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A round-up of the Vijay Hazare Trophy games in Group A, played on March 3, 2017

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Mar-2017Gurkeerat Singh Mann led Punjab to a clinical, five-wicket win with a brisk 91 off 86 balls in their chase of 197 after Haryana had reduced them to 75 for 4. It was Harbhajan Singh’s figures with the ball – 10-0-33-4 – that put Punjab in a position of strength by bowling Haryana out for 196 in the penultimate over. After Siddarth Kaul removed Shubham Rohilla for a 12-ball duck, Nitin Saini and Chaitanya Bishnoi put on 68 for the second wicket in 109 balls, the biggest partnership of the innings. Punjab’s bowlers provided regular breakthroughs thereafter, led by Harbhajan, who had four batsmen lbw. Punjab’s chase got a steady start through U-19 opener Shubman Gill and Mandeep Singh, who added 47 in 81 balls. Legspinner Rahul Tewatia took three wickets and Harshal Patel had Yuvraj Singh bowled to pull Haryana back. Gurkeerat and Nikhil Chaudhary added an unbeaten 71 for the sixth wicket, of which the latter added 14.At the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, Assam aced their chase of 216 against Railways to register a four-wicket win with 12 balls to spare. After being asked to bowl, Assam restricted Railways to 215. An 85-run third-wicket stand between Akash Verma and Pratham Singh – after Railways were reduced to 8 for 2 – was the only phase in the game that Railways dominated. Arup Das took three wickets, while Pritam Das, Amit Verma and Swarupam Purkayastha claimed two scalps each. Handy contributions from Assam’s top order – Pallavkumar Das (44), Arun Karthik (42), Verma (35) and Riyan Parag (32) – ensured there wasn’t much trouble in the chase.Akshay Karnewar, an ambidextrous bowler, led Vidarbha to a comfortable seven-wicket rout of Odisha with figures of 4 for 21 from 10 overs. Odisha chose to bat, and were given a steady start by Govinda Poddar’s 68-ball 58. However, a score of 87 for 2 in the 23rd over quickly turned to 162 all out in the 46th over as the Vidarbha bowlers took control of the game. No other batsman scored more than 30. After a stable base, Vidarbha’s chase was never in doubt. Jitesh Sharma struck a 71-ball 70 before he was lbw off Rajkishan Patel. A patient 30 from Ambati Rayudu took Vidarbha home with 59 balls to spare.

Arsenal are reportedly eyeing PSV sensation Xavi Simons, as Mikel Arteta seeks upgrades to his squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The Spaniard enjoyed a title-challenging season with the Gunners, however, it will be a transfer window objective to equip the tools necessary to close the gap on Manchester City.

In bolstering his side with a player as talented as Simons, Arteta could build something special this summer.

Indeed, with Kai Havertz now confirmed as a Gunner, the Emirates may see a new dawn of talent in the squad especially if rumours regarding Simons’ future are to be believed.

As reported by French outlet L’Equipe – relayed by Get French Football News – earlier this week, the Dutchman is ‘against’ a reunion with Paris Saint Germain despite the club potentially wanting to exercise their €6m buy-back clause.

It’s stated that the 20-year-old is ‘leaning towards a new challenge’, with Arsenal named as one of the clubs aiming to snatch the midfielder.

Most prominently, the report adds that the PSV star could choose his destination, as long as the €6m (£5m) buy-back fee is matched, making him a huge bargain with his estimated valuation being €60m (£52m).

What could Xavi Simons offer to Arsenal?

Hailed as “innovative” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the graduate from La Masia could excel in Arteta’s side, particularly with other speculated arrivals in mind.

While Arsenal’s ploy for Havertz is complete, Simons remains as speculation, but the Gunners could form a partnership for the ages by equipping both in midfield.

The German was predominantly played as a forward at Chelsea, however, excelled in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen when occupying the number eight and ten roles.

In four seasons, the 24-year-old established himself as a key player for Die Werkself and contributed 61 goals and assists before heading to the Premier League.

Arteta could unlock the player that shone as one of Germany’s best by playing him in the middle of the park, with his attributes suggesting that he could have a perfect partner in an individual as similarly versatile as Simons.

Capable of playing central and on the flanks, the 20-year-old netted a monstrous 19 goals and registered nine assists in Eredivisie last campaign, showing his innate ability in the final third from midfield.

When comparing his blockbuster season to Havertz’s final term in the Bundesliga, via FBref, it’s clear to see the impact the two could have by playing in a midfield pivot as both flex strengths in areas key to progressing in Arteta’s set-up.

Last campaign, Simons averaged highly in terms of progressive play, averaging 4.82 progressive passes and 4.75 progressive carries per 90, numbers that are almost mirrored by Havertz back in the 2019/20 season.

The Aachen-born star scored an average of 5.10 progressive passes and 4.36 progressive carries, showing his capabilities in playing slightly deeper than the role he’s accustomed to in England.

Both players possess the ability to get among the goals, not just highlighted by their individual tallies in the respective campaigns, but their off-ball efforts.

Simmons averaged 7.93 progressive passes received this season, while Havertz received a monstrous 9.17 for Leverkusen, communicating how potent they could be at the Emirates, as per FBref.

Such numbers are expected of midfielders in Arteta’s side, with high-scoring skipper Martin Odegaard ending the season with an average of 5.55 progressive passes received and 2.39 progressive carries, via FBref, indicating that the duo could slot perfectly into the Spaniard’s system.

The summer is about adding significant depth to Arsenal, which Arteta and Edu could do by signing Simons, who would be a perfect addition to the midfield.

Arsenal hold an advantage in the race to sign PSV Eindhoven star Xavi Simons thanks to great ties with his agent, according to reports.

Who will join Arsenal this summer?

The summer transfer window is in full flow and reports claim that manager Mikel Arteta is refusing to rest on his laurels, despite fiercely contending for the title last season and securing Champions League qualification.

Arsenal appear determined to end their near-20 year wait for a Premier League title and reports suggest they're set to be very ambitious this window.

Two bids have already gone in for West Ham United star Declan Rice, and although they were rejected, it is believed Arsenal will lodge another offer for their top target.

Meanwhile, some sources have claimed that the north Londoners could spend in and around £300 million this window, with talks ongoing for Ajax defender Jurrien Timber and Southampton's Romeo Lavia alongside Rice.

As per reliable reports, Arsenal have already sealed a £65 million deal to sign Chelsea forward Kai Havertz, who will join the club as their first major signing of the summer.

However, despite adding a versatile attacking option in the German, Dutch news outlet De Telegraaf (via Sport Witness) claims they're well in the race to sign Simons from PSV.

Arsenal are joined by a host of rivals, including Manchester United and Tottenham, but it is the Gunners who have an edge and may be in pole position.

Indeed, this is because they already have "good" ties with Simons' agent, Darren Dein, who is the son of their former director, David Dein.

However, Arsenal will need to formalise their interest fast, as PSV are currently in discussions with Simons and his agent over fresh terms.

How good is Xavi Simons?

The 20-year-old, despite his young age, was truly a star in the Eredivisie last season.

Simons, according to WhoScored, even managed more attempts at goal and key passes completed per 90 than anyone in PSV's squad over 2022/2023.

Scoring 19 top flight goals and weighing in with eight assists over that time, former Spurs star Rafael van der Vaart has also tipped him for stardom.

"When I look at his potential, I see that he can become the best soccer player in the world,” said van der Vaart.

"Believe me: In a few years we'll all be saying: 'It's good to be able to have this kid in our national team.’"

The Australia fast bowler has not been able to curve the ball as he once did since returning from a foot injury in September

Daniel Brettig29-Jan-2017Never has Mitchell Starc been more destructive with the ball than on his only previous visit to Eden Park. In a World Cup pool match, his scorching, swinging yorkers fetched him a career-best 6 for 28 and very nearly allowed Australia to defend a puny total score New Zealand in front of a raucous crowd.Two years on, Starc has returned to Auckland in strong physical shape, but still trying to rediscover the curl through the air he showcased that afternoon. It has been a source of puzzlement to many that he has not swung the ball anywhere near as much since his return from ankle and foot surgery, and Starc conceded he and the assistant coach David Saker were none the wiser as to why – despite plenty of tries at working it out.There was hope, however, that the favourable atmosphere of Eden Park will help Starc to get the movement he is seeking once again. Such a turn of events would be encouraging for Australia as well, with the Test series in India weeks away.”It’s interesting. I along with David Saker, the bowling coach, we’ve looked at a lot of footage and my action hasn’t changed at all,” Starc said. “So it’s probably an indication of the cricket balls we’re using this summer, but at the same time it’s a completely different ball we’re going over to India with, the SG.”I think reverse swing is going to play a much bigger part than natural swing over there, as we’ve seen in the last few series that we’ve gone to India. So it’s key to try and get that ball swinging as much as we can naturally up front, it doesn’t generally swing for too many overs, then trying to get that ball to go reverse while it’s still relatively hard. They’re things we’re starting to talk about now as a group.”Starc was happy to admit that while he has harvested wickets consistently while keeping himself fit through a taxing summer schedule, he has not yet been able to return to the aforementioned peaks of 2015. That meant he has plenty more to aim for over the three ODIs in New Zealand and later in India.”It’s been up and down over the last six months,” he said. “Probably still haven’t been where I hope to be in terms of consistency in my bowling as opposed to where it was 12 months ago before I broke down, but looking back to Sri Lanka [where he took 24 wickets in three Tests], that’s a blueprint I’d like to take into India, the way I approached my bowling there and the sorts of plans we talked about in those conditions.”So it’s something I can call upon over the next couple of months when we look forward to that challenge. But there’s still a lot I can improve on over the last six months. I think the way I’ve been able to manage my body through the training accident a few months ago, it’s been pleasing to get through six Test matches this summer, it’s nice to do that for the first time.”The other thing Starc hoped for was a few more runs to defend in Auckland than the last time around. Tallies of 148 and 151 in Australia’s past two visits mean the batsmen have plenty of improving to do, and Starc said there had been team discussions about not surrendering to the siren song of the Eden Park’s short boundaries.”We’ve spoken about giving ourselves a bit more time,” Starc said. “You have those smaller boundaries in the back of your mind but you’ve always got a lot more time than you think, especially in 50-over cricket where you don’t have to score 300 in the first 40 overs – you can probably make it up at the back end.”So somewhere like here where it’s probably going to swing and maybe nip a little bit, just give yourself a chance to get in, see some balls as batsmen, and give yourselves a chance at the back end. We’ve been pretty good against Pakistan at scoring runs late in the innings and the way to do that is to have wickets in the shed. So it’s probably not been our best two outings with the bat here on the last two occasions, but it’s a chance to rectify that and put a good total on the board to start off the series.”

Captain Misbah-ul-Haq credited a change in mindset and their determined character for Pakistan’s incredible turnaround in the Gabba Test

Brydon Coverdale at the Gabba19-Dec-2016Impossible, Muhammad Ali once told us, is not a fact, nor a declaration. It is a dare. It is potential. It is temporary. The most abridged version of his famous quote comes down to three words: “Impossible is nothing.”In cricketing terms, a fourth-innings Test chase of nearly 500 has always been viewed as impossible. And with good reason: of all the 1504 times that a team has batted in the fourth innings of a Test, only once has that team scored more than 500. That one occasion was in 1939, in the famous timeless Test in Durban, when 10 days of play was insufficient to bring a result, and the match ended only because England had to catch their ship home.So when Steven Smith declared at the dinner break on day three at the Gabba, setting Pakistan 490 to win, their task seemed impossible. Time was not an issue. They had seven sessions ahead of them, plenty of time to score 490 runs. But this was a team that had been rolled for 142 in the first innings. A team that had been embarrassed. A team that might not take the match into day four, and certainly not day five.But Pakistan don’t believe anything is impossible. This is a team that reached No.1 in the world this year, despite not having played a Test in their own country since 2009. For Pakistan, every Test is an away Test. Away from friends, away from family, away from home. Away from everything. And yet, they reached No.1. Impossible is nothing.Pakistan began the final day at the Gabba needing 108 to win with two wickets in hand. Asad Shafiq was well set, and already had a hundred. Yasir Shah was at the crease with him. Yasir can bat well enough to pull his weight. Runs came, then more, and more, and more. Before Australia knew it, Pakistan needed 41 runs with both wickets still in hand. Then Shafiq fell to a searing Mitchell Starc bouncer, Yasir was run-out, and it was all over.”As the skipper of the Pakistan team, I am happy to see the team play like that,” Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said after the game. “Chasing 490 in the last innings after we got out for 142 in the first innings, the character of all the batsmen showed. That was wonderful. That set the tone for the series.Pakistan were helped closer to the target with handy contributions from their tail•Getty Images”At the moment, I could not explain how happy I am for all the guys, especially Asad. That is one of the classiest innings I have seen. In the context of the game, the way he handled the pressure playing with the tail, he just made a match out of nothing. There were a lot of positives for us, especially in Australia where batting is your main problem.”Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 450, the equal third-highest fourth-innings total in Test history. The only one higher, besides the timeless Test 654 back in 1939, was New Zealand’s 451 against England in Christchurch in 2002, also in a losing cause. Although Shafiq led Pakistan’s fight, valuable innings were also played by Azhar Ali (71), Younis Khan (65), Mohammad Amir (48), Wahab Riaz (30), and Yasir (33).”The mindset was positive,” Misbah said. “We wanted to create something out of that, and we wanted to score runs. Azhar Ali’s knock was special, and then Younis Khan, that partnership was special for us. Asad Shafiq, the way Sarfraz played in the first innings … that gave us a glimpse that these are battable conditions and if we can apply ourselves we can score runs.”In the second innings, everybody was determined, they showed character. They went in and played their shots and it changed the whole scenario.”Pakistan’s fight sets up a fascinating series, for the Gabba was likely to be the ground that would suit them the least of the three venues. If they can maintain the same level of performance as they displayed in the second innings in Brisbane, the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the New Year’s Test in Sydney should be highly competitive.”They are capable of performing in any conditions because they are mentally tough, they have played enough cricket and they understand Test cricket,” Misbah said. “They showed great courage, I am happy. When you lose always you feel a bit of disappointment but overall I am a happy man the way we played.”

Manchester City target Josko Gvardiol is “keen to join” and the club are "not so far to reach an agreement", according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

How good is Josko Gvardiol?

Gvardiol is a centre-back who currently plays his football for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga having moved there from Dinamo Zagreb back in 2021, and his impressive performances under Marco Rose have recently caught the eye of Pep Guardiola.

Football Insider have reported that the Sky Blues have already held initial talks with the 21-year-old and are confident of reaching an agreement, with the defender having a £98m buyout clause in his contract that is set to become active next year.

The Secret Scout has since claimed that after Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, the Croatia international is the next “key target” for the boss and stated that the two parties were expected to start discussing a fee, a process which sounds like it’s already begun.

Are Man City signing Gvardiol?

Taking to Twitter, Galetti revealed that Gvardiol wants to complete the switch to Man City and suggested that the Premier League champions and RB Leipzig aren't miles away from finding a middle ground. He wrote:

“#ManchesterCity are speeding things up for Josko #Gvardiol. Understand that the gap between #MCFC and #RBLeipzig is reducing, not so far to reach an agreement. The CB is keen to join the club until 2028.”

Should Man City splash the cash on Gvardiol?

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has previously dubbed Gvardiol the “Haaland of defenders” for his physical dominance and enormous potential, so he’s clearly at the high standard required to slot into Guardiola‘s team at Man City.

The World Cup participant, who pockets just £18k-per-week currently, won 17 out of his 23 tackles last season whilst averaging 2.3 clearances and 1.4 aerial wins per league game, via WhoScored, so shows real composure in the heart of the defence despite his aggressive nature.

Leipzig’s left-footed gem, who has the versatility to operate at left-back alongside centre-back, also held a desire to make a difference in the final third having scored three goals across all competitions. He also ranked in the 96th percentile for successful take-ons by centre-backs, so always looks to push his team higher up the pitch from the back.

Finally, Gvardiol will already know what it takes to compete and be successful having secured five pieces of silverware at the age of just 21, and should he put pen to paper in the top-flight, that number would no doubt only continue to increase in years to come.

An unbroken 82-run partnership between Heather Knight and Natalie Sciver saw England to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first ODI in Colombo

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Nov-2016
ScorecardHeather Knight and Natalie Sciver saw England to victory (file photo)•Getty ImagesAn unbroken 82-run partnership between Heather Knight and Natalie Sciver saw England to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first ODI in Colombo.The first encounter of the four-match series did not count towards the ICC Women’s Championship, and qualification for the World Cup, but allowed England to start their tour well. Knight, England’s captain, was also the pick of the bowlers before helping chase down a target of 169 with more than 20 overs to spare.Having chosen to bat, Sri Lanka posted a 50 stand for the first wicket before Knight removed Hasini Perera for 26. Her opening partner Nipuni Hansika also made 26 but was dismissed by Danielle Hazell three overs later.Sri Lanka’s top order all chipped in with scores in the 20s, captain Dilani Manodara making 27 before being caught behind of Alex Hartley’s left-arm spin, but no one could go on. Beth Langston removed Chamari Atapattu and Katherine Brunt then struck twice and Knight claimed her second with the final ball of the innings.England’s openers got off to a good start in reply, Lauren Winfield and Tammy Beaumont putting on 77 before Atapattu parted them. Beaumont went on to make 41 before falling to Inoka Ranaweera but Knight and Sciver saw England through by scoring at more than a run a ball.

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be leading the summer transfer pursuit for the Leicester City England midfielder James Maddison.

How much is James Maddison worth?

This summer will potentially see a lot of change unfold in north London with the recent appointment of Ange Postecoglou promising a fresh start.

Indeed, speaking following his appointment, the Australian has told Spurs fans he hopes to provide them with a brand of football which will excite them:

"I think it’s an exciting opportunity for us to now set off in a new direction, play football and create an environment that embodies the values and traditions of this fantastic football club," he said.

However, whether he currently has the players at his disposal to instil his attacking style of play which comes amid the transfer links to Maddison.

The attacking midfielder has been heavily linked with a move away from the King Power Stadium this summer with the likes of Newcastle United also believed to be interested.

There have been some suggestions that Maddison will be made available for sale this summer but it will cost clubs up to £60m to secure his services.

As a result of the hefty price tag, insider Graeme Bailey has said on the Talking Transfers podcast that Spurs are the more likely suitors for the 26-year-old star:

"What we're getting out of Newcastle, they're not willing to go over £40m, let alone over £50m which is what it's going to take to get Maddison. It's going to be close to a £60m deal. We think at least £50m with add-ons taking it to £60m.

"So as it stands, Newcastle are not willing to go to that price. And if you do believe Newcastle are not going to go there. I make Spurs quite strong favourites to get him, at this moment in time."

Who does James Maddison want to join?

The £110k-per-week star enjoyed an exceptional individual campaign in the Premier League despite the Foxes suffering relegation to the Championship.

Hailed a "magician" by some in the media, the England international was able to return a stunning 10 goals and nine assists in the league alone (via Transfermarkt).

In the not-so-distant past, it has been reported that the 26-year-old would be keen to make a move to London when his time at Leicester comes to an end.

However, reports over the last week have claimed he is being tempted by the prospect of potentially playing on Tyneside amid their believed interest.

Given the Toon are believed to only have £75m made available for Eddie Howe to spend this summer, it has to be questioned whether Maddison is a viable option.

Newcastle were not believed to be willing to match Leicester's £60m valuation last summer and now he only has one year remaining on his deal, which feels even less likely.

This could well open the door for Spurs to come in and snap up the midfielder who is thought to have been given the thumbs-up by their new boss, Postecoglou.

Two teams will progress to Division Three, two will be relegated to Division Five, and it will all happen amid the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles

Peter Della Penna in Los Angeles28-Oct-20161:43

‘Oman is the team for us to beat’ – Dassanayake

Six teams have come to Los Angeles pursuing a spot in the the 2019 World Cup and hoping the City of Angels can spare a few to be on their side.The next step on the road to England, the World Cricket League Division Four begins on Saturday at Woodley Park in the northwest suburb of Van Nuys. The two teams to finish on top get move on to Division Three. Then there is Division Two, which in turn leads to a qualifying tournament in 2018 in Bangladesh.USA would be pleased to have the home advantage in a WCL tournament, and that is not just because they had missed out on it, twice, due to administrative issues. Since the start of the 2009 cycle, in WCL events at which promotion and relegation are at stake 14 out of 19 hosting teams have finished in the top two slots and moved on to the next level.The other five teams – Bermuda, Denmark, Italy, Jersey and Oman – will provide strong competition over the course of the next week. Those who finish in the bottom two, however, will be relegated to Division Five.USA (fifth at 2014 WCL Division Three)Fahad Babar has been the backbone of the USA batting line-up•Peter Della PennaThe American squad is almost unrecognisable from the group that was relegated in Malaysia two years ago. Captain Steve Massiah, leading wicket-taker Usman Shuja and batsmen Aditya Thyagarajan and Sushil Nadkarni have departed the national scene and a wave of fresh faces has emerged.Allrounder Timroy Allen played for the 2016 CPL champions Jamaica Tallawahs. A destructive presence at the top of the order, Steven Taylor has also taken leadership of USA. His partner Fahad Babar forms the backbone of the batting line-up. Babar was USA’s leading scorer at 2014 WCL Division Three, and has struck four fifties in nine one-day games, including two against Canada in October’s Auty Cup. Akeem Dodson has been in solid form in the middle-order and Alex Amsterdam making a century in a warm-up match on Tuesday has bolstered the team’s batting strength.USA may have the most potent pace attack in the tournament, but legspinning allrounder Timil Patel is their biggest threat. The Los Angeles-based player picked up 10 wickets at the World T20 Qualifier in Ireland last summer and should be a handful on his own turf.Bermuda (sixth at 2014 WCL Division Three)The 21-year old Bermuda batsman Tre Manders has a lot riding on him•ICC/GettySince making their maiden World Cup appearance in 2007, Bermuda have fallen on hard times. They were beaten 3-0 by an under-strength Canada developmental squad in Hamilton last weekend. Among the defeats was a disappointing effort of 34 all out.Finding players has been an issue. Dean Minors, the 46-year old who hasn’t played for Bermuda in five years, is their first-choice keeper. Their replacement for vice-captain Terryn Fray, who had broken his finger during that series loss to Canada, was 41-year old Janeiro Tucker.In his prime, Tucker was a match-winner and was Bermuda’s leading run-getter at the 2005 ICC Trophy. But a Bermuda Cricket press release said he has arrived in Los Angels after postponing surgery this week on his right shoulder. Their confidence heading into the tournament is low and the odds are heavily in favor of Bermuda being relegated come November 5.David Hemp, often Bermuda’s batting mainstay, has left to take up a coaching role in Australia. The 21-year old Tre Manders has picked up some of the slack, scoring 73 in the final game of the Canada series. Delray Rawlins is another player to watch out for. The left-arm spinner plays for Sussex in the English county circuit. Bermuda will also look to fast-bowling allrounder Kamau Leverock to lend them balance.Denmark (third at 2014 WCL Division Four)Amjad Khan, who played one Test for England, is part of Denmark’s squad•Getty ImagesThey have had a rocky start to their American tour, having lost a pair of warm-up games in Houston: one by 23 runs to Jersey and the other by three wickets to a Houston club side.Denmark’s squad includes Amjad Khan, the former England fast bowler. He may not possess the searing pace he once did, but may still be a threat in early-morning conditions at Woodley Park. Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Freddie Klokker and captain Michael Pedersen lend structure to their batting.Denmark are short of power-hitters which could become a disadvantage. They play only one of their games on a ground that has large boundaries – Wong Cricket Field – and might struggle to match the tempo of the other teams when playing at the smaller fields at Severn and Wright.Denmark may not look like a contender for promotion, but they have beaten USA in five straight one-day matches and should they extend the streak on day four of the round-robin stages it could help them snag a top-two finish.Italy (fourth in 2014 WCL Division Four)Carl Sandri has been with Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League•ICC/GettyAfter playing in two straight World T20 Qualifiers, Italy were jumped by Jersey in 2015, a sign that their fortunes were changing. Peter Petricola, who has been a pillar with bat and ball since his debut in 2008, has not made himself available for this tournament. Neither have the equally dependable Andy Northcote and Vince Pennazza, putting a major dent into Italy’s hopes.The absence of the seniors was felt on Wednesday when Italy lost by 38 runs to a Southern California XI. Captain Damian Crowley made 77 out of a total of 173, having to compensate for six single-digit scores from his team-mates. He was the team’s leading batsman at the last Division Four with 200 runs in six games.Carl Sandri, formerly of Sydney Thunder, could prove to be an impact player for Italy. Though he is primarily used as an offspinner, Sandri has a reputation as an explosive hitter in the middle order. The small boundaries at Wright and Severn in particular could help Sandri and Italy pose a greater challenge.<p class="news-sub"Jersey (Winners of 2016 WCL Division Five)

Captain Peter Gough (right) would want to make sure his team doesn’t miss Ben Stevens (left) too much•Peter Della PennaAfter beating Oman in the final of Division Five in May, Jersey are one of the more confident sides heading into the tournament. They earned a spot in Division Four for the third time, though in each prior instance they have promptly been relegated. An up-an-coming squad is hoping to reverse that trend.Opener and captain Peter Gough provides stability to the batting, with a battery of allrounders, notably Nat Watkins and Anthony Hawkins-Kay, to follow him. They will miss Ben Stevens though, who had been their top-scorer in Division Five and in whose absence they were bowled out for 130 by Houston Club side. Harrison Carlyon, who is only 15 years old, has been chosen as his replacement and could become the youngest player to represent Jersey.Batsman Jonty Jenner failed to cross fifty despite getting plenty of starts in Division Five but he comes to Los Angeles on the back of a 116 for Sussex second XI in a three-day match in August.Jersey’s bowling attack is spearheaded by seamer Ben Kynman, who took 15 wickets in Division Five and garnered interest from Kent last summer. Oman (2nd place at 2016 WCL Division Five)Amir Ali is back after a hand injury•Associated PressThough they stunned Ireland in the 2016 World T20, Oman have been woeful in 50-over cricket over the last three years.They took their first steps to turning their fortunes around in Jersey, finishing second in Division Five, but the batting remains an area of concern. Outside of allrounder Zeeshan Maqsood, who was the tournament’s leading batsman with 350 runs, only one other player crossed 100 runs, a fact that had worried coach Duleep Mendis.The return of Amir Ali, their match-winner at the World T20, could help ease some of the concern. He had missed Division Five with a broken hand but has since recovered. Another key addition is Arun Poulose, a former Kerala opening batsman who recently qualified to play for Oman having spent four years in the country. He top-scored with 47 in Oman’s last match, beating UAE by 72 runs.On the bowling front, Munis Ansari will be key in the final overs while Rajeshkumar Ranpura should enjoy using the new ball in Woodley’s swing-friendly conditions in the morning. Their left-arm spin arsenal is missing a key component though. Allrounder Aamir Kaleem was injured during a training camp ahead of the tournament, leaving captain Ajay Lalcheta to pick up the slack.

After arguably the worst season in the club’s Premier League history, Chelsea can begin to look forward as the Mauricio Pochettino era is due to get underway when he officially starts on 1 July.

However, behind the scenes, the Argentine has already been in constant contact with the board regarding the summer dealings.

The fans are rejoicing over a potential double midfield swoop for Manuel Ugarte and Moises Caicedo, whilst the mouthwatering possibility of Victor Osimhen has finally got fans dreaming again.

But, one deal that Pochettino must refrain from is signing Harry Maguire, who has been a disaster for Manchester United in recent times.

What’s the latest on Harry Maguire to Chelsea?

According to The Sun, the Red Devils could include the club captain as a part of a sensational transfer package for Mason Mount, who could be heading in the opposite direction.

The £85m signing “has a decision to make” regarding his future, according to Erik ten Hag but he is yet to clarify such plans.

This outlet also claims that Pochettino tried to sign Maguire whilst he was at Hull City, but the Argentine must now avoid a similar temptation to bring the Englishman to Stamford Bridge, or he risks making his first big blunder as Chelsea boss.

Why should Chelsea avoid Harry Maguire?

Having been a first-team regular under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, the 30-year-old flop has only started 16 games in all competitions, with Ten Hag often preferring Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane as his main pairing.

Maguire’s minutes have often only occurred if the aforementioned pair have been injured, and it is easy to understand why his time on the pitch has been so limited.

In Europe’s top five leagues, among his positional peers, the £190k-per-week dud dismally ranks in the bottom 14% for tackles per 90, as well as the lowest 47% for progressive passes per 90, according to FBref.

Whilst certain criticism of the former Leicester star has at times been forced and unwarranted he has undeniably looked way out of his depth for large portions of his Manchester United career and looks unable to play in ten Hag’s possession-based, high-line system.

He has been described as “woeful” by Lianne Sanderson, and he is possibly a worse option than Kalidou Koulibaly, who has endured a torrid debut campaign in England himself.

Across 23 Premier League appearances, the former Napoli stalwart has averaged 2.0 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game, whilst Maguire has only managed 0.5 and 0.8 for the same metric.

Furthermore, despite Koulibaly’s occasional recklessness that has led Ian Wright to label him as “fragile”, his pace is infinitely superior which allows him to make quicker recoveries. Meanwhile, the Reds skipper’s laboured style is a real hindrance and one of the main reasons why he has featured so little this term.

If Pochettino wants to maximise his chances of successfully turning around the mess at Chelsea then Maguire must be an idea that is swiftly discarded.