtdAmazon Warriors have almost every variety of spin in their attack. What do you make of the spin depth?
It’s a blessing for Guyana that we have so many spinners when we come up against left-right hand [batter pairs]. [Gudakesh] Motie is very good, and our local core is very good. We’ve also got Moeen [Ali].Motie has become a world-class spinner. Having these spinners helps. You see different batsmen coming with different plans and you can just throw the ball to any of these spinners who can challenge any batsman. Trying to get wickets as quick as we can is our plan, so we try to keep putting pressure on the opposition and make sure we demolish their batting plans – whatever they come up with.You touched upon Moeen, another senior figure in the side. You also played with him at the SA20. What does he bring to Amazon Warriors?
Moeen is another great spinner and batter, who brings a lot of experience. His record speaks for itself. To have someone like him in the team is only going to benefit you. He also shares his experience with youngsters and other team-mates. He’s really committed and we’re lucky to have him in our squad. We’re hoping he will have a good time again in Guyana.Does having a spin-friendly home pitch empower you to be more attacking as the lead spinner?
Look, the spinners we have, they have performed all over the world. If the ball turns for us, it’s also turning for the opposition. It just means we’re using the facility better than the others. So I don’t like it when people say, “Oh, Guyana turns” and stuff like that.Yes, it turns, but for both teams, and we need to use our variations. So we try and upgrade our skills. That’s what we do here in Guyana. Myself, Motie and Moeen – all of us have picked up wickets on some of the flattest decks in the world. The most important thing for us is the combination of the team and we try to break partnerships and batting plans with that combination. So far we’ve been successful and hopefully we can carry this form into the CPL.The bane of T20 batters everywhere: Tahir trots out his Victor Gyökeres celebration•GSL/Getty ImagesThe CPL is known for its funky celebrations. Your sprint is perhaps the OG one, but what’s the story behind doing Ronaldo’s “Siuuu” and Victor Gyökeres’ celebrations recently?
I have to because my son [who is travelling with Tahir], he asked me to do it (). The celebrations are purely for him. He just loves football. I actually don’t know the guy [Gyökeres’] who does this celebration, but I know he’s a footballer. But look, it’s nice, I want to put a smile on my son’s face and hopefully a smile on the faces of other people as well, if they like it.You’ve been there and done that in international cricket and every T20 league around the world. At 46, how do you remain so passionate about the game?
I’m the kind of guy who got [success] very late. And when you have a dream to be on the stage where I’m now, I think I just don’t feel like letting it go. I want to live the dream [as long as] I keep playing. If I’m playing, I want to give whatever I have to my team, and that obviously comes through passion. If you don’t have passion for anything, you won’t be successful in life.At the SA20 and even in the GSL, you were throwing yourself around in the field and there was a spectacular grab in the eliminator at the 2024 SA20. How proud are you of such fielding efforts?
I have to do extra work on my fielding and thanks to all the practice sessions with our coaches, the energy and the focus they gave… they gave me a lot of confidence. I take a lot of pride in my fielding, and I feel like if I can take one or two catches, I can change the game. That gives me bigger joy, but I think some people might have been more shocked than appreciative of my catches (). But no, generally a lot of people still appreciate such catches.What are your ambitions heading into CPL 2025?
Yeah, the team and the combination looks really good. It’s all about how we start the competition and that’s the most important thing. Going into the competition, the first few games are important and the GSL [success] will help a lot. We’ve been playing a good brand of cricket in the GSL and I believe that will set the standard for us in the CPL.We just need to stick together and before the tournament starts, we will have a camp for a few days. Things have been looking good so far. The only thing we can do is work hard and give it back to our fans in Guyana.

Five players who were almost forgotten but are now putting in match-winning performances

Deivarayan Muthu20-Apr-2023Ajinkya Rahane (Chennai Super Kings)He had struggled to keep pace with T20 cricket in the past. More recently, he was dropped from India’s Test team. But Ajinkya Rahane has scripted an unexpected turnaround in IPL 2023 – his strike rate of 222.22 in the powerplay is by far the best among those who have scored at least 100 runs during that phase in an IPL season.After a hamstring injury had curtailed his stint in IPL 2022, where he managed just 133 runs in seven innings at an average of 19.00 and strike rate of 103.90, he was bought by Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2023 auction for his base price of INR 50 lakh. Rahane didn’t start for Super Kings this IPL, but after Moeen Ali was sidelined with a stomach bug, he dashed out of the bench and regularly hit over the top against both pace and spin in the powerplay.ESPNcricinfo LtdSuper Kings would have expected Rahane to perform the role Robin Uthappa used to do before his retirement from international and Indian cricket. But, with his high intent and role clarity, Rahane has exceeded all expectations so far.Rahane hasn’t been fielding at slips – MS Dhoni has often posted Moeen in that position – but he has been manning the hotspots in the outfield. His spectacular leap right at the edge of the long-off boundary at the Chinnaswamy Stadium denied Glenn Maxwell a six and saved five runs for Super Kings. Royal Challengers ended up hitting one six fewer than Super Kings’ 17 and losing by eight runs.Sandeep Sharma (Rajasthan Royals)After having played every IPL season from 2013 to 2022, Sandeep Sharma went unsold in the most recent auction. However, after Prasidh Krishna was ruled out of the entire IPL 2023 with a stress fracture, Sandeep joined Rajasthan Royals as his replacement and has been a reliable bowler in both the powerplay and at the death.Sandeep Sharma nailed yorkers in the final over against MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja to seal a tense win at Chepauk•BCCITasked with defending 20 in the last over against Dhoni at Chepauk, Sandeep started the over with two wides and then conceded back-to-back sixes, but he held his nerve to stop Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja with back-to-back yorkers. Sandeep had also set up Royals’ defence of 175 by dismissing Ruturaj Gaikwad in the powerplay. After the game, Sandeep said that he had been nailing his yorkers at the nets and perhaps that’s why Sanju Samson backed him to bowl the final over to Dhoni ahead of Kuldeep Sen, who can generate extra pace and bounce.After Sandeep helped Royals breach CSK’s fortress, he took the key wickets of Shubhman Gill and David Miller to set the scene for another away win, this time against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.Related

Mohit is back, and he's the same bowler he used to be

Rahane encouraged by Dhoni to 'be Ajinkya Rahane'

Mishra, 40 and looking it, brings Lucknow the warm and fuzzy

Piyush Chawla (Mumbai Indians)Piyush Chawla was ignored at the mega auction in 2022. In the next auction, the 34-year-old was the last player to be bought by Mumbai Indians for his base price of 50 lakh before the start of the accelerated rounds. Chawla is currently Mumbai’s highest wicket-taker this season with seven strikes in five games at an economy rate of 7.15.He rolled back the years against Delhi Capitals , when he took 3 for 22, including the wickets of Rovman Powell and Manish Pandey, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Chawla also got his legbreaks and wrong’uns to rip against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium, where he sent their chase into a tailspin with the wickets of Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen.Piyush Chawla is currently the leading wicket-taker for Mumbai Indians•BCCIAmit Mishra (Lucknow Super Giants)Just like Chawla, Amit Mishra had gone unsold in the IPL 2022 mega auction. Just like Chawla, he got a gig this year and has proved once again there’s still room for old-school flight and dip in the age of fast legbreaks and mystery spin.Mishra, 40, was the oldest player at the auction, where Lucknow Super Giants snapped him up for his base price of INR 50 lakh. Super Giants unleashed him on Sunrisers on a black-soil turner at the Ekana stadium, where he came away with 2 for 23 from his four overs. He could be a regular feature for Super Giants at home, especially if they continue to use black-soil pitches. Plus, the introduction of the Impact Player rule means he doesn’t have to toil in the field like Rahane and can just put his feet up in the dressing room after finishing his bowling shift.Mohit Sharma (Gujarat Titans)Before IPL 2023, Mohit Sharma’s last season as an IPL regular was in 2018. Before that, he was the Purple Cap winner in 2014 and was part of the India team that reached the semi-final of the 2015 ODI World Cup.Injuries then ravaged his career, but a net-bowling stint in IPL 2022 with the eventual champions Gujarat Titans paved his way back. Ashish Nehra, the Titans coach who had also worked with Mohit at Super Kings, liked what he saw in the nets and Titans bought him at the IPL 2023 auction for his base price of INR 50 lakh. He was then brought into the XI ahead of Shivam Mavi and R Sai Kishore, after Yash Dayal was smashed for successive five sixes by Rinku Singh in the final over the match.Mohit marked his return, against Punjab Kings, with into-the-pitch offcutters and back-of-the-hand slower ones that had once impressed Dhoni at both CSK and India. He conceded only 18 runs in his four overs to go with the wickets of Jitesh Sharma and Sam Curran in a Player-of-the-Match-winning performance. Comebacks don’t get better than this.

Rishabh Pant came up with yet another innings that left everyone awestruck

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Mar-2021

Huge compliment coming from you, Gilly! Learned a lot watching you over the years. https://t.co/H5XIQl3XMe

— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) March 5, 2021