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Royal Challengers Bengaluru slumped to their fourth defeat in four games in IPL 2024

Sreshth Shah06-Apr-20242:01

Moody: Kohli played well but didn’t have enough support

Jos Buttler celebrated his 100th IPL match with a 58-ball century to return to form and lead Rajasthan Royals to their fourth win in four games in IPL 2024. Buttler got to the mark in style by hitting the winning runs – a six over midwicket – to finish unbeaten on 100, and his 148-run stand with Sanju Samson (69 in 42) for the second wicket set up the chase.Their partnership was also the season’s highest, breaking the record set by Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis earlier in the day. Kohli led from the front to smack 113 in the first innings – his eighth IPL century and third in his last seven IPL innings – but it was also his slowest century, getting to the mark in 67 balls.With no batter apart from du Plessis contributing, the onus was on Kohli to lift the Royal Challengers Bengaluru innings. And he did so successfully, carrying the bat till the end, but their total of 183 proved insufficient, sending them to their fourth defeat in five games.Buttler leads, Samson followsWith scores of 11, 11, and 13, Buttler came into the game needing to change his fortunes. More so after he saw Yashasvi Jaiswal fall for a duck to Reece Topley. Then came a trademark Buttler scoop over wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik in the fourth over, his first boundary of the night.Having got that one away, Buttler survived a tough catching chance on 6 the next delivery. That, however, did now slow him down. He launched into Yash Dayal and then hit left-arm spinner Mayank Dagar for three fours and a six in a 20-run sixth over. With Samson also matching him shot for shot, Buttler reached his first fifty of the season in the tenth over.Buttler was especially strong against the inexperienced spinners Dagar and Himanshu Sharma. They often erred with their lengths, and he pounced on short balls by pulling over the leg side. He also pierced boundaries through the covers and ran down the pitch to hit both spin and pace down the ground.Jos Buttler and Shimron Hetmyer celebrate the century and the victory•AFP/Getty Images

His connections got better as the innings progressed, on display when he picked Dayal’s slower ball in the 13th over, had to wait ages for it to arrive where he stood and still flat-batted him for six. With one to win at the start of the 20th over, Buttler had a fairytale end to his evening when he pulled a six to reach his ton and seal the deal.Kohli’s ton ends in defeatPut in to bat, RCB needed their opening pair to get some runs, but it was meant to be a challenge against the team that was averaging three powerplay wickets per game. However, Trent Boult and Nandre Burger could not get the early breakthrough, and the Kohli-du Plessis pair put on 53 in the powerplay.The start was promising for RCB since du Plessis survived the powerplay for the first time this season and Kohli looked fluid at his worst IPL venue (he averaged 21.90 in Jaipur before this game). Kohli was the majority contributor in their 125-run opening stand, scoring 72 compared to du Plessis’ 44 before the latter fell in the 14th over.As he peppered boundaries off the pacers through the leg side, in particular by flicking off his toes through midwicket, Kohli also used his feet against Yuzvendra Chahal, the best Royals bowler, hitting him for two sixes. He saved his best for Avesh Khan, whom he struck for three fours through the off side in the 16th. Kohli then reached his ninth T20 century and eighth in IPL in the 19th over off Burger, before launching into Avesh again with two fours in the 20th to finish with a career-best IPL score of 113. He contributed 61.70% of runs for RCB and was one of two players batters in the innings to reach double-digits in a total of 183 for 3.Chahal, Ashwin outbowl RCB’s spinnersIt was an unusual bowling effort from Royals. They did not take a powerplay wicket, and Boult’s ineffectiveness up top meant it was the first game where he did not bowl a third over in the powerplay.It was then that Samson turned to Ashwin and Chahal consecutively. Together, they went for 62 in eight overs – economy of 7.75. Their array of tricks kept a well-set Kohli, and others like du Plessis, Cameron Green and Glenn Maxwell fairly quiet.On the other hand, take RCB’s two spinners: rookies Dagar and Himanshu. Dagar was traded in from Sunrisers for Shahbaz Ahmed and Himanshu is a product of RCB’s scouting system. In only four overs (two apiece) they conceded one more than the total given away by Ashwin and Chahal in eight.They missed their lengths too many times, and when they got it wrong, Samson and Buttler did not spare them. In all, 11 of their 24 balls went for either four or six, a clear determinant in Royals’ win with five balls to spare.

According to Fabrizio Romano, several clubs are showing interest in the Mexico captain.

Not part of Graham Potter’s plansPlayed 73 matches with the HammersValued at $29 millionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFPWHAT HAPPENED?

Mexico national team captain Edson Álvarez is reportedly expected to depart West Ham before the current transfer window shuts, according to Fabrizio Romano. 

joined the Hammers from Ajax in 2023 and made 73 appearances during his spell in East London. Romano reports that the 26-year-old is already in talks with multiple suitors. 

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A move within the Premier League could be a strong step for Álvarez’s career. Since Graham Potter replaced Julen Lopetegui as manager, the Mexican has seen his role diminish compared to the regular starting spot he held under David Moyes. As things stand, he does not feature in Potter’s plans for the upcoming season, which kicks off this weekend in England.

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The most expensive outgoing transfer in Liga MX history came in 2019, when Edson Álvarez joined Ajax for $15.6 million from América. Now, the midfielder is seeking a fresh start where he can regain valuable minutes ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

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Mexico will face Japan on Sept. 6 and South Korea on Sept. 9, with both friendlies taking place in the United States.

It has been nearly 20 years since the DP rule was introduced – and MLS clubs are still figuring out exactly what it is

Cucho Hernandez really shouldn't have ended up in Columbus back in 2022. Sure, he'd been a failure at Watford, but there was, supposedly, European interest in the dynamic forward. The Premier League was a step too far, but Hernandez had plenty of options. He was exactly the kind of player that could make a fine living in Spain, Italy, or even Germany. 

Instead, he got on a plane and moved to… Ohio? It seemed an odd decision. The Columbus Crew, notoriously frugal spenders who prefer to invest throughout the squad rather than swing big, paid $10 million for his services.

Hernandez was made a Designated Player, and Columbus reached outside their normal salary restrictions to pay him just shy of $3 million per year. Two seasons later, the Crew shipped him off back to Europe, with Real Betis paying them a reported $16M, plus a healthy sell-on clause.

Hernandez left Ohio with two trophies, having contributed 58 goals in 96 appearances. He was a runner-up for MVP in 2024 (and would have won it, had it not been for a certain Lionel Messi). He was, all said, the perfect modern DP: cheap enough, immensely effective, and flipped for a handsome profit. 

This is a DP at its absolute best. But those slots can also be used remarkably poorly. For every Hernandez, there are two Lorenzo Insignes or Olivier Girouds. Remarkably, in the 18 years since MLS introduced the DP rule, teams haven't uniformly figured out how to use the slot.

What should raise the standard of the league has, instead, become something of a mixed bag, with some genuine game changers brought to the league but just as many high-profile failures that can set a team back years.  

AFP'The Beckham rule' and its implementation

David Beckham was, of course, the guy who started all of this. In the abstract, the DP rule makes a lot of sense. LA Galaxy needed to be able to pay the former Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar a competitive wage. MLS salary cap rules were immensely restrictive back in 2007 (yes, strict than today – even if it is hard to imagine.) So, the league created a rule that allowed clubs to spend, effectively, what they wanted on a player without taking a salary cap hit.

It was basically just a ploy to allow Beckham to come to the league. For perspective, the salary cap in 2007 was around $2.1M. The Galaxy, under the new rules, paid Beckham triple that . 

Over time – intended or otherwise – it opened the doors to many European stasr who could have their salary matched – or at least acknowledged – by an MLS club. Teams in North America could never pay the same wages of European legends. But under the new rule, they could close the gap.

It paved the way for the likes of Juan Pablo Angel, Robbie Keane, Thierry Henry and Clint Dempsey to join the league from overseas. And MLS, to its credit, had adjusted with the times. As more players have turned their eyes to the U.S., it has adjusted DP rules. Teams can now have up to three DPs – although that requires some personnel and cap tweaking elsewhere. 

MLS has always been about financial control, the league – for better or worse – fixated on having the final say on its teams salary cap and spending. The DP rule, in abstract, allows for the best of both worlds.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportHow MLS teams have made it a success

More recently, though, it's become less about stardom and more about giving your team an edge. MLS has become increasingly competitive and tactically advanced. This was never really a league you could stroll through, and it certainly isn't now. There is, in effect, little room for the guy past his best who decides to check in and out, enjoy a little American sunshine, and ride out the rest of his career.

These days, the DP is your one joker card on an otherwise excellent team, the difference maker that fits in but also has that extra bit of quality that makes him clearly better than everyone else. It is why, for example, Son Heung-Min should be such a perfect addition at LAFC; his workrate is still excellent but he will, in theory, torment MLS defenders more easily than most in the league. 

Still, there are exceptions. The smartest usage of a designated player in recent years – even if his marketing skills aren't maximized – is the averse-to-running-but-still-brilliant Lionel Messi. There can be no disputing that fact. Even if Messi is yet to win an MLS Cup, his sheer quality, impact on the league and jersey sales alone – never mind personal accolades – justify his immense salary. 

But peer over the list of best DP signings of the past five years, and he is mostly an outlier. The smartest teams have found undervalued talent from slightly less glitzy markets – who still have a bit to prove. LAFC prepared for the end of the Carlos Vela era by bringing in Denis Bouanga, surplus to requirements at Ligue 1's Saint-Etienne.

Three years later, and he has scored more than 50 goals, and fired the Black and Gold to two major trophies. Hernandez was a similarly shrewd investment – sent to Europe and back again. 

Nashville's Hany Mukhtar (Brondby) and now-Cincinnati's Evander (Midtjylland) followed a similar model. All four arrived either before or during their prime, and were routinely MVP contenders during their best years in the league. As a result, they put their team on the map and raised the level of their side.

Imagn… and where it can all go wrong

But there's not much flash in the playmaking nous of Mukhtar. Relative novices aren't likely to be drawn to the way that Evander spends lots of time floating in and out of space before deciding to kick the ball very hard at the goal. Indeed, the allure of the European star has often been too much to turn down. It harkens back to the original Beckham model – simply buying the name you know without much consideration of fit. 

The Englishman was signed not just for his footballing ability, but for the way he would undoubtedly raise the profile of the league. His two MLS Cups – won four years after he signed with Los Angeles – are a bonus. 

Blaise Matuidi was a pretty disastrous outlay from Inter Miami in the pre-Messi years – most could have seen that coming as a panic-buy before the Herons could get off the ground. 

Others are more curious. Lorenzo Insigne seemed shrewd for Toronto FC when they signed him to a four-year deal in 2022. He was just six months from a European Championship win with Italy, and had enjoyed a fine decade at Napoli. He fit an archetype of MLS playmaker that had worked before, too.

However, Toronto failed to consider that Insigne might not take MLS particularly seriously. The result was a disastrous tactical marriage and a disgruntled superstar, overpaid and wrongly utilized. 

The LA Galaxy made a similar mistake with Douglas Costa, seemingly buying the Brazilian based on his European resume rather than the reality of a footballer in rapid decline who had never spent more than two consecutive years at a club. Xherdan Shaqiri and Olivier Giroud were similar traps.

The result in all four wasn't just poor signings in isolation. Rather, they had squads, in theory, shaped around them, and when the players fizzled out, so too did the balance of the team. The Galaxy needed two years to recover. Miami needed a Messi to revive their fortunes. Toronto and Chicago are certainly still reeling – and will be for some time. 

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USA Today ImagesSelling, and the problems that come with it

And that brings up the intriguing scenario of moving on from a DP. MLS, in recent years, has positioned itself shrewdly in the global transfer market. It is now a selling league, an ideal talent factory for young talent to be acquired, developed, and sold for a handsome profit – with a sell-on clause worked in to guarantee future returns. This is hardly a new concept in football, but it's one that MLS has exploited remarkably well. 

DPs, done well, can be the perfect way of doing just that. Hernandez is the perfect case study. Columbus took a depreciating asset, slightly undervalued by the market, and sold him for a profit. If Hernandez succeeds at Real Betis – he scored five goals in his first three months at the club – the Spanish side will move him on for more money.

The Crew could be in for a significant outlay once again. Portland completed a similar feat when they moved Evander on for $13M after signing him for $10M – even if that meant trading him to an MLS rival. Atlanta United did the same with Thiago Almada, making an initial $4M profit with a sell-on clause attached. 

Those, of course, are the best case scenarios. But there have also been some disasters. Long-term contracts are difficult to get out of. Footballers, employed to do a job, don't tend to like stop doing their job for no reason and with no financial incentive. Who, in their right mind, throws millions in the bin? Insigne, Federico Bernadeschi, Costa and Matuidi were all poor outlays for that reason. They were expensive to bring on, offered no obvious compensation, and little success to point to, either.

Hosts recover from 15 for 4 through England pair, then seamers put Worcestershire to sword

ECB Reporters Network17-May-2024A fifth-wicket stand of 148 between Dan Lawrence and Ollie Pope, a superb new ball spell by Dan Worrall and Kemar Roach’s late double-strike put Surrey in control against Worcestershire despite themselves being bowled out for 213 on a frenetic 17-wicket opening day at the Kia Oval.When the dust settled on the high-octane action Worcestershire were 112 for 7 in their own first innings, still 101 runs in arrears, after Worrall’s 3 for 16 from seven overs, Roach’s two wickets in three balls and scalps too for Sean Abbott and Jordan Clark backed up Lawrence’s 84 and Pope’s 63.Put in on a well-grassed surface, Surrey were soon in all sorts of trouble at 15 for 4 as Joe Leach took 3 for 24 in seven overs in a new-ball spell that threatened to embarrass the county champions.But Lawrence then joined Pope to pull the innings around in a counterattacking partnership of great quality that looked even better once Surrey’s lower order had failed to build substantially on it and Worcestershire’s top order had been cut down by Worrall and his fellow pacemen.Worrall first had Gareth Roderick caught at fourth slip for 15, pushing out at an away-swinger, before bowling Jake Libby for 1 with a magnificent delivery that nipped back to beat the opener’s attempted off drive.Kashif Ali, after a couple of promising boundaries took him to 15, flashed leaden-footed at Worrall and edged to keeper Ben Foakes and, when Abbott replaced Worrall at the Vauxhall End, Adam Hose – facing only his fourth ball – went needlessly after his loosener and carved it into the cordon to depart for 4.Worcestershire were 53 for 5 when Clark angled one into Rob Jones’s pads and had him leg-before for 14, but at least Matthew Waite helped his skipper, Brett D’Oliveira, put on 58 in a fighting sixth-wicket stand before Roach made sure the day belonged to Surrey.Swinging the ball back into the right-handers, Roach won two leg-before decisions to end Waite’s 42-ball 35 and also send back Nathan Smith for nought just before bad light stopped play at 6.26pm, with seven overs of the day’s scheduled allocation remaining unbowled. D’Oliveira was unbeaten on 22.Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Jamie Smith and Foakes were the early casualties when Surrey batted, with New Zealand overseas Smith striking first in the fourth over to have Burns lbw for eight as aimed to clip to leg.Sibley drove at a ball too wide for the stroke to edge Leach behind and, later in the over, Smith was bowled for a fourth-ball duck by an absolute beauty that clipped the top of his off stump.Foakes, beaten off the pitch, edged to second slip on 1, but Lawrence and Pope took the attack back to Worcestershire and, with just a little bit of good fortune early in their stand, turned the tide of the innings.Lawrence, who had got off the mark with a skewed lofted drive that just cleared mid-off running back, then skipped down the pitch to swing debutant seamer Yadvinder Singh for six over wide midwicket, while Pope bedded in confidently at the other end.They rallied Surrey to 110 for 4 by lunch and continued on merrily enough afterwards until their 33-over alliance was broken by Smith, who had Pope caught behind one ball after seeing him missed in the slips. Pope had faced 110 balls, hitting six fours.Frustratingly for Surrey, Lawrence then departed in the very next over, throwing his bat at an outswinger from medium-pacer Waite and edging behind after a punchy 102-ball innings that featured two sixes – the second driven high and straight off Leach – and 11 fours.Abbott top-edged a pull at Waite to long leg and the same bowler trapped Gus Atkinson leg-before for a fourth-ball duck to finish with the creditable figures of 12-4-19-3.Clark, hitting Smith for four consecutive fours at one stage, and also lofting him straight for six in a 36-ball 42 not out, tried his best to revive Surrey again but Roach fell for four, edging Ben Gibbon behind, and Worrall was run out at the bowler’s end for nought after initially failing to respond to Clark’s call for a bye to the keeper.

It speaks of the crossroads at which Dawid Malan finds himself that he will start the 2024 season moonlighting as a batting coach for Yorkshire.Even with the T20 World Cup two months away, Malan, the ICC’s No.11-ranked T20I batter – Phil Salt (second) and Jos Buttler (ninth) are the only Englishmen sitting higher – seems unlikely to make the squad for the 2022 title defence. Despite being halfway through his year-long ECB central contract, he is already looking at what comes after.Malan will turn 37 in September and announced during the 50-over World Cup in November that he would be parking first-class cricket to prolong his white-ball career, which includes the T20 Blast this summer. Though he was left out of the white-ball tour of the Caribbean at the end of last year, stints at the SA20 and PSL kept him busy in a winter that began with the 50-over World Cup in India.He returned from Pakistan two weeks ago and, at present, has no plans to hit balls again until the start of May. In the meantime, Yorkshire batters now have an extra sounding board at Headingley, with over 100 caps and centuries in all three international formats. For Malan, it will show him whether coaching is an avenue he would like to pursue once he decides to call it a day.”It’s quite exciting,” said Malan. “I’m going to do a bit of coaching in my off time and help the boys out two or three days a week. I’ll work with the firsts and seconds, whoever is around. I’ll see if I can share some of my knowledge, if anyone wants it, and if it’s something I enjoy for after cricket.”I still feel I’ve got two or three years of playing if things go well and I can still perform, but I want to give back as much as I can now. It’s exciting to be back and give myself a different kind of challenge for this time of year than I usually have.”It’s an unofficial capacity. Whoever is at home, be it first team or second team, I’ll throw some balls and speak to whoever wants to speak to me about batting without treading on any of the coaches’ toes.”Related

• Meet Jamie Overton, England's T20 World Cup bolter

• Malan dropped for England's Caribbean tour

• Stokes opts out of England's T20 World Cup defence

Malan pitched the role to head coach Ottis Gibson last week, who was surprised. Gibson was in for a further shock on Wednesday when Malan also revealed he could U-turn on his first-class retirement this summer if “that itch” comes back, or his summer is limited to just the Blast and the Hundred, in which he was picked up by defending champions Oval Invincibles in last month’s draft after his release by Trent Rockets.”At first I was a little bit surprised because I was thinking: ‘Is he thinking retirement already?'” Gibson said on the initial conversation, before adding: “And then you tell me that he wants to play red-ball cricket, so I’m like, ‘Wow, where is he going with this?'”Nevertheless, Gibson would welcome Malan back into the Championship fold. He has only played 17 first-class matches for Yorkshire since moving north from Middlesex in 2020, but boasts an impressive average of 55.93 from 1,622 runs, with five centuries. Anything resembling that output will go far in helping a young squad surer of their footing – and no longer weighed down by a 48-point deduction – in their push to return to Division One. Ultimately, the caveat to all the above is Malan’s schedule.At this juncture, international commitments look unlikely. Despite top-scoring for England at the 50-over World Cup with 404 runs at 44.88, Malan was left out of Matthew Mott and Jos Buttler’s squads for the Caribbean. Other high-profile batters missed out to preserve them for the Test tour of India at the start of 2024. Malan’s absence, however, felt like moving on outright.Malan was in and out of the Multan Sultans’ XI in the PSL•PSL

Ben Stokes’ decision to pull out of contention for the World Cup could yet open the door for a recall, with Malan fulfilling a similar role as a left-handed anchor. But Rob Key pointed to his recent output in T20Is when explaining his omission from the squads that faced West Indies and his form was middling over the winter.”I’d like to be,” Malan said, when asked if he was in consideration to defend the T20 title he contributed to two years ago. “I wouldn’t say performance would have anything to do with it. In 2023, I had a pretty good year in 50-over cricket and I wouldn’t say I’m old, considering Jimmy [Anderson] is 42 or something like that! I can’t see it being an age thing, and there’s a tournament in a few months’ time.”Obviously I know they might want to go in a different direction. That’s absolutely fine. They’re entitled to do whatever they need to do that they think is the best way to move English cricket in the right direction. I still feel I’m good enough and young enough to do it. That’s out of my control, selection-wise.”Malan was coy about why his time might be up as an international cricketer. He had a conversation with the management following the conclusion of England’s dire ODI campaign in India, but was unwilling to divulge what exactly was said. A meeting with Key in the next fortnight will give him clarity on where his future lies.”I have no idea what they are thinking at the moment,” he said. “We have got appraisals in 12 or 14 days so I’ll probably find out a bit more then. I will just take it as it comes. I am not looking too far ahead or wanting something that might not be there.”If it is, it is; if it isn’t, it isn’t. I have made peace with that. I have a different path that I am looking at at the moment in terms of the last two or three years in my career and if things pop up, they pop up. And if they don’t, they don’t. It’ll be interesting to see where things are and, yeah, it’ll be good to have a good chat with Keysy.”

Bayern Munich are reportedly eyeing Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard as a potential Plan B, with the German champions growing increasingly doubtful over their chances of signing Liverpool’s Luis Diaz. Trossard’s versatility, experience and short contract make him an appealing alternative as Bayern look to reinforce their left wing this summer.

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Bayern turn to Trossard after Diaz talks stallArsenal may sell due to expiring contract situationTrossard’s versatility suits Kompany’s tactical visionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Liverpool are standing firm on their stance that Diaz is not for sale and Bayern have started exploring alternatives. According to German publication BILD, Arsenal forward Trossard has emerged as a serious candidate for the Bundesliga giants.

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Bayern are in urgent need of wide reinforcements following the exits of Leroy Sane and Mathys Tel. While Diaz remains their top priority, Trossard’s experience and contract situation make him a more attainable option. Arsenal could be open to a deal to avoid losing him on a free next year. Additionally, the Belgium international recently changed agents, and his new representative, Dirk Hebel, has strong ties to German clubs, potentially easing a move to Bavaria.

DID YOU KNOW?

Trossard scored ten goals and provided ten assists across 56 appearances last season, proving to be a valuable attacking option for Mikel Arteta. He also deputised effectively as a central striker during injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR TROSSARD?

Bayern will continue to monitor Diaz’s situation but could soon accelerate talks with Arsenal for Trossard. The Gunners must now decide whether to extend the Belgian’s deal or cash in before the new campaign begins.

New Zealand A completed a remarkable turnaround in Brisbane to steamroller Australia A by 225 runs in the first four-day match. Scott Kuggeleijn and Sean Solia completed fine all-round outings as the home side were bundled out for 127 shortly after lunch on the final day.Kuggeleijn finished with a career-best 9 for 113 in the match and an unbeaten century while Solia took five wickets – including 3 for 15 on the last day – to go alongside 91.Cameron Bancroft top-scored in Australia A’s second innings with 47 before being lbw to Kuggeleijn when he missed a full delivery. Joel Paris did not bat having picked up a hamstring injury on the third day.Related

• Ferguson to captain New Zealand in Bangladesh ODI series

• An opportunity for Cameron Bancroft to improve chances of a Test comeback

• Solia and Bruce cement New Zealand A's fightback

• Kuggeleijn's 85-ball century puts New Zealand A in command

“We had a really good first day and got outplayed from that moment onwards,” Bancroft said. “We’ll have to improve in all areas, our batting wasn’t quite good enough. They were able to control us and we probably didn’t hang in there quite long enough and our bowling was a bit off, weren’t able to build pressure and they hurt us.”Australia A had resumed on 31 for 1 facing a target of 353 and New Zealand A soon made inroads. Caleb Jewell was the first to fall when he top-edged a wild hook shot to deep square leg.Solia’s medium pace then ran through the middle order with Nathan McSweeney lbw, Campbell Kellaway flashing to backward point and Jimmy Peirson given leg before to what appeared a borderline decision.Mitch Perry was cleaned up with the final ball of the morning session when Kuggeleijn got one through him from round the wicket and things did not last long after the break.The short ball did for the lower order as Mark Steketee fending to short leg and Mitchell Swepson swatted into the leg side.The second match of the two-game first-class series is a day-night encounter which begins in Mackay on Monday. Australia A will likely rotate through some of their quick bowlers. Paris’ injury adds to the series withdrawals of Matt Kelly (quad) and Wes Agar (back).Jordan Buckingham will now travel to Mackay having originally just been around for the first game, although could still be rested, while Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan McAndrew can expect to feature.New Zealand A will have Adi Ashok and Dean Foxcroft available after they completed their time with the T20I squad in England.

Sergio Aguero has explained why Lionel Messi and Inter Miami had to be at the Club World Cup, having received a special invitation from FIFA.

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• Herons form part of event in the United States
• Messi of obvious appeal to American audience
• FIFA considered to have made the right choice

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  An expanded tournament, which sees a global crown come up for grabs, is heading to the United States. For the first time, 32 teams from across the planet will be competing for the grandest of prizes.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The majority of sides secured qualification courtesy of major trophy triumphs. Inter Miami have, however, been added to the ranks courtesy of Messi's mass appeal. The eight-time Ballon d'Or has previously won the Club World Cup with Barcelona.

  Watch every game of the FIFA Club World Cup live on DAZNStream now

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Some have questioned the decision to absorb Inter Miami into a competition that features the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Boca Juniors and Al-Hilal, but Aguero believes the right decision has been made by organisers.

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• WHAT SERGIO AGUERO SAID

  The former Argentina international has told FIFA of Messi being involved in an event that will help to build more interest in soccer across America ahead of the 2026 World Cup: "Well, I think this is something that is quite important for Inter Miami, and especially knowing that Leo is there, and I think that for the world as a whole and for the fans, I think it was quite important that Inter Miami be included, too, because by now, we know that Messi is… Although it may be painful for some, he is one of the players that everyone wants to see.

  "So, I think that it will be great to see Inter Miami compete against the other teams, and especially see the Inter Miami version of Messi, who is accomplishing everything now in MLS, and they won a title that for a number of years, or I don't know if they have ever won anything, and I think that for Inter Miami, and Leo most of all, this new challenge, knowing him, he will try to do his very best because he will not want, same as with anything else, to lose at all.

  "And, I think that this calls for caution because you know that when you have Leo in the rival team, even if he has a bad 88 minutes, you know that in those last two minutes, he can smash in a goal, he can score from a free-kick, he can make a play you are not expecting because, ultimately, he is the best player in the world and he is the player that can, at any time, hurt you because he is the best."

Sanju Samson, the young Kerala keeper-batsman, talks about how his perspective on the game has changed and how that has brought about big scores for him

Interview by Varun Shetty24-Oct-2019More than seven years after his List A debut, Sanju Samson made his first century in 50-overs cricket earlier this month and turned it into a double . He has now returned to the India squad after a long wait.In this interview, he opens up on the crucial break that made it possible, the near-impossible task of replacing someone like MS Dhoni, and the question everyone has been asking him for a while now: why doesn’t he make these big scores more often?In 2018, you didn’t have a century in any format. What do you feel about your year so far?
Before the start of the season, I had close to two-three months of rest. I didn’t play any competitive games. I’ve really used the time to good effect. When you continuously play cricket for a long time, you tend to keep going with the motions. Having two to three months really helped me realise why I started playing cricket. The fun part [had been] lost. It was focusing more on the result and where I have to reach and what I have to do. Those three months have given me a more clear picture of why I started playing. I’ve started enjoying my cricket. I’ve started loving batting. Before, I used to bat for long because I had to bat. Now, I love to bat. The love towards my game has changed and automatically I think the results show. The more you enjoy something, the more it gives you back. That’s what has changed and I’m really enjoying this season.Did you work on your cricket during that break?

(Chuckles) The only thing I know is to play cricket and work on my fitness. So I just gave time for that. Fitness was the most important thing. If you keep playing, you can only maintain your fitness. But if you get a break you can take it to the next level. The first month I worked mostly on my fitness and later on my skills.

“As a wicketkeeper I’ve been shuffled around a lot. I get selected to the IPL team or India A or even Kerala, and sometimes the management says I have to field”

Did you feel you had to do a bit extra, considering you had failed a fitness test last year?
Absolutely. It does play on your mind. Just before that fitness test, I was my fittest ever, actually! I was working hard. But it happened just after the IPL and I had a small niggle in my knee, so I didn’t train for one week. I went and did the fitness test directly, without training or even running in the ground. I thought I was at my fittest and I could easily do it, but it didn’t happen. It was unlucky but I’ve been working hard and I’m confident about it.You’ve raised your level now?
Definitely, not only my running, but I’ve also gained on my muscle work. I have a bit more muscle and have bulked up for the season.ALSO READ: Sanju Samson makes Vijay Hazare Trophy history with unbeaten 212So that explains the double-hundred?
(Laughs) Definitely, yes. Batting for the whole 45-50 overs and running hard between the wickets – I was batting with Sachin Baby and he made me run a lot of doubles and triples. I also had to keep for 50 overs.After that innings was the biggest challenge of my life. People were seeing that after 20 overs [of keeping], I had a headache. They were saying, you can stop and another keeper can come in. But I wanted to challenge myself. It took two to three days to recover after that.What clicked for you on that day?
Things have been really clicking for the last one or two months. The way I’ve been batting in the India A series, the 91 I scored off 48 balls; the start of the tournament [Vijay Hazare] also I was batting well. I scored 60-odd against Karnataka and unfortunately got run out at the bowler’s end. Things were going really well. I could feel something special was coming. I didn’t feel like it would be a 200, but I knew something big was coming.The results in cricket keep varying. If you’re batting well, if you play six or seven innings, you’re only allowed to succeed once or twice. But when you succeed, you have to make it big. I thought the whole tournament I’d been playing well and I was happy that I was able to convert. I think I played normally that day. I never went after the bowlers or smashed the ball. I just looked at the ball and reacted and things came on nicely that day.What were some of the conversations you had during that innings?
I was in the zone, so you just keep quiet and enjoy it. Lot of fun happening in the middle – I was the happiest when I was playing that innings. I was laughing a lot and I got my first hundred. I was spending some time in the 90s and I got over it after hitting a six to complete my first List-A hundred. That was all very special. Even after I’d got 50, I told myself that if I get a hundred today then I can get a double. The way I was playing in that tournament, I knew that if I complete a hundred, I have to make it something special.A lot of people must ask you how come it’s taken so long to get that hundred. Was it a relief to get that out of the way?
Yeah, seriously, it was. If you’re not good enough and you’re not scoring that hundred, then you can say that you will improve. But I have been playing some really good innings and getting out in the 90s or 89 not out and all that. I knew it would come. If you’re desperate about it, it won’t come. Everything in my life has happened at the right time, so I just have to keep on preparing and if it has to happen, it will happen. I was happy to wait this long – and when it happened, it was a double.”Now, the boundary- and six-hitting comes more naturally to me. I practise that a bit more. I like to go after the bowlers and the shots”•AFPWere there times in the past when you felt frustrated?
I have come a long way. I debuted at 18 or 19 for India and in that time, I’ve had a lot of ups and downs. I’ve seen success early in my life and failures as well. So I’m mature enough and experienced enough to understand that things will happen. Everyone was saying, “You’ve not got a hundred, you’ve not got a hundred.” But what I said to myself was, “Sanju, everything has happened so nicely. You’ve scored two IPL hundreds.” I’ve scored hundreds in a 20-over game, so it’s not a big thing to score one in a 50-over match at that level. I’ve scored against the best bowlers in the world. If I get desperate and say to myself that I need to score more centuries in domestic cricket, it will bring unwanted pressure on me. I just go out there and enjoy myself. That’s what you need to get results.After two-three years at this level, did you feel the expectations were too much?
I was fortunate enough to play with people like Rahul Dravid at the age of 19 and have him as a coach at India A. And meeting lots of people, like Ajinkya Rahane, Shane Watson, Steve Smith, Ben Stokes, Joe Buttler – I talk a lot with them about the game.The main thing is that you need to understand what you’re aiming at. I’m a wicketkeeper-batsman and the Indian team has the most successful captain and keeper in the world. So MS Dhoni was someone I had to replace if I wanted to play for India. It was not going to happen. You have to be realistic about what you’re aiming for. At that point I knew I had a lot of time to prepare myself. You need to be prepared to make yourself worthy to play in the Indian jersey. I was lucky to get four or five years in the domestic season, in the IPL or in the India A set-up. Everything doesn’t happen quickly.For someone who was drilled to hit along the ground and described as a calm player by your early coaches, you’re quite an aggressive batsman these days. How did that happen?
It’s a very funny thing. My father never allowed me to hit the ball in the air when I was young [in Delhi, where Samson grew up] and then I started hitting sixes when I came to Kerala. I can’t tell you how it happened, really. I love hitting the ball and it just happens. Nowadays if you ask me whether I like a perfect defensive shot or a six, then definitely I would go for a six. That’s how the game has changed for me. Now, the boundary- and six-hitting comes more naturally to me. I practise that a bit more. I like to go after the bowlers and the shots.

“The results in cricket keep varying. If you’re batting well, you’re only allowed to succeed once or twice. But when you succeed, you have to make it big”

But sometimes that will come in the way of, say, a hundred, right?
Yeah, it will. The joy of playing allows me to play like that, I think. In this type of style, failures will happen. I’ll fail a lot. But you’ve to accept that that’s your game plan. When you succeed, you’ve to make it big.But I’ve developed another style also. If you ask me to rotate the singles or stay at the crease and create partnerships, I can do that. I think I have two types of game. If there is nothing to achieve or there is no set time, then I go with my natural style. It’s very important to have two styles.How did you raise the level of your batting?
I’ve worked hard with my Rajasthan Royals coach, Zubin Bharucha. Spending five or six years with him, I think he has known a lot about my game. Lots of people have helped me. I can’t name everyone. Everyone has given me something. I believe the best coach you have is yourself. I have sat back and understood what this generation or what this Indian team is going through. And if I stand there one day, how will I respond to a situation. I’m watching TV, seeing what the team is going through and thinking about how I would apply my game.ALSO READ:Sanju Samson let off with warning by KCA, father asked to stay awayYou had many off-field distractions last year, like issues with the Kerala Cricket Association. Did that affect your mindset?
There have been lots and lots of issues, but there’s no point in going back and talking about them. Lots of things happened, good and bad, and I’m happy that they happened and made me who I am. If only good things had happened and if everyone was on my side, I would be much softer than who I am. Now I’m ready to face any situation.As a wicketkeeper, how hard is to get to that [Dhoni] level and what have you done?
As a wicketkeeper I’ve been shuffled around a lot. I get selected to the IPL team or India A or even Kerala and sometimes the management says I have to field [instead of keeping]. And I think: are you serious? (laughs) Because everyone wants me to keep and be picked for the Indian team as a wicketkeeper. But I don’t want to impose myself. I’m happy to field for the team. In the IPL, they felt I’m a much better fielder than I am a keeper because I move around and take good catches. I said, okay. I can’t really tell them I have an Indian selection [pending]. So whatever the team demands, I’ll do it. I think I’m a really good fielder too, so if they want to play me as a batsman, I can do that. I can move around quickly in the field. If they want me to keep, I can keep too. I’ve been keeping regularly for my state side in one-day cricket for the last three to four years.You once said that you felt your batting concentration was going down in red-ball cricket because of the keeping. Has that improved?
That has changed. If you are an automatic keeper, that doesn’t happen. But, as I said, if I play as a batsman, mentally, it is a bit challenging. But now I’ve coped with it and know how to deal with it.

They lit up their country’s first match at the home of cricket, against MCC, with blaring music, echoing chants and vibrant outfits

Peter Della Penna at Lord's12-Jul-2017When Afghanistan joined Ireland as the 11th and 12th teams to receive Full Member status last month at the ICC annual conference in London, the most commonly used phrase to characterise proceedings was that a glass ceiling had been broken. The old, traditional corridors of ICC boardrooms had welcomed new blood; the motion approved on the backdrop of one of cricket’s great symbols of tradition, Lord’s.For the Afghanistan administrators, breaking that glass ceiling on June 22 had been a very delicate process. Tuesday, though, was for the Afghanistan fans, and they left no doubt about the state of that glass ceiling, stampeding their way through the Lord’s turnstiles to make sure it was reduced to itty bitty granules.”We don’t ever get this for other games,” one of the Lord’s stewards said through a cacophony of Afghan fan excitement building at 9am, two hours before the start of play, on Wellington Place outside the North Gate. “This is brilliant, though I doubt the neighbours living in NW8 will be too thrilled with all the noise.”Noise. The theme of the day. Fans singing, music blasting, chants echoing. Every bit of it pure and loud. And so were the outfits. The richest, most vibrant shades of red and green: printed on shirts, painted on faces, rippling on flags in the wind. It was a sensory assault.”This means everything to Afghanistan,” Massom Shirzad, a father of two, now living in Birmingham, said. Shirzad has been living in the UK for more than 15 years and today was the first time his two Birmingham-born daughters, Nabeela and Saima, 11 and eight, were getting the chance to see the heroes of their ancestral home for the first time. They had left at 6am for the drive down and along with two cousins were five of the first group of fans that began gathering from 8:30am outside the entrance gates.The story was repeated throughout the day. Members of the Afghan diaspora living in Coventry, Manchester, Wales, Germany, France, Norway and beyond. Almost every single one interviewed had never seen Afghanistan play in person, and had never been to Lord’s. In a pocket of the Compton Stand sat a hoard of 100 men clad in blue polo shirts with “BIRMINGHAM” printed in white block letters on the back and “AFG” in black, red and green on the front.”We support Afghans, we support cricket,” Jan Shinwari, originally from Kabul but now based in Birmingham, said. He helped organise the two coaches chartered to drive everyone in this particular fan group down from the West Midlands, beginning 7:45am. “This is a new game in Afghanistan after only 13 or 14 years because of the war in Afghanistan. We want to show peace to the world and that we can do anything.”Peace. A recurring theme throughout the last decade of Afghanistan’s cricket journey. During the early years of Afghanistan’s pathway to Test status and a day at Lord’s, Hamid Hassan used to cross the rope onto the battlefield, his face painted like Rambo. He was Afghanistan’s most photogenic warrior, a warrior of peace. Each stump uprooted, every bail dislodged with one of his heat-seeking yorkers was another strategic victory to thwart the stereotype of Taliban terror.”They are our peace ambassadors,” Qudratullah Ibrahimkhil, another member of Shinwari’s traveling band, who grew up in Maidan Wardak province before migrating to Birmingham, said. “Recently they got the Full Membership and every Afghan is very proud because in Afghanistan for the last four decades there has been war, conflicts and everything. The Afghan national cricket team brings happiness, optimism to people in Afghanistan and around the world.”They unite Afghans in Afghanistan and around the world. In here, the atmosphere is amazing. There are people who have come from all over the world. They have come here to support their team. We are very proud of our national heroes for their remarkable achievements and accomplishments in a very short period of time. With very limited resources, they have achieved so much and made history.”History. Today was not just for Afghan fans, but for the genuine cricket lover who has seen his fair share of cricket over the years and has an appreciation for what Afghanistan has acquired in status and skill.”Listen to that, this is what it’s all about isn’t it?” shouted 69-year-old Bob Blake over the roar of the crowd from his seat in the Mound Stand after the fall of the fourth MCC wicket. A Trinidad native, Blake came to London in his teens before settling in Luton. He has been coming to Lord’s for nearly 50 years, ever since his beloved West Indies, led by Clive Lloyd, claimed their first World Cup at Lord’s in 1975.They might not be on par with Lloyd’s feared pace quartet, but Afghanistan’s pace attack has been the envy of the Associate world and left-armer Shapoor Zadran bared his teeth with the new ball for Brendon McCullum and Misbah-ul-Haq to see.”I’m very impressed with the opening bowler, Shapoor,” Blake said. “It’s great to see Afghanistan today. They’re a Full Test Member. I’ve never seen them live but they look pretty useful. I was aware they were a decent team over the years especially in one-day cricket. You can’t take them lightly. If Ireland got Test status and Ireland’s a good team, they’re a better team than Ireland.”It was only last month that Afghanistan had drawn an ODI series in their maiden tour of the Caribbean thanks to Rashid Khan’s destructive seven-wicket haul in the first game. It was a match that further dented the West Indies dwindling reputation and Blake said he hasn’t decided if he wants to buy tickets to see the West Indies when they tour the UK later in the summer. The old calypso magic may have faded but remnants of it were evident in the Afghanistan side that was on the park in front of him.”There are definitely similarities because the West Indian supporters really were noisy as well,” Blake said. “We would back our boys to the hilt. We loved it when something went right so it’s very very similar really. The enthusiasm is virtually the same.”They’re noisy, they’re enthusiastic. They obviously love their players. They’re behind them all the way and they’re showing it. The atmosphere is pretty terrific really, especially at Lord’s you’re not accustomed to this atmosphere. It’s more of an Edgbaston atmosphere here today. This is not a Lord’s atmosphere, which is great. Lord’s is too quiet.”Atmosphere. It was one-of-a-kind for Lord’s on Tuesday, in part because, as Blake said, it was the antithesis of a typical Lord’s crowd. Compared to the measured responses emoted by England fans during the Test match over the weekend, Tuesday was symbolised by the raw spontaneity from the Afghanistan fans.”I think it’s exciting because we’re getting to see the Afghan team play,” British-Afghan Sadaf Nader, 31, from Richmond, said. “I mean it’s a pretty standard answer, but is exciting.”Nader’s husband Jawed, 34, was taken aback not just by the size of the crowd, which hovered near 8000, but by the off-the-wall antics of fans from their vantage point in the Edrich Stand.”It’s also overwhelming to see so many Afghan youths here,” Jawed said. “I’ve seen Afghans at our own gatherings, but not in this number. It is such a big number and they’re really enjoying themselves… and breaking all the MCC rules!””Breaking every rule!” chimed in Sadaf.The slippery slope began well before the start of play at the entrance gates. Afghan fans are renowned for their flag-waving enthusiasm and perhaps uninitiated to the Lord’s protocol, scores showed up with flags in tow, fashionably draped around their necks. The Lord’s stewards who greeted them at the North Gate repeatedly asked: “Is this a scarf or a flag? Because flags are not allowed inside Lord’s.” Every streetwise Afghan duly assured: “Scarf! Scarf!” in reply. Initially they were shy about stretching out their “scarves” but they couldn’t help themselves once Shapoor starting taking wickets, unabashedly heaving the tri-colour flag with merry abandon.The ubiquitous flag infringements were relatively minor compared with what was to come in the 25th over of MCC’s innings. When Dawlat Zadran pinged Shiv Chanderpaul on the left arm off the first ball of the over, a lengthy delay ensued as the batsman pondered whether to retire hurt. The fans were beginning to grow somewhat restless after having sat through a 105-minute rain delay following the 18th over.In an attempt to placate his growing legion of worshippers, Rashid walked over to the railing of the Mound Stand to sign autographs and pose for selfies. Within 30 seconds an overly exuberant supporter leapt over the fence to hug Rashid. A dozen more imitators followed as the under-manned stewards were overwhelmed. Afghanistan’s fans have a long-held reputation for storming the field after a landmark win, but charging the pitch for this mid-match show of affection may have been a first for them.”It’s just a good thing they had their clothes on,” quipped Sadaf Nader.When one fire was put out, another started as a couple of fans jumped the Tavern Stand railing. One headed for fine leg where Gulbadin Naib was casually standing, while the other made haste with a flag-turned superman cape towards a crowd of seven players gathered near Dawlat Zadran’s run-up mark. When one steward finally caught up, the fan hid behind statuesque captain Asghar Stanikzai, shuffling back and forth in an absurdly impromptu game of hide and seek that had the fans – then Asghar and Dawlat – cackling with uncontrollable laughter.By the time Chanderpaul walked off five minutes later to be replaced by Samit Patel, order had been restored. As has been the case at other events where there is a large Afghanistan turnout at odds with established etiquette, Afghanistan team manager Hamkar Shiraha got a hold of a microphone and diplomatically gave an announcement in Pashto over the Lord’s tannoy. The gist of it, according to the Naders, was that the fans need to show they are good and respectful cricket fans by obeying the MCC rules, which drew thunderous applause. As ever, Hamkar ended his speech on a positive note, rallying the fans by shouting, “Afghanistan Zindabad!”The rain could hardly dampen the mood of the day, but if there was one blemish it had to be those who were absent from the squad to take part in the day’s festivities. Nawroz Mangal got the red-carpet treatment in January at the Desert T20 Final. Mangal received a fitting send-off for his services to Afghanistan cricket, but the real star of that day was Mohammad Shahzad, who became the first player to score two T20I fifties in a day. Countless fans at Lord’s were pining for Shahzad, disappointed he could not entertain them with some holding signs pleading with the ICC to “forgive” him for testing positive earlier this year for performance-enhancing drugs.Jan Shinwari (front) helped organise more 100 fans to come down together from Birmingham•Peter Della PennaThe other forgotten soul was Hamid Hassan. Rashid may be the box-office drawcard of the moment but for those who were around to see Afghanistan first surface on the ICC’s major tournament stage, Hamid was the original Afghanistan rock star. Hamid floated through the team hotel, training sessions, warm-ups and fiery 145kph reverse-swing bowling spells like a Greek god. But now it’s as if those spells held a Prometheus trait. Injuries continue to ravage his body.Chants of “Shah-POOR! “Rah-SHEED!” and “Nah-BEE!” were heard ringing around the Lord’s stands early and often throughout Afghanistan’s time in the field, but there were no such shouts for “Hah-MEED!” It’s a cruel fate that someone who played such an instrumental role in Afghanistan’s early fortunes has not been able to reap the adulation and rewards of his peers on days like this. Not only was Hamid not in uniform at Lord’s, but it’s unknown when or if the 30-year-old will ever suit up again.Still, there was far too much to be joyous about. Who would have predicted after decades of war and devastation at home that there would come a day when peace and salvation would be ever-present in the happy and carefree smiles of the thousands of Afghanistan faithful who made their way to northwest London. Following a lengthy nomadic existence, they have worked to establish their roots once again. The seeds planted through a bat-and-ball sport over the last decade had sprouted up and were on full view on Tuesday at the Home of Cricket.”It’s a proud moment,” Jawed said. “Afghanistan is often associated with all the bad superlatives, like the poorest, worst corruption, worst in opium production, but to see Afghanistan being one of the best in sports, that is unique and good.”It’s an extraordinary positive story about Afghanistan. When we have victories it unites the nation as a whole and that’s very good. I hope that we have more sportsmen like Rashid Khan, like Mohammad Nabi at international level so that they also are inspirations for youngsters back in the country.”