Celtic trail in chase for midfielder
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The Independent
23 minutes ago
- The Independent
How ‘warrior' Mohammed Siraj set the tone to announce a new era for India
Mohammed Siraj woke up on a drizzly morning in south London realising that the time was now. India were up against it and heading towards a fifth Test defeat against England and subsequently a 3-1 series loss. A scoreline that would not reflect the fierce battle between the two sides over 25 days, with each Test meandering to a climax over its full duration. Siraj had bowled 1,088 balls by this stage. Yet as much as his physical endurance, his composure was tested, too. That misfield on day four at The Oval, stumbling and staggering into the boundary after clutching Harry Brook for, what would have been, a match-turning score of 19. A mistake that cost India 92 runs before the most dramatic of six-run victories. 'When he woke up in the morning, he believed he could do it,' former India wicket-keeper and Sky Sports pundit Dinesh Karthik confirmed. 'Then he took a screenshot of something from Google that said, 'believe'. He put it out there because he wanted to get it done.' And believe he did. England started the day needing just 35 runs in their pursuit of 374. Prasidh Krishna coughed up eight runs from the rest of his over, finished overnight after the bad light and rain scuppered a premature conclusion to this enthralling Test. Siraj then dialled up the pace and added some menacing swing, too, with Jamie Smith bamboozled immediately. A couple of near misses followed a delicate nick back to Dhruv Jurel with his third ball, sparking bedlam. Siraj wheeled away, arms outstretched, but the chaotic celebrations were temporarily cut short due to umpire Kumar Dharmasena's bizarre move to verify that the catch was clean. Of course, it was, and Siraj had duly delivered the belief India needed to hunt down another three wickets for victory and a drawn series. The rest of the match-winning spell, ending at 3-9 from just 25 balls, saw Jamie Overton trapped lbw, before Gus Atkinson finally departed, despite a gritty effort to shield the one-armed, heroic Chris Woakes from this devilish Indian pace attack. His stumps rearranged to put the exclamation mark on this iconic win. While Jasprit Bumrah remains the finest bowler in the world, with his ailing body unable to allow more than three appearances in this epic series, Siraj has underlined his importance, confirming the duo, whenever they do line up together, as one of the great fast bowling pairs in the game. Cricket, a sport riddled by the quirks of trends and numbers, shows us that India win just 41.67 percent of the games he plays, but that rises to 71.43 percent without him, according to cricket statistician Ric Finlay. While Siraj's inclusion ensures a 53.66 percent win rate and just 40.00 percent without him. Naturally, it is daft to suggest India are better off without Bumrah, but there is something about Siraj and the emotional impact that numbers cannot measure with this fiery seamer and unique character. "You don't seem to look at the bowlers as much,' Karthik remarked when highlighting how batters usually get the credit. 'Not just today, but Siraj walked in today trying to be the man. He has bowled like an absolute warrior; he's done the donkey's work too. He's hit 90mph, I couldn't be more proud of him as a bowler." It is that energy and the ability to dig deep when others wilt. Take the wicket of Atkinson to clinch the match, clattering the stumps in this most chaotic of finales. It was clocked at 143kmph, according to CricViz, his fifth-quickest ball of the series. That, after 1,111 balls in this series, shows remarkable strength. As proven with others, such as Ben Stokes, and the aforementioned Bumrah, who, despite their brilliance, have been unable to hold up to this relentless pace of five Tests and 25 sapping days of play crammed into 46 days. 'He's a captain's dream,' concluded the gleeful India skipper Shubman Gill. 'Coming in for five matches, giving absolutely everything. Every team wants a player like him, and we're very lucky to have him.' If Bumrah is India's talisman, then Siraj has elevated himself to be his partner in crime and a sensational stand-in when needed. An intimidating presence for the opposition and an able supporter of his teammates when tensions spill over in highly-charged moments, as proven during the antics at Lord's after Zak Crawley's theatrics to delay play on day three. He is also the ultimate counter-puncher, as proven by the final delivery on day three at the Oval to rearrange Crawley's stumps. If Test cricket is about momentum, then Siraj can swing it as much as the ball. 'I've always had great admiration and respect for Siraj as a competitor,' Ben Stokes conceded following the fifth Test. 'He keeps coming and coming and coming. 'You know he'll always be in a fight with you. He's an example of what it means. I have respect for how he goes about his cricket and how he takes it on.' The tourists had a mindset throughout the series that they were 'not given a chance,' according to KL Rahul, with key figures Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma absent. But the India opener insists that the fifth Test victory is 'where the change begins' and that 'it means absolutely everything.' If that is the case, then Siraj's impact might just be felt for many years to come.
The Independent
23 minutes ago
- The Independent
Everton close in on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall as summer investment continues
Everton are progressing in their attempts to sign Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in a £25m deal. David Moyes is making headway in his chase for a fifth summer signing, while Chelsea are willing to let Dewsbury-Hall leave after a solitary season at Stamford Bridge. The 26-year-old, who excelled for Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca as Leicester won promotion, only started two Premier League games last season following his £30m move. And Everton are seeking to strengthen their midfield following the departures of Abdoulaye Doucoure and on-loan Orel Mangala. Chelsea have spent about £250m this summer and brought in about £135m but they could recoup more money by selling Armando Broja and Lesley Ugochukwu, both to Burnley. Everton are also interested in Southampton's Tyler Dibling. Lyon's Malick Fofana is another player they have considered in a bid to bring in someone who can play on the right flank after the summer departures of loanees Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom. Moyes, who had said he wanted five or six more signings this summer, expressed confidence after the 2-2 draw with Manchester United in Atlanta that Everton were getting closer to new signings. The Scot has already signed striker Thierno Barry, midfielder Charly Alcaraz, defender Adam Aznou and goalkeeper Mark Travers this summer and a move for Dewsbury-Hall would take his spending past £75m.
Scotsman
23 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Russell Martin explains where post-match Motherwell criticism came from
Head coach says he cares for players and wants them to succeed Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Russell Martin claims his criticism of some of his Rangers squad following their deflating 1-1 draw with Motherwell on Saturday came from a position of 'love and care.' The Gers boss hit out following the William Hill Premiership opener at Fir Park, questioning mentality, speaking about 'egos' and accusing some of 'self-preservation'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Martin was speaking again at the club's training ground ahead of the first leg of the Champions League third qualifier against Czech side Viktoria Plzen at Ibrox on Tuesday night, where a play-off tie against Austrian outfit Salzburg or Club Brugge of Belgium awaits the winners. Rangers head coach Russell Martin speaks to the media ahead of the game against Viktoria Plzen. | SNS Group 'I think if they know us by now as a group of coaches that it all comes from a place of love and care for them,' said the Gers boss, who replied 'hopefully he will be in it, we will wait and see', when asked if new signing Oliver Antman, the Finland winger who joined from Go Ahead Eagles on Monday, will be included in the squad. 'We are here, myself, Gilly (Matt Gill, assistant), the coaches, ultimately for the players. We're here to win football matches, but as coaches day to day, we are here to help the players. 'That's our job, to help them win, to help them develop, to help them improve and understand why, to help them enjoy playing for a club like this, because I don't think too many of them have enjoyed it enough to play for this amazing football club, because it's not always easy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Place of 'love and care' 'I don't come out and say that because I want to be ruthless and all that stuff. If they know me as a person, the people who do know me, they know it comes from a place of love and to help them and to want them to be better. 'So I think when it comes from that place, whatever is said and if they understand that, then we'll always have a really honest and good conversation about it. I hope they understand who we are by now and what we're here to do, and I really believe they're really trying. 'So they're good people, but the default to try and protect yourself when it gets tough, we need to just shed that a little bit.'
