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Anna Peterson took the first international hat-trick by a New Zealand women’s bowler in more than 20 years to help her side level the series against Australia 1-1 in Geelong

The Report by Brydon Coverdale in Geelong19-Feb-2017
ScorecardMolly Strano claimed 5 for 10, the best figures by an Australian in a women’s T20 international•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

Anna Peterson took the first international hat-trick by a New Zealand women’s bowler in more than 20 years to help her side level the series against Australia 1-1 in Geelong. The Australians seemed well-placed at the change of innings, having been set 102 for victory, but the match turned as the New Zealanders claimed early wickets and then managed to defend a Duckworth-Lewis target of 70 after heavy mid-innings rain.Still, Australia were in the hunt in the late stages and needed 11 runs off the final over, which was the first of the match for the offspinner Peterson. She began by having Jess Jonassen caught skying an attempted slog, followed up with Alyssa Healy, who was also caught trying to clear the field, and completed the hat-trick when Megan Schutt slogged a catch to midwicket. It left Peterson with the remarkable figures of 0.3-0-0-3.It was the sixth hat-trick taken in women’s T20 internationals and the first by a New Zealander; last time a New Zealander claimed an international hat-trick was February 1996, when Emily Drumm achieved the feat in an ODI against Australia in Adelaide. Peterson’s strikes left Australia needing 11 off three balls, which was far too tall a task for tail-enders Amanda-Jade Wellington and Molly Strano.Strano herself had been especially impressive with the ball earlier in the day, collecting three wickets in the final over of New Zealand’s innings – not to mention having a catch dropped off the last ball of that over – to finish with 5 for 10, the best figures by an Australian in a women’s T20 international. New Zealand’s innings had started reasonably, with a 38-run opening stand between Suzie Bates and Rachel Priest.But Strano broke that partnership by having Priest stumped for 20, and regular wickets after that affected New Zealand’s momentum – particularly the loss of Bates for 30, sharply caught and bowled by Wellington. However, Australia’s chase stuttered from the outset, with the loss of Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner and Meg Lanning within the first six overs, before the rain arrived.At the time, Australia needed 67 off 72 with seven wickets in hand; the revised target left them requiring 35 off 30 balls when play resumed. But they struggled to gain any real traction, especially when Alex Blackwell was caught behind swiping at Holly Huddleston for 14, and Elyse Villani was caught off Amy Satterthwaite for 14 in the next over. Peterson did the rest.

While Lehmann lauded O’Keefe, who had returns of 6 for 35 in both innings, he was also fulsome in his praise for Nathan Lyon

Brydon Coverdale26-Feb-2017Steve O’Keefe might not strike fear into the hearts of batsman like Mitchell Johnson did at his pomp, but not since Johnson scythed through England at Adelaide Oval in 2013 has an Australian bowler dismantled the opposition as quickly as O’Keefe did on the second day in Pune.Such was the observation of Australia’s coach, Darren Lehmann, who hailed O’Keefe as “exceptional” in delivering Australia a drought-breaking win on Indian soil. The last time Australia won a Test in India, back in 2004, Lehmann was part of the batting order; this time he was watching on from the dressing room, and liking almost all of what he saw.From putting up a competitive 260 in the first innings to bettering that total in the second innings, Australia’s batsmen found a way to outperform their Indian counterparts on a highly challenging pitch. But the defining period of the game occurred on day two, when O’Keefe snared three wickets in an over and six in the space of 4.1-overs.”An exceptional spell – I haven’t seen that since Mitchell Johnson in the Ashes with England in Adelaide when he tore them apart,” Lehmann said after Australia’s triumph within three days. “We took 7 for 11 and that obviously turned the game.”Johnson’s memorable spell in Adelaide also began with three wickets in an over, and later in the same spell he was on a hat-trick, at which point he had collected five wickets in 18 deliveries. Johnson’s speed and aggression troubled England; O’Keefe’s accuracy and natural variations caused chaos in the minds of the Indian batsmen.”Twelve-for, 6 for 35 in both innings is pretty special,” Lehmann said. “You always hope don’t you, as a player. I actually thought Nathan Lyon bowled just as well, to be perfectly honest. Nathan’s been under pressure from a lot of sources throughout the subcontinent, myself included. I thought he was outstanding in this game. He was brilliant, so both spinners did the job, but Steven was exceptional getting the rewards.”Although O’Keefe was a clear stand-out for the Man of the Match award, Australia had several other contributors to the Pune win – none more so than the captain Steven Smith, who struck 109 in the second innings on a dry and turning pitch. Smith was just the third Australian after Mark Taylor and Damien Martyn to score a second-innings Test hundred in India.”I think it’s probably his best, especially in those conditions,” Lehmann said. “I haven’t seen him so determined. He’s always determined – he’s captain of our country and plays really well obviously, but he knows conditions on that wicket [were difficult]. To make a hundred was very special, so that’d have to be in his top few for sure.”Impressive in a different way was the young opener Matt Renshaw, who was playing his first Test outside Australia, yet handled India’s spinners with aplomb. He top-scored in the first innings with 68 and then added 31 in the second innings, despite struggling with illness.”He hadn’t actually hit the ball that well in our lead-up, but for some reason when he gets out in the middle, he knows exactly what he wants to do and how he wants to do it,” Lehmann said. “So for a 20-year-old that’s pretty special. I think he’ll back that up in Bangalore.”For him to come out, obviously a bit crook here and there, and to bat in different positions and had a clear plan, especially in the second innings, the way he wanted to go about it. That’s good for a young man to have that insight into the game so early.”The early win by 333 runs gives Australia an extra two days to prepare for the second Test in Bangalore, where Lehmann expects a better pitch than the one offered up in Pune. He stressed that the key was now for Australia to back up their win come the second Test next weekend.”I think the way we played, we deserved to win by that much at the end,” he said. “But they’re a quality side for the challenge for our group is to back that performance up in Bangalore. We’re not getting too far ahead of ourselves. India are a quality at home, especially at home I think that’s the first Test they’ve lost in 20 Test matches so they’ll come back pretty hard.”

India completed a 3-0 whitewash in devastating fashion as a seven-wicket haul from R Ashwin shot New Zealand out for 153 in their last innings of the series

The Report by Karthik Krishnaswamy11-Oct-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details5:56

Agarkar: If Ashwin stays fit, can’t see India in much trouble this home season

India completed a 3-0 whitewash in devastating fashion as a seven-wicket haul from R Ashwin shot New Zealand out for 153 in their last innings of the series. India declared just under an hour from tea, after Cheteshwar Pujara had completed his eighth Test hundred, to set New Zealand a target of 475 and give themselves a day and a half to take 10 wickets. They only needed 44.5 overs, as New Zealand lost nine wickets for 115 runs in the post-tea session.Ashwin’s figures of 7 for 59 were his best in Test cricket, as were his match figures of 13 for 140. He picked up his 21st five-wicket haul, his sixth ten-wicket match haul, his seventh Player of the Match award and seventh Player of the Series award – fourth in a row – as well. There probably isn’t a more influential cricketer anywhere in the world today. Certainly no one has played a bigger part in India securing the No. 1 Test ranking, a feat they got to celebrate when Virat Kohli was handed the ICC Test championship mace at the end of the match, in front of a capacity crowd in Indore.Set a similar task last year in another dead-rubber Test, on a similar slow turner at Feroz Shah Kotla, South Africa chose to block their way to a draw. They didn’t succeed, but they did make India toil for 143.1 overs. New Zealand, having until now given India a harder time on this tour than South Africa did in theirs, adopted an entirely different approach and collapsed spectacularly.Their two most accomplished batsmen, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, exemplified this approach. Both came out looking to attack Ashwin, their tormentor through the series, and ended up playing a part in their own undoing.Williamson hit Ashwin for three fours in his first two overs, either side of tea, but in that time also gave the bowler enough of a clue that he was looking to step across his stumps and play him with the turn as much as possible. He shuffled across again to the eleventh ball he faced from Ashwin, premeditatedly, and a flatter, quicker one turned in and trapped him in front. Like he had done to Kumar Sangakkara on the 2015 tour of Sri Lanka, Ashwin had dismissed Williamson four times in four innings.In his first over at the crease, Taylor jumped out and hit Ashwin over the top for a four and a six off successive balls. As Ashwin’s spell continued, he stepped out again to whip him over midwicket, and then drove him against the turn through the covers. Having gone to 32 off 24, though, he chanced a sweep off a ball that was too full for the shot. It sneaked under his bat and bowled him.Luke Ronchi, James Neesham and Martin Guptill all fell in the next seven overs, the latter two to Ravindra Jadeja, and it seemed almost certain that the match wouldn’t go into a fifth day. BJ Watling and Mitchell Santner hinted that it just might, while putting on 24 for the seventh wicket, but Ashwin came back to break their partnership, bowling over the wicket to the left-handed Santner and beating him with natural variation. Coming forward to defend, Santner inside-edged the ball into his pad and then onto the stumps.India didn’t have to wait too long for the eighth and ninth wickets, but Watling and Trent Boult briefly raised the possibility of their having to come back on Wednesday to take the tenth, by putting on the longest partnership of the innings. They stuck around for 10.1 overs, causing India a bit of frustration – Jadeja bowled a 45kph donkey drop to Boult, Ashwin dragged down a legbreak to Watling – and threatening to take the fourth day into an extra half-hour, before Boult came down the track to drive Ashwin and popped back a waist-high return catch.Cheteshwar Pujara finished with a century and three fifties in the series•BCCIIndia declared halfway through the morning session, one ball after Pujara brought up his hundred by helping a short ball from James Neesham to the fine leg boundary. It was a fitting way to reach the landmark, given that the area behind the wicket had fetched him 57 of his runs and six of his nine fours, with the lap-sweep and late cut his go-to shots against the spinners. Having gone to lunch batting on 50 off 98 balls, he had sped away to score 51 off 50 in the second session. At the other end, Ajinkya Rahane helped an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 58 hurry along at 6.44 an over, stepping out to play his favourite chips down the ground and inside-out drives.Ahead by 276 overnight, India had only extended their lead by eight runs when M Vijay was run-out by a brilliant piece of fielding from Guptill in the eighth over of the morning. In walked Gautam Gambhir, who had retired hurt late on the third evening with a shoulder injury. His re-entry sparked an immediate upsurge in India’s run rate, as he took frequent singles against New Zealand’s one-day fields, and pounced on anything remotely loose, his standout shot a drive drilled past extra-cover off Boult.Gambhir’s urgency rubbed off on Pujara as well. He ran as fast as his troubled knees would take him, ending up with a dirt-streaked shirt from all the times he had to dive into the crease, and looked outside his usual repertoire of shots, even jumping out of his crease at one point to flat-bat Boult back over his head.The pair added 76 for the second wicket before Gambhir fell for 50 off 56 balls, chipping Jeetan Patel to short extra-cover. Kohli, the first-innings double-centurion, fell in the sixth over after lunch, given lbw looking to sweep Patel although replays suggested the ball may have struck his pad outside the line of off stump.With nine overs to bat out before tea, New Zealand lost one wicket, Umesh Yadav going around the wicket in his first over and attacking the stumps to get Tom Latham lbw playing around his front pad. New Zealand were 38 for 1 at tea. They probably wouldn’t have imagined that it would all be over after just one more session.

The match referees of the Durban and Trinidad Tests, Andy Pycroft and Ranjan Madugalle respectively, have rated the two outfields for the matches as “poor”

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Aug-2016The outfields at Kingsmead and Queen’s Park Oval have been rated poor by the ICC match referees who oversaw the washed out Tests between South Africa and New Zealand in Durban, and West Indies and India in Trinidad.The ICC said the officials – Andy Pycroft in Durban and Ranjan Madugalle in Trinidad – had expressed concerns in accordance with clause three of the Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process. The match referees’ reports have been forwarded to the concerned home boards, the WICB and Cricket South Africa, which now have 14 days to respond. CSA’s response, the ICC said, will be reviewed by ICC general manager, cricket, Geoff Allardice, while match referee David Boon will assess the WICB’s reply.Then, as per the rules, the grounds will either receive a warning or a fine not exceeding USD 15,000, along with “a directive for appropriate corrective action”. A repeat offence over the next five years would draw a fine not exceeding USD 30,000.In all, 11 sessions out of 15 were lost to a wet and soft outfield at Kingsmead, while in Port of Spain West Indies and India were able to play only one session across five days.It was the first Test played in Trinidad in August, which is the wet season there, and rain had hampered preparations in the days leading up to the match but during the game itself there was largely sunshine. However, with there not being enough covers at the ground to protect the bowlers’ run-ups or the outfield, and no super sopper available either, the outfield did not recover enough to allow play. The draw meant that India, who needed to win the Test to retain their No. 1 Test ranking, lost the top spot to Pakistan. The Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board had already said it would investigate the reasons behind the washout.The Durban Test was also scheduled in what is traditionally the off season in South Africa, during the winter. Rain forced the players off the field around lunch on day two, and the big damage was done to the outfield that night, when the ground took 65mm of water. Here, too, the covers did not protect large parts of the field, and the super sopper was made to stop operating for fear it would do further damage to the soft patches that persisted into day five despite no more rain falling.There were concerns over the Kingsmead outfield being underprepared even before the match began, as it had been relaid in June following complaints from South Africa and New Zealand that the surface was too hard during the limited-overs games played there last year. Similar comments were levelled at Centurion, the venue of the upcoming second Test, but the SuperSport Park outfield was relaid in April once the season ended; work could not get underway at Kingsmead till the Comrades Marathon – for which it is the ending point – was completed on May 29.

Legal counsel for the USA Cricket Association (USACA) has sent former executive secretary Kenwyn Williams a cease and desist letter, ordering him to refrain from filing a temporary restraining order against Broward County Florida over the sanctioning of Caribbean Premier League (CPL) matches scheduled for next month at the Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill. Williams had sent an email on June 13 asking the County to cancel the six CPL matches and in the days since has progressively stepped up his threats to sue the county over the sanctioning of the matches.”You have no authority to bring this lawsuit or other legal action in the name of USACA or any of its regions or members,” Marshall Beil, USACA’s representing attorney at the law firm McGuire Woods, LLP, wrote to Williams in an email on Tuesday afternoon. USACA president Gladstone Dainty, ICC head of global development Tim Anderson and Broward County officials were also copied on the email, which has been obtained by ESPNcricinfo. “No suit has been authorized by USACA or any subdivision of USACA. You are not an officer or director of USACA, and you are not authorized to act on behalf of USACA or any region or subdivision of USACA.”USACA demands that you cease and desist from threatening and/or instituting legal action in the name of USACA or any region, league or member of USACA. If you proceed with your threatened action, USACA will inform the court of your complete lack of standing and authority to sue and will hold you personally responsible for any damages, costs and fees, including legal fees, your actions may cause.”The current imbroglio involving Williams and USACA was set in motion on June 9, when USACA vice president Owen Grey issued a letter to the ICC informing it that USACA would “take action” against the ICC’s continued suspension of it. Grey stated that USACA had appointed Williams to represent it in a legal capacity and that Williams would be the USACA delegate attending this month’s ICC annual conference in Scotland.Williams then sent Broward County and CPL officials the June 13 email in which he asked them to cancel the six CPL matches at the end of July, claiming that the county had not pursued proper sanctioning. The ICC had stripped USACA of its sanctioning authority for games in the USA in June 2015 at the time of its administrative suspension, though Williams claimed in his letter to county officials that USACA continues to maintain sanctioning authority and it had yet to be sought from USACA.According to documents obtained by ESPNcricinfo, Williams sent a subsequent email on June 14, notifying Broward County officials that he was intending to pursue litigation against Broward County Parks & Recreation manager Duncan Finch for “being in violation of the sanctioning policy of USA Cricket” and that in order to avoid “unnecessary litigation” Williams was reaching out to achieve “an amicable resolution to this dispute”.”As we believe that we will suffer irreparable harm, we do intend to seek a court order granting a preliminary injunction,” Williams wrote to Patrice Eichen of the Broward County Attorney’s Office. Eichen responded on June 16, telling Williams that the County had issued a sanctioning permit to the CPL for the six matches.”The County has determined that CPL has complied with or is in the process of complying with the County’s requirements related to issuance of a Park Permit to host the events at CBRP,” Eichen wrote. “The County does not believe there is any violation of County policies to justify taking action to stop the upcoming events.”Williams then responded once again on Monday, June 20, attaching a draft document for a temporary restraining order in which USACA’s Southeast Regional board – which represents Florida among other states – is listed as a plaintiff in proposed legal action against proposed defendants Broward County Parks and Recreation, Finch and Lauderhill mayor Richard Kaplan. In the draft seeking injunctive relief, Williams repeatedly bases his course for action on a position that USACA still maintains sanctioning authority for matches in the USA.”All cricket matches in the USA or cricket events held in the USA require the approval of USACA unless they are already specifically approved or pre-approved,” the draft document states. “Defendants have intervened and bypassed the sanction procedures of USACA to partner directly with the CPL to tortuously interfere with USACA’s business relationship, causing irreparable injury to plaintiffs’ revenue potential and reputation.”Among the other claims made in the draft document sent by Williams to Broward County officials threatening a lawsuit are that USACA is a non-profit organization which “derives its revenue in part from grants and sanction fees from cricket events”. As such, the proposed legal action argues that the “defendants’ planned cricket events are of a high commercial value and will deprive USACA of substantial revenue needed to promote cricket to its thousands of members throughout the USA,” and, furthermore, that such legal action would be in the public’s interest.”Plantiffs will also lose the credibility to conduct business with other third parties if they can cut out the sanctioning procedures of USACA, thereby causing irreparable injury and loss of substantial revenue to plaintiffs,” the proposed suit says. “Defendants are holding a sporting event for entertainment purposes for a small demographic of fans. The events if enjoined will not disserve the public interest. The members of USACA as well as the members in the Southeast Region will be more disserved if defendants are not enjoined.”However, USACA’s own legal rebuttal from Beil contradicts Williams’ view that legal action against Broward County would serve USACA positively. As of now, Williams has yet to follow through on officially filing the proposed suit in Broward County.Meanwhile, Grey has told ESPNcricinfo that Williams still has the support of the board to act as a legal liaison for USACA and Beil’s directive does not necessarily represent the majority view of the USACA board.”I am aware of [Beil’s] letter,” Grey said. “However, USACA’s lawyer was instructed to do so by Gladstone Dainty, not the board of directors. An emergency BOD [meeting] is scheduled to address this issue.”

Arsenal have set their sights on signing Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins this summer, after his impressive recent form, according to a report from Football Insider.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

It is clear that Mikel Arteta is keen to bring in a new striker in the summer transfer window, with Arsenal said to be monitoring numerous targets, including Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who the manager is believed to admire.

The Gunners are also said to be among the main contenders for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, and the Serbian could be allowed to leave this summer, although he would not come cheap, with his current club set to demand at least €90m (£80m).

Having been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium back in October 2021, Watkins has now reemerged as a target for Arteta, although his current club are very eager to keep him.

According to a report from Football Insider, Arsenal have set their sights on signing the striker, and they will continue to monitor his situation as he opens contract talks with Villa in the coming weeks.

Despite the Gunners' interest, however, all parties are confident a deal can be struck to keep the 27-year-old at Villa Park on a long-term basis, with Unai Emery keen to offer him fresh terms.

The £75k-per-week star's current deal runs until June 2025, but he is set to be offered a bumper new contract, which could hamper Arteta's chances of signing him.

Should Arsenal sign Ollie Watkins?

Even though Villa have been in fantastic form as of late, now up to sixth in the Premier League table, it would surely be hard for the forward to turn down the league-leaders, if they did come calling in the summer.

Arsenal would be getting their hands on a player in fantastic form, scoring 11 goals in his last 14 games, with Rio Ferdinand claiming that he is "sitting alongside" Erling Haaland since the World Cup, in terms of his attacking output.

During Villa's emphatic 3-0 victory against Newcastle United on Saturday, football writer Jordan Cronin lauded him as causing "absolute mayhem" for Eddie Howe's side, while other members of the media called him "incredible".

This is not the first season Watkins has impressed in the Premier League, having now reached double figures for goals in three campaigns on the spin, and he could reach even loftier heights at the Emirates Stadium.

Beau Webster’s second century for Tasmania allowed the visitors to scrap their way to 9 for 269 after the first day-night of the Sheffield Shield match at the Gabba

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-2016
ScorecardFile photo – Evan Gulbis contributed with a counterattacking 40•Getty Images

Beau Webster’s second century for Tasmania allowed the visitors to scrap their way to 9 for 269 after the first day-night of the Sheffield Shield match at the Gabba.Playing under upgraded lights that Queensland Cricket officials hope will be used for a floodlit Test match next summer, Webster formed handy unions with Jake Doran and Ben McDermott to lift the Tigers from an unsteady early position of 3 for 41 after George Bailey won the toss.Bailey was out to a duck to the still new ball to be the third wicket of the day, after James Hopes had defeated Ben Dunk and Jordan Silk fell prey to the height and bounce of Peter George.Webster, who had made a fine century against Victoria in Tasmania’s previous match, played with good sense and found the boundary regularly – conditions easing as afternoon changed into night.There was one concern for Cricket Australia as the latest version of the pink ball, now with black stitching designed to improve visibility, had to be changed by the Bulls before it was 20 overs old.

Injury expert Ben Dinnery has claimed that Dominic Calvert-Lewin is unlikely to start Everton’s next game even if passed fit, as the club attempt to navigate his injury problems.

What’s the latest on Calvert-Lewin?

The striker has been in poor form for Everton with just one league goal to his name this season, and he has suffered from a number of injury setbacks.

He has missed the last two games for his club which both resulted in losses where Everton failed to score, and Neal Maupay deputised in his absence.

He could return as Sean Dyche’s side face Nottingham Forest, but the extent of his current fitness is unclear.

Speaking on the Premier FPL Injuries channel, Dinnery claimed that even if Calvert-Lewin is fit enough to play a part against Forest, he will not start for fears that he could injure himself again.

(22:50) “Sean Dyche said that he will monitor the fitness of Dominic Calvert Lewin, of course, he’s been sidelined with that hamstring issue,” he stated.

“The wider circle is, it’s not the here and now, it’s about bringing him back and keeping him back for the remainder of the season. So that’s the conundrum that Sean Dyche is in, so for that reason, even if he is passed fit, I don’t see him starting.”

Who should start up front for Everton?

Both Calvert-Lewin and Maupay have been disappointing, with just two league goals between them, whilst Everton’s current top scorer Demarai Gray has not started their last five league games.

Gray could start through the middle until Calvert-Lewin is fully fit, and if the 26-year-old can add more goals to the side, then Calvert-Lewin could face a fight on his hands to regain his place.

Another option is young forward Ellis Simms, who returned to the club in January after a loan spell at Sunderland, but question marks remain on whether he can make the step up from the Championship to the Premier League.

Everton are in a battle for survival, and their striking issues are a huge factor in their poor form this season. They have scored just 17 goals in 25 league games, and if these problems are not resolved soon, they could face a first-ever relegation from the Premier League.

West Ham United have made a solid start to life in 2023/24 and are now locked in pursuit of an exciting young striker who is progressing well in his homeland, according to reports.

What's the latest news involving West Ham United?

On Wednesday evening, Tomas Soucek bundled home for West Ham away to Lincoln City in the third round of the Carabao Cup to ensure the Hammers progressed to the next phase of the competition, albeit by a narrow margin.

Speaking to media in the aftermath of the tie, West Ham assistant coach Billy McKinlay praised the Hammers' mentality to advance against a difficult opponent, as he stated via BBC Sport: "I thought we deserved the win, it was a tough night but we got through. We caused our own problems a little bit and gave them encouragement. In the second half, it was a bit better and we had some good opportunities to create a bit more."

He then added: "But we're delighted to get through. As the game goes on you're always wary that one goal might be the one that wins the game, so we had to get it. All in all we are happy and glad to be in the next round."

West Ham have been given one of their more difficult ties of the fourth round and will take on Arsenal at the London Stadium on the week commencing October 30th, as per Sky Sports.

According to 90min, free agent Jesse Lingard is in line to earn a contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq following a spell training with West Ham before David Moyes decided not to offer the former Manchester United star a deal at the London Stadium. Commenting on the situation recently, Moyes said: "We like Jesse a lot but I just don’t know if we need another player in the position he would probably play for us."

Who could West Ham United sign?

According to reports in Spain, West Ham are keen on bringing in Botafogo striker Matheus Nascimento, who is already being talked up as one of the hottest properties in South America due to his exploits in his homeland.

Sponsored by Nike, Nascimento is believed to intrigue the Hammers as somebody who could be a potential star of the future at the London Stadium and the East London-based outfit are open to bringing him to England; however, the report doesn't state whether this venture would come in January or in another upcoming transfer window.

Labelled "incredible" by Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig, Nascimento has made 81 appearances for Botafogo in all competitions, registering 11 goals and four assists in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

Nascimento has been linked with the likes of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the past and it is clear to see that despite obviously being a work in progress, he has the tools necessary to develop into an established striker at the elite level.

Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest also both expressed interest in Nascimento in the summer window, and it now looks like West Ham have thrown their hat in the ring as a potential destination.

Liverpool fans could be given a chance to give Jurgen Klopp a big send-off at the end of the season with an open top bus parade.

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Liverpool may celebrate with open-top busCelebrations planned for Klopp's farewellWill celebrate even if they don't win another trophyGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

This unusual event is being pondered not merely to celebrate their Carabao Cup success but also to provide a big farewell to Jurgen Klopp, who is scheduled to leave in May after a remarkable nine-year stint with the Merseyside club. An open-top bus trip would not normally be Liverpool's choice after winning the Carabao Cup but the special circumstances of Klopp's exit have made the club's executives think about organising something special, according to .

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The report states that Liverpool would look to move forward with these plans even if they don't win any more championships this year. A quadruple is still conceivable, of course. The Reds are the league leaders right now, and are favourites to win the Europa League. They are also set to return to FA Cup action next against Southampton.

Getty Images DID YOU KNOW?

Klopp was appointed Liverpool's manager in 2015. He led the team to the UEFA Champions League finals in 2018, 2019 and 2022, winning the trophy in 2019. Klopp's side finished second in the 2018-19 Premier League, with 97 points, the third-highest total in the history of the English top flight and the most by a team that did not win the title. He managed to win the the title one year later in a campaign disrupted by the COVID pandemic.

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WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

The Reds will have to put a swift end to their Carabao Cup victory celebrations as they prepare for their clash against Southampton in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Wednesday, February 28.