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Six weeks since Peter Moores was sacked as England coach, he speaks for the first time about his second spell in charge, where things went wrong, and banishing the “data” myth

George Dobell22-Jun-20153:26

Dobell: Moores frustrated with treatment

“Frustration” is a word that crops up often in Peter Moores’ sentences at present.He is “frustrated” that he cannot finish the job he started in rebuilding the England team. He is frustrated that he will never lead England through an Ashes series. He is “frustrated” that history appears to have repeated itself. And he is, in his words, “doubly frustrated” that his portrayal in the media differs so markedly from reality.That portrayal stems, in part, from a radio interview conducted by the BBC moments after England’s World Cup exit. In it, Moores was alleged to have said that England would need to check the “data” before coming to any conclusions about the reasons for their failure.It came to be a defining moment in his downfall. It has been used to illustrate his perceived faults: an obsession with stats and a propensity to overanalyse. England’s talented young players, it was said, were stifled by such a policy.But it never happened. As was reported by ESPNcricinfo, Moores actually said “later” in that BBC interview. But his words were misheard – an honest and understandable mistake as there was a minor microphone malfunction during the interview – and while the BBC subsequently apologised to him (at first verbally and then in writing), the error was public and the apology was private. The damage, in terms of public perception, was done.The image of Moores as stats-driven has little basis in reality. So frustrated was Nathan Leamon, England’s analyst at the World Cup, by the lack of use of his statistics that it was briefly feared he may go home. Meanwhile Paul Farbrace, Moores’ faithful deputy and the man who has recently been portrayed as a liberator of the England team, has said repeatedly that the Sri Lanka team he coached to success in the 2014 World T20 used such data far more.”I don’t have regrets. I look back with quite a lot of pride”•Getty ImagesWhile it is true Moores used the word “data” during an excellent eight-minute interview on Sky (he said “we’ll have to analyse the data”) it was in response to several detailed questions and after an initial answer that started: “Now is not the time to be analysing.”It is Moores’ frustration – that word again – at such a characterisation that has prompted him to talk now. While he remained silent the first time he was sacked as England coach, declining lucrative invitations to give his side of the story, this time he has decided to speak in an attempt to correct at least a few of the misconceptions about his period as coach. He was not paid and the only item he would not discuss is how he was sacked.While Moores will not be drawn on it – he is simply not the sort to be dragged into mudslinging – ESPNcricinfo understands that he learned of his fate after his wife read about it on Twitter and phoned him. Whatever you think of him or Paul Downton (who learned of his fate a similar way), they deserved better than that. The ECB, to its credit, apologised in private and public.He does not comment, though. He hardly ever does. When he was sacked as England coach at the start of 2009, he said nothing. When England went to No. 1 in the Test rankings in 2011, largely with players he had selected, he said nothing. When Kevin Pietersen’s book came out, he said nothing. And each day he woke up and read another column from an ex-player – usually an ex-player he had dropped during his first spell as England coach – rubbishing his methods and caricaturing his personality, he said nothing.”I have to accept my time as England coach has gone,” Moores says. “It’s pretty hard to accept. But it’s done. The umpire’s finger is up. I have to look at where I go next.”But I am frustrated. The portrayal of me as a coach in the media is just wrong. If people said ‘I don’t rate you as a coach’ then fine. But when it’s not what you are, it’s really frustrating.”I don’t know how to change that. I’ve not spent my life trying to be really good with the media; I’ve spent it trying to make players better. I still passionately want to do that.”I have an official letter from the BBC. It’s a tough one, I didn’t say it. I know what I am as a coach. I’ve done it for a long time. I’ve been in the game for 33 years and I’ve coached for 17. I know the game. And what I’ve learned is, my job is to simplify the game for players and free them up to go and play.”We moved away from stats and data. Coaching doesn’t work like that at all. You watch a lot to say a little. It’s not a numbers game. We kept it simple. We tried to give the players responsibility to lead themselves.”There is a big support staff with England. And they’re all valuable. You need the security staff, the physio and the doctor. But there are times when you just want the 11 players and two coaches to watch the game and talk about it together. We were creating that environment. We were getting there.”

“In Test terms, we felt we had turned a corner. Would I have been sacked had we won in Barbados? You’ll have to ask the people who made the decision”

The “we were getting there” phrase is another recurring theme. Moores felt his England side were on the right track. While he accepts the World Cup was wretched, there was evidence in Test cricket, that they were making progress. At the time he was sacked, England – a side containing half-a-dozen young or inexperienced players – had won four and lost one of their last six Tests.Against relatively modest opposition that is perhaps decent rather than exceptional. But Moores did inherit an England side that had just been beaten 5-0 in the Ashes and was clearly in a transitional phase. It was always going to take time.”In Test terms, we felt we had turned a corner,” Moores says. “We were getting there. Would I have been sacked had we won in Barbados? You’ll have to ask the people who made the decision. I was aware that things were building but I wasn’t expecting it.”The frustration is not being able to carry something through. When I took the job, I knew we would go through this period of trial. And transition is difficult. You will lose sometimes.”The evolution, of a team, of a player, is that you’re going to be inconsistent. You’re going to lose. But in Tests we were moving and moving quite fast. You could see it happening. Young players were developing fast. And you know there is a timeframe for that.”I’m also confident in my ability to evolve teams to become very good teams. And, given time, I’ve always gone on to be successful. And you’re not trying to be successful for a short time, but for a long time.”So to not have time to finish the job with England… I thought we were getting there. I was genuinely excited when we got back from the Caribbean.”Moores denies any mixed emotions at watching England’s improved showing against New Zealand. But it has not gone unnoticed that, just as he built the side that Andy Flower went on to lead to such success (Flower, it should be noted, was always the first to praise Moores’ contribution), he will spend the next few years seeing some of those he selected this time flourish in international cricket.It was, after all, Moores that replaced the new-ball pair of Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard with James Anderson and Stuart Broad. He installed Graeme Swann as first-choice spinner and Matt Prior as wicketkeeper. He laid many of the foundations on which Flower built.This time, his commitment to Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Gary Ballance (originally selected by Flower), Joe Root (who had been dropped by the time Moores took over) and others could have similar long-term benefits.Moores brought new faces into the England side during both spells in charge•AFP”I didn’t go into the job to get the credit,” he says. “But yes, history probably has repeated itself a bit. I’d love it if England won the Ashes. I’m an England fan.”I’ve probably debuted more players than most England coaches. You hope when you introduce players that they’ll carry on in the long term. I think we picked some good players who will become good England players over time. They’ll go through ups and down.”I know I left a united group of people – players and coaches – with a clear vision of where we were going and working towards it. I don’t have regrets. I look back with quite a lot of pride.”It seems he was rated in his second spell as England coach, in part, by the mistakes he made in his first. Famously described as “the woodpecker” by Kevin Pietersen – an image that suggests a man forever tapping away at players and, as a result, preventing them from relaxing – Moores admits he made some mistakes the first time around.”I don’t think there was any truth in the woodpecker thing, no,” he says now. “But I do think the version of me as a coach now to the version that first coached England is a better version.”I evolved quite a lot as a coach, as a player would. It’s no different. This time I knew what I was going into. You understand the real challenges for players, as you’ve been there before.”I’ve reflected on that first time. We needed to change. And I look back and think, yes, in my enthusiasm, I pushed too hard. You should allow that to happen. I wanted them to be fitter and, yes, you can push too hard.”So I knew when I came in this time, there had been mistakes made. I wanted to allow captains to evolve themselves and create a place where the players felt supported.”Part of the skill of a coach is to disappear. You’re in the room but it’s as if you aren’t. You’re not making anyone nervous. Because if you need 40 to win in four overs, nobody wants a coach who is twitchy.”Look, I’ve made loads of mistakes as a coach. But you make fewer as you learn. That side of my coaching, I know, I’ve got better.”England’s performance – or lack of it – at the World Cup does not reflect well on anyone, though. While they went into the event talking an aggressive game, they played pretty timid cricket, with Moores’ selections – Ian Bell as opener and Gary Ballance at No. 3 – contrasting starkly with the approach in the recent ODI series against New Zealand.So does he accept that either the selections were flawed or he was unable to coax the best out of the players?

“This is the first summer for 33 years I’ve not been involved in the game in a professional way. But I’m a coach, it’s what I do. I love England and I love cricket”

“In terms of selection, we got to the final of the tri-series with Ian Bell playing very well. I think he made two centuries and we made 300 against Australia. And Moeen was playing with freedom.”We moved James Taylor down the order as we felt he was a good finisher and brought Gary in as he has a very good record in limited-overs cricket. He’s a very good player. Ravi Bopara was struggling a bit and not really getting a bowl. It all felt natural at the time and we tried to stay consistent in selection.”As to getting it out of them… great players don’t always play great cricket. It didn’t happen for them. Senior players didn’t grab the game by the scruff of neck. But you learn from failure and the reaction of those players who went through it is encouraging.”But yes, I felt hollow at the end of the tournament.”The one thing Moores will not ever do is blame the players. Never, in public or private, does he seek to do so. In fact, it is notable that, on or off the record, he does not criticise anyone. Not Andrew Strauss, not Kevin Pietersen (about whom he says, “he’s a funny mix. There are things I admire”) and not Colin Graves, who was in Barbados at the time of Moores’ last Test but didn’t find the time to tell his coach he was about to be sacked. His only gripe, really, is with his public image as a stats-driven, robotic coach and the interview that may have cemented that reputation.It is notable, too, that several of the players have made their support of Moores public. Joe Root, who called him “brilliant” and praised him as knowing “how to get the best out of me”, crediting Moores for his “drastic improvement”, was the most vocal but also far from atypical. Whoever Strauss consulted before making his decision, it certainly was not the England Test squad. Many of them remain in touch with him. “Once your coach, always your coach,” Moores says with a smile. “They know they can call me.”Joe’s words were appreciated. It was brave of him to say that at that time.”And yet, after two sackings and some treatment that can only be described as shoddy, Moores says he would still work for the ECB again. While he has not yet been approached for a role at Loughborough – an organisation that is about to have a radical overhaul – it remains highly probable that he will be. His eye for young talent, his record as a developer of that talent, and his ability to impart knowledge to other coaches, remain assets.”Yes, I’d work for the ECB again,” he says. “A role at Loughborough would be exciting. I love coaching and that would be working with the best players and coaches. Yes, it appeals.”Professional sport can be cruel. Or maybe ruthless is a better word. You know that when you go into it. You are immersed in it.”His fault, as much as it is one, was his inability to play the media or political game. His failure to understand that style is as important as substance when it comes to selling yourself to the public. His failure to understand the dark side of the organisation that had employed him.While a perception that he was closely aligned to an unattractive ECB regime – the regime of Downton and Giles Clarke that talked of people being “outside cricket” – no doubt hurt him, his main fault may well have been simply being a decent man in an increasingly indecent world. A man who thought that, if he worked hard, planned for the future and forged a strong relationship, it would be enough.And that’s the lasting impression of Moores. For whatever you think of his coaching – his international record is modest; his county and development record excellent – as a man, he has a dignity that is rare in professional sport.A sense of perspective, too. After England lost to India at Lord’s last summer, Moores was asked if he was at “rock bottom”. His reply – “who knows what rock bottom is, but it isn’t losing a cricket match” – sums him up better than anything else he said in his period at the helm. Even after his second sacking, he found a positive. “If feels as if I’ve got my wife and kids back,” he said.Following this interview, he went to see his son, Tom, a hard-hitting wicketkeeper-batsman, play for Nottinghamshire seconds against Warwickshire. The sacking has hurt, but he will cope. “A glass of wine helps,” he says.”I don’t put this on,” he says as the interview draws to a close. “I don’t know if it’s from my mum or what. But I am a calm person who can see the value of looking at people in their best light. It was such a slanging match last time. There were so many opinions. And so much of it was wrong. I didn’t want to get involved. It’s all so easy to do that. I’m not going down that route.”I’ve been offered book deals, but it’s not who I am. And if I did one, I would want it to be things I’ve learned and stories to help people get the best out of themselves and others. I have to be true to what I am. There’s not a lot of mileage in negativity, you know.”Of course it’s been tough. This is the first summer for 33 years I’ve not been involved in the game in a professional way. But I’m a coach. It’s what I do. I love England and I love cricket. The game doesn’t owe me anything. It’s been great fun working in it. And the hunger… it’s just starting to come back.”

The three quicks shared seven wickets for India A, while KL Rahul was unbeaten at stumps

Shashank Kishore07-Nov-2025A few days after being left out of the Test squad to face South Africa, Prasidh Krishna stung South Africa A in a terrific spell of seam bowling to help India A open up a sizeable lead by stumps on Day 2 of the second four-day fixture at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.Prasidh picked up three, while Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep picked up two apiece as South Africa A folded for 221, giving the hosts a 34-run lead. They converted this into a 112-run lead by stumps, albeit for the loss of three wickets.KL Rahul was unbeaten on 26, unhurried and composed, after Abhimanyu Easwaran bagged a pair and B Sai Sudharsan was pinned lbw yet again after playing around his front pad to a nip-backer from left-arm seamer Tiaan van Vuuren. Devdutt Padikkal, also part of the Test squad, appeared to have steadied the innings after two early wickets, but fell for 24 at the stroke of stumps as South Africa A ensured the hosts were still within touching distance.Related

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• Rishabh Pant returns to India's Test squad for South Africa series

After warming the bench during the two Tests against West Indies, Prasidh reveled in conditions he would love to take with him everywhere. He troubled batters with bounce, had batters awkwardly fend at deliveries and consistently beat the outside edge with seam movement.Siraj, meanwhile, was a bit more blockbuster. Barring one solitary over where he was taken for 24 – courtesy three fours and two sixes by centurion Marques Ackerman – Siraj breathed fire with the new and semi-new ball. He swung it both ways, troubled batters with the late tail, celebrappealed after pinning Zubayr Hamza plumb and shattered Kyle Simmonds’ stumps with a terrific in-swinger.It started with Akash Deep’s pearler to Lesego Senokwane in the very first over – easily the ball of the day – angling in and straightening to beat the outside edge and hit top of off. While he couldn’t quite top that – anyone would’ve found its hard to – there were plenty of moments in that first spell where he could’ve picked a few more wickets. He eventually finished with 2 for 28 in 10 overs.For Akash Deep, this outing was massive from a confidence standpoint after suffering a series of niggles since returning from a breakout Test tour of England. It was also a timely boost ahead of the South Africa Tests, where he could line up to be the third seamer in home conditions at Eden Gardens.India A’s lead could’ve been a lot bigger, but for a superb fourth first-class century by Ackerman, the South Africa A captain, who held a crumbling middle order together and fought through periods of prodigious swing and seam movement early in the session on a green surface that still had plenty in it for the fast bowlers.Marques Ackerman celebrates his century•PTI

Ackerman is very Dean Elgar-like in his setup. As the day progressed, he showed it wasn’t just in the aesthetics that was Elgar-like, but in his fight too. He seemed intent on crease occupation, but the only problem was he had to shift gears quickly as the middle order caved in. And once he crossed a half-century, he went into overdrive, with some help from No. 9 Prenelan Subrayen.He stepped out to loft Kuldeep Yadav for six over long-off and rocked back to cut him. He also played a neat, little reverse-sweep off Kuldeep when he drifted the ball away. The real aggression came when Siraj went after him with a few verbal volleys, seemingly frustrated after beating the outside edge a number of times in the middle session.Ackerman drove him imperiously for two boundaries and flicked a leg-stump half-volley for a third when Prasidh misfielded at fine leg. With more steam coming off his ears as he knocked the stumps down at the bowler’s end in frustration, Siraj returned to bang in two short balls that got picked away for sixes. The first – a ramp over the slips, and the second a hook over fine leg.Ackerman brought up his century off 99 balls, and raced away to 134. He took a liking to left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey, who was introduced late and bowled just three overs, before becoming the ninth batter to fall. Ackerman was Dubey’s only wicket. Prasidh, who had picked up two in two in the first session, then cleaned up the last batter to finish with 3 for 35 off 11.3 overs.

Tottenham Hotspur’s unbeaten run across all competitions has now extended to three games across all competitions after Tuesday’s Champions League win over Slavia Prague.

The Lilywhites claimed a superb 3-0 victory in Europe after penalties from Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons and an own goal from opposition defender David Zima.

Thomas Frank looks to have finally found a winning formula, as seen in recent weeks, after previously failing to win in any five matches, four of which came in the Premier League.

Some may argue that the Dane is starting to get the best out of his current playing squad, with a period of adaptation evidently needed after his summer appointment.

However, despite the three-goal triumph in North London last night, the manager will no doubt have seen some glaring flaws that will need correcting in the weeks ahead.

Spurs's biggest underperformers against Slavia Prague

After starting each of the last four games on the substitutes bench, winger Wilson Odobert was handed the chance to start from the off against Slavia Prague.

However, the Frenchman struggled to make the desired impact, as seen by his tally of 86% duels lost, leading to his withdrawal in the 76th minute of the clash.

Other figures, such as zero dribbles completed and two big chances missed in the final third, also highlight his lack of positive impact despite Frank’s faith shown in the youngster.

He wasn’t alone in struggling to deliver during the win, with Pedro Porro unable to produce the regular attacking quality the fanbase have become accustomed to in recent years.

The Spaniard only managed to complete one of his five attempted crosses, whilst completing just 66% of the passes he attempted – largely being ineffective when in possession.

He also failed to win any tackles against the Czech side, whilst failing to complete any of his attempted dribbles – showcasing his lack of quality at both ends of the pitch in North London.

Spurs star needs to be dropped after Slavia Prague

Spurs have spent heavily over the last couple of years to try and be competitive in the Premier League and try and compete for titles under Frank in the years ahead.

In the recent summer alone, the Lilywhites hierarchy backed the manager with over £120m worth of funds to make an immediate impact during his first year at the helm.

Xavi Simons was just one of the additions made by the hierarchy during the off-season, but he’s struggled to make an impact across various competitions in recent months.

He went 17 games without a goal until last week, but the Dutch star has started to find his feet – as seen by his tally of two goals in his last two games for the Lilywhites.

The same can’t be said for striker Richarlison, who has constantly struggled for consistency after his own £50m transfer from Everton back in the summer of 2022.

The Brazilian international has been Frank’s starting centre forward for the majority of 2025/26 to date, subsequently managing to net a total of seven goals across all competitions.

Whilst such a tally may seem respectable, he’s often gone missing in major moments this campaign, as seen against Slavia Prague in the meeting on Tuesday.

He was once again handed a start at the top end of the pitch, but he was unable to provide the goods in front of goal and was subsequently replaced in the 68th minute.

Richarlison was only able to register a measly tally of 22 touches, a tally fewer than goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who managed 50 – showcasing his lack of impact in North London.

He also only managed to complete nine passes and lost possession on seven separate occasions, further highlighting his lack of positive impact during the Champions League clash.

The Brazilian also missed one big chance in front of goal and won just 50% of his aerial battles, often struggling to provide the focal point Frank has massively craved.

As a result of his showing, the striker was handed a measly 6/10 match rating by Football London’s Alasdair Gold, further showcasing his struggles in North London.

After such a showing, Frank must certainly be left with no choice but to drop the forward and hand the likes of Mathys Tel and Randal Kolo Muani the chance to stake their claim for the number nine role.

Richarlison has no doubt been a decent option for Spurs over the last couple of years, but it’s becoming increasingly evident week on week that he’s not at the level needed for success.

Frank's new Mbeumo: Paratici set to make Spurs bid to sign "world-class" CF

Tottenham Hotspur could be about to land a new talisman in the upcoming January window.

By
Ethan Lamb

3 days ago

La Liga say they will appeal the decision to allow Barcelona to register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor as the ruling is "not in accordance with the law".

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Barca receive Olmo and Victor boost
• Ruling grants them registration
• La Liga to appeal CSD decision

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mere hours after Spain's High Sports Committee (CSD) ruled that the Barcelona duo have been registered to play until the end of the season, La Liga will contest this matter in court. They claim that the previous decision by the Monitoring Committee, of the league and the Royal Spanish Football Federation, were appropriate and that this is outside of the CSD's jurisdiction.

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• Getty
  

  WHAT LA LIGA SAID

  Part of La Liga's statement reads: "La Liga considers that the dismissal Resolution notified today is not in accordance with the law.

  “We must remember that the licenses of the two players automatically expired on December 31, 2024, at the end of the duration of the same, agreed between the Players and the Club. Therefore, in no case is a federative act of cancellation of the same required.

  “The competence of the CSD in matters of licences is limited to the review of acts of issuance or refusal of licences, but not to their cancellation or extension (art. 116.3.a and 117 LD) as is the case in the present case. This, in view of the numerous judicial decisions issued and even resolutions issued by the CSD itself, which contravenes its previous doctrine, which confirm that it is a matter not susceptible to administrative review.

  “In addition, the CSD’s resolution ignores the consolidated administrative and judicial doctrine according to which the nullity of full right must be manifest, because the competence is expressly entrusted to another body (or to none) and that it does not occur, when there is a need for a prior legal interpretation to determine it, nor when the applicable regulations do not specify which body the competence corresponds to. In this sense, sports legislation does not attribute competence in matters of prior visas and the issuance of licences to any body of the professional leagues and Spanish sports federations and in the resolution of the CSD there is not a single mention of which internal body of La Liga or the RFEF would be competent. therefore, there cannot be a “manifest lack of competence” from which the nullity of full law is derived."

  They added: “La Liga reiterates its commitment to legality, competitive fairness and the objective application of the regulations on economic control and registration of players and therefore, La Liga, not considering the aforementioned Resolution to be in accordance with the law, will appeal it immediately."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Barcelona know that their financial troubles are not going away anytime soon and while this ruling is a welcome reprieve for them, their registration issues will come to the re-emerge again. And if La Liga get their way, the Blaugrana – who managed to get these registrations approved after agreeing a deal to lease out 475 VIP seats at Camp Nou for 30 years in exchange for €100 million on December 31, 2024 – could be in strife once again very soon.

• Getty Images/GOAL
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  It is uncertain whether or not La Liga will be successful in their appeal. In the meantime, Olmo and Victor can look forward to trying to get Barca minutes in the coming weeks.

Test teams are looking for solidity at the top, and batsmen are comfortable specialising in the format that suits their style

Karthik Krishnaswamy12-Feb-2017January 3, 2017. It is close to half-past noon at the Sydney Cricket Ground when David Warner manoeuvres Wahab Riaz through backward point, runs three, and leaps, fist pumping the air. He has become only the fifth batsman to score a hundred before lunch on the first morning of a Test match.At that point Warner is batting on 100 off 78 balls, and he has hit 17 fours. At the other end, Matt Renshaw, having faced two more balls than his opening partner, has made 21 with two fours.Warner falls in the sixth over after lunch, for 113 off 95 balls. Renshaw bats on until the sixth over of the second morning, when he is dismissed for 184 off 293 balls.Warner, 30, and Renshaw, 20, both bat left-handed and throw right-handed, but the paths they took to the Australian Test team couldn’t have been more different. Warner made his T20 debut for Australia before he had even played first-class cricket. Renshaw had only played 14 first-class matches before making his Test debut, but was – and is – yet to play T20 at any level, international or domestic.At first glance, Renshaw should be the anomaly and Warner the prototype of the Test-match opening batsman in the T20-dominated cricketing landscape they inhabit. This, however, is not so. A majority of the world’s Test line-ups now begin with a pair of opening batsmen who are not part of their country’s first-choice T20 side. Alastair Cook and Haseeb Hameed. Tom Latham and Jeet Raval. Kraigg Brathwaite and Leon Johnson. Stephen Cook and Dean Elgar. Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva. Azhar Ali and Sami Aslam.Ten of those 12 have never played T20s for their country. Neither of the other two – Alastair Cook and Latham – has played one since November 2015. Brathwaite – who has been a first-class cricketer since 2009 – and Hameed, like Renshaw, haven’t even played T20s at the domestic level.As a result of this, the way Test teams combat the new ball has changed.Eight of the ten most prolific opening batsmen of this millennium have scored their runs at a strike rate of 50 or more. Four of them – Virender Sehwag, Warner, Chris Gayle and Matthew Hayden – have done so at 60-plus strike rates.KL Rahul is one young batsman who can adapt his style to any format•AFPSehwag, Gayle, Hayden and Tillakaratne Dilshan were thought to have changed Test cricket forever with their aggressive approach at the top of the order. That hasn’t been the case.The generation that has followed them seems to have retreated from “see ball, hit ball” to “see off new ball”. Only two of the ten top run-getters among openers since the start of 2015 – Warner and Martin Guptill – have scored their runs at 50-plus strike rates.Aakash Chopra, the former India opener, suggests teams worldwide are looking for solidity at the top of the order to try and arrest the trend of collapses that has beset Test cricket over the last few years.”I think technique has become slightly compromised a little bit in the recent past,” he says. “The number of collapses is unbelievable – if there’s anything in the pitch, you’ll see a collapse – whether it’s spinning, it’s swinging, whatever. If there is something out of the ordinary, there is an issue. So that fact perhaps explains that teams maybe realise you need openers with better skills.”Given that the skills required to open in Test cricket are so different from those required to open in T20, Chopra says a number of batsmen have realised they might be better off specialising in the format they are best suited to.”I feel the time has come when people have realised that as a Test opener, I’m okay being a Test player, I’m okay not to play T20 cricket. And the people who are playing T20 cricket are perhaps also okay with the fact that they’re only going to play T20. There will still be exceptions; KL Rahul is an exception, because I actually see him as this modern-day batsman who will fit into all three formats.”Someone like M Vijay, I think, has made up his mind, that Test cricket is my first priority, everything else is okay. Same is the case with Tom Latham – he’s again a Test batsman in the Test mould.”Virender Sehwag came to T20 as a fully formed Test batsman, unlike young openers of today•Getty ImagesThere is, concurrently, a parallel universe of openers who only play short-format cricket, containing the likes of Jason Roy, Johnson Charles and Aaron Finch. The few that have crossed over to Test cricket, such as Guptill and Alex Hales, have generally struggled to express themselves. England dropped Hales after he averaged 27.28, and scored at a strike rate of in his first 11 Tests.A group of attacking openers who made eye-catching starts to their Test careers – Adrian Barath, Phillip Hughes, Hamish Rutherford, Shikhar Dhawan – have not made a sustained impact, for one reason or another, and of their generation only Warner and Tamim Iqbal have gone on to establish themselves as regulars.Perhaps this could be because the likes of Sehwag and Gayle came to T20 late in their careers, by which time they were already successful long-format batsmen. Their style of play happened to suit T20 as well. The generation that replaced them had to adjust to T20 before they were fully formed.Chopra expects the next generation to be more comfortable shuttling between formats, and sees Rahul – who has scored hundreds for India in all formats – as a prototype of that new kind of opener.”It’s a process. There will still be exceptions to the rule,” Chopra says. “I keep mentioning KL Rahul because he that modern-day batsman. Sometimes we underestimate evolution, we believe that this is how it should be, but some humans have evolved so much that they say a Test opener can easily be a one-day opener or a T20 opener.”And it doesn’t even have to be a Sehwag. KL Rahul is otherwise a very correct kind of, straightforward kind of batsman.”Chopra says Vijay is similar to Rahul in the sense of having an orthodox technique as well as an ability to hit over the top, but found it more difficult to adjust between formats than Rahul – who arrived later on the scene – has done so far.”Temperamentally, for a while, [Vijay] was shuffling between Test, one-day, T20,” Chopra says. “He wasn’t sure of what he wanted, and therefore he was highly uncertain, but now he’s made up his mind that, okay, he’s solely a Test player.”So it’ll be interesting to see. In five to seven years, you’ll find another new phase coming in. You’ll have batsmen coming in who are equally successful in Test cricket, equally successful in one-day cricket, and will not even have to slog in T20.”

Manchester United have certainly got a lot of work to do if they want to salvage the season. Ruben Amorim’s side sit 12th in the Premier League, with 29 points to their name. The Red Devils are currently 12 points outside of the top four, and if they are to reach that kind of level, it would be an impressive end of the campaign.

The Portuguese manager has a bit of an underwhelming record during his time at United so far, winning eight times, losing seven and drawing two in the 17 games he has managed. That is certainly going to have to improve if United want to qualify for Europe.

To help boost themselves up the table, United are targeting reinforcements in the January transfer window, including looking to strengthen in midfield.

Man United’s midfield target

The player in question here is Juventus and Brazil international midfielder Douglas Luiz. It has been a tough first season in Turin for the 26-year-old, and he has been heavily linked with a move away from the club in the winter.

According to a report from The Mail, the Red Devils are believed to be one of the sides interested in a move for Luiz. United are thought to be ‘ in the wings’ waiting to pounce and complete a deal for the Brazilian if the chance arises.

However, they will likely face tough competition from some of their Premier League rivals. Closest to home is Manchester City, who are believed to be ‘contemplating a loan’, hinting at a temporary switch to United, too. Nottingham Forest and Fulham are also keen.

Why Luiz would be a good signing

It has not quite been the season Luiz might have expected when he first put pen to paper in Turin, after his £42.35m move from Aston Villa in the summer.

The Juve man – who’s previously been dubbed “one of the best in the world” in his position by Sky Italia journalist Cristiano Giuntoli – has played just 18 times in all competitions, although did face a spell on the sideline with muscle fatigue.

However, he has certainly not played as much as he might have liked. Incredibly, the Brazil international has featured for just 566 minutes in all competitions, the equivalent of just 6.2 full 90-minute games. Given it is the end of January, that is an outrageously low number.

Yet, the midfielder is clearly an excellent player, as he showed during his time at Villa Park. In fact, football statistician Statman Dave described him as the “best box-to-box CM in the Premier League”, which is high praise indeed.

He played 204 times for the West Midlands side, scoring 22 goals and grabbing 24 assists. The Brazil international particularly excelled in the 2023/24 campaign, scoring nine times and grabbing five assists in 35 games, an excellent record in midfield.

Luiz could be a brilliant replacement for Casemiro, who is linked with a move to AS Roma. Like his countryman Luiz, he has not played much this season and has been an unused substitute in United’s last six games.

Jamie Carragher thought his time at the top level was up last season, famously telling the midfielder to “leave the football, before the football leaves you”, after a 4-0 thrashing away from home against Crystal Palace.

The stats on FBref suggest that a move for Luiz as a Casemiro replacement could be a smart piece of business for United. He is better in many metrics than the Red Devils’ number 18, implying he would be a big upgrade.

For example, over the past two seasons, the Old Lady midfielder averages 5.2 progressive passes compared to just 4.98 per 90 minutes for Casemiro. He also averages 1.99 progressive carries, with the former Real Madrid star averaging 0.48 each game.

If United can do a deal for Luiz on loan, it could be an excellent piece of business for Amorim’s side. Not only would they be able to offload Casemiro, who is a high earner and doesn’t play, but they have a replacement for him ready to go.

As far as United’s push for European qualification goes, Luiz could be the perfect player to help push them up the table.

Amazing Hojlund upgrade: £58m "monster" now wants to sign for Man Utd

Manchester United are looking to bring in this new attacker before the transfer window closes.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jan 28, 2025

Virat Kohli feels he is playing his “best T20 cricket again”, following his back-to-back IPL tons

ESPNcricinfo staff21-May-2023Virat Kohli feels he is playing his “best T20 cricket again”, having scored back-to-back hundreds at the end of the league stage of IPL 2023, and helped Royal Challengers Bangalore to 197 for 5 in their must-win game against Gujarat Titans. Kohli’s unbeaten 101 off 61 balls steered RCB, especially in the last six overs of the innings, after they were 133 for 5; he put together 64 runs off the last 34 balls with Anuj Rawat to give his side a formidable total.When asked by Ravi Shastri after the innings how he’d felt at the crease, Kohli said: “Ya, I felt great. A lot of people feel my T20 cricket is declining, but I don’t feel like that at all. I feel I am playing my best T20 cricket again. I’m just enjoying myself, this is how I play T20 cricket. I look to hit gaps, hit a lot of boundaries and the big ones in the end if the situation allows me to.”Strike rates, all those kind of things like I said in the past as well… You have to read the situation and rise up to the occasion when the situation demands, and that’s something I take a lot of pride in doing, and I’ve been doing it for a while now. I feel really good with my game at the moment and how I’m batting out there in the middle.”Kohli overtook his former RCB team-mate Chris Gayle for most centuries in the IPL and became the third batter to score consecutive hundreds in the IPL after Shikhar Dhawan (2020) and Jos Buttler (2022). Later in the night, Shubman Gill too joined that club.Kohli and Faf du Plessis gave RCB a rapid start with an opening stand of 67 in 7.1 overs before RCB lost three wickets – including those of du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell – to Titans’ spinners in the space of 13 balls.”Spin wasn’t easy to get away and I think the strength of a lot of our fast bowlers is also taking pace off,” Kohli said of the score they finished on and the conditions. “There’s enough in this pitch for our bowlers to make a dent through the [chase], and hitting big shots as you saw in the middle overs wasn’t as easy when the field spread out. So you have to hit a lot of gaps and run twos. If we can cut down those boundaries and now allow them to run twos from those gaps, then it’ll be a very difficult chase.”But Gill’s unbeaten 104 off 52 made sure that was not the case, knocking RCB out of the tournament as Titans chased down their target in 19.1 overs.”Obviously very disappointed,” du Plessis said after the game. “You get to the last game of the campaign, you want to make sure you get through. But we played a very strong team tonight, Shubman Gill played an amazing innings to get a hundred. We were a little bit off in one or two areas and when you are playing a team like this, they will capitalise on it.”The conditions were really wet in the second innings but I think it was also wet in the first innings with a lot of moisture from the rain [which delayed the start by 55 minutes]. So we changed the ball three times, there wasn’t a lot of grip in the second innings. But I thought 195 was a good score, Virat played an unbelievable knock to give us a chance, but we needed that wicket of Shubman to feel like we were really in the game.”One of the biggest positives for RCB this season was the opening partnership of Kohli and du Plessis. The pair added 939 runs in 14 innings, equalling Kohli and AB de Villiers’ record of most runs by a pair in a T20 tournament, set in IPL 2016.”He [Kohli] has played really good cricket throughout the season,” du Plessis said, “and as a partnership, I think there was not one game where we didn’t score 40 for the opening stand [they failed to add 40 in four out of 14 innings]. So that was really pleasing for both of us that we got the team off to a really good start. But it just shows you Virat has got a lot left in the tank in T20 cricket; he is playing really well still.”

Leicestershire bowled out for 99, Steven Croft anchors simple chase for hosts

ECB Reporters Network25-May-2023Lancashire’s star-studded line-up gave Liam Livingstone the perfect start to his spell as Lightning’s Vitality Blast captain with a landslide eight-wicket win over Leicestershire at Emirates Old Trafford.A team with seven internationals blitzed the Foxes early on thanks to Luke Wood’s pace in the powerplay after the visitors had elected to bat, limiting them to a measly 99 all out inside 19 overs.Livingstone didn’t bat or bowl in this lunchtime fixture, with his England white-ball team-mate Wood setting the tone with two wickets in the third over. He got openers Sol Budinger and Nick Welch caught pulling as the score fell to 17 for 2.Left-armer Wood finished with 3 for 11 from four overs, while another England quick Saqib Mahmood finished with 3 for 17 from 3.5 before the chase was completed inside 12 overs thanks to Steven Croft’s unbeaten 46 off 34 balls.Lancashire have started their bid for what could be a record-breaking 10th Finals Day appearance – Hampshire have also previously qualified for nine – by winning two from two at the start of the North Group.Wood’s fiery new-ball spell seemed to scramble the minds of Leicestershire’s batters, with nine of the 10 wickets falling to catches in their first game of the competition. Wiaan Mulder’s 25 was the only score above 20.When the easier-paced seam of Colin de Grandhomme was introduced in the fourth over, Arron Lilley chipped to midwicket and later Colin Ackermann was bowled aiming a big heave at a slower ball from the former New Zealand allrounder – leaving Leicestershire 35 for 4 after seven.Wickets continued to fall, three in four overs, as Leicestershire slipped deeper into trouble at 74 for 7 in the 14th. Matthew Parkinson struck with his third ball in the 11th when Rishi Patel tried to break the shackles and miscued to Wood at long-on before Mahmood had Mulder caught at deep midwicket pulling in the next.Wood then returned to get Rehan Ahmed caught behind trying to uppercut a short ball in the 14th over, the England allrounder falling for 6.That brought about a battle of the Parkinson twins, Matthew and Callum, the latter attempting to retrieve what already looked a lost cause. Callum survived against his brother, picking up a couple of singles off him on the way to 9. But he then fell caught behind off a top edge against Lancashire’s other New Zealand allrounder Daryl Mitchell.As the Foxes fell to 94 for 8 in the 18th over, Parkinson became the fourth batter out attempting to pull.Mahmood then wrapped up the innings – Leicestershire’s fifth-lowest in Blast history – with two more wickets caught off miscues in the 19th over, Pakistan debutant fast bowler Naseem Shah and Will Davis falling.South African Mulder took the new ball for the Foxes and struck in the second over when Luke Wells followed a number of visiting batters by falling caught on the pull, leaving Lancashire at 8 for 1.Croft and Phil Salt then shared 60 inside six overs for the second wicket, both hitting sixes. Salt was then superbly caught at backward point by a diving Patel off Ahmed’s legspin for 28, but it was nothing more than a consolatory wicket at 68 for 2 in the seventh.Mitchell later hit a six off Davis over backward square-leg to seal victory and finish 25 not out.Such is the strength of the Red Rose county’s team, captain Livingstone’s contribution was limited to captaincy alone upon his return from IPL duty. And England limited-overs skipper Jos Buttler will be added to the mix in time for next Thursday’s Roses clash at Headingley.

Leeds United are back in action in the Championship once again this evening as they prepare to welcome Norwich City to Elland Road, with the chance to move top of the league with a win.

Sheffield United’s comeback against Swansea on Tuesday night placed them at the top of the second tier, but three points for the Whites tonight would immediately put them back in first place.

Daniel Farke’s side should be high in confidence ahead of this clash with the Canaries after they beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 last time out on Sunday.

The West Yorkshire outfit could end the night level on points with Burnley, if they win their match, and only two points ahead of Sunderland if Norwich come to Elland Road and claim three points.

That illustrates how tight it is at the top of the Championship table and that is why Leeds may still be looking at their options in the January transfer window to see if they can improve the squad before the deadline.

The Whites have reportedly set their sights on attacking reinforcements as they have been linked with an interest in a forward who could become the manager’s next Emi Buendia…

Emi Buendia's magic for Farke

Leeds are reportedly battling it out with unnamed clubs from LaLga to land a loan deal for the Aston Villa attacking midfielder, as the Whites boss looks to reunite with the talented playmaker.

Farke worked with Buendia during his time at Norwich City, signing him from Getafe in the summer of 2018, and won two Championship titles in three seasons with the right-footed magician.

The German head coach lifted the second tier trophy in the 2018/19 and 2020/21 campaigns, with the Argentina international an influential figure in both of those successes due to his ability to score and create goals from an attacking midfield or wide position.

As you can see in the table above, Buendia played a key role in those two promotion-winning seasons by contributing with 23 goals and 28 assists combined.

The 28-year-old star has, therefore, proven that he has the quality to make a consistent impact at the top end of the pitch at Championship level, whilst working under Farke, and that is why he could be a terrific signing for Leeds this month.

If Leeds are unable to strike a deal to sign Buendia, though, due to interest from LaLiga, then the German boss could unearth his new version of the former Norwich sensation by securing a deal to sign someone else.

Leeds in the race to sign Burnley star

According to Belgian outlet Voetbal Nieuws, as relayed by Sport Witness, Leeds are one of a number of clubs lining up a move to sign Burnley attacking midfielder Mike Tresor this month.

Transfer Focus

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

The report claims that the 25-year-old wizard is looking to move on from Turf Moor before the end of the January transfer window, as an outing in the FA Cup against Reading earlier this month was his only appearance of the season so far.

It states that the Clarets are also keen to part ways with the Belgian dynamo, who they signed on a permanent deal from Genk last summer after having him on loan in the Premier League last term, but it does not reveal exactly how much they are looking for in return for his services.

Voetbal Nieuws adds that Belgian sides Anderlecht and KAA Gent are also interested in a swoop for the Burnley outcast, whilst Dutch giants Ajax are among the clubs eyeing him up and are said to be Tresor’s preferred destination at this moment in time.

This suggests that this could be a difficult deal for Leeds to get over the line, given the competition for his signature and the fact he plays for a direct rival in the Championship, but it could be one that is well worth pushing for.

Tresor could arrive at Elland Road as Farke’s new version of Argentine magician Buendia. Here’s how they compare…

Why Tresor could be Farke's new Buendia

It is fair to say that Tresor has endured a difficult time in England since his initial move to Turf Moor on loan from Genk in the summer of 2023.

He only started three of his 16 appearances in the Premier League under Vincent Kompany in the 2023/24 campaign and has yet to play in the league under Scott Parker this term.

The 25-year-old gem has, therefore, not had many opportunities to truly showcase his quality in England, with just three starts, and Leeds could offer him a chance to play week-in-week-out to get back to his best on the pitch.

Tresor’s form for Genk in the 2022/23 campaign, before his move to Burnley, suggests that the potential is there for him to be a Buendia-esque talent for Farke if he can hit his stride in the final third again as an attacking midfielder or wide player.

As you can see in the table above, the Belgian sensation, whose form was praised as being “absolutely sensational” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, provided a regular threat at the top end of the pitch, particularly as a creator.

The Leeds target has the vision and technical ability in the final third to consistently unlock opposition defences to create high-quality chances for his teammates, which could help the likes of Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph to thrive in the second half of the campaign.

He was directly involved in 32 goals in those 38 games, and that is more than Buendia was ever involved in in one season for Norwich, with 31 in the 2020/21 campaign being his best return, which speaks to his potential to make a huge impact as an attacking force.

Joseph upgrade: Leeds considering bid to sign "powerful" £4m striker

Leeds United are one of the clubs reportedly interested in the striker in January.

By
Dan Emery

Jan 21, 2025

Therefore, Farke could unearth his new version of the Argentine ace, and forget about a swoop for the Aston Villa man, by securing a deal to sign Tresor from Burnley this month, because he has the playmaking and goalscoring tools to emerge as a star for Leeds.

But a wily Victoria outfit will be a stern obstacle to South Australia’s first Shield since 1996

Daniel Brettig25-Mar-2016Twenty years since their last victory, South Australia are hopeful their fearless young team’s rapid progress will continue in the Sheffield Shield final, against a Victorian side wanting nothing more than to take the match all the way to a nerve-shredding fifth day.In a climate of doubt about the future of the showpiece match, there is an eagerness on both sides to play out a contest befitting the occasion. South Australia’s season ledger of five wins and as many defeats does not suggest they are well equipped to scrap to a draw. Likewise, Victoria’s recent batting travails make a draw an unlikely prospect. This may be a Shield to be won, not salvaged.The extra 90 overs will scarcely be needed if the pitch at Glenelg Oval is anything like the lively strip on which the Redbacks rumbled Tasmania last week to vault to the top of the table. However, South Australia’s high performance overseer Tim Nielsen said he would actually prefer a less seamer-friendly surface, with his eyes on the team’s progress well beyond the next week.”I hope it’s got a little bit less grass on it – we don’t want to see anyone bowled out for 90 on the first morning of a Shield final,” Nielsen said of Glenelg Oval, where the final must be played due to the shunting of cricket from Adelaide Oval for the AFL season. “The challenge is trying to produce a wicket on a ground that doesn’t have regular first-class cricket, so it doesn’t have the consolidated rolling throughout the season or the square used for four-day cricket on a regular basis.”We’ve had two or three Futures Leagues games there, but this is a five-day game with a bigger focus. I’m hopeful it’ll just be a good-quality cricket wicket that will bounce and carry a little bit and give us the best chance to play the way we do – support our bowlers but also allow our batters to play their shots.”Victoria coach David Saker expects a fair wicket, noting how the likes of Travis Head and Jake Lehmann have prospered when given the right conditions to put pressure on bowlers. He is eager to push the game all the way to the end, reasoning that the Bushrangers’ more seasoned XI and spin bowlers Fawad Ahmed and Jon Holland can come into their own.”I don’t think it’ll be as flat as some of the wickets produced [for finals] in the last few years, it’ll be a good wicket,” Saker said. “But I don’t think they’ll green it up too much because it’s a bit too risky on the toss then. They’ll try to produce a good cricket wicket, their batters are in good form so we’ll wait and see. We’ve got two good spinners so, if it is a good wicket, we think we can win the game at the back end if we bat well enough.”Sometimes that feeling of just giving it a go like the South Australians will is a better place to play in, knowing what the trophy is and what it’s like to win it, the hunger they’ll have will be unbelievable you’d think. But our guys know what it takes and five days of cricket doesn’t sound a lot more because it’s only one day, but it is a lot more cricket. In 90 overs a lot can happen on that last day, so we’re going to fight our butts off and hopefully it comes down to that.”It seems no coincidence that South Australia are contesting their first final since 1996 in the same season when they also made the limited-overs playoff in Sydney at the start of the summer. Under Nielsen and the coach Jamie Siddons – wicketkeeper and captain in that last victory – a concerted effort has been made to focus on homegrown talent and bolster it with a more hardened attitude to fitness and skill than had become customary in the state’s cricket.The acquisition of the former AFL fitness coach Stephen Schwerdt was much publicised in Adelaide, but Nielsen explained that a challenging pre-season was part of a wider plan. For one thing, the notion of plucking imported players from interstate in search of instant results was shelved. Paradoxically but tellingly, success has arrived faster than expected.Chris Tremain is Victoria’s leading wicket-taker with 32 scalps from eight matches•Cricket Australia/Getty Images”Stephen Schwerdt was a good focus point for us but it was more about changing the culture in the place and understanding exactly what hard work was and how professional athletes went about their business,” Nielsen said. “They’ve improved a huge amount with their skills as well. They are batting, bowling and fielding better than they were at the start of the year and fitness was just one aspect of that. We set that up with a really strong, hard pre-season, and now they’re still going strong. Our bowlers have gone from strength to strength – Chadd Sayers, Joe Mennie and Daniel Worrall have been strong the whole way through and that is a benefit of being fitter and stronger.”We hadn’t had any real success on a consistent basis for a long period of time and we were probably at different stages through that period guilty of recruiting people who we thought would be a quick fix for us. At the start of last year, we really put up the fences, we didn’t let any of our good young players go and we certainly didn’t go looking for the quick fix. We backed our players and Jamie is an excellent developer of young cricketers and young men, so that was a good time for him to come into the system.”It was time to set something up for ourselves, for the future. They have done that, had a bit of luck, learned from those things, and the staff have been excellent having the big picture at the forefront of their minds. It’s not just about winning today, but setting something up that will hold some water for the next five years and have a consistent era where we are competitive.”Like Siddons, who moved from New Zealand, Saker arrived from England last year with a mandate for regeneration. Though the likes of Rob Quiney, Matthew Wade, Clint McKay and Cameron White have been around the block plenty of times, Saker sought, and has achieved, a sizeable renewal of the state’s batting stocks in particular.”We were in need of finding some younger batters in our group and the one thing I said straightaway was we’d make sure we get a couple of games into some young batters and thankfully Travis Dean’s been outstanding for us at the top,” he said. “His start to the season was amazing. So he’s got a game that I think can move on to the next level, he’s a really compact opening batter. We got some games into Aaron Ayre who I think is a really good young left-hand batter and Sam Harper kept wicket a couple of games, performed really well for us with the gloves and showed some little signs with the bat.”That’s exciting and with the ball we’ve given games to a few players. Chris Tremain has been outstanding this year coming into the state as sort of a back up bowler but now he’s one of our frontliners and he must be putting his name forward for Australian selection. We needed to freshen it up a little bit, but it’s good to have those more experienced players around the group as well to help you out. If you need to call on them, which we did with Cameron, they so often stand up. We’ve got a good mix at the moment.”South Australia’s colts have gathered momentum closer to the season finish line, while the Bushrangers rather stumbled into the final. But they did so through the determination of White’s outstanding rearguard against New South Wales in Alice Springs, a performance that Saker hopes has not only lifted the mood of what had been a fading outfit, but also shown the way forward this week.”We didn’t celebrate like we won the game but it was a very happy bunch of guys at the end of the day,” Saker said. “Cameron was exhausted but very pleased with what he’d done, and good for him because he’s struggled a bit this year at times, being out of the team. All along I’ve said he’d have a big part to play late in the season and he’s done exactly what we hoped he would do.”It was an excellent innings, unbelievably skilful to be able to handle the spin, the reverse swing, batting a bit out of his crease to make sure lbw was out of play and he just played extremely well. A quote from Graham Gooch is that it was ‘great batsmanship’ and it was great to watch, really determined stuff. Going into that last day as a coaching staff we didn’t really expect to do what we did, but it was great to see and a great shot in the arm for us going into a final after seeing a performance like that.”White knows what it is like to win, and to lose; the Redbacks are presently unaware of either. Whether Head’s young team are able to keep charging ahead without being dragged down by the weight of 20 underachieving years is the question about to be answered.