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Liam Livingstone produced a violent maiden century in List A cricket with eight sixes as England Lions sealed their three-match series against South Africa A with a second successive win

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Jun-2017
ScorecardLiam Livingstone smashed 129 off 83•Getty ImagesEngland Lions took a decisive 2-0 lead over South Africa A in their three-match Royal London One-Day Series after recording their second emphatic victory in three days – this time by 144 runs at Northampton.James Vince’s side piled up 349 for 7 thanks largely to contrasting innings from Liam Livingstone, who made an explosive 129 from 83 balls with ten fours and eight sixes, and Dawid Malan, whose 84 from 89 balls included 13 fours, one six.Livingstone’s maiden List A century was a violent affair, cleanly-hit and spectacular, but he was dropped twice and rode his luck. Malan’s classy innings was the better, containing barely a false shot until he became one of four victims for South Africa A captain, Aiden Markram, who also contributed 50 with the bat.Markram got their reply off to a decent start but, under scoreboard pressure, the tourists’ chase never really took flight. They mustered only 205 all out as slow left-armer Liam Dawson took 4 for 41.England Lions made one team-change, a rotation in the seam department as George Garton replaced Sam Curran.After South Africa A chose to bowl, Duane Olivier inflicted brisk damage in an impressive opening spell of 6-0-17-2. Ben Duckett reached only two on his home ground before chipping to short midwicket. An inducker then trapped Daniel Bell-Drummond lbw for three.Fresh from making an unbeaten 125 in the first game, Malan continued his excellent form but lost another partner when Vince lifted a pull to deep midwicket off Junior Dala.Malan and Livingstone added 74 in 63 balls before their stand ended surprisingly when Malan charged at Markram and offered Heino Kuhn a simple stumping.Livingstone and Dawson clattered 98 in 12 overs, the former reaching a 68-ball century, the second 50 of which arrived from 24 balls, a third of which went for four or six.Dawson holed out to deep square-leg but Livingstone responded by lifting Jason Smith over the candy-floss stall into a neighbouring garden before perishing, caught at long-on, in pursuit of his ninth six.After Ben Foakes swung and missed, Craig Overton and Tom Curran kept the pressure high with an unbroken stand of 50 from 25 balls.South Africa A were never in the hunt after losing Reeza Hendricks, lbw to Curran, in the third over. Markram reached 50 but he edged Steven Finn and, nine balls later, Dawson turned one into JJ Smuts’ stumps, leaving the tourists 81 for 3. Steady decline followed. Theunis de Bruyn lifted Dawson to long on, Temba Bavuma nicked Garton to the keeper and Kuhn belted a Livingstone full-toss straight back to the bowler.Khaya Zondo’s attempt to smite Dawson over the indoor centre landed in the hands of Overton at mid-on. The spinner’s fourth wicket was Olivier, bowled through a failed slog. Livingstone bowled Dala and a thoroughly dominant Lions display was rounded off when Jason Smith drove Finn into the hands of Vince at mid-off.

Arsenal could be set to mimic the success of an arch-rival, by adding to their summer spending with another high-profile acquisition.

Who is Arsenal signing?

Although having not been linked since late June, a potential swoop for Goncalo Inacio still represents a potentially outstanding piece of business for Mikel Arteta to add to his ever-growing playing staff.

With Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz all combining to improve a squad that narrowly missed out on the Premier League last term, this imperious defensive titan could provide that final acquisition to truly make them a threat for the treble-winning Manchester City.

Although his €60m (£51m) price tag might seem lofty, the Gunners have showcased their propensity to spend big already this window.

In swooping from Sporting CP, they could actually mimic the success Manchester United have earned by welcoming Bruno Fernandes from Lisbon to England, as an added incentive to complete this deal.

How good is Goncalo Inacio?

Having moved to Old Trafford in January 2020, many raised eyebrows when the Red Devils forked out £47m for a player from the Portuguese league.

However, it took no time at all for the 28-year-old to begin proving doubters wrong, as he recorded 15 goal contributions in his 14 league games. He would then notch 28 goals and assist a further 17 across all competitions in his first full year, truly silencing his critics.

Should Inacio prove to be half as impactful at the Emirates as his compatriot has been since moving to England, then Arteta will be salivating at the prospect.

Especially considering the glowing praise already heading the way of the 21-year-old defender, who epitomises the modern-day centre-back with his confidence in possession.

BBC Sport contributor Raj Chohan, also known as Premier League Panel, sought to detail his key attributes that have made him such an asset for his boyhood club, noting:

"Gonçalo Inácio is the perfect counter-weight to Konaté. Inacio-VVD-Konaté: Build-up conductor, Leader/aerial dominator/switches of play, Immense recovery speed & coverage of space".

This ease in possession is heavily outlined in his underlying statistics, as when compared against other centre-backs across Europe, he stands out despite his youth.

For passes attempted per 90 and progressive passes made per 90, he ranks in the top 1%. Then, for progressive carries per 90 and successful take-ons per 90, he sits in the top 3% and 4% respectively, via FBref.

There are few in his role on the continent who showcase such a special ability to progress the play from defence, which Arteta will be desperate to add to his already free-flowing squad.

Back in 2014, the Spanish coach, who was still a player at the time, detailed the ideals of his perfect club:

“My philosophy will be clear. I want the football to be expressive, entertaining. I cannot have a concept of football where everything is based on the opposition.

"We have to dictate the game, we have to be the ones taking the initiative, and we have to entertain the people coming to watch us. I’m 100 per cent convinced of those things, and I think I could do it."

It seems that he finally has his wish, and in this 6 foot 1 Portuguese titan, he could further solidify such a philosophy. The only hope will be that he can mirror the success earned by Fernandes, who has taken a similar path to the one Inacio could soon make.

Paul Collingwood led from the front as Durham restricted Gloucestershire to 266 for 7 before bad light ended play 19 overs early in Bristol

ECB Reporters Network21-Apr-2017
ScorecardPaul Collingwood was a whizz with the ball at 41•Getty ImagesPaul Collingwood led from the front as Durham restricted Gloucestershire to 266 for 7 before bad light ended play 19 overs early on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship match at Bristol.Approaching his 41st birthday next month, the visiting captain transformed the morning session by taking two wickets with his medium pace after the hosts had reached 97 for 1 and then claimed three slip catches. Chris Rushworth and Keaton Jennings weighed in with two wickets apiece.Chris Dent (59), Will Tavare (61), Phil Mustard (38) and Jack Taylor (41 not out) all batted well for Gloucestershire, who could feel satisfied with their efforts after Collingwood exercised his right to field first without a toss.The day began with overcast conditions and the home side looked to be facing a stiff test when Cameron Bancroft, who never looked comfortable, was bowled by a delivery from Rushworth that appeared to keep a bit low.Soon the sun broke through and batting became more straightforward. Dent and Tavare put together a second-wicket stand of 83 with few alarms and Gloucestershire looked set to lunch well.But Collingwood had other ideas. Having had Dent dropped twice in his second over, the former England all-rounder forced the left-hander to feather a catch through to wicketkeeper Stuart Poynton in his third. Dent had faced 85 balls and hit 9 fours.In the same over Collingwood pinned Graeme van Buuren lbw for a duck and, without making best use of the new ball, Durham had their opponents 97 for 3 at the break.The afternoon session began well for Gloucestershire, with Tavare and George Hankins taking the total to 156 before 20-year-old Hankins, who had progressed to 27, hung his bat out to a shortish delivery from Brydon Carse and edged to Collingwood at first slip.Tavare, who has begun the season in fine form, moved to his half-century off 121 balls, with five fours, and was doing an excellent job anchoring the innings until, with the total on 187, he was caught behind, rocking back to try and leave a ball from Rushworth.Mustard looked in good nick against his old county and produced some fine strokes. It was a surprise when he pushed forward to Jennings and edged a simple catch to Collingwood, having struck seven boundaries.That was the final ball of Jennings’ third over. He was on a hat-trick when with the first delivery of his fourth he induced another edge to Collingwood, this time to dismiss Craig Miles for a duck.At 255 for 7 in the 75th over, Gloucestershire were in danger of failing to capitalise on a solid base. Only two more overs were possible before the umpires decided conditions had become too murky.Taylor was unbeaten, having shared a stand of 64 with Mustard, playing with typical flourish. He will shoulder responsibility for adding to his side’s two batting points tomorrow.

West Ham United midfielder Tomas Soucek could look worse following the imminent departure of long-time midfield partner Declan Rice, according to Sam Tighe.

What position does Tomas Soucek play?

Since his arrival at the London Stadium from Slavia Prague in January 2020, Soucek has made 155 appearances in all competitions, scoring 22 goals and assisting eight.

According to Transfermarkt, the Czech Republic international has played the majority of his games as a defensive midfielder. Across these games, Soucek played mostly alongside club captain Rice, with the pair forming a very strong partnership across 137 matches that has anchored the Irons midfield for the past three seasons.

That partnership is set to be broken up now, though, with the Englishman on the brink of sealing a record-breaking £105m move to Arsenal. It is a move that has been brewing for a while and a move that, in the eyes of Tighe, could have major repercussions for Soucek.

Speaking on the Sky Sports Transfer Talk podcast, journalist Tighe revealed that he believes the 28-year-old may look worse following the departure of Rice due to the loss of the support he provided on the pitch.

He said: "David Moyes is going to have a lot of money to spend here, but this is not going to be an easy task, because I think he needs to buy a new midfield.

"Declan Rice is irreplaceable, but also I think he makes the others around him better, and I think there are players in this team who are going to look worse because Rice isn’t there to support them and prop them up – and I think Tomas Soucek is a prime example of that."

How will Tomas Soucek look worse without Declan Rice?

The 24-year-old was the perfect partner for Soucek because their games complemented each other incredibly well.

According to WhoScored, the Czech player's strengths include aerial duels, blocking the ball and interception skills, whilst his main weakness is his passing. Rice, on the other hand, has passing as one of his key strengths, whilst aerial duels and interceptions fail to make his list of strengths.

This perhaps showcases why the partnership was so fruitful; whilst the England international would control the tempo, drive the ball forward and run the game with the ball for West Ham, Soucek thrives off of winning duels and tackles as well as popping up in the box to score.

The departure of the Hammers captain leaves a major hole in the side that needs to be plugged, and whilst the names that have been reportedly linked to the club are great players in their own right in Joao Palhinha, Edson Alvarez, and Denis Zakaria, none of them arguably shape up to complement the 28-year-old as well as Rice did.

When it comes to Palhinha, the Portuguese midfielder has tackling as a "very strong" strength according to WhoScored, however, skills such as passing and dribbling are not listed as a strength of his game, suggesting that both he and Soucek could end up playing the same role which could be very detrimental to the Hammers.

In the case of Zakaria, WhoScored lists passing as one of his weaknesses, as well as aerial duels and tackling. So whilst he would enable the Czech man to focus on his strengths as a player, he wouldn't exactly help out in terms of covering his weaknesses.

Alvarez seems to be the best option for the Hammers, with both passing and tackling listed as "very strong" strengths, whilst he lacks any major weaknesses, according to WhoScored. Whilst the Mexican's skillset could lead to a strong partnership in the future, there may be some teething problems initially if the two players are focused on the same parts of the game.

If West Ham want to avoid many settling-in issues, Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse could be a brilliant pick-up, with his strengths according to WhoScored laying in the creative and passing parts of the game, whilst tackling and defensive contributions are mentioned as notable weaknesses. This should allow Soucek to focus on his strengths with the 28-year-old England international alongside him to pick up the creative side of the game.

A round-up of the Momentum Cup matches played on March 12, 2017

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Mar-2017A century from David Miller and three new-ball wickets from Marchant de Lange overshadowed a quickfire hundred from Titans captain Albie Morkel to help Knights climb their way to fourth place from the bottom, with a resounding bonus-point victory of 111 runs in Kimberley. Both teams now have 14 points each.Chasing 303, Titans were in tatters when de Lange ran through their top order with an opening spell of 5-3-4-3 that left them on 8 for 3 in the seventh over. To add to Titans’ miseries, Farhaan Behardien and Tony de Zorzi were run-out, slipping them further to 22 for 5 in the 11th over. Once David Wiese also fell three overs later, Morkel combined with Shaun von Berg who scored only 29 in their partnership of 120 in just 17.1 overs. The duo took the score past 150 but fell within the space of four overs after Morkel scored a century off 69 balls and was eventually dismissed for 117 off 84 that featured 13 fours and four sixes. Titans lasted another 15 balls and were wrapped up for 191 in 37.2 overs.When Knights were asked to bat, Grant Mokoena retired hurt for 36 after an opening stand of 57 with Rudi Second. Once they were 90 for 2 in the 20th over, Miller, on debut for Knights, and captain Pite van Biljon stitched a dominating partnership of 185 runs in under 26 overs to charge them to 275 with 27 balls left. Miller ended with 104 off 100, his seventh List A hundred with eight fours and two sixes, while Biljon’s 90 off 76 included nine fours and two sixes that helped the lower order post 302 for 8.File photo – JJ Smuts, the Warriors captain, surpassed his previous best of 132 with an unbeaten 173 against Cape Cobras•AFPJJ Smuts’ unbeaten 173 led Warriors to a 90-run victory over Cape Cobras in Cape Town, despite a brisk century by Richard Levi.In what was their third bonus-point victory, and as many wins from seven matches, Warriors posted 305 for 6 after Smuts strung an opening partnership of 119 runs with Gihahn Cloete, who struck 70 off 75 balls. The two Colins – Ingram and Ackermann – then chipped in with twenties each to help Smuts, the Warriors captain, surpass his previous best of 132 against Dolphins in 2011-12. While it took Smuts 134 balls to bring up his ton, he amassed his next 73 runs in only 30 balls, clobbering nine fours and eight sixes overall to register the third-highest one-day score in South African domestic cricket after Reeza Hendricks’ 181 and Morne van Wyk’s 175*.Cobras’ decision to field found little validation, as only Eddie Leie and Rory Kleinveldt offered any sort of resistance with returns of 4 for 56 and 2 for 48 respectively. Richard Levi, however, provided Cobras’ chase a rapid start, plundering 94 off 53 balls before retiring hurt in the 18th over, his side having made 128 for 2. Cobras’ subsequent loss of four wickets for 32 runs prompted Levi’s return in the 26th over but he ran out of partners and his 70-ball 106 went in vain. No Cobras batsman, barring Levi, scored more than 20 and Ingram and Ayabulela Gqamane returned combined figures of 5 for 78 to skittle Cobras for 215 in 37.3 overs, the last wicket having fallen to the Player-of-the-Match, Smuts.

Manchester United have already wrapped up their first piece of summer business ahead of next season, with the Red Devils having agreed a £60m deal to sign Mason Mount from Premier League rivals, Chelsea.

The signing of the England international will seemingly provide some much-needed quality and depth to a midfield department that has looked rather threadbare of late, with Marcel Sabitzer having made his return to Bayern Munich, while Fred has been heavily linked with a move to Fulham.

That fact could suggest that Mount may not be Erik ten Hag's only midfield recruit over the coming weeks, with reports in Spain having only recently claimed that the United boss has sent club officials to try and negotiate a deal for Real Madrid starlet, Aurelien Tchouameni.

The belief is that the former Monaco maestro – who only made the move to the Spanish capital for a reported fee of €100m (£85.3m) last summer – could make way following the signing of Jude Bellingham, thus opening the door for the Red Devils to pounce.

Having already snapped up Raphael Varane and Casemiro from the La Liga giants in each of the previous two summer windows, the Old Trafford outfit could now look to Tchouameni – who is valued at around €80m (£69m) – as their next high profile addition from the Bernabeu.

Would Tchouameni be a good fit for Man United?

Despite failing to truly establish himself as a regular starter under Carlo Ancelotti last season, the 23-year-old did still enjoy a positive debut campaign in Madrid, recording an average matching of 7.13 from his 33 league outings, as per Sofascore – a figure that would've placed him third among Ten Hag's squad last term.

Lauded as a "superb talent" by United legend, Rio Ferdinand, Tchouameni could well be able to replicate that level of performance in the Premier League were he to make the move to the Theatre of Dreams, with that rubberstamped by his apparent likeness to Brighton and Hove Albion sensation, Moises Caicedo.

The latter man has been on the Red Devils' in recent years with the club memorably missing out on his signature back in January 2021, while more recent reports revealed that Ten Hag and co had made contact regarding a possible summer swoop, albeit with a move to Stamford Bridge looking more likely for the 21-year-old.

To then be able to find an alternative to the Ecuadorian machine in the form of Tchouameni could prove to be a dream scenario for the Carabao Cup winners, with the pair seemingly sharing a number of statistical and stylistic similarities, according to FBref.

The two defensive-minded talents have proven themselves to be particularly effective at winning back possession in front of the back four, with the towering Frenchman ranking in the top 1% among his European peers for interceptions made, as well as in the top 22% for tackles, while Caicedo ranks in the top 11% and the top 13% for those same two metrics, respectively.

What also sets the two promising talents apart is their composure in possession and their desire to trying and dictate the tempo of a game from their deep-lying roles, with Caicedo ranking in the top 6% for pass completion and the top 15% for attempted passes, while Tchouameni ranks in the top 1% pass completion and the top 5% for attempted passes.

With Ten Hag seemingly keen on bringing in a younger midfielder this summer, both of those players would perfectly fit the bill, hence why the signing of the Madrid rock could prove a perfect alternative if the Brighton gem opts for a different destination.

Chelsea are reportedly interested in Sporting CP ace Goncalo Inacio, as Mauricio Pochettino eyes a rebuild at Stamford Bridge ahead of his first season in charge.

The Blues are expected to have a new look ahead of the 2023/24 campaign after a disastrous year in the Premier League seeing them record their lowest league finish since 1994.

With just 11 wins and 38 goals in 38 games, the Argentine will have a busy summer in west London with another spending spree on the horizon after Todd Boehly’s £600m gamble across last season’s windows.

What’s the latest on Goncalo Inacio to Chelsea?

As reported by news outlets in Spain, relayed by CaughtOffside, Chelsea are ready to challenge Liverpool for the signature of Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio.

The report claims that the two Premier League clubs are ‘two of the candidates’ interested in the 21-year-old, with Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain also listed.

It’s reported that the central defender has a release clause of €45m (£39m), with his contract running until 2026 in Lisbon.

What could Goncalo Inacio offer to Chelsea?

After allowing Kalidou Koulibaly to depart to Saudi Arabia in a deal with Al-Hilal worth £20m, the Blues will be a centre-back short going into the new season, sparking rumours that they will eye a new defender this window.

The players departing Stamford Bridge isn’t the only thought process regarding the future of the back line, with star player Thiago Silva turning 39 years old shortly after the start of the new campaign.

At just 21, Inacio could provide Chelsea with a long-term presence in central defence, and a player showing glimpses of being capable of taking the reins from the Brazilian veteran.

Hailed as a “complete” defender by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the young star has cemented himself as a firm starter in Sporting’s set-up.

With an average match rating of 7.01, the youngster contributed to seven clean sheets in 33 Liga Portugal appearances via Sofascore, just three clean sheets fewer than Chelsea recorded in the entire Premier League season (10).

Standing at 6 foot 1, the Almada-born gem is an assured presence in Sporting’s back line, flexing a 90% passing accuracy rate as well as sitting in the top 2% of centre-backs in the league in terms of progressive passes, with an average of 9.04 per 90, via FBref.

Praised by Kulig as “playing like an experienced 30-year-old veteran”, the youngster could, therefore, be a strong candidate to act as Pochettino’s heir to Silva. That is further backed up by his numbers this season.

The 21-year-old won 3.9 duels per game with a 59% win rate, as well as making an average of 1.2 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 1.9 clearances per game, as per Sofascore.

Silva, on the other hand, won 1.5 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 4.4 duels per match, rather similar statistics.

While Chelsea have some defensive talent in their arsenal, it would be a strong signing for Boehly should the Blues further their pursuit of Inacio, who at a price lower than familiar to the west Londoners, could prove to be a worthy investment for years to come.

Unlike many bilateral ODI series, this one has context: given their ranks, both teams need to win as the deadline for automatic qualification for World Cup 2019 looms

The Preview by Danyal Rasool06-Apr-2017Match factsApril 7, 2017
Start time 09.30 local (13.30 GMT)Can Shadab Khan spin his magic in the ODIs as well?•AFPBig PictureIt is often alleged that the existential threat 50-over cricket faces arises largely due to the number of ODIs played without context or substantial meaning. Series such as this one, featuring three ODIs tucked between four T20s and three Tests, would generally have been the perfect example to advance that point. But the ICC’s otherwise severely criticised move to reduce the World Cup to ten teams, only eight of which qualify directly, means Pakistan and West Indies – ranked eighth and ninth in ODIs respectively – will be playing for much more than the series trophy when they take on each other in Guyana. If West Indies win all three ODIs, they will leapfrog their visitors to eighth position less than six months before the cut-off date of September 30.Pakistan will be buoyed by a 3-1 win in the T20I series, although it did little to allay concerns that Sarfraz Ahmed’s men are still too inconsistent to compete with the very best. The series was bookended by clinical wins, but the two games in between witnessed a convincing win for West Indies and one game their coach Stuart Law said they threw away. With West Indies now significantly depleted by the departure of many of their high-profile names to the IPL – Kieron Pollard, Carlos Brathwaite, Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine have all flown off to India – a mere series win, much less a whitewash, would be a welcome result.Form guideWest Indies LLLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan LLLWLIn the spotlightWith Sunil Narine and Samuel Badree away, this represents an opportunity for Devendra Bishoo to establish himself in the West Indies’ line-up. He will play all three ODIs in front of a home crowd in Guyana – the first time in his ODI career he is playing there. He is still just four games into a return from a five-year absence from the ODI set-up, and will be eager to improve upon disappointing returns against England; in three games, he took three wickets and conceded 136 runs in the 21 overs he bowled. But with the pitch in Providence expected to favour the slower bowlers, he will be hoping for better returns.For Pakistan, could it really be anyone else? The biggest talking point in the T20Is was legspinner Shadab Khan’s explosive introduction to the international stage. The 18-year-old was instrumental in all three of Pakistan’s wins, and was named the Man of the Series, an award for which, in truth, he was the only contender. He now faces a sterner test: whether he can turn brilliant four-over spells into solid performances over ten overs in various phases of an ODI innings.Team newsThe West Indies squad is significantly different from the one that featured in the T20I series, and not necessarily the better for it, at least on paper. As previously mentioned, Brathwaite, Pollard, Badree and Narine are absent, while Kraigg Brathwaite has been dropped in favour of Chadwick Walton, a move coach Stuart Law put down to a desire for greater impetus at the top of the innings. Pacers Shannon Gabriel, Miguel Cummins and Alzarri Joseph all feature, a sign that West Indies may finally be moving on from veteran Jerome Taylor, who did not play any of the T20Is despite being in the squad.West Indies (possible): 1 Evin Lewis, 2 Chadwick Walton (wk), 3 Kieran Powell, 4 Shai Hope, 5 Jason Mohammad, 6 Jonathan Carter, 7 Jason Holder (capt), 8 Ashley Nurse, 9 Devendra Bishoo, 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Shannon GabrielPakistan haven’t made too many changes to the side that won the T20Is, although a few fresh faces have been drafted in. Asif Zakir, Fahim Ashraf and Mohammad Asghar are the three players in the 16-man squad yet to pull on an international shirt in any format. The most notable difference is the return of left-arm fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Junaid Khan, who were rested from the T20 series. In addition, it will also be the first ODI series for Sarfraz Ahmed as captain, after Azhar Ali was removed after the 4-1 defeat in Australia and omitted from the squad altogether.Pakistan (possible): 1 Ahmed Shehzad, 2 Kamran Akmal, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Fakhar Zaman, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), 7 Imad Wasim, 8 Shadab Khan, 9 Mohammad Amir, 10 Hasan Ali, 11 Wahab RiazPitch and conditionsIn the short history of the Providence Stadium in Guyana (it was constructed ahead of the 2007 World Cup), it has developed a reputation as a venue where the ball keeps low and doesn’t come on to the bat. As such, the execution of each side’s spin-bowling plans may be decisive in the outcome of this match – and indeed the series.Rain is expected in the early part of the day, but the sky should clear up by the evening.Stats and trivia The best individual ODI bowling performance at the Providence Stadium was by Pakistan allrounder Shahid Afridi in 2013. His figures read a remarkable 9-3-12-7 as the West Indies were skittled out for 98 – the lowest score at this ground Only once has the Providence Stadium seen an innings total in excess of 300. That was during the 2007 World Cup, when Sri Lanka made 303 against the hosts

Worcestershire’s Daryl Mitchell has been elected as the new chairman of the Professional Cricketers’ Association

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Feb-2017Worcestershire’s Daryl Mitchell has been elected as the new chairman of the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA). He succeeds Mark Wallace, who steps down after four years having completed the maximum two terms.Mitchell has already flagged the ECB’s plans for a new city-based T20 competition to be introduced in 2020 as a major issue to be tackled by the PCA under his chairmanship.”There is going to be big change ahead, not just for English domestic cricket but also on the world stage. These are interesting times,” Mitchell said.”There is talk of a franchise Twenty20 competition and it would be good to be involved in the discussions surrounding that. It’s important that the questions of our 400-plus members about how it will all work are answered and that was the crux of my manifesto.”Mitchell won a ballot of current county players ahead of four other candidates: Graham Onions, Paul Horton, James Hildreth and Steven Crook. He will serve for the next two years, with the appointment due to be ratified at the PCA’s annual general meeting on Tuesday.”It was pretty competitive and there were some really good lads who went for it, so to be elected by your peers from other clubs is very pleasing,” Mitchell said.”It’s a prestigious role and it has been done very well in recent years by Vikram Solanki, who I know from his time at Worcestershire, and then Mark Wallace, who has done a fantastic job over the last four years. It’s a big role and a big honour and I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead.”I have been involved with the PCA as a county representative since 2009 so I know about the fantastic work that they do. I have enjoyed being involved as a representative so this is the next step really. I want to try to get involved at the coal face of the organisation.”Mitchell, 33, has been a Worcestershire player for over a decade and served as captain until the end of last season, when he was removed from the position in acrimonious circumstances.He is the third Worcestershire player to become PCA chairman after Tim Curtis (1989-96) and Solanki (2009-13) and he will link up with another former county team-mate, David Leatherdale, the PCA chief executive who previously held the same role at New Road.”Daryl has been a PCA county representative for more than seven years and has a wealth of knowledge of the county game at all levels,” Leatherdale said.”He is undoubtedly held in high regard by players across the whole country as today’s appointment shows and, combined with his experience as the players’ representative on the ECB cricket committee, he will bring a great deal to the role of PCA Chairman. I very much look forward to working with Daryl again over the coming years.”Mitchell takes charge in the PCA’s 50th anniversary season. Wallace, the former Glamorgan wicketkeeper, last week announced his retirement to become a PCA Personal Development Manager.

Arsenal are among the sides willing to pay Fenerbache star Arda Guler's release clause and he wants a transfer away immediately, according to reports.

Who will join Arsenal this summer?

As widely reported, the Gunners have agreed a £105 million total fee for the transfer of West Ham United star Declan Rice, who is now expected to make the move to north London.

Arsenal, though, don't appear to be done there after also sealing a £65 million deal to sign Kai Havertz from Chelsea. Indeed, Southampton's Romeo Lavia is firmly on manager Mikel Arteta's radar this summer, with Ajax defender Jurrien Timber coming as another who Arsenal are currently in talks for.

This could end up being one of Arsenal's busiest transfer windows in recent memory, with reports suggesting they may spend north of £200 million on fresh faces.

New targets are appearing on a consistent basis too, as Emirates transfer chief Edu is credited with an interest in signing Fenerbache's Guler.

The in-demand Turkish wonderkid, who is already capped at international level, has attracted a plethora of suitors both abroad and domestically.

Spanish outlet Diario AS expand on this, claiming Guler is wanted by "half of Europe", with Newcastle United, Manchester United, PSG, Borussia Dortmund, Milan, Sevilla, Barcelona and even Real Madrid chasing his signature.

It is believed that the 18-year-old wants to leave Fenerbache "right away", which is where Arsenal come in, as AS state that the north Londoners are "willing to pay" his €17.5million (£15m) alongside the aforementioned sides.

If Arsenal are to make a move for Guler, they will need to hurry, as both Barca and Real will soon make attempts to convince the player.

Who is Arda Guler?

Branded the "Turkish Messi", Guler is amassing quite the reputation, having stood out as one of Fenerbache's best-performing players per 90 as a teenager last campaign (WhoScored).

The talent racked up seven goal contributions in 20 league appearances over 22/23, all while averaging making more key passes per 90 than any Fenerbache player (WhoScored).

Italian football legend Andrea Pirlo, commenting on Guler recently, even said he has the potential to play anywhere in the world.

"Arda Guler is a very talented player,” Pirlo said.

“He has the potential to play anywhere in the world. He has quality, he can read the game well, and he has great technique. If he keeps developing his game, there is no limit to his potential.”