All posts by h716a5.icu

For all the progress that has been made at Manchester United this season under manager Erik ten Hag, the club's FA Cup final defeat to rivals Manchester City showcased that there is still much room for improvement if the Red Devils are to eventually challenge Pep Guardiola's men next season.

One key concern that has been exacerbated following that 2-1 loss is the future of United's goalkeeping ranks, with long-serving asset David De Gea having hardly covered himself in glory after failing to keep out Ilkay Gundogan's second-half strike.

As Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst stated, that inability to prevent what appeared to be a 'saveable' attempt on goal is merely yet another reason why the Spaniard 'needs moving on', despite having only recently claimed the Premier League's Golden Glove award after finishing with the most clean sheets in the division.

There has been talk that the 32-year-old is set to be offered a new deal this summer in order to extend his 12-year stay at Old Trafford, albeit with it somewhat telling that Ten Hag is reportedly offering no guarantees that the £375k-per-week man will remain as the first-choice pick.

With the former Atletico Madrid man's existing deal set to expire later this month, there have been suggestions that the club should simply bite the bullet and call time on his United career, with club legend Gary Neville stating last week that the Red Devils "do need to get rid of him either now or if they’ve not got the money then obviously a year later is the maximum".

As Neville alluded to, it remains to be seen if Ten Hag will have enough in the budget to able to acquire a suitable replacement for the 45-cap international, although even so, the former Ajax boss must surely avoid keeping his current number one out of just pure convenience.

Should De Gea leave this summer?

It does appear that the time has come for De Gea to seek out pastures new, with it no doubt set to be a real bonus to shift a player who takes up roughly 9% of the total wage bill – according to Caplology – representing the highest portion of any of his teammates.

Much of the grievances surrounding the 6 foot 4 stopper centre on his struggles on the ball, with treble-winner Paul Scholes stating that his former teammate "isn't the best footballer", as he notably finished the season with an average pass accuracy rate of just 68% in the league – a far worse record than City counterpart, Ederson (84%), for instance.

As his mistake against United's Manchester rivals at the weekend also showcased, De Gea is also not immune from the odd blunder with his hands either, having made two errors leading to goals in the Premier League in 2022/23.

The Madrid-born 'keeper notably allowed Said Benrahama's tame effort to squirm past him in the defeat to West Ham United last month, having also been bizarrely breached at his near post in the FA Cup win over Everton earlier this year, with Conor Coady ultimately tapping in from point-blank range.

There was also, of course, the grim night in Seville in the Europa League in which the towering asset gifted possession to Youssef En-Nesyri in the build-up to the game's third goal, having also failed to deal with a rather innocuous header from Loic Bade.

As for the recent clash with Guardiola and co, it was not the first time that De Gea has let the side down at Wembley, having also 'committed a howler' against Chelsea in the same competition at the semi-final stage in 2020, in the words of Luckhurst.

With the error-prone stopper evidently now a "big problem" for Ten Hag – according to pundit Jamie Carragher – the Dutchman must be ruthless and axe the title winner ahead of next season.

The BCCI has doubled India players Test-match fees, with an eye on incentivising the format

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Oct-2016The BCCI has doubled the India players’ Test-match fees, with an eye on making the format more financially attractive. India’s players currently get INR 7 lakh (USD 10,500 approx) per Test; the board decided to increase that to INR 15 lakh (USD 22,500 approx) per game. The reserve players’ fees have reportedly also been doubled to Rs 7 lakh per game.”We have doubled the match fees as we think Test cricket has to be given priority,” BCCI president Anurag Thakur told . “We have had discussions to make Test cricket popular and lucrative among the new generation. If we need to keep the players’ interest in Tests alive, we’ll have to ensure that Test players are better paid. We can’t shy away from the trend [of being attracted to well-paying T20 leagues] that we are witnessing among new cricketers.”The decision was taken at an unscheduled working committee meeting in Mumbai on Friday, which preceded the BCCI’s special general meeting, where the board could not come to a decision with regard to implementing the recommendations of the Lodha Committee. It remains to be seen whether the Supreme Court will roll back this decision on the match fees, considering the Lodha Committee had asked the BCCI to put on hold any decision concerning 2016-17 till the recommendations on restructuring the board were in place.

Celtic's defence has come under fire since the knee injury to central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers ended his season at the start of May.

The Hoops have conceded nine goals in the five matches the USA international has missed so far after they only let in 29 goals in 33 Scottish Premiership games prior to that.

Ange Postecoglou's side shipped three against their Old Firm rivals and lost 4-2 to Hibernian in the last five outings in the top-flight and the head coach could be in the market to add another centre-back to his squad this summer.

One defender who has been linked with a move to Parkhead is FC Volendam ace Xavier Mbuyamba. Sky Sports reported that Celtic and Watford are both eyeing up the talented youngster, who has been compared to Virgil van Dijk.

Who is Xavier Mbuyamba?

The 21-year-old centre-back has enjoyed a strong season in the Eredivisie, having left Premier League side Chelsea last year, and could now form an excellent partnership with Carter-Vickers at the back for the Hoops.

Once described as "dominant" by scout Jacek Kulig, he could emerge as an ideal central defensive partner as that word was used by ex-Hoops midfielder Kris Commons to sum up the American's impact in Scotland.

Mbuyamba won 73% of his aerial battles in the EFL Trophy for Chelsea's U21s last season and has won 53% of his battles in the Eredivisie this term.

Carter-Vickers, meanwhile, won 69% of his contests in the Premiership, including 74% of his duels in the air, and has proven himself to be an imposing figure at the back for Celtic since his move from Tottenham Hotspur on a permanent basis last summer.

These statistics suggest that they could be a dominant duo for Postecoglou in the 2023/24 campaign as they are both capable of winning the majority of their physical battles and stopping opposition players from getting the better of them on a regular basis.

The Volendam star, who Kulig also hailed as "elegant", has also showcased his raw defensive instincts with 3.5 tackles and interceptions and 5.4 clearances per game in the Dutch top-flight, whereas Carter-Vickers made 1.6 and 2.9 per match respectively for the Hoops in the Premiership.

The significant difference in defensive actions could be down to Mbuyamba's side being 14th in the division, instead of competing for the title, as his side has to defend more in matches, but it does show that the ace is capable of making regular interventions at the back.

Carter-Vickers and the 21-year-old titan could, therefore, be an excellent pairing at the back for Celtic due to their dominance and defensive strength and Postecoglou must work hard to beat Watford to the ex-Chelsea man's signature.

Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim is unlikely to take the vacant Tottenham Hotspur job this summer, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

What's the latest on Spurs' manager search?

Negotiations broke down between the club and Feyenoord manager Arne Slot, and their search for a new head coach is continuing on.

Chairman Daniel Levy has been unable to secure a replacement for Antonio Conte yet, with Julian Nagelsmann previously ruled out, and Spurs have been dealt another blow now it seems Amorim is yet another candidate they will miss out on.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that Amorim looks likely to stay at his club regardless of any interest from Spurs.

"They now remain in the process to find a manager and they have options remaining in the list. It was not only Arne Slot, Arne Slot was the front-runner, but options like Luis Enrique and Ange Postecoglou remain on the list," he stated.

"Ruben Amorim is also appreciated, but sources believe that he is going to stay at Sporting so not an easy one again for Tottenham, but of course now they have to accelerate after what happened with this big shock of Arne Slot, who is not going to become the new Tottenham manager. So let's see what's going to happen."

Should Spurs pursue a deal for Amorim?

Although it does seem unlikely to happen now, Amorim could have been an excellent appointment for Spurs as they aim to compete at the top of the table and rebuild their squad.

His spell at Sporting has seen him nurture young talents, including former Spurs academy graduate Marcus Edwards, and he has also beaten both Spurs and Arsenal in European competition this season.

Amorim has been described as "one of the best" coaches by Pep Guardiola, and the 38-year-old could have been an exciting young appointment, following years of disappointment with the likes of Conte and Jose Mourinho.

The problem Spurs face is that right now, the job does not look appealing. They are still in a battle to qualify for Europe, with the Conference League their only hope of continental competition, whilst the future of Harry Kane looks unclear.

Conte was dismissed after speaking out against the club's hierarchy, and with no director of football appointed to replace Fabio Paratici, there is a clear lack of direction at Spurs.

Any manager they pursue may be wary of the prospect of working in unfavourable conditions, and someone as highly rated as Amorim may not want to risk a move which could harm his reputation.

Team and individual competition records were broken as Loughborough Lightning sealed their place in the finals of the Kia Super League by beating Surrey Stars

ECB Reporters Network12-Aug-2016
ScorecardDane van Niekerk’s 91 was the highest individual score of the competition (file photo)•IDI/Getty ImagesTeam and individual competition records were broken as Loughborough Lightning sealed their place in the finals of the Kia Super League by beating Surrey Stars.South Africa international Dane van Niekerk hit 91 off just 64 balls, including 13 fours and three sixes, beating the previous competition record innings of 90 not out by Surrey’s Natalie Sciver, as Lightning ran up 168 for 6. That too was a record, the previous highest innings score in the competition being the 164 made by Lancashire Thunder, also at Loughborough University’s Haslegrave ground.”I’ve been struggling with form, but I knew it was a really good track and I had to take my chance,” said van Niekerk, who came into the match having scored just 19 runs in her previous three innings. “Going into the finals it’s nice to have a few runs and for the team to have a bit of momentum.”Surrey skipper Sciver chose to bowl after winning the toss, but may have already regretting her decision when Lightning openers Georgia Elwiss and Van Niekerk brought up the 50 in the seventh over.Van Niekerk looked in good touch from the start. Consecutive boundaries stroked through the off side off the pace bowling of Marizanne Kapp, along with a huge straight six clubbed the left-arm spin of Alex Hartley, were the pick of the 23-year-old’s shots in a half-century made from 41 balls.Hartley, bowling with a nice loop, did pick up a wicket, Elwiss failing to clear long-off, but Van Niekerk appeared unstoppable. A reverse paddle was followed by a reverse scoop for boundaries before Rene Farrell was deposited over midwicket for another six.Sophie Devine edged a catch behind driving at a wide delivery, but just as the first century of the competition seemed Van Niekerk’s for the taking, she pulled Kapp hard to midwicket, where Sciver took a fine catch running in from the boundary.Inevitably, perhaps, van Niekerk then took a wicket in her first over of legspin, the third of the Surrey reply, courtesy of some sharp work behind the stumps by Amy Jones when Bryony Smith dragged her back foot. In her following over she had Cordelia Griffith caught and bowled, but the key wickets as far as Loughborough were concerned were those of Sciver and fellow England international Tammy Beaumont.Sciver had made just 12 when she top-edged Elwiss towards short third man, where Rebecca Grundy took the catch on the edge of the circle. Beaumont was beginning to threaten on 27 when she was run out by a direct hit – by van Niekerk, naturally. In the circumstances it came as no surprise when she added a fine boundary catch to her contribution.”It was a good score but we were never really out of it on that track, so of course we’re disappointed,” Sciver said. “It’s been a great competition, playing under pressure can only help develop our games. The crowds have been great and it shows how popular women’s domestic cricket is becoming. We just wish we were going to Finals Day!”

England coach Trevor Bayliss has admitted the possibility of players pulling out of the tour of Bangladesh due to security concerns could create a conundrum when it comes to naming the Test squad

Andrew McGlashan05-Sep-2016England coach Trevor Bayliss has admitted the possibility of players pulling out of the Test tour of Bangladesh due to security concerns would create a conundrum when it comes to naming the squad for India.Bayliss’ preference is for the same squad to be used for the seven-Test stretch across Bangladesh and India and he said he had his “fingers crossed” that all those selected would undertake the tour. Players have been given assurances that if they did withdraw from Bangladesh it would not impact future selection, but the proximity of the two Test series – with no warm-up matches in India – would create a dilemma.Moeen Ali, who is certain to be part of the Test squad, is the only England player to publicly confirm without question that he will tour, although Jonny Bairstow has also come close and Alastair Cook is reported to have given private assurances he will lead the Test side. Bayliss himself, as with his assistant Paul Farbrace, said he had no concerns about the trip.”It would be a bit hard to actually pick one [squad] and then another one. That could get down to who wants to go and who doesn’t I suppose, but ultimately it would be best for the team to have one team [for both tours],” he said.When pressed if a player’s place in India was directly linked to touring Bangladesh, Bayliss added: “Well, they might not say that, but it’s a bridge we’ve got to cross if that happens. I’ve sort of got the fingers crossed that it doesn’t occur. It might be a difficult decision if that happens.”Eoin Morgan, who would only be part of the one-day squad, has still to decide whether he will travel but Bayliss was hopeful of a mass undertaking. “I think most of them will,” he said. “I’m not sure if there’s anyone come out, certainly they haven’t said anything to me one way or another.”Bayliss not expecting to lose Farbrace

Trevor Bayliss is confident that Paul Farbrace will remain his assistant despite the vacancy created by Jason Gillespie’s departure from Yorkshire.
Farbrace is expected to be near the top of Yorkshire’s list of candidates but, having signed a new England contract earlier this year when he turned down Surrey, Bayliss said previous discussions with Andrew Strauss had secured Farbrace’s future.
“I’m confident he will be still around,” he said. “I think they had those discussions five or six months ago. That might have reared up a few months ago and there was some discussion then, he’s on board.”

Andrew Strauss, the director of England cricket, has continued to have meetings with players who hold concerns while the naming of the squads was pushed back to allow more time after the series against Pakistan finishes.Away from the security-related issues surrounding Bangladesh, the one-day and Test squads present different challenges for the selectors. Bayliss, who indicated he does not expect any players to be rested for the ODIs, despite the workload on the likes of Joe Root, said it was often difficult to decide which players to leave out of the one-day squad. There remains more uncertainty around the Test permutations with a couple of places still up for debate.”I know James Whitaker [the national selector] would like to get as much of the county season in before it’s selected. They are probably like me, doodling and picking teams. I think in my mind I’m reasonably close. There are one or two positions in a squad of 16 that could go either way.”Chief among those are the opening batsman to partner Cook, with Alex Hales’ place under threat after a lean series against Pakistan, and the extra spinner – or spinners – alongside Moeen and Adil Rashid.England gave Liam Dawson an ODI debut in Cardiff with an eye on the touring squads and Bayliss praised his “game sense” and “guts” after the Pakistan batsmen came after him. Dawson’s first spell of four overs cost 41 runs, but he returned to remove the two top scorers, Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik, to give England a chance of coming from behind for victory.”He will certainly be in discussions, I would have thought,” Bayliss said with regard the Test squad. “He’s a guy who’s got something about him. He bats, bowls and he’s a pretty good fielder as well. But it’s his game sense, he knows how to play the game, he almost knows what’s going to happen before it happens, he’s one of those type of players.”They came out to attack him playing his first game and he took it on the chin, he kept going, he kept bowling. He flattened it out a little bit I suppose but he didn’t bowl badly even when they were getting hold of him, one or two in those first three or four overs just went wide of mid-on. On another day they could be out, but he had enough guts to throw one or two up and he got his rewards in his second spell.”Another player strongly tipped to be included is the 19-year-old Lancashire opener Haseeb Hameed who has had a prolific County Championship season scoring 1129 runs at 53.76. He was visited by Whitaker and Strauss at Old Trafford last week while Bayliss said his youth – this has been his first full season – would not be a concern.”If he’s good enough, he’s old enough. No, I wouldn’t have any problem. There have been some young players making some runs who are coming into calculations which is very exciting.”

Liverpool could make two major midfield signings in Mason Mount and Alexis Mac Allister this summer, and getting these deals done early could be a huge boost, presenter Terry Flewers has claimed on The Football Terrace.

What's the latest on Liverpool's midfield targets?

Liverpool have confirmed that midfielders James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will depart this summer as their contracts expire, and they will need reinforcements in the middle of the park.

Fabrizio Romano revealed that Jurgen Klopp's side are in advanced talks over a deal to sign Mac Allister from Brighton, whilst there is also strong interest in Mount, who is entering the final year of his Chelsea contract.

Speaking on The Football Terrace, Flewers claimed that a mega double deal for the two midfielders could be excellent business for the Reds.

"This is an interesting story, Fabrizio Romano has stated just the other day that personal terms are almost agreed between Liverpool and Mac Allister, reports on OneFootball now claim that the deal with the player is done, still work to be done, around £70m with Brighton.

"Plus, it is now claimed that Liverpool could complete a very early double swoop in the transfer market. Mac Allister in, £70m early, across the line, giving both them time to go and do a little bit more and Brighton time to find a replacement.

"They're also looking at Mason Mount. That story will not go away. Hasn't signed a new deal, he doesn't want to sign a new deal. As it stands right now at Chelsea. Liverpool could be set to pounce. Jurgen Klopp is a big fan. Jurgen Klopp is willing right now, they're talking about a £45m to £50m bid going in for Mason Mount."

Do Liverpool need additional midfielders?

Whilst both signings could add quality and depth to their squad, they may not be enough overall to completely rebuild Liverpool's midfield in order to challenge at the top of the table again.

Mount and Mac Allister could both play in the advanced number eight roles, with Fabinho sitting behind them.

Fabinho has drawn criticism for his performances this season, and the 29-year-old may also need a younger replacement this summer.

Reports from Portugal have recently linked Liverpool with Sporting CP midfielder Manuel Ugarte, and if Liverpool can complete an ambitious move for the 22-year-old on top of these other deals, they may be ready to challenge for the title after a disappointing season.

Watch more of The Football Terrace on YouTube now!

Sri Lanka are set to breathe more fire through spin on a dry Galle surface even as Australia look to restore parity, failing which they could slip to as far as No. 3 in the Test rankings

The Preview by Brydon Coverdale03-Aug-2016Match factsAugust 4-8, 2016
Start time 10.00 local (04.30 GMT)Big PictureGalled by their own performance in Pallekele, here Australia might be just be Galled full stop. Rod Marsh, the national selector, spoke after the loss in the first Test of Australia’s excellent preparation. “What else can we do, really?” he wondered out loud. He sounded like an exasperated parent whose wayward kids can only be guided so far. But Australia will need to do something different when the second Test starts in Galle. They enter the match 1-0 down in the three-Test series and a losing campaign would likely result in them slipping from No.1 on the rankings. They could even fall as far as third.It was Sri Lanka’s spinners – as well of course as Kusal Mendis with his outstanding century – who troubled Australia most in Pallekele. And that was the one venue on this tour that might actually have suited Australia somewhat. On a dry pitch in Galle, spinners are expected to gain significant turn right from the outset. Overall at Galle, 61.79% of Test wickets have been taken by spinners. Of all Test venues to have hosted at least 10 matches, only Chittagong has a higher proportion of wickets for the slow bowlers. You half expect Michael J. Fox to be Galle’s deputy mayor, such a spin city it is.It is also the only home venue at which Sri Lanka have a winning record of better than 50%. They are hard to beat on the turning pitch, and will be brimming with confidence after their win in the first Test. Steven Smith, by comparison, will be desperate to turn Australia’s fortunes around after his first loss as Test captain.Form guideSri Lanka: WDLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)

Australia: LWWDW
In the spotlightThere is a reason left-arm wrist-spin is also known as left-arm unorthodox: it is extremely rare. Why? Hard to say. But right-armers are more common than left-armers, and finger-spinners more common than wrist-spinners, so it is natural that it should be the least prevalent variety of spin. So much so, in fact, that Lakshan Sandakan is the first left-arm wrist-spinner from Asia to play Test cricket. It’s an extraordinary fact, considering how turning pitches are mostly the norm in the in the subcontinent. But Sandakan’s rarity makes him all the more of a threat, and Australia’s batsmen struggled with the unknown in Pallekele. On debut, Sandakan finished with match figures of 7 for 107; he extracted big turn and bowled very few bad deliveries. He could just be the perfect spin partner for Rangana Herath.Back in May, the national selectors picked five spinners to represent Australia during winter tours. Jon Holland didn’t figure in the shortlist. In the Test squad to tour Sri Lanka were Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe, and in the Australia A squad were Ashton Agar, Cameron Boyce and Mitch Swepson. And yet here is Holland in Galle, set to become Australia’s 444th Test cricketer. Holland was called up for Australia A because of an injury to Agar. Now, an injury to O’Keefe and Holland was flown to Sri Lanka before he even had a chance to play for Australia A. An attacking left-armer who has been highly rated since his early days, Holland has had limited opportunities with Victoria in recent years due to the presence of Fawad Ahmed. But when he plays, he takes wickets.Team newsNuwan Pradeep is in doubt with a hamstring strain, which could force Sri Lanka to field a debutant fast bowler – either Vishwa Fernando or Asitha Fernando. Three frontline spinners are again expected on a pitch that should turn plenty. There is the chance that Sri Lanka might drop the opener Dimuth Karunaratne, but the lack of experience elsewhere in the side could save him.Sri Lanka (possible) 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Kaushal Silva, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 5 Angelo Mathews (capt), 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Kusal Perera, 8 Dilruwan Perera, 9 Rangana Herath, 10 Lakshan Sandakan, 11 Vishwa Fernando/Asitha Fernando.Holland will come in for O’Keefe, Australia’s only change to the XI.Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Joe Burns, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Steven Smith (capt), 5 Adam Voges, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Peter Nevill (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Nathan Lyon, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Jon Holland.Pitch and conditionsThe Galle pitch was already very dry a couple of days out from the Test and should take turn from the beginning.Stats and trivia The past 11 Tests in Sri Lanka have all brought results: seven wins for Sri Lanka and four losses. Not since they played South Africa in Colombo in July 2014 has there been a draw This will be Sri Lanka’s 250th Test match since their debut 34 years ago. By comparison, it took Australia 83 years to get to 250 Tests Steven Smith needs 63 runs to reach 4000 in Tests. If he does it in this match he will be the third-fastest Australian to the milestone, behind only Don Bradman and Matthew HaydenQuotes”As a chinaman bowler, Sandakan has impressed everyone with his control. When you have such control, you can be devastating. He can also bowl the googly. Then more than anything, he gets turn. That’s the complete package you expect from a spin bowler.”
“I wasn’t yelling at the players. It was obviously disappointing, the loss in Kandy, my first loss as captain. It was a different experience and hopefully it doesn’t happen too often. We know what we have to do to turn it around, it’s just about making sure we go out there and do it.”

Leeds United find themselves in a precarious position with just two Premier League games left this season as their future in the top flight hangs in the balance.

The Whites head into the weekend one point inside the relegation zone ahead of their clash with West Ham United tomorrow, and Sam Allardyce will be hoping he can do everything in his power to avoid sending the club back into the Championship at the end of next week.

It has been a tumultuous season for Leeds supporters, with the former England manager becoming the third man to take charge at Elland Road following the sackings of Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia, with the board unable to find the recipe to replicate their more comfortable campaigns in the top flight.

As a result, all plans for the summer transfer window will likely be on hold until the West Yorkshire outfit seal their fate at around 6.30pm next weekend, but either way, Andrea Radrizzani will need to find ways to improve the squad and the performances on the pitch with the right recruitment strategy.

In fact, the Leeds owner could save millions in the summer by encouraging the promotion of young talent, with Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen thriving in the youth setup and already impressing Allardyce.

Who is Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen?

Last year, the young centre-back had his contract extended to 2025 after making impressive strides in his development and has since gone from strength to strength.

This week, Chilokoa-Mullen scored an incredible volley in a Premier League 2 play-off victory for the U21s against Nottingham Forest and was rewarded with a senior training call-up yesterday at Thorp Arch in the preparations for the crucial clash with West Ham.

Over his two Football League Trophy performances this season, the 18-year-old – hailed for his "really strong" partnership with Joe Littlewood by coach Mark Jackson – has been a huge defensive presence averaging 76 touches, 49.5 accurate passes, three interceptions, 3.5 tackles, 1.5 clearances and a whopping eight duels won per game.

The Scottish teenage sensation could even be the perfect player to develop into Liam Cooper's heir, which Leeds will eventually need as the club captain and experienced centre-back is now 31 years old and reaching the latter stages of his career.

With that being said, it is clear the future is bright for Chilokoa-Mullen if he continues to impress in the academy and senior training opportunities, and it will be interesting to see if the club push for his inclusion in the first team next season, especially if they suffer relegation to the second tier.

West Indies captain Jason Holder is ‘extremely proud’ of his men for reaching the tri-series final against Australia and knocking out South Africa along the way

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jun-20163:34

‘We need to focus more on ourselves’ – Holder

Whatever happens in the tri-series final, West Indies captain Jason Holder is proud of his men. He is proud that the No.8-ranked ODI side has reached the decider against the No.1-ranked Australia, knocking out the No.3-ranked South Africans. He is proud that his men beat Australia along the way, too, for the first time since 2012. He is proud that his players have fought through fitness concerns to get the job done.Holder himself tweaked a hamstring in the loss to Australia in Barbados on Tuesday, but three days later ploughed through 10 overs straight against South Africa to collect 1 for 33 and help propel his team into the final. Shannon Gabriel picked up a groin niggle against South Africa but claimed three key wickets and is expected to play in the final. Denesh Ramdin hurt his shoulder earlier in the tournament but fought on.Senior players have led from the front, Marlon Samuels with 92 and 125 against Australia, Darren Bravo with 102 against South Africa, Sunil Narine with eight wickets in the first two games, Kieron Pollard with a vital half-century in the knockout game against South Africa. And if West Indies can win on Sunday it will continue an excellent 2016 in which they lifted the World T20 trophy in India.Darren Sammy was in charge of that particular outfit, but Holder is very much considered the man who will lead West Indies for the foreseeable future, and a series win under his guidance would be a significant boost.It would also help strengthen their position on the ICC rankings. West Indies will not be part of the 2017 Champions Trophy as they missed qualification by slipping to ninth at the cut-off date. Qualification for the 2019 World Cup is the next big deadline, and to automatically qualify West Indies would need to still be inside the top eight on the ICC’s rankings on September 30 next year. If they were to slip outside the top eight, they would have to play for World Cup qualification at a tournament in Bangladesh.”I’m extremely proud,” Holder said. “A lot of the guys have been struggling with some niggles and it’s just good to see the guys fight through it. We know the importance of this series and the importance of moving up the rankings. We’ve been criticised in the past for being stuck at No.7 and No.8. It’s important we keep making strides forward.”All I can urge is that the guys stay together. If we can keep this core group of players together, maybe make one or two changes or additions as we go abroad on tours, but I think it’s important for West Indies cricket that we keep a core group of players together and move forward with these guys, identify who we want to take forward and hopefully get the backing of everybody around us and keep these guys together.”Holder hopes for a stronger top-order performance in the final at Kensington Oval, after his men slipped to 21 for 4 against South Africa on Friday and 31 for 3 against Australia three days earlier. However, the way West Indies fought back from both situations to post totals of 280-plus earned the respect of Australia’s captain Steven Smith, who knows Holder’s men will never give up.”I thought the West Indies scrapped really well,” Smith said. “We had them 3 for 30 in our game and they managed to get 280, and then yesterday 4 for 20 and they got 280. They scrapped incredibly well to get that score and it’s always going to be tough to chase.”The bowlers did the job again as well. [Shannon] Gabriel was very good, he started well, he bowled good pace consistently and put the batters under pressure and took early wickets. It looked like a pretty polished performance by the West Indies.”Australia will likely field six of the same XI who triumphed in the World Cup final at the MCG last year – Smith, Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.”We have another final and I think Australians really step up in finals,” Smith said. “I think we haven’t played our best cricket so far throughout this series. Having said that, all you want to do is make it to the final and from there you want to be playing your best cricket. We haven’t had a polished performance yet, so it’d be nice to have that tomorrow.”One man the Australians will need to counter effectively is Samuels, who has struggled against them for a decade and a half but has been Man of the Match in his past two games against them in this series. After his 125 on Tuesday, Samuels observed that Australia’s verbal approach towards him inspired him to stay in the middle as long as possible.”He’s obviously been in pretty good nick this series, particularly against us scoring a 90 and a hundred,” Smith said. “We’re going to have to get him out early if we want to have success tomorrow […] Hopefully we can just let our actions do the talking.”