Sunderland are looking to bolster their squad with new signings during the summer transfer window in an attempt to avoid an instant relegation from the Premier League.

Regis Le Bris’ side won promotion via the play-offs from the Championship in the 2024/25 campaign, and go up to the top-flight knowing that they need to add more quality to the squad.

It was recently reported that the Black Cats are in talks with Dynamo Kyiv to secure a deal for Ukraine international centre-forward Vladyslav Vanat to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

The 23-year-old striker scored 17 goals in 28 league games for Dynamo Kyiv this season, along with one goal in the Europa League, and could be an exciting addition in the final third.

However, Sunderland will also have to look at ways to improve the team at the other end of the pitch, as they will be in a relegation battle that will see their defence constantly tested by high-quality sides.

With this in mind, the club should be looking to secure an upgrade on current first-choice Anthony Patterson, who may not be ready for the Premier League.

Why Anthony Patterson may not be Premier League ready

The 25-year-old stopper has been Sunderland’s first-choice since he broke through as the number one in the 2021/22 campaign, and started 45 games in the Championship this term.

However, Patterson’s performances in the second tier for Le Bris do not suggest that he is likely to make the step up to the Premier League to be a reliable figure between the sticks.

The Black Cats academy graduate let too many errors, like the one in the clip above, creep into his game, and he will be punished even more at a higher level, given the step up in the quality of attackers.

Appearances

42

Save percentage

69%

Goals prevented

-1.75

Error led to shot

2

Error led to goal

1

Percentage of crosses claimed

4.2%

As you can see in the table above, Patterson conceded 1.75 more goals than expected based on the xG of the shots that he faced, which meant that he underperformed as a shot-stopper overall as he let in more than the average goalkeeper would have been expected to.

He also ranked within the bottom 35% of goalkeepers in the Championship by only claiming 4.2% of the crosses into his box, as well as ranking in the bottom 11% for defensive actions outside of his box per 90 (0.64).

These statistics suggest that Patterson is unlikely to be a key player for the Black Cats in the Premier League, as he underperformed as a shot-stopper, a cross-claimer, and a sweeper-keeper at a lower level in the second tier.

Sunderland in talks to sign Ligue 1 star

Supporters should, therefore, be pleased to read that the club are reportedly eyeing up a deal to sign an upgrade on the English goalkeeper this summer.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Sunderland have made an approach to sign OGC Nice shot-stopper Marcin Bulka to bolster their ranks between the sticks.

The reporter claims that the Black Cats are now in talks with the Ligue 1 side to secure his signature as part of their “ambitious” approach to the market.

Romano adds that multiple other teams have approached Nice with an interest in the Poland international, which suggests that there will be plenty of competition for his services throughout the summer transfer window.

There is no mention, however, of how much money the French side are set to demand for the former Chelsea goalkeeper, or how much Sunderland are prepared to pay for him.

Why Marcin Bulka is an upgrade for Sunderland

The Black Cats could improve their team by winning the race for Bulka’s signature before the end of the summer transfer window, based on his performances for Nice in Ligue 1 during the 2024/25 campaign.

He started 34 games in the French top-flight and caught the eye with his impressive shot-stopping skills, saving 75% of the shots on his goal and preventing 2.74 goals.

That came after the former PSG goalkeeper, who was hailed as “sensational” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, prevented 2.00 goals in 34 Ligue 1 games for Nice during the previous campaign, which shows that he has consistently outperformed as a shot-stopper over the past two seasons.

Bulka, as you can see in the clips above, is capable of producing some stunning saves to keep the ball out of the net, and has proven himself in one of Europe’s major leagues over multiple seasons.

His performances as an all-round goalkeeper in the 2024/25 campaign suggest that he would arrive at the Stadium of Light as a significant upgrade on what Le Bris currently has between the sticks.

Save percentage

75.8%

70.3%

Saves made per 90

3.53

2.14

Penalty save percentage

33.3%

20%

Crosses stopped per 90

1.15

0.55

Percentage of crosses claimed

8.3%

4.2%

Defensive actions outside the box per 90

0.97

0.64

As you can see in the table above, Bulka outperformed Patterson as a shot-stopper, a cross-claimer, and as a sweeper-keeper this season, whilst playing at a higher level in the top tier in France, compared to the Championship.

These statistics suggest that the Polish colossus, who has been Nice’s number one for the past two campaigns, has the quality to arrive on Wearside as an immediate upgrade on the current Sunderland number one.

He has proven his quality in a top European league and could, therefore, hit the ground running as a reliable and quality goalkeeper who can stop shots and crosses with impressive regularity, particularly compared to Patterson.

This is why the Black Cats must do their best to win the race for Bulka’s signature, now that they are in official talks with Nice to agree a deal for the 25-year-old star, who would improve their chances of avoiding the drop from the Premier League next term.

He's the new Le Fee: Sunderland battling English clubs to sign £1.2m star

Sunderland is monitoring this promising midfielder who could be Regis Le Bris’ next Enzo Le Fee.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 23, 2025

da betsson： Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo is aiming to use the 2025 summer transfer window to bolster a squad which secured European qualification last term.

da wazamba： Given how well the club performed throughout 2024/25, Forest have a genuine chance of winning the Conference League.

Santo has shown admiration for plenty of potential targets, including Yunus Musah and Lukas Ullrich, but it appears as though one Serie A star has been linked more than most…

Latest on Nottingham Forest’s interest in Timothy Weah

As was widely reported earlier this month, including via transfer insider Gianluca Di Marzio, Forest were believed to be interested in signing Timothy Weah this summer.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Expand Collapse

Juventus appeared to be demanding just £12m for Weah, should they agree to cash in, which looked to be a solid piece of business by the club.

Last season, the American played 43 times for the Serie A giants, scoring six goals and grabbing five assists in the process.

In the top flight, he recorded an impressive goal conversion percentage of 24%, while also creating four big chances and averaging 0.6 key passes per game.

He played across several positions last year, predominantly on the right flank, a position which the Midlands side are keen to bolster.

After stepping up their pursuit of the one-time Celtic loanee, however, journalist Ben Jacobs revealed on Friday that Forest had actually walked away from any negotiations, despite the deal being “close”, after carrying out “extensive data analysis”.

As such, the City Ground outfit may need to turn their attention elsewhere, with one Brazilian star seemingly on their radar…

Why Nottingham Forest must sign Pepe

As reported by ESPN earlier this week, four Premier League clubs have opened talks to sign Porto winger Pepe this summer.

Forest have been named as one of those clubs, along with Aston Villa, Fulham and Burnley. The fact that Santo led them to Europe indicates that they could potentially be one of the frontrunners.

Pepe’s statistics for Porto (league only)

Goals

3

Assists

2

Big chances created

5

Key passes per game

1

Successful dribbles per game

0.6

Shots per game

1

Via Sofascore

A fee of £21m has been set, which is more than affordable for the Midlands side, no doubt about that.

While Weah may be the cheaper option, Pepe is certainly the bigger talent. Last season, the Brazilian dynamo registered an impressive total of 11 goal contributions across all competitions.

When comparing the pair via their domestic stats last term, it becomes clear who enjoyed the more productive campaign. Indeed, Pepe not only recorded more shots per 90 (1.36 vs 1.15), but he also registered more shot-creating actions (2.71 vs 1.98), goal-creating actions (0.36 vs 0.16) and more touches in the opposition penalty area (79 vs 35), showcasing his superiority in these metrics.

South American football expert Tim Vickery lauded the winger when he was linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur a couple of seasons ago, saying:

“I certainly remember him as a winger with Gremio, little mosquito kind of winger, who can do either flank.”

His ability to play on either wing could also come in handy, giving Santo some added flexibility, especially if injuries start to play their part.

It is clear that the manager wants to bring those to Forest who have proven ability on the biggest stages. Having scored in the Champions League, Copa Libertadores and Europa League, as well as gaining two caps for Brazil, Pepe would be an excellent signing.

Related Nottingham Forest join race for one of the rising stars of U21 Euros

Anderson already knows all about his quality…

Posts ByTom Cunningham Jun 26, 2025

A win guarantees a place in the playoffs for Perth Scorchers, but it may not for Sydney Thunder or Hobart Hurricanes

Shiva Jayaraman25-Jan-2020Brisbane Heat have come back strongly into the reckoning for the playoffs on the back of a 37-ball 71 from AB de Villiers to climb up to No. 5 on the ladder. The 71-run win over the Melbourne Stars also improved their net run rate (NRR) from -0.58 to -0.23. It might come in handy should qualification come down to NRR. A tie on points is still possible in the event of a no-result in one of the remaining matches and a favourable result in the other. Heat will qualify for the playoffs irrespective of other results if they win against Renegades on Monday.While Heat will know exactly what they need to do when they take on Renegades on Monday, here’s a look at what Sunday’s matches mean for the four teams involved.

Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers

Sydney Thunder, Points 11Thunder’s best chance to qualify is by winning this match, and winning it by as big a margin as possible. That will ensure they move ahead of the Hobart Hurricanes on NRR. If Heat beat the Renegades on Monday and the Hurricanes win their match against the Adelaide Strikers, it will come down to NRR between Thunder and the Hurricanes.Here’s an illustration of what Thunder would need to do to push their NRR above the Hurricanes’.If Thunder and the Hurricanes score 180 batting first in their respective games, then Thunder have to beat the Scorchers by at least 14 runs to stand a chance of qualifying ahead of Hurricanes if the latter win by the narrowest of margins.If Thunder and the Hurricanes concede 180 bowling first in their respective matches, then Thunder have to beat the Scorchers with at least 10 balls to spare to get ahead of the Hurricanes if the latter win off the last ball of the match against the Strikers (this will change based on the Hurricanes’ final score).If Thunder beat the Scorchers, but not by a margin that’s big enough to take them ahead of the Hurricanes on NRR (and if the Hurricanes beat the Strikers), the Thunder can still qualify on points if Heat lose to the Renegades in the final match of the league stage.If Thunder beat the Scorchers and one of either Hurricanes or Heat lose their respective matches, then Thunder will qualify on points.Josh Inglis goes hard on the leg side•Getty Images If the Scorchers win, they qualify. If they lose, they have to make sure their NRR doesn’t suffer by much. To qualify on 12 points, they will need both the Hurricanes and Heat to lose their respective matches. They will also require Heat to lose by a margin that is big enough to keep the Brisbane team below them on NRR.If the Scorchers lose to Thunder, the Hurricanes-Strikers match is washed out, and the Renegades beat Heat on Monday, it will be a three-way tie on 12 points among the Scorchers, the Hurricanes and Heat. The fifth place will then be decided on NRR.

Adelaide Strikers v Hobart Hurricanes

Hobart Hurricanes, Points 11They are in the same boat as Thunder. Their best chance to qualify is to beat the Strikers by a margin that is big enough for them to stay ahead of Thunder should it come down to NRR. Hurricanes will have the benefit of knowing exactly what to do to stay ahead of Thunder since they play the second match on Sunday.If Thunder lose to the Scorchers and the Hurricanes beat the Strikers, then it will boil down to the result in Monday’s match between Heat and the Renegades. If Heat lose, Hurricanes will make the playoffs. They won’t if Heat win.Adelaide Strikers, Points 17They have to win their final match to finish in second place. They will tie with the Sydney Sixers on points but will be comfortably ahead of the Sydney team on NRR.

Looking to get their summer transfer business underway, Aston Villa have now reportedly made contact to sign a £400,000-a-week defender ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

Where Aston Villa stand with PSR

Aston Villa’s biggest concern after missing out on Champions League qualification on the final day came off the pitch rather than in Unai Emery’s dressing room. After missing out, those in the Midlands could now have PSR problems on the horizon which force them to sell at least one key man this summer.

As a result, one name that could be heading for the exit door is Emiliano Martinez. The goalkeeper looked emotional in Aston Villa’s final home game of last season and rumours have since linked the Argentine goalkeeper with a move to Atletico Madrid. Martinez, however, is reportedly waiting for Manchester United this summer.

After they finished sixth to follow up their Champions League qualification in the season prior, there will be plenty of questions about the PSR rules from those at Villa Park, but before they get answers they must find solutions.

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Ross Kilvington

Jun 14, 2025

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire delivered an explanation as to how Aston Villa found themselves in hot water financially, saying on Sky Sports: “And remember, Villa have done very well in that competition (UCL). So that will be a plus. And they have sold some players as well, in both the last summer market and the January one.

“But I think there is still a perception that Villa will have to box clever. And of all of the clubs under pressure to sell players by June 30, I guess they’re the ones who are the club that gives the most attention because their spending in the last couple of years before getting into Europe was so extensive.”

Aston Villa make contact to sign Laporte

The Villans seem to be in a defiant mood, however, and could still spend to welcome incomings of their own this summer. According to Spanish newspaper AS via Sport Witness, Aston Villa now made contact to sign Aymeric Laporte from Al-Nassr in an attempt to beat Arsenal to the defender’s signature in the coming months.

The Gunners have also reportedly made contact, as have Athletic Club, Marseille and Inter Milan. In a hectic race, it’s Villa who will hope to swoop in and make an impressive statement by welcoming a five-time Premier League winner.

Signing Laporte won’t come cheap, given that he reportedly earns around £400,000-a-week at Al-Nassr, but he has made it no secret that adjusting to life in Saudi hasn’t been easy.

The experienced defender told reporters last year: “It’s a big change compared to Europe, but in the end it’s all adaptation. They haven’t made it easy for us. In fact, there are many players that are dissatisfied. They do look after us but not enough for my liking. That is to say, in Europe they pay you a good salary, but they take better care of you.”

Wayne Rooney has criticised Alexander Isak for how the Newcastle United striker is going about things as he refuses to play amidst Liverpool links.

Rooney lays into IsakNewcastle star 'refusing to train'Rooney once asked to leave Man UtdFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Reported by Mail Sport, Rooney spoke as a pundit on Match of the Day about the current situation surrounding Isak, claiming the Swede is not going about things in "the right way". Rooney added that it may be difficult for Isak to reintegrate himself into the Magpies squad should he be forced to stay at St James' Park.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Rooney likened the scenario to one that he faced himself during his Manchester United career. The United and England legend submitted a transfer request in the 2010-11 season after a falling-out with Sir Alex Ferguson, but eventually had a U-turn and decided to stay at Old Trafford. As a man with first-hand experience, Rooney does not believe Isak is acting in the right way as he pushes for a move.

WHAT ROONEY SAID

Rooney said: "The fact that he's refusing to come in and train, it's going to be very difficult for him to come back in. There's a trust element there; he's going about it the wrong way. Maybe he's getting advised wrongly.

"But also for the team who's trying to sign him, in this case it looks like Liverpool, you have to wonder, is this the sort of player you want, who's going to desert his team-mates and a huge football club. It's a good opportunity, but it has to be done in the right way.

"There's the right way to do it and the wrong way. And I've been there myself when I've asked Manchester United to leave."

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ISAK?

Isak remains a Newcastle player for the moment and will likely remain that way until the Magpies can bring in a suitable replacement. Eddie Howe's side face Liverpool next up in what will no doubt be a fiery encounter. Even if Isak himself plays no part, he will certainly be at the centre of it.

The last couple of weeks have been highly unusual from an Arsenal perspective.

While fans have grown accustomed to the club dragging their feet in the transfer window, they’ve seen the Gunners sign Kepa Arrizabalaga and Martin Zubimendi, while also getting closer to the statement signing of Viktor Gyokeres.

Furthermore, the Premier League runners-up have also been heavily linked with more attackers, such as the incredibly exciting Eberechi Eze, who has a £68m release clause in his contract.

The England international would undoubtedly be an excellent addition to the Gunners’ squad, but one that might require an exit.

Why Arsenal want to sign Eze

Eze has been one of the most exciting players to watch in the Premier League for some time now, and was even linked with Arsenal last summer.

However, if he was impressive in years past, he reached an entirely new level and was utterly sensational for Palace last season.

For example, despite playing for a mid-table side, the Englishman managed to rack up a tally of 14 goals and 11 assists in 43 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games.

Moreover, he didn’t just score the third goal in a comfortable win, or a consolation goal in a hefty defeat; he bagged important, game-changing goals, such as the only goal in the club’s FA Cup triumph.

In addition to being an output machine, the former QPR gem would also provide Mikel Arteta with more tactical flexibility, as while he thrives in attacking midfield, he’s more than capable of doing a job out on the left.

Finally, as he grows in importance for the national side, he’d be able to form a closer partnership with Bukayo Saka at club and international level were he to join Arsenal, which can only be a good thing.

With all that said, bringing in another top-class attacker like Eze would be expensive and could lead to changes being made in the squad.

What Eze's arrival would mean for Arsenal

If Gyokeres is also signed this summer, which looks increasingly likely, then it seems unlikely that Arsenal would also add Eze without then making a sale.

After all, the Gunners have never been a side that hoards talent or likes to maintain massive payrolls.

So that leaves the question? Who would be the one to make way for the Englishman?

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Well, it obviously wouldn’t be Saka, Gabriel Jesus is out injured, Kai Havertz is a clear favourite of Arteta, and Ethan Nwaneri is currently in talks for a new deal.

That leaves Gabriel Martinelli and £27m signing Leandro Trossard, and with reports now clarifying that Al Nassr are not looking to sign the former, it might be time for the latter to leave the Emirates.

That seems to be an opinion shared by the Belgian himself, as, according to recent reports from Turkey, Süper Lig side Fenerbahçe are now willing to meet his financial demands for a possible transfer.

The report claims that now the Turkish giants have agreed to the winger’s demands, they have offered Arsenal a fee of €15m, which is about £13m.

It seems likely that the Gunners will reject such an offer, but as it is just the first, there is every chance that a final, agreeable price will be reached.

Moreover, it may be what is best for all parties, as the former Brighton & Hove Albion star’s exit could allow the club to sign Eze, and based on their respective form last season, that would be a big upgrade for Arteta and Co.

Appearances

43

56

Minutes

3303′

3455′

Goals

14

10

Assists

11

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.58

0.35

Minutes per Goal Involvement

132.12′

172.75′

For example, the “sensational” Belgian ace, as dubbed by journalist Charles Watts, produced 20 goal involvements in 56 appearances, totalling 3455 minutes, which comes out to a goal involvement every 2.8 games, or every 172.75 minutes.

In contrast, the Eagles’ ace averaged a goal involvement every 132.12 minutes.

Ultimately, Trossard has been a great player for Arsenal, but if his departure helps the club sign Eze, then the club should do what they can to facilitate it.

Madueke will love him: £65m star pushing to sign for Arsenal "every hour"

Noni Madueke could be joined in the Arsenal attack by a £65m game-changer.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 7, 2025

Former allrounder also believes India won’t miss Pujara given the impact of people like Jaiswal with the bat and Bumrah with the ball

Yash Jha08-Oct-2024What would India’s last two Test tours of Australia look like without Cheteshwar Pujara? The man who copped blow after blow, batted hours on end, and made Australia’s bowlers sick of the sight of him is no longer part of India’s set-up. But as far as former Australia allrounder Shane Watson is concerned, India’s newer-looking Test side, with its dynamic batting options, will continue to make life difficult for Australia when they make the trip for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year.”I don’t see it [India’s batting dynamic] changing a lot,” Watson said on the sidelines of the launch of the International Masters League in Mumbai on Tuesday. “The thing when you talk about Pujara, for example, is he just doesn’t make a mistake. Whereas you’ve seen so many of these incredible batters for India – top-order batters, someone like [Yashasvi] Jaiswal, he’s scored runs very quickly, but he hasn’t made a mistake.”Pujara tallied 792 runs – and, more vitally, faced 2186 deliveries – in 15 innings across the two tours in 2018-19 and 2020-21, as India did in back-to-back visits what they had never done before: win a Test series in Australia. Although Jaiswal would appear to be from a very different school of batting – as evidenced by a strike rate of 71.67 after 11 Tests, and fifties at better than a run-a-ball in both innings of India’s most recent Test – Watson reckons the 22-year-old’s ability to bat long will challenge the Australian bowling attack.Related

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“He hasn’t really given the opposition a chance to be able to get him out,” Watson said. “I think if those type of batters come out to Australia and play aggressively – just put the bad balls away and put pressure on the Aussie bowlers – then they can still have the same effect, and they keep the game moving as well.”Watson clubbed Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant as the Indian batters who could pose serious threats to Australia over the course of the five-match series, which begins in Perth from November 22.”For me, with the calibre of batters that India have got and the skill they’ve got, there’s no reason why they can’t combine that: putting pressure on bowlers, score quickly, but also not make mistakes, which we’ve seen those Indian batters, in particular Jaiswal [do],” Watson said. “And we’ve seen Rishabh Pant come in and do it as well – take the game on, but also don’t give the opposition many opportunities to get them out.”Pant has 624 runs to his name from 12 Test innings in Australia – while maintaining a strike rate of 72.13 – and Watson, unsurprisingly, picked Pant and Jasprit Bumrah as the two players Australia need to be most wary of.Eoin Morgan, Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Jonty Rhodes, Romesh Kaluwitharana and Shane Watson at the launch of the International Masters League•PTI “He’s [Pant] obviously got great memories from his last tour that he had from a batting perspective in Australia,” Watson said. “That innings he played at the Gabba was something very special. So knowing that he’s come through his challenges in the last couple of years to be able to come back as an even better player than what he left off, I think he’s going to have a big series.”Also, Bumrah is someone who in Australian conditions – well, in all conditions really – he’s so good. [With] his ability to be able to just take wickets and get batters out, he’s going to be very effective in Australia as well. So those two guys, if they have big series, they can really provide Australia some big challenges.”Bumrah has 32 wickets at 21.25 from seven Tests in Australia. He missed the last Test of the 2020-21 series due to an injury, but will head into his third tour of Australia as the mainstay of India’s bowling attack even as they await the return of Mohammed Shami from a long injury layoff.

نجح الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة في تحقيق فوز مهم على حساب نظيره إلتشي، في المباراة التي جمعتهما ضمن منافسات الدوري الإسباني.

وخاض فريق برشلونة مباراة إلتشي، مساء اليوم الأحد، في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني لموسم 2025-2026.

واستقبل برشلونة نظيره إلتشي، ضمن منافسات الجولة الحادية عشر من بطولة الدوري الإسباني “الليجا”، على ملعب “مونتجويك”، في المباراة الجارية الآن.

وأحرز لامين يامال الهدف الأول بعد تمريرة ولا أروع من بالدي الذي اقتحم منطقة وسط الملعب ومرر إلى لامين الذي سدد الكرة ببراعة على يسار حارس المرمى، في الدقيقة 9.

وأضاف اللاعب فيران توريس الهدف الثاني لصالح برشلونة في الدقيقة 12 بعدما انطلق فيرمين لوبيز بالكرة إلى منطقة الجزاء وأرسل عرضية رائعة إلى فيران الذي وضعها بسهولة في المرمى.

اقرأ أيضًا | موعد مباراة برشلونة القادمة بعد الفوز على إلتشي في الدوري الإسباني

ثم سجل رافا مير الهدف الأول لصالح فريق إلتشي في الدقيقة 42 وأضاف راشفورد الهدف الثالث لنادي برشلونة ليقضي على آمال إلتشي في العودة ويطمئن جماهير برشلونة.

وتم اختيار اللاعب الدولي الإنجليزي ماركوس راشفورد رجل المباراة نظرًا لتألقه المميز وظهوره الرائع في المباراة أمام إلتشي بالمباراة التي جمعتهما ضمن منافسات الدوري الإسباني.

وحصل راشفورد على تقييم 7.4 من موقع فوت موب بعد مشاركته في أهداف المباراة واستعادة برشلونة نغمة الانتصارات مرة أخرى.

بتلك النتيجة، أصبح برشلونة في المركز الثاني برصيد 25 نقطة في جدول ترتيب الدوري الإسباني الممتاز، خلفًا لريال مدريد صاحب المركز الأول برصيد 30 نقطة.

 

Often unlucky to miss out in the past, the fast bowler has made the most of his opportunities in UAE

Deivarayan Muthu07-Nov-20212:07

Milne delighted to be part of NZ’s five-specialist bowlers group

Adam Milne runs in hard. Hits the deck harder. Hits wicketkeeper Devon Conway’s gloves even harder. Mohammad Shahzad loads up for an almighty flat-bat swat with his right leg in the air. But the pace – it looks a whole lot quicker than the 136kph on the speed gun – and bounce of Milne does Shahzad. The top edge keeps swirling away from Conway, the hit-the-deck bustle of Milne challenges his gloves even further, but he leaps to his right and somehow snags the catch after a bobble.Milne keeps running in hard. Keeps hitting the deck harder. Keeps threatening the gears and upper bodies of the batters. All of this on a scorching afternoon in Abu Dhabi in a must-win for New Zealand. It’s a bit like the right-arm equivalent of Neil Wagner in T20 cricket. Seventeen of Milne’s 24 balls on Sunday were short or short of a good length, according to ESPNcricinfo’s logs, and he gave up nine runs off them.Watch cricket live on ESPN+

Sign up for ESPN+ and catch all the action from the Men’s T20 World Cup live in the USA. Match highlights of Afghanistan vs New Zealand is available in English, and in Hindi (USA only).

Milne, however, wasn’t lined up to be New Zealand’s ‘shock’ bowler at the T20 World Cup in the first place, despite hitting similar unhittable lengths in the inaugural Hundred. It was Lockie Ferguson who was supposed to rough up the opposition and intimidate them. However, a calf injury sidelined Ferguson from the entire tournament less than an hour before New Zealand’s opener against Pakistan.Head coach Gary Stead’s Plan B was to unleash Milne from the reserves, but his inclusion into New Zealand’s main squad wasn’t rubber-stamped by the ICC before the match against Pakistan. It didn’t go down too well with Stead; Milne, too, felt that he could’ve replicated the kind of impact Pakistan tearaway Haris Rauf had made in that game.Although Milne had bounced back after shaky starts against India and Scotland, he hadn’t quite fired like he can until Sunday. After two powerplay overs of serious heat that matched Abu Dhabi’s afternoon temperatures, Milne returned in the 11th over.Najibullah Zadran had just laid into New Zealand’s slower bowlers – Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi and Jimmy Neesham – but when he set himself up to go after New Zealand’s fastest bowler, Milne cut his pace down to 123kph and floated a cutter away from Najibullah’s swinging arc. In the 15th over of Afghanistan’s innings, his last, Milne, once again, took pace off and took the ball away from Najibullah and Mohammad Nabi.Adam Milne kept thudding the ball into Devon Conway’s gloves•Getty ImagesWhen Milne burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old, he was just about raw pace. Comparisons with his mentor Shane Bond were inevitable when he produced a 153kph thunderbolt against West Indies in Auckland in 2014. Injuries then ravaged his career – he has had to deal with multiple elbow, hamstring and heel complaints along the way.Related

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It was the heel injury that put him out of the semi-final – and final – of the ODI World Cup in 2015. In the 2017 Champions Trophy,  Milne watched Mosaddek Hossain score the winning runs off him as Bangladesh KO’d New Zealand in Cardiff.Four years later, in the Emirates, a fitter and stronger Milne, armed with greater T20 experience and expertise, set New Zealand’s path to the World Cup semi-finals with figures of 1 for 17 in his four overs.”Obviously to come from the reserves and be part of the World Cup now is pretty special,” Milne said at the post-match press conference. “Yeah, to qualify for the semi-final is a great moment and hopefully in the semi-final we can put in a performance and make it into the final.”When New Zealand lost Ferguson to injury, it appeared a massive blow, but Milne has slotted in quite seamlessly into the role of being the chief enforcer.”I think so,” Milne said. “All they want me to do is to sort of come in and keep bowling fast and use my change-ups. Be aggressive and use the short ball – so yeah.”Emerging – and re-emerging – from outta nowhere has been a fairly recurrent theme in Milne’s career. He made his first-class debut for Central Districts in 2009-10 largely because Michael Mason was called up to the national squad after an injury to Jacob Oram.More recently at the Blast, he was signed as a late replacement for Mohammad Amir. He pressed on to claim a hat-trick in that tournament. At the Hundred, he was roped in by the Birmingham Phoenix as a late replacement for Shaheen Shah Afridi. He was the bowler to concede less than a run-a-ball in that competition.After spending much time on the sidelines and the fringes, Milne is finally ready for the limelight.

All your questions on New Zealand’s new 6ft 8in pace and bounce man answered

Deivarayan Muthu30-Jan-2020Jamieson is the tallest NZ cricketerAt six feet and eight inches (2.03 metre), Jamieson is the tallest cricketer in New Zealand. Believe it or not, he’s slightly taller than New Zealand’s batting coach two-metre Peter Fulton, and he has been using his towering frame to bounce out batsmen in domestic cricket.Jamieson was born in Auckland, bred in Canterbury, and is now in line to make his New Zealand debut, having sparkled for New Zealand A.

Move over Two Metre Peter! Meet NZ's *new* tallest cricketer Kyle Jamieson 2.03 metres (6'8) in jandals #FordTrophy pic.twitter.com/eLbZFMWz4U

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 16, 2016

He has been called up to the Test squad before, right?Indeed, he had been picked as a replacement for the injured Ferguson for the 2019 Boxing Day Test because of his propensity to run in hard and hit the deck harder, but he didn’t get a game on that horror tour of Australia.Jamieson, though, has been a regular for New Zealand A over the past few seasons and was even part of the squad that travelled to the UAE in 2018. In all, he has represented New Zealand A 13 times across formats, picking up 15 wickets. His best figures of 4 for 49 came in his most recent A game against India A in Christchurch. Jamieson dismissed opener Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suryakumar Yadav and then defended seven off the last over to secure the one-day series 2-1 for the hosts. He nipped out Sandeep Warrier and Ishan Porel off back-to-back balls to finish off India’s chase.Earlier, in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup in the UAE, Jamieson had emerged as New Zealand’s second-highest wicket-taker, with seven strikes in four matches at an economy rate of 4.51.ALSO READ: Firebird Bennett ready for his NZ rebirthWhat’s his biggest claim to fame?A bowler in the mould of Morne Morkel, Jamieson bagged 6 for 7 at Eden Park – the best figures by a New Zealand bowler and the fourth-best overall in T20 cricket – in last season’s Super Smash for Canterbury. He bounced out four of Auckland’s batsmen, including their England recruit James Vince. He can also get the ball to swing – like he showed when he snatched the outside edge of Mark Chapman on that day.Jamieson switched to Auckland prior to this season, and is the top wicket-taker in the Super Smash in the past two years. He has bagged 30 wickets in 16 matches at an economy rate of 8.08. However, the more experienced Hamish Bennett was preferred ahead of him for the T20Is against India largely because Bennett has more variations.Jamieson has been on the fringes for a while, having been among the wickets in the one-day Ford Trophy and the four-day Plunket Shield as well.Can he bat?He sure can as his List A average (31.50) and strike rate (112.50) suggest. He has made three first-class fifties to go with one in List A cricket. His most memorable knock came against the visiting English attack in 2018, when he cracked a 111-ball 101 to give the likes of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Mark Wood a runaround in a warm-up at Seddon Park.What they say about him…“An impressive bowler who at 6ft 8in can swing it… another one to add to the @BLACKCAPS stable.”
“Kyle impressed the coaching staff in his time with the Test squad for the Melbourne and Sydney Tests, and will feel comfortable in the environment if included.”