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Real Madrid have intensified their pursuit of Dean Huijsen this summer, with a move for Arsenal's William Saliba likely to be ruled out.

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Madrid back in race for HuijsenJoin Chelsea, Liverpool & Bayern for centre-back's signingSaliba considered too expensive by Los BlancosFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to a report from , Madrid have stepped up their efforts in pursuit of Bournemouth sensation Huijsen, who is also being pursued by Premier League giants Chelsea and Liverpool. The report further adds that the reigning Spanish champions could consider cooling their interest in Arsenal centre-back Saliba, with his €100 million (£85m/$113m) price tag deemed to expensive for a transfer this summer.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

In recent meetings, the higher-ups at Madrid reached the conclusion that they need a new centre-back for the upcoming Club World Cup and beyond. The name that has been talked about the most was that of Huijsen. Recently, it was reported that Los Blancos sent scouts to watch the Spain international during Bournemouth's clash against Arsenal. Internally, the club believe that the level of performance shown by the 20-year-old – in a competition as demanding as the Premier League – cannot be overlooked. His release clause of £50m ($66m) is considered affordable in comparison to the fee Arsenal are demanding for Saliba.

DID YOU KNOW?

Apparently, Madrid's aim is to not sign Saliba this summer. Instead, they are willing to play the long game and wait for the Frenchman's contract to run down, with two years left to run on it. The plan is to make an approach next summer for a significantly lower fee, or swoop him up for free in 2027. In response to Madrid's tactics, Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has reportedly intensified his efforts to tie the French centre-back down to a new deal.

WHAT NEXT FOR DEAN HUIJSEN?

Huijsen is reportedly the subject of serious interest from fellow Premier League clubs Chelsea and Liverpool, as well as Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich. What's more, the Blues and the Reds perhaps hold the edge over Madrid, given their willingness to offer a bigger package to the former Roma and Juventus star. However, Huijsen has often expressed how grateful he feels to be linked with Madrid.

da dobrowin： Newcastle United are on the hunt for what seems to be their primary target this summer, a new right winger.

da 888casino： The Magpies have a huge season ahead of them, with Champions League football returning to St James’ Park, and are looking for extra depth on the right to go along with Jacob Murphy.

After being rejected by Bryan Mbeumo, the Magpies seemingly switched their attention to Anthony Elanga.

According to David Ornstein, they placed a bid of around £45m, but that was rejected by Nottingham Forest, the Sweden international’s current club.

Whilst there is still a chance they could return with a bid for Elanga, there have been reports about their new targets out wide.

Newcastle's new right-wing targets

It is definitely a blow for the North East giants to perhaps lose out on the signing of Elanga. He was a player they have seemingly targeted for a while, having made a move for him last summer. However, they certainly have other options.

Transfer Focus

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It seems as though Newcastle could move for a new target after they failed to sign Elanga. Keith Downie of Sky Sports reported a few days ago that they are ‘exploring’ a move for other players, including Borussia Dortmund winger Karim Adeyemi.

If Eddie Howe’s side decide to try and sign the Germany international, he could cost £43m, according to SportBILD a few weeks ago.

The same report also suggests that Juventus, Liverpool and Chelsea are also interested in the winger, although it is not clear if they will challenge the Magpies in their move or Howe gets a clear run at his latest winger target.

How Adeyemi compares to Anthony Elanga

At 23 years of age, Adeyemi has already played a great deal of football at the highest level and has made a great impression. He notably impressed last season for Dortmund despite struggling with an injury, and is now playing in the Club World Cup in the United States.

In 2024/25 so far, including the ongoing competition happening Stateside, he has played 38 times, scoring an impressive 12 goals and grabbing a further nine assists. Given that he has featured for just 2,261 minutes, the equivalent of 25.1 full 90-minute games, contributing to 21 goals in that time is a great effort.

The Magpies will certainly know a bit about the damage Adeyemi can cause. Having played against him twice before in the Champions League, he grabbed an assist against them at Signal Iduna Park. Adeyemi’s quick feet and excellent long pass enabled Julian Brandt to counter-attack Newcastle, which he ended up scoring.

Sweden international Elanga had a fantastic campaign in the Premier League last season too. He played all 38 of Forest’s games, scoring six goals and grabbing 11 assists, including a sublime effort against former side Manchester United.

Those numbers are fairly similar to the ones Adeyemi put up in the Bundesliga; he contributed 13 goals and assists in the German top flight, but played just 25 games.

Described as a “counter-attacking weapon” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig and as “unstoppable” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, you can certainly see how that is similar to Elanga by watching how quick he is in the above goal. Adeyemi is not exactly slow, and, as per Speeds Database, has a top speed of 36.30 km/h.

Statistically, via FBref, Adeyemi has numbers which far exceed Elanga. For example, the German international averaged 0.82 goal involvements and 0.69 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes, compared to the Forest star’s 0.61 goals and assists and 0.65 goal-creating actions each game.

Adeyemi vs. Elanga key stats compared

Stat (per 90)

Adeyemi

Elanga

Goals and assists

0.82

0.61

Goals per shot on target

0.39

0.25

Progressive carries

4.28

3.67

Take-ons completed

2.52

0.90

Goal-creating actions

0.69

0.65

Tackles and interceptions

1.7

0.90

Stats from FBref

If this is the type of profile Newcastle want to sign this summer, and they miss out on Elanga, they might end up with the better option in Adeyemi. The Dortmund attacker is quick, dangerous in transition and able to score and assist at a consistent level, more so than Elanga.

For £43m, a fee they’re clearly willing to spend, this seems like a fantastic addition to the Magpies’ squad, and could be a better option than the Forest star.

Related Advanced talks: Newcastle accelerating move to sign "incredible" £30m ace

The Magpies are closing in on their man…

Posts ByTom Cunningham Jun 25, 2025

Eddie Howe says Alexander Isak's future at Newcastle United isn't "irretrievable" but admits the club are looking at replacements.

Isak wants to leave Newcastle for LiverpoolHowe doesn't rule out striker stayBut admits they're looking at replacementsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Newcastle were rocked by the news that star striker Isak expressed his desire to leave the club and join Premier League champions Liverpool instead. Despite the 25-year-old refusing to play for the Magpies again, manager Howe has suggested there is a way back for the Swede. However, after Callum Wilson's summer exit and the ongoing Isak situation, the former Bournemouth boss says the Toon "need a bit more" in attack.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT HOWE SAID

He told : "The word ‘irretrievable’ isn’t really in my dictionary. Communication is going to be the key and at some stage we might be able to change things. At the moment we are in a position where that’s not possible, but I like to think that we will be able to reassess as we go. That he will always recognise that this is a very special team and a very special club. It’s been a tough period because a lot of the media attention has been negative, which is difficult on the players. The narrative spreads. We are trying to challenge that and to say to the squad, ‘We are OK.’ Yes, we are currently minus one massive player, but we don’t yet know how that situation will change. Everyone here is fully committed and that is great."

On new signings, he added: "We have a bit of time. The issue we have is that we didn’t just lose Alex [Isak] but also Callum Wilson from last season so we are definitely looking to buy. We have a really good recruitment team, but as you know we are missing a few key appointments [the absence of a chief executive and director of football] so it’s been a challenge. Our recruitment at the club has so far been really strong. But we need a bit more."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Despite Howe appearing to offer Isak an olive branch, the former Real Sociedad man has reportedly gone on strike in a bid to sign for Liverpool. Many Newcastle fans are appalled at his actions, as is Arsenal legend Ian Wright, but whether or not his agitation tactics secure that Anfield switch is up in the air. Incidentally, Newcastle are targeting Brentford's Yoane Wissa but also want another forward for the new season.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

It remains to be seen if Isak, who still has three years left on his contract at St James' Park, will stay at Newcastle when the transfer window closes in just over two weeks or if Liverpool will submit a huge offer to prise him away from the north east outfit.

Second-wicket stand of 253 sets platform but late wickets lift England amid searing heat

Alan Gardner07-Oct-2024Shan Masood’s first hundred as Pakistan Test captain set the tone for a vastly improved display from the hosts at the start of their series with England. Abdullah Shafique slipstreamed Masood to end a run of poor form with his fifth Test century as England’s inexperienced attack was made to toil on a day of high temperatures and hard yakka in Multan.Things could have been worse for the touring side, who were staring down the barrel after Masood and Shafique assembled a near-chanceless double-century stand to see Pakistan to 261 for 1 during the evening session. But after Gus Atkinson conjured a breakthrough and Jack Leach saw off Masood for a sparkling 151, the late wicket of Babar Azam meant England could reflect on their efforts with some satisfaction.There was no doubt about this being Pakistan’s day, however. Without a win in home Tests since 2021 and on a run of five consecutive defeats – including a 2-0 humbling against Bangladesh – since Masood took on the captaincy late last year, they were buoyed by a mammoth top-order partnership. In placid conditions, it quickly became clear that an England attack led by a 35-year-old Chris Woakes, and featuring the debutant Brydon Carse among three bowlers who had never played a game in Pakistan before, was facing a steep learning curve.The bulk of the contest was taken up by Pakistan’s second-wicket stand, eventually worth 253. England had arrived in the country amid talk of spicy pitches and a fragile home batting line-up, but Masood’s assertive innings – the second-fastest Test hundred by a Pakistan captain – and a more dogged effort from Shafique shut the door after England had bagged Saim Ayub cheaply in the fourth over.That was to be their only success for two-and-a-bit sessions as Ollie Pope, again standing in for the injured Ben Stokes, shuffled through six bowlers as the temperature hovered in the high 30s C. On 16, Masood successfully overturned an lbw decision granted to Carse, who touched 90mph in his first spell in Test cricket before flagging in the heat; a cut off the same bowler landed fractionally short of Pope at point when he had made 133. In between, there was not much other than crisp strokeplay.Masood’s first boundary came via an edge off Carse but he quickly kicked up the gears when Shoaib Bashir came on to bowl, as Pakistan seemingly looked to put pressure on England’s designated No. 1 spinner. After being hit on the pad by one that didn’t turn, Masood responded by thumping four of Bashir’s next eight balls to the rope, the pick a skip down the track and launch through cover as he sped towards a 43-ball half-century during the morning session.After lunch, Pope tested him with the short-ball ploy, Masood perhaps a little fortunate when top-edging Atkinson all the way over fine leg for six. But a more authentic loft down the ground off Leach took Masood into the 90s, before he drilled the returning Woakes through cover point and then tickled his 102nd ball for a single to bring up a first Test century in four years and 27 innings, going back to Pakistan’s 2020 tour of England.Shafique, searching for form after six single-figure scores in seven Test innings, overcame a watchful start when he was troubled on both edges by Woakes. The closest England came to breaking the stand came during the morning session when Pope missed the stumps at the non-striker’s end after Shafique chanced a non-existent run to mid-on.England take a drink on a hot day in Multan•Getty ImagesFollowing Masood’s lead, Shafique pounced on Bashir with lunch approaching, doubling his number of boundaries with a volley of 4-4-6 – the last of which brought up his fifty, from 77 balls. He was the less fluent of the pair but, nevertheless, they were both largely untroubled as the stand pushed on past 200 deep into the afternoon, Pope taking his DRS record as captain to 11-0 when unsuccessfully reviewing for a catch at slip off Masood.After some tough moments leading the side in Stokes’ absence during England’s 2-1 win over Sri Lanka last month, Pope again found his captaincy skills stretched to their limit. He could take some credit for conjuring a mini-oasis in the middle of a Multan desert, as two wickets fell in the space of 17 balls after tea – though the heat also played its part, with both batters suffering visibly from cramp.Shafique, on 94 at the interval, had gone to his hundred soon after with another straight six but could only add a couple of runs to his score. Carse again missed out on a maiden Test wicket when a gloved pull just cleared leg slip, before England switched tactics, employing a ring field with Atkinson bowling dry in the channel: it only took four balls for Shafique to pop up a tired drive to cover.With Leach bringing a semblance of control from the other end, he was rewarded during a spell of three consecutive maidens with the wicket of Masood, who misjudged the flight to skew a return catch to the bowler – giving Leach his first Test wicket since the tour of India in January.Saud Shakeel swept and reverse-swept three boundaries in one Leach over as he and Babar put on a measured stand of 61. But England were given another lift with the shadows beginning to lengthen as Woakes – playing his first overseas Test since March 2022 – beat Babar’s inside edge with the second new ball to win an lbw decision that was upheld on review. It extended Babar’s run without a Test fifty that goes back to December 2022 and could prove a vital fillip for Woakes as he seeks to repay England’s faith in him despite an average north of 50 away from home.England’s initial success in removing Ayub might have raised expectations but Masood’s decision to bat (Pope said he would have done the same) was soon backed up, despite an initial tinge of green to the surface. There was little movement on offer for England’s opening pair of Woakes and Atkinson, and it was something of a surprise when Ayub gloved an innocuous-looking short ball to the keeper.The dismissal extended Shafique and Ayub’s miserable run as an opening pair, failing to reach double-figures for the seventh time in a row. Atkinson, having enjoyed a stunning debut during England’s home summer, had a wicket with his 10th ball on tour. Both he and his team-mates had to wait 56 overs before they had a second.

From local tournaments to the IPL, Arya has climbed steadily. His focus now is on making his Ranji debut

Daya Sagar22-Aug-2025Priyansh Arya, IPL 2025’s breakout star, has had a busy few months. There’s been no time to dwell on the “what ifs.”A day after losing the IPL final to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Ahmedabad, he was back in action in a local tournament in Delhi. Just two weeks later, he scored a century in the final, leading his team to the title at the DDCA Hot Weather Tournament.Now, at the Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2025, Arya has already notched up a century, tallying 267 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 171.It was at this very tournament last year that his life changed in ways he couldn’t have imagined. His six sixes in an over and a chart-topping season caught the attention of multiple IPL franchises, leading to a INR 3.8 crore deal with Punjab Kings (PBKS).Related

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“Money beyond imagination for the son of two government school teachers,” he told ESPNcricinfo recently.Arya had a stunning debut IPL season – his 475 runs, the most by an uncapped batter in a debut season (surpassing Devdutt Padikkal’s 473 in 2020), came at a blistering strike rate of 179.24. His 43-ball 102 against Chennai Super Kings was the third-fastest century by an Indian in IPL history.But even as his white-ball stock continues to rise, Arya’s eyes are on the red ball. His next big goal? A Ranji Trophy debut.”I wanted to play red-ball cricket, but my debut couldn’t happen then,” he says. “I hope it will happen this year. I really want to play Ranji – I’ve said this before. I’m excited for the upcoming domestic season and I’m working on a few things… which I can’t tell you right now (laughs).”Upon his return to the DPL a year after setting the inaugural edition alight, Arya has gone from rookie to poster boy of the league. At DPL and team events, amid many big names, it’s Arya who often draws the most attention. But he remains modest about the spotlight.”See, changes have come,” he admits. “Now, wherever I go, people recognise me and want to click pictures. It feels good. But I’m not someone who roams around a lot – I like to stay by myself.”After playing in the IPL, I haven’t changed my technique, playing style, or mindset. But yes, I expect a lot more from myself now. For example, my DPL performance hasn’t been as good as I wanted it to be.

“I wanted to play red-ball cricket, but my debut couldn’t happen then. I hope it will happen this year”Arya eyes Ranji Trophy debut

“Still, I never let that overpower me. I always stay positive and keep faith in myself. I try not to let negative thoughts enter my mind – I just keep trying to improve. Like, I’ve gotten out early in a few matches. I feel I need to take more time at the crease.”This self-awareness and introspection stem from having worked alongside top professionals, including PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting. When Arya was signed, his spot in the XI wasn’t guaranteed. But standout performances in practice games and the pre-season camp forced the team’s hand. He ended the season playing every single match.”I understand my game very well,” he says. “When PBKS held their camp, Ponting sir clearly told me the practice matches had to be taken seriously, there were many talented players around.”In the beginning, the management found it tough to decide who to pick. But I scored runs in those matches and almost sealed my place. Even then, I wasn’t directly told I would definitely play – but you get hints.”On debut against Gujarat Titans, Arya smashed 47 off 23 balls against international stars like Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, and Rashid Khan – proof that his DPL success was no fluke. In his fourth match, he brought up his maiden IPL century, hitting three consecutive sixes off Matheesha Pathirana. He didn’t spare R Ashwin either.Priyansh Arya attributed PBKS coach Ricky Ponting to his game awareness•Punjab Kings”In the IPL, I never found it difficult to face any bowler,” he says matter-of-factly. “I felt I could play all of them. The same bowlers who play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy also play in the IPL.”Most are domestic players. A few international bowlers are there too, but even in Mushtaq Ali, India’s international bowlers play. So, I didn’t feel much difference. Anyway, cricket is the same everywhere.”Arya lights up when asked about his most memorable IPL moment. It wasn’t one of his many sixes, it was a six off Jasprit Bumrah.”Over fine leg,” he chuckles. “It was an important match for us to make the top two. MI had given us a target of 185. When I was going out to bat in the second innings, Shreyas (Iyer) came up to me and said, ‘If you want to be known as a big-match player, score in this match and show it.'”Arya made 62 off 35 to turbocharge PBKS’ chase and take them into the Qualifier 1. Though he seems to have moved on from PBKS’ loss the final, he still wonders if he could’ve done more.”We had reached the final after 11 years, and this was my very first IPL,” he says. “I could’ve contributed a little more to the team, but I couldn’t. That regret will stay until we win the final next time.”Arya understands that the fame and attention he enjoys today come on the back of his IPL success. He’s well aware of how, not too long ago, he was a struggling middle-order batter in Under-19s, unable to break into the Under-23 side because of stiff competition.So he pivoted to opening – just to find a spot – and ended up making that role his own, first for Delhi’s T20 team and now for PBKS.From DPL to IPL, he’s shown he can rise to the occasion by adapting, evolving, and delivering when it mattered. Now, with a Ranji Trophy debut in sight, he’s ready for a new challenge that demands the same quiet belief that’s carried him this far.

Bairstow injury opens door for new coming man, as predecessor embraces senior status

Vithushan Ehantharajah06-Sep-2022On Thursday, there will be a new kid in town. Following a soft launch in T20Is, Harry Brook will become Test cap number 707 on Thursday, as he takes the place vacated by Jonny Bairstow after a golfing accident.Ben Stokes confirmed Brooks’ debut on the eve of the third Test, but the Yorkshireman is more than just the next cab off the rank. He is, according to some very good judges, the Uber XL. Since the start of the 2021 summer, the 23-year-old has scored 1,782 first-class runs, including five of his seven career centuries. This summer, he’s averaging 107.44 from 12 innings, including 140 for England Lions against the touring attack, albeit with Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi sitting out. There was also a 48-ball century for Lahore Qalandars against Islamabad United in February – the second fastest in the Pakistan Super League – which underlined his white-ball qualities.He will return to Pakistan for the seven-match T20I series next week, before moving on to Australia for the T20 World Cup. And he’ll almost certainly be back for England’s historic three-match Test series in Pakistan. As great as the recent past has been, the immediate future carries even more promise. We are very much entering Brook SZN.So, what do you need to know? There are shots for days, pluck for weeks, deft and dangerous wrists, and talent to burn. Even as a non-playing member of the squad until now, he has impressed plenty with his batting in the nets and has not been out of place in a dressing-room full of big personalities and seasoned internationals.No doubt this all sounds familiar. Brook is clearly a unique talent, but English cricket has a habit of anointing a new wunderkind before the last one has found his feet. And Tuesday was a reminder of that, when the man who was last predicted to be king ran the rule over his soon-to-be teammate.”Harry is a seriously good player,” Ollie Pope said, when asked of the man 13 months his junior. Given the proximity in ages, the pair have been on England U19 tours together, and 2018 was the most notable split of their careers so far when Brook captained the U19s at the World Cup at the start of the year, before Pope made his full England debut that summer.Ollie Pope is at the centre of England’s batting plans as he goes into his 30th Test•Getty ImagesIt’s weird to think of Pope as that much more senior, but that’s only right given he’s been here four years already. Thursday will be notable for him, too: a second Test at his home ground, a 30th cap and seventh as England’s No.3 – ascending levels of importance for a player in his fourth home summer as an active cricketer at the top level (a shoulder injury ruled him out of 2019).His season’s Test average of 34.36 is currently on course to be his highest so far, bolstered by a second Test century against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. For now, that figure is far more relevant than Pope’s current career average of 30.00. But within the latter are contained experiences, successes and mistakes, which are expected to guide Pope to be the player many still believe he will become. As such, Brook’s introduction should highlight the fact that Pope, even in a middle order of 30-somethings who have been there and seen it all in Bairstow, Joe Root and captain Ben Stokes, should regard himself as a senior man. It’s something he does not have a problem with.”I think it’s a good way to be,” Pope said of regarding himself in that manner. “If you’re worried about keeping your voice down and just going about your own business, you can get quite internal like that. Thirty Tests is a good amount and it’s a privilege to have played this many games and I also feel like I’ve got a great bank of experience now to work from. I’ve toured some good places and some tough places as well, which can expose your game and how you go about them. But I see them as massive learning blocks.”For someone like Brooky, I know the challenges international cricket can bring. He’s definitely someone I’ll chat to. It’s not me saying how to bat, it’s just saying what I found has worked for me over my time so far as an England cricketer and the times when it hasn’t necessarily worked for me, because it hasn’t always been smooth sailing and I’m sure it won’t be going forward. It’s just almost learning how to deal with the good and the bad of Test cricket. Not that it’s bad, just the lower phases when you’re struggling for your own form and as a team. It’s only things you can feed off and give advice to, for someone like Brooky coming through.”Ollie Pope brought up his second Test century at Trent Bridge earlier this summer•Getty ImagesAge and maturity rarely run parallel in life and that is certainly true for sport. There is an argument to be made that Brook making his debut now makes far more sense than a 20-year-old Pope making his when he did. The Surrey batter had just 15 first-class matches under his belt before he came in at No.4 at Lord’s against India in August 2018, which also happened to be the first time he had come to the crease in the first 10 overs of an innings in his red-ball career to date.Brook, by contrast, has 56 appearances, along with stints at the PSL and Big Bash League in the winter just gone. He is, in terms of personality and ability, further along the line than Pope was, and he will also benefit from batting in a middle-order position far more familiar to him than the one Pope finds himself in right now.Given Bairstow’s “lower limb” injury is expected to keep him out for the rest of the year, Brook will likely have four Tests at No.5 before the year is out. By that point, Pope may still be trying to establish how No.3 works for him.Related

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There is, however, a sense from those around Pope that he is growing into the role of first-drop. Not only its responsibility but the very nature of being someone who occupies that space. Some of the best No.3s the game has seen have been, well, “grown-ups”. Pope knows a couple of them well. He played with Kumar Sangakkara at Surrey, whom he spoke to at Lord’s last week about the role. And he regularly consults with the current incumbent at the county, South Africa’s own Hashim Amla.”He’s a great role model, not just as a player but as a person,” Pope said. “The way he stays so level, he’s scored that many hundreds for South Africa – what a player – but you wouldn’t know it. It’s a great attribute to have – a humble guy. And we’ve chatted about technical stuff, and when I do get runs for England, he’s one of the first to drop me a message.”That Pope is looking to position himself above his years is reflective of an environment under Brendon McCullum in which the squad feels “the closest we’ve been” and thus more receptive to new voices. He doesn’t necessarily pipe up in meetings – which are few and far between with this management group – but there is a note to bring some energy on the pitch, particularly when he’s at short leg, which is a position he won’t be relinquishing to newbie Brooks.Harry Brook made 140 against South Africa in their warm-up match•Getty ImagesPerhaps most important is that Stokes and McCullum see Pope as much more than a precocious youngster, but a serious operator who wants to put himself out there. While Stokes had known as much from seeing him operate at close quarters, McCullum got his first hint of that when Pope made perhaps the ballsiest call of his career to date.Upon hearing Stokes mention in his unveiling as captain that Root would be moving back to four, Pope picked up the phone and, ultimately, demanded he get first dibs on three. Speaking four months on, Pope is glad he went through it.”I don’t know how he took at first,” he said of Stokes’ initial reaction. “If we wanted me to stick at four or he genuinely thought that. I just remember thinking there was one spot available and it was the first time I felt I could be successful in that role, the way I was playing county cricket and the hard work I had put in.”I was happy I made that call and when Baz called me to tell me I was in the squad, I was very much buzzing. But also I’m batting at No.3, this is a chance I don’t want to miss. It’s nice to have had some success there and hopefully that can keep coming.”It is a chance that will be afforded to him as long as he wants it. With one score of note so far against South Africa – 73 in his first knock of the series at Lord’s – the final match of the men’s summer presents an opportunity to make No.3, and therefore a place in the XI, his own for the foreseeable future. As the next star of the future comes in, another could be on his way to being one of the present.

Around 2500 Surrey members had the chance to watch a Vitality Blast match against Hampshire live at The Oval. Here’s how it went

Tawhid Qureshi04-Sep-2020Choice of game
The last-minute u-turn that stopped the pilots having crowds at county matches had left myself and many other Surrey fans in a state of frustrated despondency, unsure if we would be able to watch any competitive live cricket at The Oval in 2020. Thankfully a huge amount of effort behind the scenes by Surrey enabled 2500 fortunate members to watch the T20 Blast fixture between Surrey and Hampshire, the first professional cricket match to host spectators this summer.In a year of the unexpected, few would have predicted Surrey to be winless at the start of September, even taking into account the truncated season. England call-ups and injuries have hit Surrey hard, so a win was vital to keep the season and hopes of reaching the T20 Finals Day alive.The arrangements
On entering the ground, it was apparent that people were at ease with the social distancing measures in place, perhaps since similar measures have been experienced at most public spaces since the lockdown. As The Oval had been part of phase one of the government-endorsed test events with a practice match back in July, the staff inside the ground were cheerfully drilled in managing the social-distancing measures. Clear signage directed me to my seat via a one-way system, and as before alternate rows were used as well as numerous gaps between seats. In an effort to further improve social distancing, some people were asked to wear sensors around their necks, presumably to monitor and understand crowd movement, yet again demonstrating Surrey’s commitment to providing the best and safest spectator experience. We were then forced to wait even longer for the resumption of live cricket, as rain threatened to spoil things. Luckily the skies eventually became clear and a shortened game got underway.Key performers
The tantalising match-up between Pakistan pace sensation Shaheen Afridi and the legendary Hashim Amla was something that I was looking forward to most; a game within a game. It was a contest that took place well into the night, with the full moon visible behind the pavilion. In Afridi’s second over Amla struck two sweetly timed boundaries to demonstrate his enduring class and revive memories of his Test triple-hundred on the same ground. Understandably, given the uniquely arduous tour of England that Afridi has experienced, he wasn’t able to quite live up to his billing. During the 64-run partnership between Will Jacks and Amla, which proved to be the bedrock of the Surrey chase, in many ways it was Jacks who overshadowed his more illustrious partner. He looked assured and eager to take any runs on offer from the start, eventually guiding Surrey home with a dominant unbeaten 45; earlier his solitary over of bowling had produced a surprise wicket, sealing a Player-of-the-Match performance in my eyes.Daniel Moriarty’s quietly impressive season bowling left-arm spin continued; he was the pick of the Surrey bowlers, particularly when bowling in tandem with his shrewd captain, the veteran Gareth Batty. Successive Hampshire batsmen were unable to break the stranglehold placed on them by the slower bowlers, which gave the Surrey batsman a very achievable target of 80 runs in 11 overs.Wow moment
Rory Burns’ excellently judged boundary catch midway through the Hampshire innings drew loud cheers on an otherwise quiet night. Amla also showed how his advancing years haven’t affected his graceful striking of the ball, with several strokes down the ground generating a pleasing thud from the bat. But the shot of the day was from Jacks: a brutal four over cover off Afridi’s bowling. Having done something similar in Afridi’s first over, a change of ends resulted in an even more commanding boundary, the ball bouncing a couple of times before crashing into the advertising boards.Social-distancing measures were in place at The Oval•PA Images via Getty ImagesThe crowd
It was actually refreshing to see a T20 Blast crowd solely focused on the game rather than socialising and drinking. In recent years The Oval has earned itself the somewhat dubious tag of being “London’s biggest beer garden” but there was no beer snake or loutish behaviour on show. It was also unusual for a T20 Blast fixture not to be a sellout, with half of the stands closed and the ground at about 10% capacity. At times there was an eerie silence, and the chat between players in the middle could be heard. The low-key nature of the event meant that the usual accompanying music, boundary-edge flame burners and crowd catch contest – touching the ball itself is now taboo – were all absent. Spectators were left to amuse themselves and did so by finding entertainment in the seemingly banal; during the innings break, every time the rope used to dry the outfield almost deflected into a pile of saw dust, a big cheer and laughter was heard. The happiness and relief of being able to witness live cricket was evident in the genuine warmth of the applause when the players took to the field. When Reece Topley delivered the first ball to Felix Organ, despite there being no possibility of a catch behind the stumps, an excited “ooh” swept around the semi-populated stands, echoing the crowd’s excitement.Marks out of 10
A victorious 9 to match Surrey’s comprehensive nine-wicket win. Only the persistent rain and the curtailed nature of the game denied the perfect return to watching “in the flesh” cricket. I’m firmly hoping that the win will mark a turning point in Surrey’s season, but more importantly Surrey’s trailblazing staging of the game will surely be of benefit to cricket fans around the country and beyond, as empty stadiums gradually welcome back the most important asset of the game: people
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