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Reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has now shared the latest Tottenham Hotspur transfer news amid major reports surrounding Djed Spence.

The Lowdown: Big claims…

In the last 24 hours, a really big claim emerged of a reached agreement between Middlesbrough and Spurs for the signing of Spence.

The Guardian stated yesterday evening that club chief Fabio Paratici and the Premier League giants had agreed a £20 million fee for the 21-year-old.

After they claimed manager Antonio Conte was closing in on his third summer signing after Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster, journalists like Alasdair Gold of football.london were then quick to rebuff the update.

Gold did state that there should be developments in the next 72 hours though, with Romano now sharing what he knows.

The Latest: Spurs talks ‘on’…

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According to Romano, sharing news on Twitter, Tottenham talks are still ‘on’ to sign Spence but things aren’t as advanced as the Guardian suggested.

He explained:

“Tottenham are interested in Djed Spence since long time but they’ve not reached full agreement to sign him yet despite rumours. Talks on – there are few clubs interested in the right back. THFC Discussions about Spence’s future will continue in the coming days.”

The Verdict: Make the move…

While a fee hasn’t been agreed upon yet, the fact Spurs are still in contention with talks ongoing is brilliant news for Conte and the club’s supporters.

Spence is arguably one of the most promising young players in England right now, having played a significant part in Nottingham Forest’s push for top flight promotion over 2021/2022 whilst on loan.

The exciting wing-back’s addition would also help to balance Spurs’ homegrown quota and provide them a further boost ahead of a long and busy summer window.

In other news: ‘Being negotiated’ – Club now want their ‘sensational’ star to join Tottenham…find out more here.

Aston Villa have reportedly exited the race to sign Rangers defender Calvin Bassey following the signing of Sevilla centre-back Diego Carlos.

That’s according to TEAMtalk, who claim that Villa are likely to be out of the race for the Nigerian, who can play at both left-back and centre-back, having signed the Brazilian for £26m.

It is believed that Rangers value the 22-year-old at a figure in excess of £25m, having been a vital cog in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side this term with the Glasgow outfit winning the Scottish Cup and reaching the final of the Europa League.

Even though the West Midlands outfit have already made an exciting signing at the back in Carlos, that shouldn’t halt their pursuit of Bassey.

Villa must stay in the race for Bassey

It’s no secret that Villa boss Steven Gerrard is planning an overhaul of his squad this summer with the upcoming transfer window the 41-year-old’s first summer window in charge at Villa Park.

Having managed Bassey at Rangers, the Englishman is reportedly keen on a reunion with the former Leicester City youth product, who BT Sport pundit Owen Hargreaves claimed to be “astonishing.”

The Villans proved inconsistent throughout the campaign, with the 3-2 defeat to Manchester City on the final day of the Premier League season a good example of how the entire campaign has gone for Aston Villa.

Having been 2-0 up with 15 minutes to go after an excellent display, a capitulation saw Gerrard’s men concede three goals in five minutes to lose the match.

Finishing 14th, NSWE will be planning for their side to enjoy a more successful campaign next term with the Villans finishing 17th, 11th and now 14th since returning to the Premier League.

It’s been 11 years since Villa last secured finished a top-half finish in the top flight and that will undoubtedly be the minimum requirement next season.

However, in order to achieve that feat, Gerrard must improve his defence with both Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa proving unreliable at times.

Bassey could provide a further solution to those problems, on top of bringing in the Sevilla colossus. He averaged 1.6 tackles, 0.9 interceptions and an 85.2% passing accuracy across the SPFL and the Europa League, as per WhoScored.

None of Villa’s current first-choice central defensive options registered more than 0.9 tackles per game, whilst only Mings bettered his interception rate and Konsa his accuracy rate.

The West Midlands club have done excellently to recruit Carlos, but their efforts to improve the defence mustn’t stop there, with Bassey an exciting prospect and one that would undoubtedly improve a Villa side that conceded 54 goals in the league.

AND in other news: Fabrizio Romano reveals “official talks” have started, Villa supporters will be gutted 

Liverpool have received a timely injury boost, ahead of Tuesday’s crunch Premier League clash with Aston Villa.

What’s the word?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp revealed that forward Roberto Firmino could be in contention to feature at Villa Park, having trained ahead of the meeting with Steven Gerrard’s side.

Asked about the fitness of the Brazilian, the former Borussia Dortmund manager revealed that “he’s getting closer and closer” to making a return, while he went on to add that: “It’s a challenge [to pick a team] but the medical dept makes it easier sometimes. We will see but it’s challenging and that’s it. Bobby Firmino has trained so it is a decision for tomorrow.”

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The 30-year-old has been absent since picking up a foot injury during the FA Cup semi-final victory over Manchester City at Wembley back in April, although made a welcome return to training last week to bolster his chances of featuring in the run-in.

Supporters will be buzzing

The Anfield outfit will seemingly be thankful to see the former Hoffenheim man back in action should he be passed fit to play, with the Merseysiders needing to utilise their vast resources as they continue their push for an unprecedented quadruple.

With a Carabao Cup triumph already in the bag – and with a place in the Champions League and FA Cup final’s now secure – the club’s present concern is to keep pace in the race for the Premier League title, having lost ground at the weekend following the frustrating 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.

While securing a point against Antonio Conte’s talented side may not appear a major setback, the relentless nature of their title rivals, Manchester City, has meant that any dropped point is now treated as a catastrophe.

With just three games left of the season to play in the top-flight, the Reds are currently three points behind the reigning champions and with City holding a marginally superior goal difference, meaning the battle for the league crown is no longer in their own hands.

They will need to get back to winning ways in midweek, although meet a familiar face in club legend Gerrard, with the Englishman admitting that he will pushing for a win for his Villa side, despite the potential ramifications it could have on his former club.

In truth, the destination of the title could rest in the hands of the Midlands outfit, with the club also set to face Pep Guardiola’s men on the final day of the campaign.

As far as Tuesday’s game is concerned, however, having Firmino in tow will help bolster Liverpool’s hopes of victory, with the £34.2m-rated man having netted 11 goals and provided four assists in all competitions so far this season.

Although the £180k-per-week man – who has just a year remaining on his existing deal – may no longer be a guaranteed starter in the side, he offers undoubted quality and experience in reserve, having notably netted vital goals against the likes of Arsenal and Benfica prior to his recent injury lay off.

He also offers a typically hardworking focal point in attack, ranking in the top 1% for tackles and blocks made among players in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, as well as in the top 3% for pressures made.

Teammate Andy Robertson previously insisted that the striker acts “as the first line of defence” such is his intense work ethic, with that boundless energy likely to be required in what will undoubtedly be a hard-fought tussle at Villa Park.

IN other news: Liverpool could finally replace Wijnaldum by signing £23.4m-rated “elite presser”…

It was Ashwin who promised to defy conventions in the IPL but it was his former franchise captain MS Dhoni who took things to a new level

Srinath Sripath20-May-2018What that Super Kings batting order about?It was R Ashwin who promised to defy conventions by opening with middle-order batsmen and playing openers in the middle order, and lived up to it to an extent by promoting himself to No. 3 earlier in the tournament. His experiment didn’t quite work out, but it was his former franchise captain MS Dhoni who took things to a new level against Ashwin’s side, first by sending Harbhajan Singh up at No. 5, followed by Deepak Chahar at 6. Both Harbhajan and Chahar are no mugs with the bat – the former has batted in IPL Powerplays in the past, while the latter has two first-class fifties and a T20 strike rate of nearly 127 before this game.

This Harbhajan promotion is basically Dhoni getting a kick out of everyone deeply analyzing this random move right?

— Sidvee (@sidvee) May 20, 2018

Super Kings’ main target was to get to 76 runs and seal the second spot on the table, while Kings XI had to restrict them to 100 or less to qualify for the playoffs. In conditions where the ball swung prodigiously and seamers regularly bowled with three slips, CSK’s top order slid to 27 for 3 after 4.4 overs. Dhoni, who has regularly pushed himself up the order, chose to send pinch-hitters who could play without the pressure of losing their wickets in these bowler-friendly conditions. This way, their specialist batsmen would be saved later on, for when Kings XI’s spinners came on to bowl.As things turned out, Chahar smashed 39 quick runs off 20 balls, at one point carting Ashwin for 19 runs in an over. Should his side need another big-hitter later on, there was a not-so-expected surprise package.

MS Dhoni with the logic behind Chennai Super Kings' unusual batting order. What did you make of it? https://t.co/49IdSJhNFX #CSKvKXIP #TalkingPoints #IPL pic.twitter.com/BDWpQ1lNE7

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) May 20, 2018

Kings XI middle-order’s night out, at long lastKings XI’s batsmen from positions 3 to 6 have played 52 innings between themselves, and their failure to fire throughout the tournament has been among the biggest reasons why they’ve exited after the league phase for a record ninth time.After Kings XI’s top three perished, Manoj Tiwary and David Miller went about repairing the early damage. Miller, playing only his third game of the season – after having got off to starts both previous times – went about settling their nerves with 24, after which Karun Nair, who came in at No. 6, then made a quickfire fifty to take them past 150. It was just the second fifty by a Kings XI middle-order batsman this season – their first since Nair himself made 50 off 33 in their first game of the season.ESPNcricinfo LtdHowever, despite their belated return to form, the lower order folded out without finishing their quota of 20 overs. And if 153 seemed defendable when their pacers made early inroads into CSK’s prolific top order, they failed to build on after the Powerplay.In short, that was the story of Kings XI’s campaign in May, as captain Ashwin pointed out after the game.

James Vince did the hard work but gave his innings away in a worryingly familiar manner. He is running out of chances to prove his worth

George Dobell at Edgbaston06-Aug-2016The reaction said it all. James Vince stood frozen in horror after steering one to slip. He knew he needed a score here. He knew his career could depend upon it.Instead, after three hours of resistance, he had been drawn into a familiar error. Seduced into feeling at one angled across him against the new ball, he had edged to second slip for the second time in the match and the third time in the series. Like a former smoker who can’t resist, the habit he had tried to cut out had done for him once more. The slow trudge off the pitch, head shaking in dismay and disappointment, spoke volumes.But if this was a familiar end, it was not an entirely familiar innings. It felt like a step forward. It wasn’t just the score – 42 equalled his best Test effort so far – but the maturity he demonstrated in steering England away from trouble after the loss of Alastair Cook and Alex Hales. He had left more deliveries, he played a little straighter and he picked his aggressive strokes more selectively. Not too many batsmen are dropped after contributing 81 runs in a game. Not under this regime, anyway.There had been some nervous moments along the way, though. On 22, Vince was beaten as he attempted to drive one from Sohail Khan that left him just a touch and, on 23, he pushed at one from the same bowler and was fortunate to see the ball bounce just in front of Mohammad Hafeez at slip. On a quicker wicket – and that is just about every wicket – it would have been a chance.This wicket is unusually slow. While it is not easy to score quickly – it is, in truth, a pretty disappointing wicket which does nothing to sustain the viability of Test cricket – it is the sort of wicket on which dislodging batsmen is tough.That is when bowlers even attempt to dismiss them. But, while Vince was at the crease, Pakistan instead concentrated on damage limitation and attempted to frustrate the England batsmen into making errors as they sought to accelerate the run-rate. Vince faced just one delivery from seamers in his entire innings that would have hit the stumps. That’s one delivery out of 65. So, it’s hardly surprising he managed to survive for longer; they were hardly blowing to dismiss him. And Vince, for all the runs he has scored, is the only man in England’s top seven not to have made a half-century in the match.All of which leaves England’s selectors with a tricky decision. They have invested heavily in Vince and they may well feel they could see signs of progress here. He clearly has time to play the ball and a wide range of strokes. The raw talent is pretty obvious.But at the same time, Trevor Bayliss has said several times that batsmen will be judged not by how they make their runs but by how many runs they make. Vince has now been given six Tests and nine innings. How would other leading contenders – the likes of James Hildreth, Scott Borthwick or Ben Duckett – fare if given such a run? Is it unrealistic to expect them to have supplied at least a half-century? A generation of former players – the likes of Paul Parker, Alan Jones, Alan Wells and Paul Terry among them – could only dream of such opportunities.Comparisons with more modern players are no more enlightening. While Sam Robson and Adam Lyth were given 11 and 13 Test innings respectively before they were dropped, both men registered centuries in their second Tests. Such early success naturally extended their run.We are getting to the stage, too, where Vince’s issue may become mental as much as technical. The analysts working with the England teams over recent years have conducted research into the importance of players performing well early in their international career. Their conclusions, unsurprisingly, suggested that it becomes disproportionately more difficult to succeed if the early memories and associations of the England environment are not positive.Vince appears admirably calm at the crease and can only benefit for the backing he has received from the management. But it is only human nature that, with every setback, his self-confidence ebbs a little more. He is up against a fine attack in this series, for sure, but he will rarely play on more batsman-friendly wickets. It is probably provocative to point out that Vince’s average over his first six Tests – 23.44 – is more than 10 lower than Kevin Pietersen in his final six – 33.83 – but it might also be illustrative of the suspicion that selection is not always entirely on merit.Vince has the great advantage over the likes of Wells, Terry and, yes, Pietersen, that he is playing in a relatively successful side. For that reason, his struggles can be overlooked and the investment period can be lengthened. He hasn’t, by any means, looked completely out of his depth and the continuity of selection policy remains, even taken to an extreme, far better than the alternative extreme.But by persisting with him at this stage, the selectors are also denying themselves the opportunity to look at other players. They are denying themselves the chance to see how Adil Rashid could perform as a second spinner or to see how a left-arm spinning all-rounder could manage ahead of the seven Tests England play in Asia before Christmas. They are denying themselves the chance to see how a specialist wicketkeeper could be assimilated within the team or giving another batsman a chance to gain some experience ahead of the winter tours.But in order to experiment, the selectors first have to start coming to some conclusions. Their failure to do so with Vince is starting to look, not so much consistent, but soft.

07-May-2015Asad Shafiq arrived early on the second morning and eased to his half-century off 79 balls•AFPThe two of them were responsible for the second 200-plus stand of the innings as Pakistan surged towards 500•AFPAzhar, having been cautious early on, opened up and collected his first double-century in Tests well before tea. He was eventually dismissed for 226•AFPShafiq became the third man to record triple-figures in the innings, making 107, as Pakistan amassed 557•AFPJunaid Khan reinforced Pakistan’s advantage by removing Tamim Iqbal in the first over•AFPImrul Kayes produced a brisk 32, but fell victim to Yasir Shah’s third delivery of the match as Bangladesh slumped to 107 for 5 by stumps•AFP

While conservatism has worked for Sri Lanka in this series, their dour defensive play on day four in Sharjah neither decisively put defeat beyond them nor, it would appear, did much to revive the flagging interest in Test cricket

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Sharjah19-Jan-2014A few days ago, in the Emirate just west of Sharjah, a group of cricket administrators unveiled a proposal that would put the Test-match future of Sri Lanka and Pakistan in serious doubt. On day four, in a series already ruled by attrition, the teams produced the least watchable cricket of the tour. The comatose third session, in which Sri Lanka progressed at 1.36 runs an over, was little more than a staring contest featuring 13 grown men. There are pharmaceutical ads that are more compelling.The few hundred fans that had come to the stadium stared too, only their eyes had long since glazed over. If any new followers of the sport tuned in, they might wonder why Tests between these sides deserve saving.Sri Lanka were almost certainly the more passive of the teams, and though the players will contend that abrasive battles are an inextricable part of Test cricket, they can hardly claim it is the type of play that will stir the flagging interest in the format at home. They will also hold that Sri Lanka’s first away series win since 2000 is much better reward for their fans than risky, aggressive cricket. If the sport is reduced to its scorelines, then perhaps that is correct. But cricket has always been about the journey, not just the destination, as laid out by the two best Tests of 2013, in Auckland and Johannesburg, both of which ended in draws.Before the Test, captain Angelo Mathews had said this: “We need to play positive cricket once again, because we will try to win it 2-0. We are certainly not going for a draw here, because it sends a negative message to the whole team.”To single Mathews out for hypocrisy here would be grossly unfair, primarily because press conferences with almost any athlete have become an exercise in professional pretense. Even the most dour batsman will speak of “being positive” – a ubiquitous cricketing phrase – because anything less conveys weakness. But the fact is, no one likes to lose. When you’re ahead in the series, why bother with winning the match? Sri Lanka have been in control at the close of almost every day since the middle of the first Test, and the prospect of finishing the series on even terms might appear madness to those in the dressing room.Moreover, an inexperienced Sri Lanka side have largely gained ground by playing conservatively and respecting the limits of their ability. The fast bowlers have not attempted magic balls, nor sought to blast oppositions out. The spinners have found safety in the quicker, flatter deliveries, hoping to build pressure with dot balls. In the Dubai Test that Sri Lanka won, they scored at less than three an over in both innings, effectively challenging Pakistan to change the tempo of the series, if they wish to level it.But on Sunday, Sri Lanka discovered the perils of treading too far down the conservative route. An uncompromising focus on defence with the bat allowed Pakistan’s bowlers the opportunity to settle happily into their work, even though the onus was on them to take quick wickets, having finished their first innings with an 87-run deficit and only five full sessions to play. Three of Sri Lanka’s five dismissed batsmen fell offering defensive shots, having earned poor dividends for their time at the crease. Kaushal Silva and Dinesh Chandimal fell to very good balls, but that is hardly unexpected at Test level; if batsmen are to receive unplayable deliveries, it would seem wise to score off the balls that are not so menacing.Mahela Jayawardene stalled for 15 deliveries on 46, allowing Saeed Ajmal to put men around the bat, as he constructed what was among his most threatening spells in the series. Flat pitches in India recently prompted MS Dhoni to compare bowlers to bowling machines, but to Ajmal, Jayawardene and Mathews – whose 38-run stand spanned 176 deliveries – might have seemed the batting equivalent. Predictably, he got one to turn a little more than Jayawardene anticipated, and ensured Pakistan’s slim hopes of winning the Test survived into the fifth day.It is excusable, perhaps even commendable, that Sri Lanka have taken stock of their personnel and embraced conservatism in the series, largely to good effect. Their gains in the series may even suggest it is a strategy that suits them until key men develop the ability to play attacking, intimidating cricket. But in defending to the point of alienating fans, they have also weakened their grip on the match.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul is not the first selfish batsman but his talents might be better utilised to benefit the West Indies team

George Dobell at Lord's17-May-2012Like the neighbour who rises early to practise on his drum kit, there can be a thin line between admirable dedication and infuriating selfishness.It is a line that even the best of batsmen have struggled to find. Remember Geoff Boycott being dropped for slow scoring after a double-century against India in 1967, or Sunil Gavaskar batting through a World Cup match for 36 not out in 1975?A glance at the scorecard from the first day of this game would convince you that Shivnarine Chanderpaul stood head and shoulders above his team mates. There is a good degree of truth in such a conclusion, too. While his colleagues flattered for a while, only Chanderpaul had the patience, the dedication and the temperament to offer meaningful resistance. Take his contribution – 87 not out – away and West Indies may well have not reached 200.But that is not the whole story. The scorecard does not show how Chanderpaul left Darren Bravo stranded and run out; it does not show how Chanderpaul took a single from the first delivery of the final over of the day, fatally exposing Fidel Edwards to Stuart Broad, and it does not show how Chanderpaul has resisted the invitation to move up the order to No. 3. The current incumbent of the No. 3 position, Kirk Edwards has a Test average approaching 50 but, so far on this admittedly brief tour, has shown an inclination to play across straight ones and poke at wide ones. Those are not the attributes of a successful No. 3.Perhaps the run out of Bravo was simply unfortunate. After all, most players are involved in a mix-up at some stage and, even if there was something unattractive in the way Chanderpaul grounded his bat to ensure his partner’s doom, it is hard to think of many top-order players who would not have done exactly the same thing. Chanderpaul does not give his wicket away. You may as well try to persuade a lion of the virtues of vegetarianism as ask him to do so. That is not such a bad quality in a Test batsman.But there is a context here. This was the 23rd run out in which Chanderpaul has been involved as a Test batsman. He has been the man dismissed on just three occasions. Those are damning statistics.Chanderpaul could argue – with some evidence – that he has to put himself first for the sake of the team. He could argue – with some evidence – that the burden on his shoulders is such that he knows that he if fails, his team will fail and he could argue – with a mountain of evidence – that some of his team-mates would do well to emulate him.But if that is the case, he needs to ensure he takes the final over of days. He needs to ensure he soaks up the new-ball spells of the best bowlers. He needs to ensure he bats in the position that is best for the team. Superiority comes with responsibility.Chanderpaul has a method that has worked. He is currently rated as the best batsman in Test cricket. He averages more than 50. He has been strong enough to ignore decades of convention and years of coaching to develop a technique all his own. It takes strength to do that. It takes an ability to drown out every opinion, every bit of advice, everything but his faith in himself. Many captains would dearly love such a ‘selfish’ player in their side.Fidel Edwards’ dismissal may come back to haunt him, though. While it might increase the likelihood of him finishing with an average-flattering not out – Shannon Gabriel’s career batting average of just 4.85 does not suggest he will detain us long on day two – it also reduces his chances of becoming just the fourth West Indies batsman (George Headley, Sir Garfield Sobers and Gordon Greenidge are the others) to score a second Test century at Lord’s.

“The honours boards at Lord’s record not victories and losses, but individual successes. In a better environment, Chanderpaul’s selfish streak might be manipulated to the team’s advantage”

Perhaps such issues should not matter. It is a team game. But selfishness and individuality are laced into it. After all, the honours boards at Lord’s record not victories and losses, but individual successes. Chanderpaul may have a selfish streak but, in a better environment, it might be manipulated to the team’s advantage.It was as poignant as it was inevitable that, even as West Indies’ middle-order were capitulating, Chris Gayle should be providing another demonstration of his extravagant talents with an 53-ball century in the IPL. It will not have gone unnoticed that Ramnaresh Sarwan also registered another century – his second in six Championship games – for Leicestershire on Wednesday.The harsh might argue that Gayle, in particular, has been ‘selfish’ not to put country before franchise. They might argue that he should have patched up his differences with the WICB for the good of the sport and the good of the Caribbean.But that would be simplistic. The truth is that Gayle – like so many other West Indies players – has been poorly managed. And that is the key. For while Gayle and Chanderpaul and Boycott and Gavaskar may all have an element of selfishness in their character, that does not mark them out as any different to just about every other batsman. Just about every other human, for that matter. The difference is management. In good teams, the needs of the individual are managed to ensure that they correspond to the needs of the group. In poor teams, the desires of the individual are allowed to come first. West Indies’ management – at team and board and union level – have proved unable to coax the best out of their talented players for years. They have presided over the creation of an underperforming culture. It manifested itself on the first day at Lord’s.Indeed, this was a day that summed up many of West Indies’ performances of late. They fought hard and at times it appeared they were building a decent position. Ultimately, however, they still ended up on the weaker footing and were still left searching for positives amid the rubble.

New Zealand’s second-highest Test wicket-taker has just gone past 300, and it’s been a hard, lonely row he’s had to plough

Jamie Alter27-Aug-2009On the afternoon before this Test, as the local media personnel gathered their recorders and microphones from the table on stage, Daniel Vettori turned to the two touring New Zealand journalists and poked one in the elbow. “I can’t believe you didn’t mention me going past Derek Underwood,” he said with a smile, referring to his 298th wicket, which he had taken in Galle.It was a poignant moment, for it almost encapsulated Vettori’s Test career. Slowly and steadily, without the panache, menace and unflappability of the three leading contemporary spin-bowling greats he studied so closely, Vettori has crossed three significant milestones as a New Zealand spinner. His contributions have not always been matched by his numbers. He has had more barren runs than hot streaks. He is unlikely to inspire a generation to turn their left arms over.And yet a day later here he was, the most powerful captain in the world, New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker and run-scorer on tour – in Galle he scored the most runs and took the most wickets – having gone past 300 Test wickets. The first New Zealand spinner to do so.You can’t blame Vettori for wanting to tap you on the shoulder. The last two times he turned over a century landmark it was overshadowed seemingly by more important issues. When he took his 100th Test wicket in Auckland in 2000, the press lapped up how Shane Warne had ended Dennis Lillee’s 16-year reign as Australia’s leading wicket-taker. When Vettori went past 200, in his 63rd Test, in Harare in 2005, those following the match bemoaned the future of Zimbabwean cricket.Yesterday you could sense the anticipation as Vettori brought himself on for the 11th over. The PA announcer reminded the smattering of a crowd that the New Zealand captain was on 298. Vettori struck second ball, drifting one in marginally to Tharanaga Paranavitana, who poked to slip. Wicket no. 299.Vettori had to wait until lunch, in his 16th over, to pass the milestone. When Jacob Oram took a catch off a Kumar Sangakkara slog-sweep, Vettori allowed himself a pump of the fists and a smile. He had spoken of his eagerness to cross his proudest individual achievement: “There’s nothing worse than lingering around milestones.”Vettori’s achievement is remarkable, considering its historical context – before him there had only been one Zealand spinner to take 100 Test wickets, John Bracewell. Vettori admitted to two ambitions early in his career, first 100 wickets and then 100 Tests. He has knocked one of them over by some way. The second is just six games away. Along the way he endured massive drops of form and two seasons with severe back stress-fractures. The puffy red cheeks turned slimmer, the hairstyles changed, there was even a beard. The focus has stayed constant.A good thing too, for he has had to battle the odds. Spin bowlers need support, but Vettori has not always had it. His accuracy has been unwavering, but a lack of back-up has hampered his variety and penetration. He has rarely had enough runs to work with to showcase his true worth, and New Zealand’s fast bowlers have all too often failed to strike at the top, forcing him into defence instead of attack. Despite being gifted with an innate understanding of his fields, Vettori has had to persist in bowling line and length instead of taking risks such as tossing the ball up and experimenting with catchers.

Too many times he’s had to rely on the stock spinner and arm ball. Instead of running through lower orders he has frequently had to wear them down. Too often he has had to attack with a nugget instead of a rock

The ability to land the ball on a dime is perhaps the fundamental attribute Test cricket’s best wicket-takers share, and Vettori, though gifted in that area, is far from great. Circumstances have forced him to bowl with the weight of the world seemingly on shoulders. That he as captain has won New Zealand just one Test with the ball – against Bangladesh – is indicative of the lack of depth in the team’s attack.Too many times he’s had to rely on the stock spinner and arm ball. Instead of running through lower orders he has frequently had to wear them down. Too often he has had to attack with a nugget instead of a rock. A higher trajectory has often tempted batsmen to hit him straight. There were injuries that necessitated a change in action, which resulted in a loss of form and confidence. He has gone through lean spells, most notably three years without a five-wicket haul, and there have been occasions on which he has failed to cash in on tailormade surfaces. That helps explain why the bowling average isn’t so hot.Vettori has been a more destructive force in limited-overs cricket, where the spells are far shorter and he has not had to carry the attack over one or two days. In fact, he was one of the leaders, after Sri Lanka’s array of spinners, in proving that spin had a role in 50-over cricket. He has mastered the art of varying his pace and length in the one-day game, and has repeatedly been able to staunch runs in the middle overs, while taking wickets. Vettori himself has admitted he gets more chances in ODIs for wickets, with fielders in spots where he wouldn’t have them in Tests. He is New Zealand’s leading one-day bowler, with 233 wickets. In Twenty20 internationals he is third on the world wicket-takers’ list, with 25 from 16 games at an economy of 5.50 and strike-rate of 15.30.Vettori is one of the few captains in the current game saddled with the pressure of contributing with bat and ball. But he’s fine with that. “It’s my role to deliver as a bowler, but also to try and chip in other ways,” he said. Rankled by his batting stats in Tests, he went back to the nets and slogged; the result was a string of consistent scores that upped his average. “I think five or six years ago I was pretty embarrassed about my Test batting record. I wanted to rectify it,” he said. “I enjoy it and take a lot of fun out of batting in the middle order and being successful at it. I have to select and lead the team and the runs I contribute are a bonus.”Ah yes, selection. After the radical developments of last Sunday, Vettori has become the most powerful captain around. Martin Crowe has expressed concern Vettori will suffer burnout in his new role, but the man himself didn’t see it that way. “It’s a role that I’ve been performing anyway, so I don’t think it adds to my workload,” he said. “I have to deliver my thoughts and argue them and they’ll have a lot more merit. I’m looking forward to it.”The man ahead of him on New Zealand’s bowling list, Sir Richard Hadlee, with 431 wickets, was a workhorse who lifted his side to unprecedented feats in Test cricket and had a knighthood bestowed upon him for services to the game. Asked in England last summer if 432 was an ambition, Vettori reckoned that going at his current rate he’d have to play 130 or 140 Tests and that he had other things he wanted to tick first.He’s ticked a massive one, and undoubtedly wants to tick a drawn series over the next four days. Maybe this time he will find a helping hand.

Barcelona completed the loan move for Marcus Rashford from Manchester United earlier this week, and the England winger has already made his debut for Hansi Flick's side. Rashford came on as a substitute in the Catalan side's 3-1 win over Vissel Kobe in Japan, and the 27-year-old loanee has received loads of love from cules for his strong showing off the ball.

Rashford makes debut for BarcelonaPlays 33 minutes against Vissel KobeReceives love from Barcelona fansFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Rashford's fallout with Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim early this year has ultimately resulted in the 27-year-old getting the ability to complete his 'dream' move to Barcelona, albeit on loan. The England international made his unofficial debut for the Blaugrana in a 3-1 win over Vissel Kobe as he came on as a substitute for Brazilian superstar Raphinha before being subbed off for Pedro 'Dro' Fernandez 33 minutes later. However, Barcelona fans are already showing Rashford the love he seemed to lack at Old Trafford over the last few years.

AdvertisementWHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

Barcelona fan @frdrjpi wrote on X: "Rashford looks so sharp, man! It’s just the fine margins with the end product right now."

@kvng__niel added: "Who else saw Rashford pressing and tracking back? I thought United fans said he is lazy?"

@Hoeslovmitch said: "I love players like Rashford, man. They’ll always try something out and not just pass back. Excited for the new season icl."

@OlogeOluwasegun wrote: "Manchester United wanted us to believe that he was washed. Man pulled a good performance on his debut and was key to our second goal. And those passes and runs? Rashford is up for a massive season at Barca."

@maleeking_ concluded: "Rashford’s build-up play that led to the second goal."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Barcelona, who are paying Rashford his full salary and have the option to purchase him for £30.3 million next summer, have offered the 27-year-old the famous No. 14 shirt that was once worn by Johan Cruyff and Thierry Henry. In contrast to the Brazilian, who frequently slipped inside and assisted Barça in forming a box midfield to overwhelm Vissel Kobe centrally, the Englishman tended to hug the touchline.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR RASHFORD?

Barcelona will be up against FC Seoul in their second pre-season friendly of the summer on Thursday, July 31. It is possible that Rashford may have another stint on the field as a substitute as he continues to get up to full fitness after not being involved in Manchester United's pre-season.