Ben Stokes was elevated to vice-captain for the one-day series in Bangladesh and he took it upon himself to stir England into action when the first match was slipping away

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Oct-2016Ben Stokes can inspire with words and deeds. With the opening one-day international in Mirpur quickly running away from England, Stokes took advantage of a break in play to remind his team-mates that they had to fight to the end.That end was a Bangladesh collapse of 6 for 17 in 39 balls, started by Jake Ball’s two wickets in two deliveries, as England went from near defeat to a 21-run victory.Stokes, whose leadership qualities have been admired by Trevor Bayliss since he became coach, was named vice-captain for this series after Jos Buttler’s elevation to the captaincy in place of Eoin Morgan.He has been given the freedom to intervene on the field when he feels it is required, partly because of the workload on Buttler as a wicketkeeper-captain, and took it upon himself to rally the team when the Bangladesh batsmen needed treatment for cramp in brutal conditions.”It’s something I would always do. I felt like the situation needed it to happen,” Stokes said. “I said to Jos about two overs before, rather than hoping the result can go our way and waiting for our wicket before we can all get together, is it worth calling everyone in for a quick two-minute chat?Stokes tries to lift Durham’s mood

Ben Stokes’ rallying calls are not restricted to on the field in Bangladesh. He has been a key figure in lifting the mood back at Durham after their relegation and points deduction following an ECB financial bail-out.
He said the ECB’s intervention had saved Durham from going under and though it’s the players who will suffer most they can also lead the revival.
“The best thing is that we are still a first-class county and it’s looking very unlikely that we will get back into Division One next year, but as soon as the news broke, Colly and myself were trying to be the driving points for everyone. This is what’s happened, let’s deal with it.
“The senior guys have been really good. They said, we’ve been for this long, we’ve grown up together, and obviously it’s a clean slate for Durham, so let’s try to get us back to where we belong.”

“The two guys were in and they were going to win it unless we got them out. A talk like that switches everyone back on rather than thinking ‘oh this game is going to go unless we get a wicket’. After that, everyone went away and thought, right, let’s get two and try to kill the game off.”Stokes is more than happy for the ‘big calls’ to stay with Buttler but believes he has the experience to help make a difference.”Jos is the one who makes the big calls, so you don’t want to be stepping too far out of your box, but if I feel the time is right and it’s needed then I will do it,” he said. “He’s the man in command, so I’m leaving the big calls down to him.””Farby [Paul Farbrace] mentioned to me how much Jos has on his plate as keeper and captain. He gave me the freedom, if I think of something, rather than going to Jos, if I think that it’s necessary then I’ll go and talk it through with the bowler, or if there are any field placings.”The first act of Stokes’ day was to inspire with the bat, compiling his maiden ODI century after striding to crease with England tottering on 63 for 3 in front of a crowd baying for more Bangladesh success. Alongside debutant Ben Duckett he added 153, moving to his century from 98 deliveries to tick off one of his major aims for the year.He has previously spoken about how he believed he had under-delivered with the bat in one-day cricket – although in his earlier days he was shunted around the order to his detriment – and his hundred meant it was twice in two ODIs he had improved his career-best and his last three ODI innings now read 69, 75 and 101.”It’s one of the things that I wanted to do when I got back from injury and was able to play the one-day series against Pakistan, was to put in some more consistent performances and it’s nice to back the words up by going out and doing it.”I said to myself I wanted to try to get this first ODI [century] before 2016 finished and I have managed to do it, but now I have done that I won’t just be happy with one, I want a couple more in the games we have coming up.”

The Gunners have missed key players all season but have ended a four-year trophy drought and will reach the UWCL final if they win on Monday

When Arsenal visited two-time European champions Wolfsburg in the first leg of their Women's Champions League semi-final last weekend, they did so without Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, Leah Williamson, Kim Little, Caitlin Foord and Lina Hurtig.

Due to registration restrictions, the Gunners' bench featured only two senior outfield players, sat alongside two goalkeepers and four academy products – the latter group boasting just 61 minutes of senior competitive experience between them.

And, to make the situation even more complicated, Arsenal were 2-0 down inside 24 minutes.

But this is a team that has been defying the odds all season. They spent the first half of the campaign without their first-choice centre-back duo, Williamson and Rafaelle, but still managed to top a Champions League group that contained the eight-time European champions, Lyon.

The Gunners have been without Mead, the 2022 Ballon d'Or runner-up, and Miedema, the Women's Super League's all-time top scorer, since before Christmas. Yet, they would lift their first major trophy in four years in March, beating Chelsea 3-1 in the Continental Cup final despite conceding within the first 98 seconds.

So, when they went 2-0 down in Germany, they didn't fret. Instead, they picked themselves up, dusted themselves off and pulled the game back to secure a 2-2 result.

On Monday, they welcome Wolfsburg to the Emirates Stadium knowing that a win would take them into the Women's Champions League final for the first time since 2007.

With all the setbacks they've had, just how on earth do they keep doing it?

Getty ImagesRebuilding the attack

One of the biggest tasks Arsenal have faced has been rebuilding their attack.

To lose Mead to an ACL injury in November was a huge blow, especially with the England forward at the peak of her powers. But to see Miedema suffer the same fate just a month later? Devastating. The two most crucial pieces to the Gunners' attack were suddenly out for the season.

A frantic January transfer window saw the club fail in a world-record bid to bring in Manchester United striker Alessia Russo on deadline day – a move that was just never going to happen – but they did make an excellent signing in Victoria Pelova.

With injuries to wingers Foord and Hurtig, Pelova has had to become an integral part of a new-look forward line very quickly and has done so extremely well, with her the best player on the pitch in the draw at Wolfsburg.

Katie McCabe, a versatile option who can play at left-back or on either wing, has had to perform a new role, while Stina Blackstenius has carried the brunt of the goal-scoring burden through the middle. The Swede has had her critics, but her movement is excellent and her work rate cannot be faulted. Both of those strengths allowed her to tap in the crucial equaliser last week.

With two teenage talents and NXGN 2022 finalists, Kathrine Kuhl and Gio, also rotating into that front three, it is a much different attack to the one Arsenal started the season with and, at times, that has showed.

But the fact that the Gunners have scored 35 goals in their 16 games since Christmas is a testament to the way the team has adapted to such change.

AdvertisementGettyStepping up at the back

It's not just been the attack that has had to adapt. Arsenal have been hit by injuries to the back line all season long.

Williamson and Rafaelle, the first-choice centre-back pairing at the start of the season, both missed several months each before Christmas. Left-back Steph Catley has been out for a spell recently, too, meaning McCabe has had to switch between attack and defence.

Then, just days before the semi-final first leg in Wolfsburg, Williamson ruptured her ACL. It was an absolute hammer blow for the club, who had announced the end of captain and star midfielder Kim Little's season earlier that week.

These absences have required others to step up. Jen Beattie, for example, started only her fourth game of the season in Germany, but was immense after an early error.

Arsenal have often changed to a three-at-the-back set up, too, to deal with these injuries. It's not been easy to do. After all, it's a very different system to what Jonas Eidevall's team usually plays and it requires each player to assume a different role that they are not used to.

But with injuries forcing the formation to be more common, the players have started to overcome some of the early challenges – and when they've struggled, like in the first half of that first leg with Wolfsburg, they've shown the character to bounce back.

GettyUsing all their experience

The injuries Arsenal have suffered have been to players with massive amounts of experience, too – the players you'd love to be able to look to during a huge game.

Mead won the 2022 Euros at a sold-out Wembley Stadium last summer, as did Williamson. Miedema has also won a home Euros, in 2017, and played in a World Cup final. Rafaelle, meanwhile, captained Brazil to the Copa America title last year.

Having won 21 trophies in four different countries, captain Little epitomises calmness and composure in the biggest moment. Hurtig has played in an Olympic final. Between them, Catley and Foord have come out on top in seven Championship games in Australia.

It has forced the Gunners that have remained to draw on every bit of experience they have, and for new leaders to step up. That is where the qualities of someone like McCabe, the captain of Ireland, or midfielder Lia Walti, the Switzerland skipper, have really come in handy.

Eidevall has even said that he has introduced Beattie, 143 times a Scotland international before her retirement in 2022, specifically for her experience at times.

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(C)Getty ImagesPushing to the limit

But one of the most damning things about Arsenal's injury crisis has been a simple lack of numbers.

That hasn't been helped by the inability to register all of their players for the Champions League. Only three new players could be added to the squad ahead of the knockout rounds, meaning teenager Gio and the experienced Jodie Taylor, signed in March until the end of the season, missed out.

It has demanded more and more of players right at the end of an exhausting season, but they haven't shied away from that.

Even in the defeat to Manchester United earlier this month, having lost Williamson to that massive injury only 11 minutes in, the players absolutely ran themselves into the ground to try and get the result.

"They did everything I could ask them to do in a really, really tough game," Eidevall said after that match. "They stuck together, they stayed positive, they tried to find solutions, they tried to express themselves on the ball. They were there for each other.

"I told them after [the win over Manchester City in early April] I was proud of them, maybe today I am even more proud of them, with the attitude they show. I tried to praise them as much as possible because that was how I felt."

If Arsenal fall short in their bid to reach the Champions League final, the WSL title race or the battle for the European spots, it won't be for a lack of effort.

Leeds United's first game under Sam Allardyce went about as well as fans could have hoped, travelling to face Manchester City in what is arguably one of the toughest fixtures in world football.

However, given the 68-year-old had only enjoyed a limited time in charge before what was his first game, it marked a fine showing against the soon-to-be Premier League champions.

Despite falling two goals down, and seeing a potential third squandered from the penalty spot, the former Bolton Wanderers boss ended the game with a respectable 2-1 scoreline as Rodrigo grabbed a late consolation.

The tactical tweaks at halftime limited the hosts tenfold and showcased the experience on display in the away dugout. However, they will need more than spirited performances to ensure survival is earned, with just three games remaining.

From that encounter, very few players would have stood out to the new boss, though the Etihad rarely breeds any fine away showings at all. However, winger Jack Harrison in particular continued his torrid form by putting in comfortably the worst display out of anyone on the pitch.

If Allardyce values his fine relegation-avoiding record, he must brutally ditch the 26-year-old as he has struggled all campaign.

How has Jack Harrison played this season?

As one of the team's main creative threat, having made 33 appearances for the Whites this term, the lack of consistency from the versatile wide man has frustrated fans and the media alike.

Just four goals and seven assists in the league have him as the club's third top scorer, behind Luis Sinisterra, who has endured an injury-hit debut campaign, and the ageing Rodrigo.

After his first goal of the season, the Englishman would then go 20 league games before scoring again. He is currently in the midst of another six-game barren run in front of goal too.

As such, his 6.75 average rating is desperately disappointing considering the impact he had enjoyed during the season prior as they narrowly avoided the drop.

Harrison would score eight times that campaign, including a final-day winner at Brentford that secured the crucial points to send Burnley back to the Championship in their place.

The £50k-per-week speedster saw a culmination of his miserable year in Manchester last weekend, as his 5.9 rating gave way to just 15 touches and one completed pass all game, via Sofascore.

Pundit Jon Newsome put it best after a similarly shocking performance at Everton earlier in 2023, where he told BBC Radio Leeds:

"Nothing came off for him. I thought his touch was poor. His awareness was poor. He didn’t seem at the races."

Sadly, this could apply to an entire season that has been laced with inconsistency and disappointment, so he must merit being dropped at the hands of Allardyce.

A wrap of day two of the eighth round of Ranji Trophy Group C matches

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Nov-2016Andhra lost three early wickets, but steadied to reach 99 for 3 in their chase of 233 at stumps against Goa in Dhanbad.Goa had overturned their 34-run deficit early in the day, but found themselves 60 for 3 in the 16th over. An 88-run stand between Snehal Kauthankar (65) and Darshan Misal (32) steadied Goa’s innings, before Kauthankar’s wicket brought three more in a short span as Goa fell from 148 for 3 to 156 for 7. This was before allrounder Saurabh Bandekar and medium-pacer Rituraj Singh (33) counter-attacked with an eighth-wicket stand of 71 that came off just 9.4 overs. Bandekar then dominated a 49-run stand for the ninth wicket that took 9.1 overs, before eventually falling for 75 to the part-time offspin of Andhra captain Hanuma Vihari (3-17). Goa folded for 276.Andhra lost three wickets for 36, before they put on a counter-attack of their own through an unbroken 63-run stand for the fourth wicket between DB Ravi Teja (35 off 46) and Ricky Bhui (32 off 44).Tripura captain Manisankar Murasingh and part-time medium-pacer Sanjay Majumder took four wickets each as Kerala folded for 193 to concede the first-innings lead in Cuttack.Kerala lost Bhavin Thakkar and Rohan Prem in the first two overs of the day. Mohammed Azharuddeen (41) and Jalaj Saxena (18) put on 50 for the third wicket, and Salman Nizar (25) put on 54 for the fifth with Sachin Baby (29), but the rest of the partnerships barely contributed and Kerala were soon reduced to 131 for 6. Murasingh, who had batted with his last three batsmen to add 89 on the first day, took Kerala’s last three wickets to secure a 20-run lead for Tripura. Tripura then reached 17 for no loss at stumps.Haryana made an improvement to their overnight run rate of 2.66 as they added 165 in 43 overs on day two, to finish with 402 in their first innings in Valsad. They then took three Himachal Pradesh wickets before stumps.Overnight batsman Guntashveer Singh’s maiden-century knock was cut short early in the day, when he was dismissed by Rishi Dhawan (3-138) for 120. Contributions from Rohit Sharma (50) and opener Shubham Rohilla (64) – who had retired hurt the previous day – added to useful knocks from the lower order to take Haryana past 400. Medium-pacer Kanwar Abhinay finished with career-best figures of 6 for 84.Himachal Pradesh lost 3 for 54 after an opening stand of 41, as they went into stumps on 101 for 3. Robin Bist (12*) and Sumeet Varma (3*) were at the crease.The second day at the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai started poorly for Chhattisgarh, who lost Abhimanyu Chauhan for a duck before they had added to their overnight score of 8 for 0. But half-centuries from Manoj Singh (67) and Amandeep Khare (51) took them to 281, and a 56-run first-innings lead over Services.But it wasn’t straightforward. Right-arm fast bowler Diwesh Pathania struck regularly, causing Chhattisgarh to slip to 199 for 8, still 26 adrift of Services’ total. A 66-run ninth-wicket partnership between Manoj and Kant Singh took Chhattisgarh well into the lead. Pathania finished with 6 for 78.After limiting Hyderabad to 328, Jammu & Kashmir slumped to 156 for 7 by stumps on day two in Vadodara.Resuming on 234 for 3, Hyderabad lost both overnight batsmen, including centurion Tanmay Agarwal, for the addition of just 30 runs to the score. Kolla Sumanth and Mehdi Hasan then departed for ducks to leave Hyderabad at 266 for 7. The tail added some handy runs, though, to take Hyderabad past 300. Jammu & Kashmir captain Parvez Rasool finished with 4 for 63.But Jammu & Kashmir quickly slipped to 31 for 4. They closed on 156 for 7, with Ravi Kiran taking 4 for 31 to deliver a telling blow to their chances of taking a first-innings lead.

Liverpool will look to freshen up the squad across multiple departments this summer after falling by the wayside this season, and West Ham United's Nayef Aguerd has been touted for a shock swoop.

What's the latest on Nayef Aguerd to Liverpool?

According to Goal's Neil Jones, Liverpool's newly-appointed technical director Jorg Schmadtke could burst into action soon, with the Hammers' Moroccan centre-back 'well-liked' at Anfield.

Aguerd only joined West Ham last summer, signing for £30m from Ligue 1 outfit Rennes, and didn't make his debut until the end of October following a pre-season injury, but has impressed with his performances regardless.

Goal first brought Liverpool's intrigue in the 27-year-old in March, and while his time in east London has been fugacious thus far, the allure of Jurgen Klopp's outfit could persuade the ace to jump ship.

Should Liverpool sign Nayef Aguerd?

Liverpool's transfer business over the course of Klopp's tenure on Merseyside has been awe-inspiring for the Reds, and bitterly grudging for competitors, who have been left behind – barring Manchester City – as the German stormed the club into an illustrious period.

It is ironic, then, that the despondency pervading from this lacklustre season is a product of misfiring in the market, with Liverpool's central midfield issues laid bare and the panic loan signing of Arthur Melo, who failed to grace the Premier League pitch after an injury-stricken year, encapsulating the issues that have resulted in a failure to qualify for the Champions League.

Liverpool must now get it right and eradicate the doubts over the squad's calibre, and while the emphasis will be on the centre, bolstering the defence will also be a priority for Klopp and co, and Aguerd would be the perfect addition.

Having forged 29 appearances this term, scoring two goals, the 6 foot 3 titan has instrumentally aided his team in staving off the threat of relegation and leading them to the Europa Conference League final, where they play Fiorentina next week.

He is a dynamic threat for a centre-back, with the £50k-per-week phenom ranking among the top 6% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of goals, as per FBref.

And he is also a master at sweeping danger aside, averaging 4.3 clearances per match and exhibiting his tenacity by winning 64% of his total duels, metrics courtesy of Sofascore.

Praised as "exceptional" by Gary Lineker, he would add a dimension to Liverpool's defence and perhaps alleviate the burden placed upon Virgil van Dijk's shoulders, with the 31-year-old Dutchman likely benefitting from receiving cover from a natural left-footed positional peer.

Aguerd indeed prefers to occupy the left side of the back-line, and while he doesn't boast the aerial dominance of the £75m titan – who ranks among the top 8% of centre-backs for aerials won per 90 and won 74% of his aerials duels in the Premier League this term – his efficacy in rebuffing advances and his ease at adopting his exact position leaves him in good stead to make a marked impact on Liverpool's system, if Klopp indeed decides to provide him with a chance to impress on Merseyside.

Leeds United are considering making former Fulham and Bournemouth manager Scott Parker their next boss, according to a new update.

Has Allardyce left Leeds?

On Friday, it was confirmed that Sam Allardyce has left his role in the Elland Road hot seat, with his appointment always feeling like a short-term one. He was tasked with masterminding an escape act in the final weeks of the season, but he was unable to prevent the Whites from being relegated from the Premier League.

From enjoying such a stable spell under Marcelo Bielsa at one point, this has been a rocky period for Leeds when it comes to managers, with Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Allardyce all leaving within the space of four months.

For that reason, it is absolutely vital that the club nails their next appointment, ensuring the right man comes in to take them out of the Championship and back into the Premier League as soon as possible.

Some potential candidates have already come to the fore, from Brendan Rodgers to Carlos Corberan, and now another individual is being linked with the vacant Leeds job.

Could Parker be the next Whites boss?

According to The Telegraph, Parker is being eyed up as a potential candidate, with his expertise in getting teams promoted something that the Whites admire:

"Parker was sacked by Bournemouth at the start of the campaign after publicly revealing his fears that the squad was not strong enough to survive in the Premier League. Since then Gary O’Neil has steered them to safety but there was also a takeover and significant money spent in the January transfer window.

"A huge plus for Parker is that in his two seasons in the Championship he has been promoted on both occasions – with Fulham in 2020 and last year with Bournemouth. Like Gerrard he is also readily available."

Parker, who uses an attacking 4-3-3 formation, actually signed Leif Davis for Bournemouth back in 2021, and could be an astute appointment by Leeds this summer, arguably not being as high-profile as someone like Rodgers or Steven Gerrard, but proving himself at both Fulham and Bournemouth, guiding the pair into the Premier League.

At 42, he is a young manager with fresh ideas, rather than an ageing figure in the mould of Allardyce, and while his spell at Club Brugge didn't go to plan recently, he could be desperate to get another opportunity in the Championship.

West Ham boss David Moyes felt Parker did a "brilliant job" in charge of Bournemouth, showing that his peers think highly of him, and Leeds should certainly consider a move for the former England international.

Chelsea are reportedly ready to give up on their protracted pursuit of Moises Caicedo, with Leandro Paredes emerging as an alternative target.

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• Blues looking for midfield reinforcements
• Seagulls proving difficult to deal with
• World Cup winner may be lined up

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Blues remain in the market for midfield reinforcements after parting company with the likes of N’Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic. They had been hoping that long-standing interest in Brighton star Caicedo would reach a positive conclusion in the summer transfer window.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  That has not been the case, with the Seagulls knocking back several bids as they refuse to budge in their £100 million ($127m) valuation of the highly-rated Ecuador international. Chelsea are now turning their attention elsewhere, with claiming that Paris Saint-Germain ace Paredes is in their sights.

• AND WHAT'S MORE

  Mauricio Pochettino previously worked with the Argentina international at PSG and – with the 2022 World Cup winner into the final year of his contract in France – he is considered to be a cut-price option at Stamford Bridge. He does not fit the profile of player usually targeted by the Todd Boehly-Clearlake ownership team, but the 29-year-old’s experience could prove invaluable.

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  There remains a chance that Conor Gallagher will also leave Chelsea before the next deadline passes, with the Blues still keeping an eye on Edson Alvarez of Ajax, USMNT star Tyler Adams of Leeds, Everton’s Amadou Onana and Celta Vigo star Gabri Veiga.

Karun Nair has been part of India’s Test dressing room before, but a debut seems ever closer with his inclusion as one of only six batsmen in the squad to take on England; he says he is prepared to bat anywhere when his turn comes

Shashank Kishore02-Nov-2016In July, six people drowned and a few others were reported missing when a boat with more than a hundred people on board capsized in a river in Kerala. Karun Nair was on that boat, taking part in a temple festival with his family as thanksgiving for making his India debut. Nair was one of the survivors – he had to swim some distance before being rescued by a group of locals.The incident came in the middle of a mixed few months in Nair’s life. He had just played for India for the first time, during their ODI tour of Zimbabwe, his selection a reward for his consistency both in first-class cricket – he averaged more than 50 after three seasons – and the IPL. He hadn’t really grabbed the chance, scoring only 46 in two innings while opening the batting in fairly low-pressure chases. The lack of form continued through India A’s tour of Australia, but he was back in form at the start of the 2016-17 domestic season, when he was also handed the captaincy of the Karnataka side for the first time.Now, he is part of India’s Test squad for the first two Tests against England. He has been part of the squad before, but this time he is one of only six specialist batsmen included.”I was disappointed with the way my ODI debut series panned out. I don’t think I lived up to the standards I set myself,” Nair tells ESPNcricinfo. “Probably I didn’t grab my chances. But after the tour I decided to put that behind me and look forward to the new season. I didn’t want to sit and keep hoping, but I knew my chances will come sooner than later if I keep scoring runs.”Rohit Sharma’s quadriceps injury means, Nair – who has scores of 74, 54*, 53 and 145 in his first four innings of the new Ranji Trophy season – could get his Test cap in Rajkot on November 9 if India play six specialist batsmen. With Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane entrenched at Nos. 3, 4 and 5, Nair could be in line for the No. 6 slot.”I’m not too fussy about batting positions, honestly,” Nair says. “I’ve been playing up the order in the IPL, so in white-ball cricket, I’ve enjoyed batting up the order. I started off as an opener for my state side in my junior-cricket days and then settled at No. 4. In Zimbabwe, I was asked if I would be ready to open. As a debutant, you can’t have preferences, and it was a challenge I readily accepted.”Having been on the fringes of the Test team, you do think of all this while sitting outside, but eventually it’s about being confident in your abilities and trusting the technique that has got you to this level.”It hasn’t always been the case. A few years ago, Nair was full of self-doubt, which stemmed not from an inability to score runs but an inability to convert starts. Till he was 19, he hadn’t scored a century at any age-group level.”I had a mental block while growing up, but that also made me learn you don’t throw away starts,” Nair says. “Not being able to convert starts made me tougher. I became more attacking. I used to make 60s and 70s and get out. When I started to attack and bat more freely, I realised the 30-40 runs came quite easily. That change in mindset made a big difference. Now, I tend to play to the situation even though I believe I’m an attacking batsman.”The vote of confidence about Nair’s technique came from the India A coach Rahul Dravid, whom he sought out ahead of the home series against South Africa A in September 2015.”Once I got the confidence from him, all my self-doubts vanished,” Nair says. “I was batting within myself initially. I asked him about the areas I needed to work on. It felt reassuring to hear him tell me there was nothing wrong.”Someone like him saying that was of real value, so I’ve never had any batting conversations with him since. He has been very supportive, backed me in pressure situations and given me the opportunity to express myself. At that stage, he had more confidence in me than I did. That sort of gives you a boost from within.”There were signs of Nair having erased that self-doubt when he made a match-saving fourth-innings century in the first unofficial Test. That earned him a maiden call-up to India’s squad, for the third Test in Sri Lanka.Dravid, who has worked closely with Nair while coaching or mentoring India A, Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils, picks out his hunger and attitude as qualities that have helped him transition to the next level.”Karun is still a work in progress, but obviously his skills and temperament have got him to this stage,” Dravid says. “He picks lengths early; his instincts as a batsman are solid now.”So where did he see Nair evolve into the batsman he is today?”I think the role change at Delhi Daredevils brought out the best in him,” Dravid says. “At Rajasthan Royals, he was batting behind the main guys like Shane Watson, Steven Smith and Ajinkya Rahane. At Delhi, we gave youngsters responsibility to drive the innings, and let seniors lower down the order handle the slightly challenging situations. He showed his ability to adapt there.”Having been part of the Test squad on two occasions without getting a look-in, Nair says the experience was an eye-opener in terms of what he needed to do to remain in those environs, and he soaked in the feeling of being in the dressing room and chatting with Kohli and the support staff.”It was a great feeling being around legends and future legends,” Nair says. “It felt amazing when they spoke of your domestic performances. That gave me a sense of belonging. Being a part of the dressing room for the first time, I still can’t describe. The Test cap is special and I’ve seen the seniors treasure it. When my chance comes, I’ll be ready.”

Manchester United are in the midst of an ownership battle at Old Trafford and Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani's fifth bid to try and acquire the Premier League giants will also offer an 'exit route' if he isn't successful, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest ownership news involving Manchester United?

As per Sky Sports, Sheikh Jassim is understood to have submitted a new and improved fifth bid to try and secure control of Manchester United and has indicated that this will be the final offer on the table for the Glazer family to consider.

The Qatari businessman and his Nine Two Foundation want to buy 100% control of the Premier League giants and has set a deadline of this Friday, in a proposal that would see £1 billion of club debt wiped alongside a separate ring-fenced fund to improve infrastructure around Old Trafford and the Carrington training complex.

As per ESPN, his rival bidder, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his petrochemicals firm INEOS want to buy a 69% stake in Manchester United instead of immediately seeking full authority at Old Trafford.

Ratcliffe is said to be the leading candidate to buy Manchester United and has put forward a deal that could see Joel and Avram Glazer stay on in minority stakeholder positions, as per Sky Sports.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs has said that by submitting a fifth bid, Sheikh Jassim and the Nine Two Foundation has given them a platform to 'control the narrative' of the situation.

Jacobs told FFC: "I think the last thing to say is that with Nine Two Foundation, they were always going to have to improve, as I previously reported, and they have done now. They were always going to try and control the narrative. What the fifth bid does is not only gives them obviously a better chance of winning because their bid is higher, compared to the fourth one, but also an exit route too and that's another important point. If they are successful in beating Ratcliffe, even though the Ratcliffe group remain cautiously optimistic, then they are trying to force the issue."

Will Manchester United be able to conduct transfer business in the process of a sale?

Despite being in the process of potentially changing hands at ownership level, Manchester United and their boss Erik Ten Hag look to have taken a proactive approach in the transfer market and are already making inroads on potential summer additions.

Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount has agreed personal terms with the Red Devils ahead of a move to Old Trafford; however, both clubs are still yet to come to a compromise over a fee for the England international, as per Football Insider.

Il Mattino via The Sun also claim that Napoli defender Kim Min-jae is also a target for Manchester United and is preparing for a move to the Premier League.

Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund has also cropped up on Manchester United's radar, according to talkSPORT. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Red Devils conclude many deals despite being in the process of a takeover.

Despite the Blaugrana doing all they can to get the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner back to Camp Nou, they still have financial obstacles to overcome

For months, Barcelona have been drawing up a viable financial plan to sign Lionel Messi. The club, which reportedly has to shed nearly €200 million (£176m/$220m) before they can make any financial moves this summer, has supposedly plugged away on a miracle solution to circumvent La Liga's strict financial rules, and bring their club legend back home.

The finest financial minds the club could assemble got together and decided, rather shrewdly, that they would simply agree to cut costs over a three-year period — gradually reducing salaries or engaging in other moves to raise the funds they need immediately. In return, the club told La Liga, they wanted to be able to sign Messi immediately.

The league, after a few weeks of negotiations, rejected Barcelona's master plan. But things have since changed. La Liga made a sensational U-Turn, accepting a plan in principle. It doesn't mean, though, that all is clear. Barcelona still have to sell players, and find cash elsewhere.

So, the Blaugrana are stuck once more. Last summer, club president Joan Laporta famously activated a series of economic levers to cut costs and free up financial flexibility. He auctioned off one set of TV rights, flogged another, sold nearly 50 percent of the club's merchandising rights and encouraged a number of senior players to either defer or forgo large chunks of their salary.

It just about worked — at least, enough for the club to first stay afloat and then bring in a host of summer signings. But now, they have their eyes on another one, a potential arrival that will require far more effort than the flimsy plan formed by Barcelona's brain trust.

And the conditions, pieced together, despite La Liga's sudden good wishes, make a Messi return to his boyhood club seem unlikely. Even though there is a mutual interest, and a glimmer of hope, financial barriers once again blocking the Argentine from a Catalan swansong.

Getty ImagesThe strict regulations

Right now, it's not looking good for Barcelona.

The Blaugrana did enough last summer to afford a number of big names, a host of newcomers that have helped Barca likely wrap up their first La Liga title in three years.

But Laporta's famous levers were short-term solutions. Although Barca aren't in any imminent danger as a club, their financial flexibility is more limited than ever, and league president Javier Tebas will not budge on his €200m demand.

The reason for the lofty figure is the Blaugrana's bloated salary and transfer expenditures this year. La Liga outlines how much a club can spend each year, a de-facto salary cap that runs in relation to how much the club itself makes.

In other words, if Barcelona make more cash through sporting success, matchday revenue, or player sales, they can spend more money. But if the two numbers are too far apart — if the club are vastly outspending what they raise — then the league can cap their financial activity.

Right now, under those regulations, there isn't any immediate room for movement. Meanwhile, the league have repeatedly insisted that they will not make any exceptions for Messi.

Barcelona, then, will have to play by the rules.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesThe current state of the club

This year, Barcelona are spending around €650m (£532m/$713m) on transfers and wages. La Liga rules stipulate the Blaugrana will need to trim that number down to roughly €450m (£399m/$493m) in order to spend this summer, according to

That, in footballing terms, doesn't have to be immensely difficult. Indeed, Barcelona could perhaps generate the cash from player sales, and if they clear some big salaries off the books, it's not an impossible number to reach.

However, before they can get into saving, there's more spending to be done. And that's somewhat underway.

The Blaugrana have finally registered Gavi, but will still need to sort out Ronald Araujo and Sergi Roberto. They have already agreed a deal to sign Athletic Club centre-back Inigo Martinez, who will also need registering. How much those moves would cost isn't exactly clear yet, either.

There are further complicating factors, with expected losses in the club's future. Camp Nou is undergoing a massive renovation next season, and the club will have to play at the nearby Olympic Stadium.

That ground is far smaller than Barcelona's usual home, and could impact the club's matchday revenues by up to a massive €90m (£79m/$99m), according to . Although the stadium still holds a respectable 55,000 spectators, recapturing all of that cash simply won't be as easy in a smaller, less attractive venue.

Messi, and the immense financial benefits that will come from his potential arrival, is surely something of a solution to expected woes. But Barcelona will have other issues to fix before they can turn to the Argentine.

Getty ImagesThe moves already made

Laporta's levers last summer were immensely successful, allowing the club to raise a whopping €738m (£648m/$810m) in a few short weeks.

A return, a sequel, Levers 2.0, isn't possible. That's due to a La Liga rule change from December 2022, which outlined that only 5% of asset sales can count towards salary limits. Simply put, raising money by those levers from last summer — TV rights, sponsorships, merchandising — can no longer seriously impact how much money a club can spend on player funds. Barcelona would have to raise billions in order to manage one big name in today's market.

Still, they have found some ways to cut costs. For one, they benefited from the sudden retirement of Gerard Pique, a few months after Xavi told the Barcelona legend that he would no longer be a first-team regular.

The centre-back had already deferred a handsome chunk of his salary, but by retiring 18 months before his contract ended, gave up even more. The permanent sale of Antoine Griezmann to Atletico Madrid also helped balance the books. Other players helped out, too. Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets both announced they will leave the club in the coming weeks, which will free up space.

The club has also cut costs elsewhere. In March week, it announced the surprising move to slash its in-house media outlet, Barca TV. Getting rid of the channel, which provided regular matchday content and exclusive programming, slashed €8m (£7.0m/$8.8m) from the budget. But it also saw Blaugrana make 150 employees redundant and removed a platform that is immensely popular among some of Barca's most devoted fans.

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beinsport.comThe moves they could make

Without the famous levers available, Barcelona's options are limited.

In all likelihood, then, it will come down to player salary reductions and sales. And the Blaugrana do indeed have some potential candidates in that sense. Clement Lenglet, Sergino Dest and Samuel Umtiti have all spent the season out on loan, and are all up for sale this summer.

The club have also reportedly discussed salary deductions with Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Frenkie de Jong, according to — but neither player has publicly expressed their desire to forgo any of their expected earnings as of yet.