Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has been blasted by fans for a "categorically unacceptable season" following Saturday's defeat to Bournemouth.

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Arsenal fans not happy with OdegaardCaptain criticised for performances this seasonGunners up against PSG nextFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Arsenal dropped points again on Saturday as Mikel Arteta's side were beaten 2-1 by Bournemouth. Odegaard was at fault for Bournemouth's winner, after allowing Evanilson to get the wrong side of him, and came in for criticism from supporters afterwards.

AdvertisementWHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

Supporter @joojobryte posted on X: "Arteta needs to start benching this dude, he does more talking off the pitch than playing football."

And @LFCRayy added: "The most washed arsenal player playing the strong mentality card is insane to me."

Elsewhere, Arsenal fan @aliladiere was not happy at all, posting: "I just don’t get how you can go the whole season of Arsenal Football Club and be as poor as Odegaard has been. They need to tell us if something is going on cos this is categorically unacceptable."

Another Gooner, D@EideballHater99, said: "Odegaard is either giving the ball away or making a 5 yard sideways pass to Saka, this guy provides absolutely no value to this team on the pitch."

And @Bxshhyy posted: "Odegaard why are you scared to shoot the ball bro I promise it won’t blow up."

WHAT ODEGAARD SAID

Odegaard spoke of his disappointment after the final whistle. He told Sky Sports: "Massive disappointment. I think we started the game pretty well. We got the goal and felt like we controlled pretty much everything, but they score and we lose control of the game. We never find the rhythm after that, it is too chaotic and too sloppy from us. The second half is not acceptable. We have to move on as we have a massive game coming up. We have to get ready for that and analyse this game as well. This is what we want – we want to compete in every competition. We wanted to come here and do a good game and win, but that wasn't the case."

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Odegaard's form has been in the spotlight throughout the campaign. The captain has just two goals and seven assists this season in the Premier League, a big difference from the 15 goals he managed in 2022-23 and the 10 assists he conjured up last term. The Norwegian also struggled in the Champions League semi-final first leg against PSG and his form will be a major concern for Mikel Arteta going into the return. The Arsenal boss has called up his team to use the "anger, frustration and rage" from the Bournemouth loss as motivation against PSG and will hope Odegaard can step up.

Liverpool are believed to be interested in completing the signing of a “powerful” £33.1m-rated player ahead of Man City in the summer transfer window.

Liverpool transfer news

After so many relatively quiet windows of late at Anfield, the Reds need to spend big this summer, in order to make Arne Slot’s squad even stronger. Giuliano Simeone has been linked with a move to the club, with the 22-year-old currently playing under father Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid.

Oihan Sancet is another player who has been mentioned as an option for Liverpool, with the attacking midfielder a key player for Athletic Bilbao, scoring 12 goals in just 16 La Liga starts so far this season.

With the Reds needing to bring in a new centre-back once the season reaches its conclusion, Feyenoord ace David Hancko has been backed to come in, with Slot knowing him well from their days together at the Eredivisie club. At 27, the Slovakia international would bring a good amount of experience, but also still have plenty of years ahead of him.

In perhaps the most exciting recent Liverpool transfer rumour, the Merseysiders are thought to be in contact to sign Bayer Leverkusen and Germany star Florian Wirtz. He has scored six goals in the Champions League this season and is arguably one of Europe’s most talented attacking players.

Liverpool eyeing "powerful" £33.1m full-back

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Liverpool are interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen wing-back Jeremie Frimpong at the end of the current campaign.

Rivals Manchester City are also said to be keen on acquiring his signature, with the Dutchman reportedly having a “gentlemen’s agreement” in place to allow him to leave in the summer, valuing him at £33.1m.

With doubts still persisting over Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future at Liverpool, Frimpong stands out as a strong option to replace him, even though he has primarily been used as a wing-back instead of a right-back at Leverkusen.

The 24-year-old has a total of 67 goal contributions (28 goals and 39 assists) in 176 appearances for the reigning Bundesliga champions, and Neil Lennon once hailed him during their time together at Celtic, saying:

“He took the plunge to go to Germany and he has excelled and I’m really proud of him. He’s deceptive. He’s small but he’s so powerful, good on the ball and quite different from a lot of fullbacks out there. I follow his career and I hope he gets the move that he wants now.”

Even if Alexander-Arnold does stay put at Liverpool, which is clearly the preferable option, bringing in Frimpong to increase competition for places would still make plenty of sense.

Related Exclusive interview with former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant (video)

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The Netherlands international’s versatility could appeal to Slot, considering he could also be a backup option to Mohamed Salah on the right wing, and he is at an age where he can still improve further, too.

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An early wicket had given Victoria hope but Doran and Beau Webster again combined in a crucial stand

AAP27-Nov-2022

First-innings saviour Jake Doran again came to Tasmania’s rescue, helping steer them to a four-wicket win over Victoria at the MCG and second spot on the Sheffield Shield ladder.After resuming at 4 for 151 and with 87 runs required for victory at the beginning of day four, Doran’s unbeaten 47 guided Tasmania to victory. The hard-fought win, sealed midway through the second hour of the morning session, sent Tasmania past Queensland on the table, trailing only undefeated Western Australia.Tasmania had cause to be anxious when Ben McDermott fell in the third over of the morning, feathering a catch to Sam Harper off Will Sutherland after failing to add to his overnight score of 46, victory still 82 runs away.Related

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Doran and Beau Webster (38), whose 80-run partnership in the first innings allowed Tasmania to forge a vital 99-run lead, again joined forces to frustrate the Victorian attack and usher the visitors to a position of command.This time they combined for 68 at better than four-an-over before Webster departed in spectacular fashion with the finish line in sight.With 14 runs required, Sutherland captured his fourth scalp when the aggressive Webster advanced down the track and tried to whip the ball over midwicket, only for his thick, leading edge to be caught brilliantly by high-leaping Fergus O’Neill in the gully.Jarrod Freeman came in and raised the winning runs when he top-edged a pull shot off Sam Elliott for four.Doran’s undefeated knock followed his vital 85 in the first innings, while he also took seven catches with the gloves after being preferred to former Australian captain Tim Paine for wicketkeeping duties.Ageless seamer Jackson Bird, who turns 36 in a fortnight, took 4 for 13 and 4 for 54 with the ball, setting up the result on the opening day when the hosts were skittled for 121.

This week is supposed to be a special homecoming for Cameron Green, with the allrounder set to play his first Test match in his hometown of Perth against West Indies starting Wednesday.Green, who debuted in Test cricket in December of 2020, has not missed any of Australia’s 14 Tests since, but bizarrely not yet played at home, as Perth has not hosted a Test match since 2019.His homecoming has been the centerpiece of the marketing and media campaign to attract some locals through the gates this week. But Green admits he’s not really feeling the comforts of home. Staggeringly, he has played more first-class matches at Galle International Stadium in Sri Lanka than he has at Perth Stadium.He has played just one Sheffield Shield match there in 2018, when he was playing as a bowler for Western Australia and batting at No. 8 behind Ashton Agar. The majority of his first-class cricket in Perth at the WACA. He has played in eight T20s at Perth Stadium, but only one since January 2020.Related

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Instead of being a fountain of local knowledge to his teammates as the only WA-based player in the playing XI, he is trying to extract as much information as he can from his interstate-based teammates who have more experience playing there than he does.”It definitely feels weird that you’re playing a home game and not at your home,” Green said. “Everyone expects you to do well and be used to the conditions but I kind of feel like maybe some of the other boys are more used to it than I am. It’ll be a challenge.”I’m asking questions of like Marnus [Labuschagne] who batted well there a few years ago about how he found it. It’s a bit weird when you’re asking guys what it’s like in your home conditions.”Green isn’t even staying in his own bed this week. He enjoyed a rare week at home in the lead-up to the Test matches after leaving Australia’s ODI series against England early to be managed ahead of the Test summer. But this week he has opted to stay at the team hotel, having stayed at home for his only international match to-date in Perth, a T20I against England in October where he felt he relaxed too much in the build-up.1:02

Warner on Green: Nineteen weeks straight in India will get you cooked

Green is quickly learning about life as a three-format player on the run, just as he learned about Test cricket on the run over the last two years.Ahead of his first home Test summer in 2020-21 against India Green played eight first-class matches, piling up three hundreds, and bowled in four of them.Before his second home summer in 2021-22, Green played five first-class matches for WA, making a century and three half-centuries, and took wickets in every game in preparation for the Ashes.Prior to a five-Test home summer against West Indies and South Africa in 2022-23, Green has not played a single red-ball game. His last first-class fixture was the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle in July. He has played six ODIs and seven T20Is since the end of August having become a permanent member of the ODI team, and a fringe member of the T20I side.He was preparing to play Shield cricket in mid-October and was literally facing red balls in the nets when he was told he was going to join the T20 World Cup squad following the freak injury to Josh Inglis, having left them only days earlier following the T20I series against England.Green is trying to come to terms with short lead-ins to Test matches. “That’s the unfortunate nature of playing three formats,” he said. “You don’t really get much preparation, which I’m not too used to. I’m used to like a good month or so leading into a Test series. It’s something that I’ll have to get used to and I’ve got a lot of added respect for the guys that do it.”Unlike David Warner, Steven Smith, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc or Josh Hazlewood, Green doesn’t have one discipline to prepare for, he has two.Green has played 14 Tests, but none at his hometown•Getty Images

Learning how to manage his time and prioritise his practice sessions is all part of his education. Green would prefer to put his time exclusively into his batting. He was the last man left out in the middle of the WACA at Australia’s compulsory three-hour centre-wicket session on Monday. He was only outlasted by Smith who was still in the nets when Green pulled his pads off as he tried to get used to the rhythms of Test-match batting after three months of white-ball bashing.”It’s basically trying to learn how to leave the ball again,” Green said. “I think in white-ball cricket, you’re trying to hit the ball and your contact point is well in front of your eyes, basically trying and get a full swing at it. So I think it’s learning to rein it back to be able to defend under your eyes. Because it feels like a different game at times.”But he also needs to work on his bowling. Three months of white-ball cricket has meant he has not got his bowling loads to the optimal level ahead of five back-to-back Test matches, although he has edged closer in the past week.His history of stress-related back injuries remains at the forefront of Australia’s minds, but his overs and his bowling skill remain vitally important to the balance of Australia’s attack. He no longer has the technical counsel of Matt Mason, the former WA bowling coach who has since joined England’s women’s team after leaving Perth last summer. But Green continues to use his technical advice as he tries to remain fit and healthy throughout another big summer campaign.”Matt Mason left me in a really good place,” Green said. “I think he had two really simple focuses that I have towards my bowling, basically jumping straight and not trying to jump too much. Trying to keep as balanced as I can at the crease. A couple of really nice clear checkpoints to kind of check in every so often and I’ve had two or three good sessions with them this week.”Green will have to continue to manage himself through an unrelenting schedule over the next 12 months, which will only be exacerbated if he adds the IPL to tours of India, England and the World Cup in 2023.Perth itself may become as foreign to him by the end of it as Perth Stadium is this week.

Wayne Rooney slammed Arsenal's fans for a 'subdued' atmosphere at Emirates Stadium as the Gunners went down 1-0 against Paris Saint-Germain.

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• Rooney slammed Arsenal players
• Disappointed with the Gunners supporters
• PSG beat Arsenal 1-0

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ousmane Dembele's brilliant left-footed strike from inside the box early in the first half handed Luis Enrique's side an important 1-0 win in the away leg of their Champions League semi-final against the Gunners. In fact, PSG could have increased their tally towards the end of the match when Bradley Barcola failed to find the back of the net from close range, while Goncalo Ramos' powerful shot came off the crossbar.

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• WHAT WAYNE ROONEY SAID

  Manchester United legend and pundit Wayne Rooney expressed his disappointment with the Arsenal players' efforts on the pitch. He also slammed the fans for being unable to create an intimidating atmosphere for the visitors at the Emirates. Speaking on , Rooney said: "For Arsenal, I was a bit disappointed with how they played, [I was] disappointed with the fans as well, I think the fans against Real Madrid were excellent. I thought tonight they were a bit subdued… almost like an anti-climax because Arsenal beat Real Madrid, that they are going to walk into the final [and] win the competition. The fans had to be there for them tonight. The players had to show up for them, of course, but on both sides, it wasn’t good enough tonight for Arsenal."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The former England striker also heaped praise on PSG as he added: "I think they [PSG] were by far the better team. I think tactically they were excellent, organised, patient. [I was impressed] with how they pressed on Arsenal’s goal kicks."

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• WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  Mikel Arteta's side will be back in action this Saturday as they take on Bournemouth in the Premier League before jetting off to Paris with the hope of turning things around in the second leg on May 7.

Transfer deadline day has been quiet in terms of incomings for Chelsea, but it’s safe to say it’s been dominated by outgoings, with various players on the way out of Stamford Bridge.

João Félix has agreed a late deal to join Serie A side AC Milan on a loan deal until the end of the season, but it doesn’t include a permanent option to move at the end of the campaign.

Axel Disasi is another player who could still move before the 11 pm deadline, after previous talks with Spurs and Aston Villa, but it’s previously been reported that despite wanting a move to Unai Emery’s side, Enzo Maresca wouldn’t allow him to join a Champions League rival.

Ben Chilwell is another player edging closer to a temporary exit from West London, looking set to move to Crystal Palace on loan until the end of the season to gain valuable game time after being frozen out by the Italian.

As a result of the pending exits, it could allow the Blues boss to dip into the market and make a new addition, with one player popping up on their radar in recent hours.

Chelsea in talks to land midfield talent

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea have held talks over a move to land Sporting CP midfielder Dario Essugo before the 11pm deadline tonight.

The 19-year-old is currently spending the season on loan at LaLiga outfit Las Palmas, but has caught the eye of the Blues, with it being unclear whether he would move now or in the summer.

Romano confirmed that he’s under consideration by the club with his parent side expecting movement in the coming hours, potentially opening the door to a move to West London.

Any move for Essugo would be yet another phenomenal piece of business for an upcoming star, helping one player reach the next level during his own time at Stamford Bridge.

Why Essugo could be perfect for Palmer at Chelsea

Cole Palmer is a player who’s thrived at Chelsea since his big-money £40m move from Manchester City back in the summer of 2023, a fee that now looks to be a bargain given his success at the club.

The now England international has featured 70 times since moving from Manchester to London, registering a combined tally of 60 goals and assists – undoubtedly becoming their key man within the final third over the last two years.

By the end of the campaign, Maresca will want to have secured a return to Champions League football, with the Blues needing to continue their early season form and finish within the top five come the end of May.

Whilst it remains to be seen if Essugo would link up this month or in the summer, he would provide a superb addition, despite his tender age – aiding Palmer in his efforts within the final third.

The teenager may primarily be a defensive midfielder, but he’s excelled in and out of possession regaining the ball before playing into forward areas – something which would certainly be of use to the England international.

Essugo, who’s been dubbed “one of the most exciting DMs in Europe” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has won an average of 2.8 tackles per 90 and completed two interceptions per 90 in 2024/25 – showcasing his stellar defensive ability.

Games played

14

Goals & assists

1

Pass accuracy

87%

Progressive passes

4.4

Progressive carries

1

Successful take-ons

0.8

Tackles won

2.8

Interceptions made

2

Clearances made

2.1

However, his ability in possession has been just as impressive, completing 4.4 progressive passes per 90 at a completion rate of 87% – with his passing ability aiding Palmer within attacking areas to boost his already impressive goalscoring tallies.

It’s unclear how much any deal for the Sporting youngster would cost on deadline day, but as seen from his figures so far this season, he would be another superb youngster to add to Maresca’s ranks.

He could provide serious competition to the current starters in the first-team squad, having the potential to develop into a world beater given his tender age.

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أكد طارق يحيى، نجم الزمالك السابق، أن النادي الأهلي هو الأقرب اليوم لحصد لقب الدوري المصري الممتاز متفوقًا على بيراميدز.

وأشار خلال حديثه في برنامج “لعبة والتانية” على راديو ميجا إف إم، إلى صعوبة تعثر الأهلي أمام فاركو في المباراة القادمة.

وأضاف يحيى أن الدوري المصري هذا الموسم يشهد حالة من الفوضى في اللوائح والقوانين، واصفًا الوضع بأنه “سمك لبن تمر هندي”، في إشارة إلى التناقض والارتباك في تطبيق القواعد.

بين الاتهامات والحلال والحرام.. مناقشة ساخنة بين جمال عبد الحميد وعبد الجليل حول ألقاب الأهلي والزمالك

وأوضح أنه لم يشاهد مثل هذه الأمور خلال تجربته في الدوريات التي عمل بها، معبّرًا عن أسفه لما يعانيه النظام الكروي في مصر.

وشدد طارق يحيى على ضرورة أن تُدار كرة القدم المصرية من قبل أشخاص يملكون فهماً عميقًا للعبة، مؤكدًا أن الخلافات المستمرة ليست موجودة في الدوريات العالمية الأخرى، وأنها تؤثر سلبًا على سمعة مصر في الساحة الكروية بسبب تصرفات رابطة الأندية.

كما أشار إلى أن نادي الزمالك يعاني من نقص في النظام الداخلي، مؤكدًا أن الفريق يحتاج إلى إدارة تخاف على مصلحة النادي.

واعتذر لمجلس الزمالك بسبب الظروف المالية، لكنه شدد على أن سمعة النادي في الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم (فيفا) تضررت كثيرًا بسبب كثرة الشكاوى المقدمة من المدربين واللاعبين السابقين.

واختتم حديثه بالتأكيد على ضرورة أن يتبع مجلس الزمالك خطوات الأهلي في التعاقد مع لاعبين مميزين مثل محمود تريزيجيه وحمدي فتحي وأحمد زيزو، مشيرًا إلى أن استمرار الوضع الحالي دون صفقات قوية لن يؤدي إلى تغييرات إيجابية في الموسم الجديد.

Matthew Mott backs star to “do what’s right for English cricket” ahead of 2023 tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Nov-2022After his starring roles in two gripping World Cup final victories, could Ben Stokes be persuaded to go for the hat-trick by coming out of ODI retirement in time for England’s defence of their 50-over crown in India next year? Matthew Mott, England’s white-ball head coach, is hopeful that he can be tempted.Stokes made a crucial 52 not out in England’s T20 final run-chase against Pakistan in Melbourne, to follow on from his 92 unbeaten runs (84 plus eight more in the Super Over) against New Zealand at Lord’s in 2019, to cement his status as one of the greatest “clutch” players in international history.However, he stepped down from the 50-over format earlier this year, stating that it was “unsustainable” for him to maintain his peak levels of performance across all three formats of international cricket, given that he is also captain of a Test team that has transformed its own reputation in recent months, with six wins in seven memorable performances in the 2022 home season.Mott, who took over as England white-ball coach at the start of the summer after a record-breaking stint in charge of Australia women, told reporters in Melbourne that he had not yet discussed the notion of Stokes reversing his ODI retirement. However, Mott added, he backed Stokes to “do what’s right for English cricket”.”When he spoke to me about his ODI retirement one of the first things I said was that I’d back any decision he made,” Mott said. “But I said to him he didn’t necessarily have to retire – he could just not play 50-overs for a while.”I did say you could always unretire. That’s his decision. It’s going to be a World Cup year and we don’t play much T20 cricket for a while but it will be a decision that’s up to him.”The more we can get him is great. He’s doing an amazing job with the Test captaincy but he is a very big cog in the wheel when he comes back to white-ball.”Speaking at the time, Stokes spelt out in some detail the reasons for his ODI retirement. He admitted that his body was unable to take the strain of staying match-fit across three formats, and added that – with Jos Buttler new in the role of white-ball captain following the retirement of Eoin Morgan – he did not want to feel that “I am taking the place of another player who can give Jos and the rest of the team their all”.”The England shirt deserves nothing less from anyone who wears it,” he concluded.Stokes’ decision is vindicated by the relentless nature of England’s winter schedule, with three ODIs coming up against Australia this week, even as the Test squad gathers in the UAE ahead of their three-match tour of Pakistan.Moeen Ali – who will be involved in those matches only days after the World Cup win – described the prospect as “horrible”, with Mott adding that “it’s not ideal, I can’t lie”. And yet, the sudden switch of emphasis, from 20 overs to 50, reinforces the sense of a change of priority in the white-ball schedule, with the 2023 World Cup looming in India in less than 12 months’ time.Rob Key, the managing director of men’s cricket, was guarded when asked about the prospect of Stokes reversing his retirement in an interview with Sky Sports on Monday. “Nothing is forever, but who knows what will happen,” he said. “At the moment, we’ll just keep thinking about trying to enjoy what we’ve done now and then we’ll be thinking about Test cricket.”Ben Stokes will be thinking about Test cricket and I don’t want him to have to worry about anything else apart from what’s in front of him right now, which is the Test series in Pakistan; and then you’ve got New Zealand and then Australia after that. You don’t have to worry about anything else.”What will be, will be. I don’t think you ever rule anything out but at the moment, we’ll just try and enjoy what we’ve done so far and Ben can enjoy it. I’m sure he’s enjoying it as much as he possibly can.”While Stokes made it clear that he did not wish to treated as an exception in England’s white-ball planning, his record as a World Cup match-winner would seem to make the case for him.Related

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“He’s a three-dimensional player and he has so much to offer,” Mott added. “In this team he was the glue – I think we have a lot of guys who can do extraordinary things but he was the player you knew that if he was in you’d win the game.”I’ll let him dust off today. He’s his own man and he’ll make his own decisions. He’ll do what’s right for English cricket and he always has.”That was part of his decision to retire from ODI cricket. He didn’t think he could give it his all and credit to him for making that decision because he’s such a special commodity for English cricket. We want what’s best for the whole system as well.”In the midst of England’s celebrations – which included a shaved head for Mott after a wager with Sam Curran (whose hair is set to be dyed a colour of the coach’s choice in return) – Mott admitted that his thoughts had turned to those integral members of the squad who had not been present at the moment of victory, most particularly Reece Topley, who suffered an ankle injury after arriving in Australia, and Jonny Bairstow, who is recovering from a freak golfing accident in which he broke his leg.”Reece Topley was a big part of our preparation for here,” Mott said. “I was absolutely gutted for him, such an innocuous injury. Seeing him leave our group was hard.”I must admit he was one of the first blokes I thought of – and Jonny as well.”

Veteran of 2005 tour prepares to play first Test in country in 19-year international career

Vithushan Ehantharajah29-Nov-2022If you’ve been paying even vague attention, you’ll have heard that James Anderson is the only member of this England touring party to have played international cricket in Pakistan prior to this winter.Back in the winter of 2005, a younger, sprightlier but no less downbeat Anderson was part of the squad that last played Test cricket in the country. He did not get on the park during the three-match series, which the hosts took 2-0, but did take part in the subsequent ODI series, finishing with seven wickets. That included 4 for 48 in the final match – a consolation win with England losing 3-2 overall – at Rawalpindi, the venue for the first Test of this series.Given his lack of red-ball action on that tour and the time between visits, the 40-year-old Anderson is reluctant to play the role of wise old sage when it comes to predicting how things could pan out. Heading into the first Test, he and the rest of the team are happy to take cues from the conditions, while maintaining Brendon McCullum’s assertion earlier in the week that, however things pan out, a draw is not on the agenda.”No, not at all,” Anderson said, when asked if he had anything to pass on. “Seventeen years is a long time. It would be wrong if I said ‘the pitch is going to play like this, or this is what to expect’. It’s a completely different team we’re playing against, completely different conditions.”It’s about adapting when we get out there. We talk a little bit about the opposition but mainly concentrate on what we do well – that’s what we did in the summer. We don’t know how it’s going to play. Traditionally it is flat. We’ve seen Tests in recent times – the Australia game was very flat. It ended in a draw. We’ve got a captain and coach that don’t want draws. We’re not playing for draws. We’ll come out and try to win the game – we might have to be creative in how we do that.”The extent of England’s adaptation will be dictated by the varying conditions over the next month, and indeed over this first Rawalpindi Test match. England have noticed there has been dew for their morning training sessions, which will no doubt play a part early on given the 10am starts on match days, adding a bit of juice in the air and moisture into the pitch. Both of which bring Anderson to the front and centre of their plans.England have also been concentrating on honing their reverse-swing skills in anticipation of what might lie ahead. The training camp in Abu Dhabi last week saw them experiment with an assortment of balls worn to varying degrees. Anderson had also been fine-tuning his technique with the Lions in Dubai since the start of November. Both he and Ben Stokes will be the main proponents of the craft this week, with Mark Wood out recovering from injury. However, Anderson doesn’t expect it will play too big a part in the first Test.Related

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“Just looking at the pitch out here and the outfield, it looks quite lush so whether reverse will play a huge part here, I’m not sure, at this particular ground,” he said. “But we will try and cover all bases and make sure we’ve got options, if and when we need them.”As Anderson approaches the 20th anniversary of his England debut, this Test bow in Pakistan represents a new and final frontier. It will be the ninth country he has graced in the format, and even coming into this series with 175 caps and a seam bowler’s record haul of 667 wickets, there is a palpable excitement from the usually reserved Lancastrian.”Firstly, it’s amazing to be back here,” he said. “I want to say thank you on behalf of, not just myself, but the whole team for the welcome we’ve had. We know how many cricket fans there are in Pakistan and how much they love and support, not just Pakistani cricket, but cricket in general around the world. I’ve not played a Test match here so I’m delighted to have the chance to be able to play here.As for who that first red-ball victim in Pakistan might be, Anderson claims he isn’t fussed, even if he recognises that one man in particular is likely to be a key adversary in the days ahead.”We are well aware how important a wicket Babar is for Pakistan, being the captain, as well as I’d say their best player. Yes, we will give him attention, but also we need to focus on the other guys as well because they’re very strong.”And I don’t care who it is, as long as I get a wicket and try and help the team towards a win. That’s what we’ve come here for – we want to win the series, so that’s our main focus.”