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The 2025 summer transfer window has been one that many Newcastle United fans would likely want to forget.

They’ve had numerous transfer targets join Premier League rivals, including Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko, who went to Liverpool and Manchester United, respectively. Furthermore, the club has spent the whole window with the shadow of Alexander Isak’s departure hanging over them.

However, they have also achieved some underrated wins with the likes of Anthony Elanga and Malick Thiaw. Eddie Howe’s side have also been closely linked to Brentford’s Yoane Wissa as a potential replacement for Isak.

Even with these signings, PIF are on the hunt for even more squad depth and are close to completing the signing of a talented Premier League player.

Newcastle agree £40m deal for Ramsey

Fabrizio Romano reported that Newcastle were closing in on a deal for Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey, who only wants a move to St James’ Park. The 24-year-old has been with Villa since 2007 and has risen through the academy to become a regular feature in the first team.

Mike McGrath has now added that Newcastle have agreed a £40m fee with Villa, so the Magpies now need to open talks over personal terms, and a medical will be arranged once an agreement has been reached.

However, this is a rapidly developing deal and there’s speculation that the personal terms could be agreed sooner rather than later and the deal concluded swiftly after.

West Ham were also reported to have approached Villa for Ramsey, as per Romano, but were dissuaded when the player made it clear that he “only wants Newcastle”.

Newcastle will be getting a versatile player who is seen as similar to Barcelona winger Raphinha, as per FBref due to his dynamic ability to play in attacking midfield or on the wing.

From a Villa perspective, they were one of the clubs most at risk of a PSR breach, so it’s likely the sale is more out of necessity than not wanting him. As Ramsey is an academy product, he will be listed purely as profit in Villa’s accounts, making him a more valuable player to sell PSR-wise than a player that they had signed.

Ramsey elevates those around him

Ramsey’s last season at Villa had been an upgrade on his quiet 2023/24 campaign, with most of his highlights coming in the Champions League and the FA Cup. With Newcastle back in the Champions League, they’ll be hoping that Ramsey can emulate this cup form in black and white.

While Ramsey’s goal involvements aren’t quite at the level of some of Newcastle’s current midfielders and wingers, he is often instrumental in build-up play, which can allow his teammates to score and assist more often.

The 24-year-old averages 13.5 progressive actions per 90 minutes in the league and features in the top 15% of players for pass accuracy, meaning he not only retains the ball but often does something positive with it.

Howe can forget Isak: PIF in talks to sign "prolific" £26m CF for Newcastle

With Alexander Isak adamant he’ll never player for Newcastle again, the Magpies are in talks to sign a “prolific” striker worth £26m from Ligue 1.

1 ByBen Gray Aug 13, 2025

Additionally, he featured in the top 5% of players for dribble success rate. If PIF can get Ramsey, he will be able to get the ball to the forward line on a regular basis, allowing them to score more goals. While no one player may be able to replace Isak’s numbers, signings like Ramsey will bring up the squad’s numbers as a whole, helping to ease the goal burden.

Sunderland’s hectic transfer window started on a sombre note when Jobe Bellingham pushed through a move to leave the Black Cats behind for German behemoth Borussia Dortmund.

At that point in time, the Wearside masses must have been fearful regarding what the rest of the window was going to look like. However, they’ve never looked back, with the likes of Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki adding in plenty of fresh personnel to their options centrally.

Still, if there’s more chances to snap up exciting options in the midfield department before the Premier League season begins, Sunderland are unlikely to turn down such a tantalising opportunity.

Sunderland knock on door for £26m star

Indeed, it’s already been proven that Regis Le Bris and Co. are not done with revamping their midfield options, as Granit Xhaka is now set to undergo a medical at the Stadium of Light.

The Swiss international – who is set to join for £17m – will offer plenty of grit and fight having starred in the testing Premier League before for Arsenal, which will be needed if Sunderland are to immediately survive in such a stressful division.

He isn’t the only midfield addition that could soon catch the eye of the Stadium of Light fanbase, however, as a new development from Turkish outlet Saba Spor, via X, indicates that the Black Cats have made an approach to Galatasaray regarding ex-Norwich City ace Gabriel Sara.

Indeed, the report suggests that the newly-promoted side have ‘knocked on the door’ of the Super Lig side regarding a potential deal, with Sara currently valued at more than €30m (£26m).

Winning Sara’s services could see Sunderland pick up their next version of young Bellingham, with Xhaka far more attuned to the defensive side of his game.

Whereas, the Brazilian is capable of being both an attacking force but also a combative and energetic option if needed, much like the brand-new Dortmund number 77.

Why Sara can be an "incredible" Bellingham replacement

Of course, there is also the aforementioned Diarra and Sadiki to chuck into the equation.

However, that duo will need time to get up to speed with their new environments, with Sara already well accustomed to the demands of the English game when starring week in week out for Norwich City in the Championship, before Turkey came calling.

In total, for the Canaries, Sara would pick up a sublime 21 goals and 17 assists from 96 appearances, which blows Bellingham’s own output for Sunderland out of the water, as he lags behind on 11 goals and four assists himself from six fewer clashes.

Yet, Sunderland only forked out £1.5m for the 19-year-old before he became an asset worthy of a hefty £27m, with Le Bris and Co. needing to splash out £26m on Sara, knowing he’s a worthy replacement for the now Bundesliga midfielder and not a project that will take time to come good.

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Sara should also be comfortable with what is required of him in the Premier League, having now experienced the challenges of a tough, top division in Turkey by amassing a blistering two goals and ten assists from 45 outings, leading to Galatasaray’s head coach Okan Buruk praising the South American for adapting “very quickly.”

He is also adaptable when it comes to where he positions himself on the pitch, when glancing at the table above, with the 26-year-old content at being a number ten, a defensive anchor, or even a winger, much like Bellingham, who similarly rotated his duties under Le Bris’ methods.

Further noted as being “incredible” by U23 football scout Antonio Mango when challenging near the top of the Championship with Norwich, it could now finally be Sara’s time to shine in the Premier League, away from all those missed opportunities in Norfolk.

Sunderland definitely look well-stocked in the midfield department ahead of next season, with Sara adding yet more quality to the ever-growing camp if he joins shortly.

Their new Defoe: Sunderland submit offer to sign "world-class" striker

Sunderland could soon win the services of this potent striker as their next major purchase.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 29, 2025

Aston Villa have reached an agreement over the signing of a “good character” this summer, according to a key update from reliable journalist Jacob Tanswell.

Rumours of McGinn out and Luiz back at Aston Villa

Transfers rumours continue to come thick and fast at Villa Park this summer, with ins and outs expected in the coming weeks leading up to the new Premier League season.

John McGinn has been a wonderful servant for Villa down the years, but the Scottish veteran has been linked with a move away from the club this summer. Everton are thought to be interested in snapping him up, with Unai Emery perhaps feeling that now is the right time to sell the midfielder, with his current deal expiring in the summer of 2027.

In fact, Douglas Luiz has been backed to return to the Midlands for a second stint from Juventus, with the Brazilian potentially coming in as his former teammate’s replacement in the middle of the park, according to some reports. He was an influential figure first time around, and at 27, he still has a huge amount to offer in his career.

It remains to be seen what will happen regarding McGinn and Luiz this summer – some supporters may love the idea of them being back together at Villa Park next season – but away from their respective sagas, another player looks set to be heading to the club.

Aston Villa close to signing 34 y/o "good character"

According to a new update from The Athletic‘s Tanswell on X, Aston Villa have “finalised terms” to complete the signing of veteran Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot, with NSWE and Monchi working their magic.

“AVFC have finalised terms to sign Marco Bizot from Brest. 34yo regarded a good character, with experience & low-cost fee other key factors. Will be GK No 2 – target position filled for Villa & remain in pursuit of defender & winger.”

The signing of Bizot may not feel like the most earth-shattering piece of business that Villa have ever done, given his age and the fact that he is likely coming in as a squad player, but it still feels like a sensible signing for them.

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The Dutchman is a vastly experienced head, making over 300 appearances in Ligue 1 and the Eredivisie combined in his career – 139 in the former and 175 in the latter – as well as winning one cap for the Netherlands.

Tanswell’s description of Bizot as a “good character” certainly bodes well, in terms of him bringing a strong team ethic to the squad, and he can be an influential figure both on and off the pitch.

Big McGinn upgrade: Aston Villa make contact to sign £138k-p/w "engine"

Aston Villa are set to target a new midfielder this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Jul 9, 2025

Villa will no doubt look to secure more expensive signings between now and the end of the summer transfer window, but Robin Olsen’s departure required a new backup goalkeeper and Bizot feels like a good choice to replace him.

Chelsea find themselves in the hunt for a striker this summer and could now have landed a boost after one target has agreed to leave his current club.

Chelsea looking to sign a striker

Nicolas Jackson’s red card against Flamengo last week at the Club World Cup has raised conversations over whether the Blues should look for another striker despite Liam Delap arriving earlier in the window from Ipswich Town.

The Senegalese attacker was also sent off against Newcastle towards the end of the Premier League season, missing some crucial games during the run-in, but he did contribute with an effort in the Blues’ Europa Conference League final victory over Real Betis upon his return.

While Jackson continues to divide opinion, Chelsea have opened talks to sign Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain as his loan spell at Juventus draws towards a close.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike is also mentioned. Nevertheless, Liverpool have emerged as rivals for his signature amid their recent mission to get things done swiftly after claiming the Premier League title.

Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens is a key priority for Chelsea and Mohammed Kudus could move to Stamford Bridge from West Ham United, with the latter capable of stepping in through the middle when needed.

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By
Charlie Smith

Jun 13, 2025

Whether it be finding the creative foil behind the main man or securing another option to provide competition up top, Enzo Maresca is clearly in the hunt for goalscoring prowess at Stamford Bridge.

Now, he could possibly have landed a boost on that front after recent developments involving a star operating in Europe’s top-five leagues that is open to a move elsewhere.

Chelsea's long-standing Dusan Vlahovic interest could take a twist

According to Sky reporter Sacha Tavolieri, Chelsea are attentive to Dusan Vlahovic’s situation at Juventus and could now have an advantage in their hunt for a striker after it was revealed both he and the Old Lady have found agreement that he will be allowed to leave this summer.

Currently, he is on Club World Duty and won a penalty in the dying stages against Wydad Casablanca before stepping up to slot home his 16th goal of the season in 43 appearances across all competitions.

Five similar players to Dusan Vlahovic (FBRef)
Ermedin Demirovic	Stuttgart
Ollie Watkins	Aston Villa
Valentin Castellanos	Lazio
Artem Dovbyk	Roma
Patrick Cutrone	Como

Vlahovic earns roughly £369,000 per week at Juventus and appears primed for a move, given he has one year left on his contract. He has recently turned down two big proposals from Fenerbahce and Galatasaray.

It feels like the Belgrade-born man has been someone in line to move to the Premier League for a number of years. However, that dream could finally be realised if Chelsea firm up their interest in his services over the next few months, which they could now do ‘under certain conditions’, per the outlet.

One of Europe’s biggest clubs are reportedly open to the idea of selling a “world-class” player to Manchester United in the summer transfer window.

Amorim coy over Man Utd's summer business

The Red Devils endured a pitiful 2024/25 campaign by their standards, with the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham the last nail in the coffin.

Ruben Amorim will know the importance of nailing his first summer in charge of United, both in terms of signings and training ground work, but the Portuguese has spoken cautiously about the amount of transfer business that can be done.

“You know better than me that we have rules with FFP. We can’t change that in this year. We need to do something in the summer. We have a plan and we are doing that in a while. We also have a preseason to improve the players we have.”

It looks as though United are trying to be bold in the market, with Matheus Cunha already arriving from Wolves, and the likes of Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo and Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike also among the leading targets ahead of next season. Now, another player with a big reputation has been mentioned as an option.

Man Utd boosted in efforts to sign "world-class" ace

According to Give Me Sport, Juventus are “open” to selling Douglas Luiz to Manchester United this summer, with a “cut-price” deal mooted. A loan move away from the Serie A giants is also mentioned in the report, with the Brazilian midfielder not believed to be part of their future plans, in a possible boost for Amorim.

Added quality is needed in United’s midfield this summer, with Casemiro no longer the force of old and Christian Eriksen’s time at the club now officially over. Kobbie Mainoo is a great prospect, but he is still learning his trade, while the likes of Manuel Ugarte and Mason Mount are good players, but haven’t wholly convinced at Old Trafford to date.

In Luiz, United could have a great choice to strengthen their options in the middle of the park, having been hailed as “world-class” by former Aston Villa teammate John McGinn in the past.

The Brazilian has proven that he can shine in the Premier League, making 175 appearances in the competition and chipping in with 38 goal contributions (20 goals and 18 assists).

Luiz possesses box-to-box quality, offering defensive quality but also class going forward, and at 27, he is at a good age to come in and hit the ground running from minute one.

He's better than Cunha: Man Utd in talks to sign £40m Ekitike alternative

Manchester United appear to be making moves to land a star who could sign ahead of Viktor Gyokeres.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 13, 2025

A permanent deal would be better than a loan move, although the benefit of the latter is that he could be moved on easily next summer if the move simply didn’t work out.

Bournemouth have announced Dean Huijsen will join Real Madrid at the end of the season after the Spanish giants activated the sought-after centre-back’s £50m release clause. Liverpool, as well as other Premier League behemoths, have been beaten.

That’s the end of that one, then. Los Blancos really are the scourge of Liverpool’s side. At another point of the backline, Trent Alexander-Arnold has confirmed that he will leave his boyhood club at the end of the season, with the Santiago Bernabeu the all-but-confirmed destination for the ball-playing superstar.

Arne Slot has done an incredible thing this year, dominantly winning the league title after Jurgen Klopp stepped down last summer, especially since Federico Chiesa has been the only first-team addition, and he hasn’t even started in the top flight.

Liverpool may face more bother from Madrid in several other transfer sagas, but more on that later. For now, let’s familiarise ourselves with the vice-captain’s slated replacement, Jeremie Frimpong.

The latest on Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool

Just as Alexander-Arnold will join Xabi Alonso and Huijsen in a new Real Madrid project, so too will Bayer Leverkusen’s Frimpong make the move to Merseyside this summer.

As per Fabrizio Romano, sporting director Richard Hughes is simply putting the finishing touches on the transfer before an official announcement is made. Such issues pertain to the pay structure of the €35m (£30m) release clause.

For it to collapse now would be a shock. Some fans might reserve judgement on the fleet-footed right-sider, whose speed and attacking quality cannot be questioned but whose defensive security is more contested, but Frimpong, 24, is a shrewd and exciting signing for the club.

Under Alonso’s wing at Leverkusen, the Netherlands international has hit 59 direct contributions from 131 appearances, so it’s no surprise the wing-back has been called a “monster in the final third” by United Stand presenter Beth Tucker.

He’s exactly what Slot needs at right-back, a contrasting profile to Conor Bradley, who will add depth and dynamism to Liverpool’s ranks. Now, FSG are ready to turn to their next top target.

Liverpool turn to new top target

Liverpool want a striker and have also registered their interest in playmaker Florian Wirtz, but according to Caught Offside, FSG have made Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez their top target now that Frimpong is on the cusp of signing.

It adds that the Reds have already held talks with the Cherries over a possible move for the Hungary international, who has been transfer-listed for a price of £45m, with the south coast side making it clear he can leave.

Arsenal, Chelsea and, of course, Real Madrid, have all been named as suitors, but Liverpool have put in the groundwork and made it clear that the 21-year-old is their first-choice pick to strengthen the left flank of Slot’s backline.

What Milos Kerkez would bring to Liverpool

Liverpool might not be signing Huijsen, but they will hope that their persistent efforts over the past several months will hold sway in closing a deal for Kerkez.

Signing the powerful and mobile defender would mean that one of Robertson or Kostas Tsimikas would need to leave, more likely the latter, but maybe it’s the right time for change.

After all, Kerkez has been described as a “machine” of a player by Sky Sports’ Izzy Christensen, who continued to say the “frightening thing is he’s not even reached his peak yet.”

As per Sofascore, Kerkez has scored two goals and laid on five assists for his teammates in the Premier League this season, starting all 36 of the Cherries’ fixtures.

Moreover, he’s kept it crisp with an 80% pass success rate, winning 60% of his ground duels and averaging 2.6 tackles and interceptions per game.

With such an athletic and energetic style, willing to drive forward into dangerous positions and provide creative support to the forwards, Kerkez could be the perfect upgrade on the 31-year-old Robertson, joining Frimpong in an elite new wide duo that could prove the perfect way to continue the Scotland captain and Trent’s legacy.

In 2022, former West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic described the pair as “the best full-backs in modern football,” with their overlapping quality, their playmaking and completeness, supercharging Klopp’s high-octane system.

Transfer Focus

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

It’s hard to imagine there will ever be another pair of full-backs quite like them, with Liverpool’s midfield long characterised by a selfless industriousness that promotes creative success from out wide.

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With Frimpong’s pace and potency combining with the tireless work rate of Kerkez, there’s no telling how fluid and interchangeable Liverpool’s approach could become next year as they look to defend their Premier League title.

While it would be foolish to expect them to reach the same extraordinary creative heights as their predecessors, the rising stars are talented attacking talents unto themselves, and like Robertson and Alexander-Arnold, they bring different tactical takes to the table.

Kerkez, for example, could channel the spirit of Alexander-Arnold through his distribution, ranking among the top 12% of Premier League full-backs for successful crosses into the penalty area per 90 this term, as per FBref, whereas Frimpong’s desire to burst into the final third himself can be observed through

With Mohamed Salah holding off and playing him through a chink in an opponent’s armour, this could be a masterful combination for Slot to work on this summer.

Liverpool aren’t resting on their laurels this summer. Slot is determined to make sufficient reinforcements after clinching the Premier League title in his first season in charge.

And rightly so. Arsenal, Manchester City and the rest are all going to be desperate to recolour the ribbons next term, but with signings like Frimpong and Kerkez and forward-focused additions still yet to come, there’s plenty to be excited about for those of an Anfield persuasion.

He plays a lot like Wirtz: Liverpool plot huge move to sign £85m "magician"

Liverpool are ready to throw the kitchen sink at a marquee attacking signing this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 17, 2025

Everton are entering a new dawn due to their stadium move and could be about to kickstart that with a bang if they can fend off competition to sign one of Europe’s most renowned defenders, per a report.

Everton begin to feel excitement of heading into new era

The Toffees are enjoying a peaceful end to the campaign under David Moyes and have been allowed time to wave Goodison Park a proper goodbye before taking up residence at their new home next season.

With the Friedkin Group set to make a healthy budget available to spend on reinforcements, there is every chance Everton could cause a surprise or two in the transfer market.

First and foremost, Moyes has a host of players set to leave the club via either contract expiry or the conclusion of their loan deals that he will need to solve before seeking new additions. Jesper Lindstrom, Jack Harrison and Orel Mangala could head back to their parent clubs, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Michael Keane and captain Seamus Coleman are among those that may leave on free transfers.

Abdoulaye Doucoure is also in that camp and could be replaced by Tomas Soucek at Everton due to Moyes’ relationship with the Czechi international from their time together at West Ham United.

Everton pushing to sign £12m ace who has told agent to get the deal done

Everton have turned their attentions to an attacking target who is keen on the move to the Premier League.

ByBrett Worthington Apr 24, 2025

Istanbul Basaksehir defender Jerome Opoku is another on the Toffees’ wishlist, proving that adding to their backline appears to be a central priority when considering where to strengthen. Now, Everton have positioned themselves to beat Premier League competition to sign a talented defender from one of Europe’s top-flight leagues.

Everton find out when they can open talks to sign Yann Bisseck

According to TEAMtalk, Everton are one of a number of clubs monitoring Inter Milan’s Yann Bisseck and the Serie A giants may be open to selling the Germany international for a fee between £30-34 million. Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Bournemouth are also in the mix for his signature, with the quartet implied to have gathered ‘fresh details’ on his situation in the Italian capital.

Yann Bisseck’s key statistics in 2024/25 – Serie A

Appearances

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2

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71.4%

Recoveries

50

Duels won

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The outlet claim Inter will take a lenient stance towards a potential Bisseck departure under conditions; one of which being that it occurs after the Club World Cup. Timescale-wise, the newly-founded competition takes place between June 14th to July 13th, after which Inter will be open to talks.

Cited as a potential replacement for soon-to-be free agent Michael Keane, the 24-year-old has been commended for his “incredibly strong” nature by Simone Inzaghi. Wrestling the services of a defender who could end the season as a Champions League winner away from his current surroundings may be a tough endeavour for Everton. Nevertheless, their new era under the Friedkin Group is set to take an exciting course and there is no better time to ask the question.

With a squad full of inexperience, they will need to be at their best to compete in a group that includes India and Pakistan

Abhijato Sensarma06-Sep-2025How did they make it?Oman’s qualification pathway for the Asia Cup began at the ACC Men’s Premier Cup, played in April last year.They topped their group table with four wins out of four, finishing ahead of UAE, before defeating Hong Kong by five wickets in the semi-finals. UAE got their revenge on Oman in the final, but both teams had by then secured their place at the Asia Cup along with Hong Kong, who won the third-place playoff.This will be Oman’s first appearance at this tournament.Recent resultsOman have travelled all around the world since their appearance in the T20 World Cup last year, where they showed glimpses of promise but ended up winless.Related

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Their form since then has been compromised by their first-choice players being engaged in a pay dispute with their national board, which had not paid them their share of the World Cup prize money.Oman hosted Netherlands for a T20I series in November last year, and lost 2-1. They then played in the Gulf T20I championship in December 2024, finishing with wins over Bahrain and Qatar but not qualifying for the final. Most recently, they hosted USA for a T20I series in February and lost 3-0.Key playersThe pay dispute is resolved now, but the Asia Cup squad wears a completely different look to the one Oman took to last year’s World Cup, despite the return of some of the veterans. As many as four members of the Asia Cup squad are uncapped.Against this backdrop, a lot of the team’s run-scoring burden could fall upon experienced opener and captain Jatinder Singh, who has 125 international caps and 3103 runs across formats. How he starts at the top of the order might determine where Oman finish in the tournament.Among their bowlers, Shakeel Ahmed is bound to play an important role. The left-arm spinner only made his T20I debut in September 2023, but has played 34 matches since then. Control is his biggest asset, which his economy rate of 6.67 reflects.The 20-year-old Aryan Bisht is an exciting package, a middle-order batter who bowls handy offspin. He has only played two ODIs and is yet to make his T20I debut, but he has shown signs of his potential at junior level, finishing as the second-highest run-getter in the Under-19 World Cup Qualifier Asia Division Two in 2022 while also picking up seven wickets in five games.Who do they play?Oman have been placed in Group A. They start their campaign on September 12, when they take on Pakistan in Dubai. They then move to Abu Dhabi for their remaining two matches: against familiar foes UAE on September 15, and India on September 19.Oman squadJatinder Singh (capt), Hammad Mirza, Vinayak Shukla, Sufyan Yousuf, Ashish Odedara, Aamir Kaleem, Mohammed Nadeem, Sufyan Mehmood, Aryan Bisht, Karan Sonavale, Zikriya Islam, Hassnain Shah, Faisal Shah, Muhammed Imran, Nadeem Khan, Shakeel Ahmed, Samay Shrivastava.

Despite his immense body of fabulous work, could one say he tends to take out a tenancy agreement with big moments instead of owning them? That might be unfair, but demands on the great often are

Osman Samiuddin22-Oct-20232:06

What’s gone wrong for Babar Azam?

The ball wasn’t as short as you might remember it. It wasn’t as much a half-tracker gimme. It was fuller – a good length actually – and very straight, with some zip off the surface. Also, it was Adam Zampa; so a little respect to the deliverer’s intent and skill please.But still. Here was a moment, a capital M moment in the game that was set up for Babar Azam. Pakistan were 175 for 2, 193 to get from just under 24 overs, on a small ground, a true surface, a lightning outfield and an attack with limited spin options. There’s no cakewalking to a chase of 369 in a World Cup game against Australia ever, but it’s fair to say that last Friday at the Chinnaswamy, with this line-up, was probably Pakistan’s best opportunity for it.Babar was on 18 and this was the third ball he had faced since he hit that ludicrous checked punch through mid-on for four. That was the kind of shot that instantly slices your brain in half, one part wondering about the small stuff like are Australia missing a fielder or two here, and the other big, beautiful things like, is this Babar’s day?Then he cleared his front leg to that Zampa ball, got slightly cramped and pull-whipped to Pat Cummins at midwicket. He could’ve – maybe should’ve – gone over him. He could’ve gone further either side of him. The shot was neither one thing or the other, betwixt and between attacking and milking. More than anything it was a massive anti-climax.Related

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For the second game in a row.Six days earlier, he was on 50 against India in Ahmedabad and Pakistan, 155 for 2, were bubbling. He wasn’t dominating but was set, having taken 24 runs off the previous 15 balls with Mohammad Rizwan. Then he was bowled attempting that dab to deep third, the release shot that he plays unusually late and fine.Those two dismissals are primarily part of an underwhelming run of scores at the World Cup from a batter who is, by official ranking at the time of writing, the world’s best in ODIs. In order, that is 5, 10, 50 and 18, the frustration amplified by the manner of dismissal in each case: out pulling spin to midwicket twice, a leg-side strangle and a failed dab. These are not, I promise, Fortnite moves.Shots like the perfect cover drive make you wonder: Is this Babar Azam’s day?•AFP/Getty ImagesThere’s no real pattern to it other than the obvious pattern that shows he’s getting out for not too much. He’s been dismissed by an offspinner, a left-arm fast bowler, a right-arm fast bowler and a legspinner. He hasn’t visibly struggled in any of the innings (other than perhaps the first against Netherlands).There’s probably something in a recent and prolonged downturn against spin. He averages 46.53 against it since the start of 2022 (and 39 in 2023) with a low strike rate of 70. Until 2022, he was averaging 74.53 and striking at nearly 82 against it. He has fallen to spin 39 times in the last two years; he fell to it 47 times in the six-plus years before that since his debut. Until this year he’d been stumped once in his entire ODI career. In 2023, he’s been stumped four times and it’s worth registering that only once has he been out charging at the spinner.The trend is significant but, in the bigger picture of the batter he is, still a little low-grade.Instead, this being a World Cup by which the big names are (unfairly) judged, there’s this nagging half-sense of a half-formed, circumstantial theory that might not even bear proper analytical scrutiny and is one that requires a pre-emptory spelling out of what it is not. This is not #ZimBabar. Few batters can have produced the body of work that he has, across formats, against quality attacks, against difficult conditions and perilous situations. That kind of work can’t be hurt by a hashtag.But think back to some of the game’s greatest modern batters and how part of their reputations were built on owning precisely these occasions and moments within them, the kind of situations Babar found himself in here. Arriving at a solid foundation, ripping it up as wholly unambitious and building a skyscraper out of it; skipping into a skyscraper of a chase like it’s a couple of steps up to the front porch; surveying a wreck and creating a masterpiece.Think back to early peak Tendulkar, to early peak Kohli, to Ponting, to Lara and remember how they could tear into these moments, impose some big alpha energy. The response would be to attack and pause only to attack harder. The memory no doubt exaggerates these traits more than reality and data recorded it, but it is exaggeration, not mistruth.From the dismissals to Zampa and Mohammed Siraj in Ahmedabad, by contrast, you could draw out a broader equivocation in Babar’s game, a hedging against the more attacking, risk-taking, domineering approach that his game has the tools for and has exhibited, with the low-risk, high-functioning accumulator that he already is. It kind of bleeds through in those stumpings: not fully committing to the charge and yet getting stumped anyway. Especially when he’s come off the back of a couple of failures, to an in-match crisis, to a total to build on, it feels as if Babar’s default option invariably is the conservative one. Come to a moment and sign a tenancy agreement with it instead of owning it.There’s no real pattern to Babar Azam’s dismissals other than the obvious pattern that shows he’s getting out for not too much•ICC/Getty ImagesIt’s all a very arguable and feelsy way of looking at what is a slight dip in productivity, especially in this matrix world where behind the screens increasingly complex and nuanced coding is running everything. Babar still averages 47 in Tests, 43 in T20s and 56 in ODIs, so what guff is this about not owning moments?Plus sizing up risks is exactly what has made him so successful and given he is captain now – and a Pakistan captain at that – building in more risk-aversion is a pre-requisite. Not every great batter has an outsized personality to impose on an occasion, as Kane Williamson might argue (or his fans will, given that Kane Williamson will never knowingly praise Kane Williamson).Yet, put together this World Cup so far with the last two T20 World Cups and there’s one Babar innings of note across the two, the 68 not out in the 152-0. The other abiding memory is of another hedged innings, in the 2021 semi-final against Australia (and another Zampa dismissal).If all of this sounds unfair, then yes, it totally is. That is the price of being as good as Babar is, as great as he can be and of greatness generally. It’s relentless.Scored a hundred yesterday? Why haven’t you scored one today?Won a title last year? Been a year since you won one then.Oh, you won? Great. Shame you didn’t do it in enough style.Scored a great, coming-of-age hundred, on a hellish pitch, against a hellish attack, to keep an improbable (and ultimately doomed) semi-final run alive? Totally owned that moment, did you?Sure. Four years ago. About time for another.

After another forgettable year for Melburnians, 12 pulsating overs by the Australia quicks was something to savour

Alex Malcolm27-Dec-2021Test batting doesn’t get any harder. Test cricket doesn’t get any more compelling.In one glorious hour, in one of world cricket’s great amphitheatres, on a day of Test cricket threatened by Covid-19, in the world’s most locked-down city, the MCG, which has been silent for almost two years, found its voice again as Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Scott Boland delivered a brutal, pulsating spell of fast bowling, the equal of any, to put England on their knees again.Related

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A crowd of 42,626 sounded like double that number as Starc went within millimetres of a Test hat-trick and England slumped to 7 for 2. That soon became 22 for 4 when local hero Boland got in on the act, striking twice in his first over, the second last of the day. England finished 31 for 4, 51 runs behind with just six wickets in hand in their second innings trying to avoid a 3-0 series defeat inside 12 days of cricket.England will lament their batting woes, but Australia’s attack is ruthless and irrepressible. The sheer quality of the fast bowling on display was something to behold, and the cacophony that accompanied it made it appear gladiatorial. Except this wasn’t a fair fight, it was lambs to the slaughter.Cummins nearly took Haseeb Hameed’s head off with his first ball, Hameed fending it in hope just over David Warner in the slips.Cummins made mincemeat of Zak Crawley. Every ball was a step in a slow torturous march towards an inevitable conclusion. A legcutter nipped past the groping edge. An offcutter thundered into the thigh pad. Another one cut him in half. He survived one nick, as Alex Carey opted not to dive in front of first slip for the second time in two Tests and it clean bowled Warner on the half-volley for four desperately needed runs.At the other end, Starc’s searing pace whistled past Hameed’s low hands time and again. England’s two youngest batters were rabbits in the headlights, all hands and no feet, hopelessly trying to survive as every ball seemed to have one of their names on it.Pat Cummins bowled beautifully, but hasn’t picked up a wicket yet•Getty ImagesThe crowd sensed the moment. Starc gave them what they came for. A perfectly pitched delivery that threatened to shape in and held the line scratched Crawley’s outside edge and handed Carey a simple catch. Dawid Malan entered the cauldron and departed one ball later. Another 140kph missile darted in off the seam and thundered into the pads. Umpire Paul Wilson went up with the 40,000-strong appeal. Malan reviewed in hope, ball-tracking sided with the umpire to have it clipping the top of the leg stump.England’s talisman, Joe Root, walked out with the weight of a nation on his shoulders again. Starc’s hat-trick ball was as good as anything he’s faced in this series, full and threatening to shape back into off and zipping away at the last moment to beat the edge by a hair’s breadth.The threats kept coming. Hameed was hit twice on the pad by Cummins, but the steep bounce in the MCG track saved him on both occasions. Starc continued to torment Root. He edged one between third slip and gully. He edged another short of Carey, who dived full length to his right this time.Respite finally appeared to have come in the 11th over when Boland replaced Starc. No chance. The Victorian sent the home fans into raptures as Hameed nicked a peach to Carey to end a tortured 31-ball 7. Jack Leach was sent out as nightwatchman but he nearly played on first ball from Boland and then allowed the second to hit the top of off stump.The frenzied Melburnians were restless and vociferous, hungry for another victim, as Ben Stokes took an eternity to emerge from the bowels of the MCG to face the final ball of the over. Boland received a standing ovation from Bay 13, much like those reserved for Merv Hughes in his heyday, as the Australians sprinted around to allow Cummins six more balls.Mitchell Starc was on a hat-trick after removing Dawid Malan, and missed the mark by a whisker•Getty ImagesRoot was beaten again and then forced to wait, as the opposing skipper sensed the mood, pausing for an age before the final ball to let the crowd noise crescendo as they thumped their hands on anything within reach.But Root kept it out. According to ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data, England were in control of just 44 of the 72 balls bowled in the final hour. At the ground, it felt like it was just two: Root’s final straight drive for three only bettered by a stunning off-drive off Cummins to get off the mark.”That was absolutely bouncing,” Marcus Harris said after play. “For 40,000 it felt like there was 100,000. When Starcy was on a hat-trick, it was unbelievable. And then when Scotty Boland ran down to Bay 13 at the end then after those two wickets in the over, that was brilliant. That was a great atmosphere. That is something you dream of as a kid to be a part of.”James Anderson was left in awe of what the Australian quicks had produced. “I thought the spell from Starc and Cummins was outstanding,” Anderson said. “But that’s what you expect. They’re world-class bowlers. They’ve done it in Test cricket for many, many years. So it shouldn’t take anyone by surprise that they bowl like that. And it’s just disappointing to lose four wickets in that period.”It was another forgettable hour on another forgettable tour for England. But after another forgettable year for Melburnians, one pulsating hour of cricket was something to savour.