West Brom could ease Johnston exit with "fantastic" free transfer

da fezbet: It's fair to say, looking at how devastatingly effective the 24-year-old Scotsman has been, that brand-new West Bromwich Albion star Mikey Johnston has been a masterstroke of a signing for Carlos Corberan's men.

da bet vitoria: Joining in January on loan from Celtic, the slick 5 foot 9 attacker has dazzled Championship defences with ease and has notched up an impressive return of seven strikes and one assist from 15 second-tier games in the process.

The powers that be back up at the Hoops are no doubt shaking their heads now at their decision to offload Johnston, with the Scottish winger likely to return back to Parkhead revitalised after such an effective switch to the Baggies.

West Brom will have to start eyeing up replacements for their golden January buy if he does just end up returning to his parent club, with one player being lined up as a potential purchase according to reports.

West Brom searching for a Johnston replacement

According to a recent report from The Sun, West Brom and a number of other EFL suitors all want to sign Oxford United star Josh Murphy this summer with the U's man starring in recent weeks for the League One promotion-chasing outfit.

Brother of Jacob, who is in and around the first team at Newcastle United, the former Norwich City youth product is wanted by Sunderland, Southampton, Hull City and Queens Park Rangers alongside the Baggies.

The level of interest in Murphy rising is also down to the fact the 29-year-old is out of contract in the summer too, with many Championship clubs circling for his signature sensing a bargain could come their way courtesy of the ex-Canaries attacker.

Amassing six goals and five assists this season, with six of those contributions coming just this month as Murphy enters into red-hot form at the perfect possible time for Des Buckingham's playoff-chasers, this will be a fascinating transfer saga to watch unfold if Oxford cannot tie down their standout winger to a new deal.

Corberan's men will hope they can race to the front of the queue to sign Murphy, gaining a Johnston replacement on a free transfer and working their magic again with another experienced head excelling in the second tier.

Murphy could be Johnston's replacement

West Brom won't turn their noses up at getting in a replacement for the Celtic loanee for £0, knowing that the free transfer route has worked wonders for them seen in their current promotion-seeking squad.

Alex Mowatt, Okay Yokuslu, John Swift and Jed Wallace all relocated to the Hawthorns as free agents, with that quartet in and around the first team to this date as the Baggies strive to make a long-awaited return to the Premier League.

Described as being a "fantastic" talent by Carlton Palmer when news emerged of Murphy being wanted by teams in the second tier, the 29-year-old deserves another shot at playing higher up the divisions based on his exploits at the Kassam Stadium this season alone.

Notable free transfers in the 2023/24 West Brom team

Player

Date Joined

Games Played

Goals

Assists

Alex Mowatt

2021

79

5

7

Okay Yokuslu

2022

100

5

2

John Swift

2022

84

16

11

Jed Wallace

2022

90

11

13

Sourced by Transfermarkt

West Brom could well gift him that opportunity if they take a punt on the former Norwich man this coming summer, a move that could well prove to be another ingenious gamble considering Murphy has accumulated 24 goals and 26 assists at Championship level previously in his varied career.

West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan.

With Matt Phillips also potentially being moved on at the end of the season, Corberan's men will need reinforcements down the left-hand channel and Murphy might well be the man they desire to add strength in depth.

West Brom must cut ties with £20k-p/w star who's worth less than Fellows

West Bromwich Albion could wave goodbye to this ageing attacker in the summer.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 16, 2024

Aguirre explica recusa ao Corinthians e fala em 'portas abertas' no futuro

MatériaMais Notícias

da apostebet: O Corinthians teve mais uma recusa nesta manhã para assumir comando técnico do clube. Neste sábado foi a vez de Diego Aguirre dizer não para o convite corintiano. Após o encerramento das negociações, o uruguaio utilizou sua rede social para se pronunciar sobre as conversas nos últimos dias.

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da leao: TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão-2021 clicando aqui

GALERIA
>Quem será o próximo? Relembre os técnicos do Corinthians neste século

Conforme apurou o LANCE!, o término das tratativas se deu por conta de as partes não terem entrado em um acerto financeiro depois de o treinador ter feito uma contraproposta que o clube não conseguiria arcar neste momento. Até então, Aguirre havia acenado de forma positiva ao projeto apresentado.

Em seu perfil no Instagram, nesta tarde de sábado, o treinador esclareceu o motivo pelo qual o acordo não deu certo com o Corinthians e agradeceu o convite e as conversas em “alto nível” com a diretoria alvinegra. Por essa boa relação, ele acredita que deixou as portas abertas com o clube para o futuro.

Confira a mensagem deixada por Diego Aguirre:

“Recebi o convite do Corinthians com muita alegria e me senti honrado com a lembrança. Conversamos em alto nível, mas nesse momento não pudemos alcançar um denominador comum, ainda que tenhamos deixado as portas abertas para o futuro.

Deixo meu agradecimento ao clube e sua diretoria pelos esforços e interesse, e desejo sucesso na continuidade da temporada”.

جوارديولا يراوغ بشأن إصابة رودري ومدة غيابه عن مانشستر سيتي

راوغ المدير الفني لفريق مانشستر سيتي، بيب جوارديولا، بشأن الإصابة التي تعرض لها اللاعب رودري في مباراة الأحد الماضي أمام آرسنال.

وتلاقى الفريقان في قمة منافسات الجولة الخامسة من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز على ملعب “الاتحاد” حيث تعادلا بهدفين لمثليهما.

وشهدت المباراة تعرض لاعب مانشستر سيتي، رودري، لإصابة قوية على مستوى الركبة استدعت خروجه في الدقيقة 21.

وظهرت تقارير صحفية إسبانية أمس تفيد أن رودري يعاني من قطع في الرباط الصليبي، مما يعني انتهاء موسمه.

وتوجه رودري، مساء أمس الإثنين، إلى إسبانيا من أجل الخضوع للمزيد من الفحوص الطبية الدقيقة (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).

وسُئل جوارديولا عن حالة رودري، حيث رد في تصريحات لشبكة “سكاي سبورتس” العالمية: “ما زلنا ننتظر قرار الأطباء، ما الذي يعاني منه بالضبط”.

وأضاف: “عندما نعرف ذلك، سيعلن النادي أو أنا، المتحدث باسم النادي، الأمر”.

وأكد جوارديولا في تصريحاته ذاتها أن رودري سيغيب “لفترة قصيرة من الوقت”.

جاءت تلك التصريحات قبل مباراة مانشستر سيتي وواتفورد في كأس كاراباو، ولكن جوارديولا أدلى بأخرى عقب الفوز بهدفين لهدف والتأهل إلى دور الـ16.

وتبين اختلاف ما جاء في تصريحات جوارديولا مقارنة بتلك التي أدلى بها قبل اللقاء، فيما يخص مدة غياب رودري.

وقال جوارديولا في تصريحاته الجديدة: “ما زلنا لا نملك إجابة قاطعة، سيغيب لفترة طويلة، لكن هناك بعض الآراء التي تقول إن إصابته ستكون أقل مما نتوقع”.

وشدد: “لا يمكنني أن أخبرك الآن، نحن ننتظر المكالمات الهاتفية الأخيرة ونوع الجراحة التي يحتاجها، الليلة أو غدًا، سنعرف”.

Arsenal may have the perfect Nketiah replacement in "immense" Hale End gem

da realbet: Arsenal have firmly planted themselves in the Premier League title race this season, and while some might say they dropped two points against Manchester City, most will look at the draw as a point gained.

da wazamba: Mikel Arteta's side put in a steely, organised, and impressive defensive performance that only solidified their title credentials, and while it may have bored the neutral, they won't care.

It was an impressive showing from the entire team, although Eddie Nketiah failed to make it off the bench, and with another academy graduate tearing it up in the youth teams, his time at the club could be coming to an end.

Arsenal strikerEddie Nketiah

Eddie Nketiah this season

Nketiah enjoyed a relatively successful season at the Emirates last year, filling in for Gabriel Jesus after he injured his knee at the World Cup and made 39 appearances across all competitions, scoring nine goals and providing two assists.

However, the Lewisham-born poacher has had a tougher time of it this year.

Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah

Despite Jesus again missing a large chunk of the campaign through problems with his knee, the 24-year-old Englishman has been limited to just 33 appearances, although that has only amounted to 1360 minutes, compared to the 1859 he received last year.

In his reduced game time, the 5 foot 11 forward has scored just six goals – three of which came at home against bottom side Sheffield United – and provided three assists, meaning he is averaging a goal involvement every 3.66 games.

Nketiah's recent Arsenal record

Season

2022/23

2023/24

Appearances

39

33

Goals

9

6

Assists

2

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.28

0.27

All Stats via Transfermarkt

With Jesus back in the XI and Arteta clearly favouring both Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard ahead of Nketiah in that nine position, it looks like his time at the club is up, especially with the emergence of an incredibly talented youngster in the academy.

Why fans should be excited about Chidozie Obi-Martin

The Hale End gem in question is 16-year-old Chidozie Obi-Martin, who has been scoring for fun this season.

The Danish youth international has been a promising talent in the Gunners academy for some time now, consistently playing above his age group. However, he really grabbed the headlines in November last year when he scored ten goals against Liverpool for the U16s – yes, ten goals.

Chidozie Obi-Martin Arsenal record

Team

U18s

U21s

UEFA Youth League

Appearances

13

2

3

Goals

8

0

0

Assists

2

0

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.76

0.00

0.00

All Stats via Transfermarkt

With it abundantly clear that the U16 level was too easy for the Glostrup-born gem, he was moved up to the U18s for this season, where he has scored eight goals and provided two assists in just 13 games before once again being given the chance to play with the U21s and in the UEFA Youth League squad.

Over the weekend, the right-footed forward scored another flurry of goals, netting four times against Fulham's U18s, as the Gunners ran out 5-2 victors, leading to U18 coach Jack Wilshere to say:

"Chido has always had a knack for finding the back of the net. His impact on the team has been immense this season."

It's not just at club level where the Hale End marvel has excelled, though.

In his six games for Denmark's U16 squad, he has scored three goals, while he's managed to bag ten in 14 games for the U17s, showing that he's able to find the back of the net regardless of the team he's playing for.

Chidozie Obi-Martin Denmark record

Team

Denmark U16s

Denmark U17s

Appearances

6

14

Goals

3

10

Assists

0

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.50

0.71

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Ultimately, while he might need another season in the academy to truly get up to speed, Chido-Obi seems destined to break into the first team sooner rather than later, and with Nketiah's disappointing season this year, it could be at his expense.

Arteta struck gold selling Arsenal flop who's now worth less than Nelson

He’s had a terrible campaign since leaving the Emirates.

ByEthan Lamb Mar 30, 2024

Com status de promessa, Milán, novo reforço do São Paulo, recebeu poucas chances como profissional

MatériaMais Notícias

da pinup bet: Nesta sexta-feira (21), o São Paulo fechou a contratação do atacante uruguaio Facundo Milán, de 20 anos. O centroavante joga atualmente pelo Defensor Sporting, do Uruguai e fará parte do elenco sub-20 do Tricolor. A transferência já foi confirmada no site oficial dos dois clubes.

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da dobrowin
SÃO PAULO PERTO DE CONTRATAR O ARGENTINO RIGONI! VEJA OS DETALHES!

Em término de contrato, o jogador chega para reforçar a base do São Paulo e, possivelmente, agregar ao time profissional. O Tricolor pagará somente uma compensação ao Defensor para ficar com o atacante.

A diretoria são-paulina observa o atacante como uma grande promessa do futebol uruguaio e o atleta já foi, inclusive, alvo de comparações com Luis Suárez, atacante uruguaio astro do futebol mundial.

Mendo sendo considerado um dos jogadores de maior potencial na base, Milán sofre com a falta de oportunidades. No profissional do Defensor Sporting desde 2017, quando tinha 16 anos, o atleta ainda não decolou na carreira, embora ainda seja bastante jovem.

Um dos motivos que podem explicar seu desenvolvimento como atleta no profissional é a pouca quantidade de minutos pelo clube desde que subiu da base. Facundo estreou em 2017, marcando dois gols na estreia, mas desde então recebeu pouco tempo de jogo.

Segundo o jornalista uruguaio Nico Musetti, do portal La Voz del Tuerto, especializado no Defensor Sporting, o atacante jogou apenas 1390 minutos em três anos e sete meses pelo profissional, marcando somente sete gols. Na última temporada, o jogador entrou em campo nove vezes, marcando três gols.

Ainda de acordo com Musetti, o destaque do jogador é seu desempenho na base do clube, onde marcou um total de 130 gols em somente 113 jogos, tendo uma média de um gol a cada 70 minutos. É importante ressaltar que em quase metade dessas partidas o atacante foi capitão.

Milán recebeu o aval de Alex, treinador do sub-20 são-paulino, e Marcos Biassotto, diretor executivo da base tricolor. O seu time de criação, o Defensor Sporting é conhecido por revelar bons jogadores, como Diego Laxalt, Martín Cáceres, Maxi Gómez e o craque De Arrascaeta.

Mesmo que chegue para atuar primeiramente na base, Milán pode ser integrado ao profissional para resolver uma carência do clube, que vê necessidade em trazer um centroavante para a equipe principal.

Para o setor de criação e ataque, por exemplo, o Tricolor está perto de contratar o meia-atacante argentino Emiliano Rigoni, que deve assinar por três anos com o São Paulo.

* Sob supervisão de Marcio Monteiro

رسمياً | أون تايم سبورتس تعلن نقل مباريات بطولة أندية العالم لكرة اليد

أعلنت شبكة قنوات أون تايم سبورتس رسمياً اليوم الأحد، نقل مباريات بطولة كأس العالم لأندية كرة اليد التي تستضيفها مصر خلال الفترة من 27 سبتمبر إلى 3 أكتوبر.

وأسفرت قرعة الكرة اليد التي أقيمت بمدينة العلمين الجديدة والتي ستستضيفها مصر فى العاصمة الإدارية الجديدة، عن وقوع الأهلي بالمجموعة الثانية بجانب كل من، برشلونة وجامعة سيدني وفقا لاختياره كمنظم للبطولة.

بينما يتواجد فريق الزمالك بالمجموعة الأولى رفقة كلاً من، توباتي البرازيلي وفيزبريم المجري.

طالع أيضاً.. محلل قناة أبو ظبي: العين سيصطدم بـ12 لاعبًا أمام الأهلي في القاهرة

وشهد شهر مايو الماضي حفل توقيع استضافة مصر لـ سوبر جلوب كرة اليد وبطولة العالم للقارات بقصر عابدين بتنظيم الشركة المتحدة واتحاد كرة اليد، وتحت إشراف الاتحاد الدولى للعبة، لتواصل مصر استضافتها ورعايتها للأحداث والبطولات العالمية في مختلف الألعاب الرياضية.

وشهد حفل التوقيع حضور كل من الدكتور أشرف صبحى وزير الشباب والرياضة، ومسئولى الشركة المتحدة للرياضة المتمثلة فى رئيس الشركة محمد يحيى لطفى، ونائبه سيف الوزيرى، ومسئولى اتحاد اليد برئاسة محمد الأمين.

Jos Buttler calls for England players' donations to go to grass roots cricket

England men’s players announced an initial donation of £500,000 ‘to the ECB and selected good causes’ on Friday

George Dobell06-Apr-2020Jos Buttler has called for the money donated by England’s centrally contracted players to be directed to grass roots cricket.England men’s players announced an initial donation of £500,000 “to the ECB and selected good causes” on Friday in recognition of the challenging situation faced by a game confronted by the Covid-19 pandemic. And while the announcement suggested “the precise details of the charitable donation will be decided over the next week by the players” Buttler’s personal preference is clear.”I think the players would love that money to go towards grass roots community stuff,” Buttler said. “There are so many different areas that are going to be affected: grass roots, youth coaching and disability sports.”As players we’re all very aware of the other affects this is going to have drip feeding down into the game and without grass roots cricket we’re nothing, really. That’s the people we’re trying to inspire. That’s the whole point of something like The Hundred: it’s to inspire a new generation and bring new people into the game.”So I know the players are very strong on wanting that money to help that grass roots structure and pathway because we need to bring people into the game and make sure that is very strong. Personally, yes, grass roots causes would be my choice.”ALSO READ: England contracted players volunteer salary reductionsButtler also revealed the inspiration for his decision to auction the shirt he was wearing when he completed the run-out that sealed the World Cup. Buttler is selling the shirt to help the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals charity purchase an ECMO (Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation) machine which provides life support to people with life-threatening heart or lung problems. The top bid is, at the time of writing, £65,800. The auction ends on Tuesday evening GMT and can be followed here.”My wife, Louise, has an aunt who is the head of paediatrics at the Royal Brompton Hospital,” he said. “So last summer – and the year before – we’ve been into the hospital to see her and the work she does. When this outbreak started we were speaking to her about what it was like and whether there was anything we could do to help.Jos Buttler looks on in England training•Getty Images

“She said it’s true what the media are saying: doctors and nurses have been working incredibly long hours and struggling for simple things like snacks and toiletries. She said there was a donation we could make on her [charity] page which I did and a few of the other England players did. I think they had a Waitrose delivery on Friday, so a bit of money went to that.”She also told us about the emergency appeal the hospital had started. They were looking to raise £100,000 to buy emergency equipment. I said we could auction my World Cup shirt to raise some money for that.”As well as wearing the shirt at the key moment of the match – he wore a different one while batting – Buttler also revealed he wore it throughout the following night of celebrations and that it has been autographed by his teammates.”It’s the shirt I fielded in for the 50 overs and the Super Over,” he said. “I probably took it off about seven o’clock the next morning. They were great times; those times in the dressing-room and then we headed back to the hotel bar with everyone still in full kit. Everyone’s autograph is on the shirt. It’s seen it all, that shirt. It smells pretty authentic.”

Spurs could land their own Cole Palmer in "magic" £51m gem

da heads bet: Do Tottenham Hotspur supporters approach kitchen-sink time with greedy anticipation, confident that their side will find that late, all-changing goal to continue a promising campaign?

da dobrowin: Ange Postecoglou has certainly inculcated a sense of belief, drive and determination that has seen Spurs find a big moment in late stages on numerous occasions.

It doesn't always work out, but against Luton Town on Saturday, skipper Heung-min Son popped up with a late strike to hand his side victory.

Despite the summer sale of Harry Kane, the London club have been impressive in attack, after their fashion, but seek further firepower to carry the revival into the forthcoming campaign and build upon a solid base.

Spurs eyeing summer signings

After observation, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy will be of the opinion that improvements are required across multiple positions, and while Postecoglou has created an exciting attacking squadron, the anticipated return to European competition calls for depth.

As such, according to German outlet BILD – via Sport Witness – Spurs are attentive to Dani Olmo's situation with RB Leipzig, with the Spaniard's €60m (£51m) release clause active this summer.

Dani Olmo for RB Leipzig

Bryan Gil is expected to leave Postecoglou's squad this summer and Tottenham will hope that they will clinch Champions League qualification and entice Olmo to join, with Manchester City interested in the creative midfielder.

Dani Olmo's style of play

RB Leipzig have got a lot of talent in their ranks but currently sit in fifth place in the German Bundesliga, three points behind Borussia Dortmund in the top four.

Olmo is a talented and sought-after player but he has seen his progress across the past several seasons punctuated by interfering injuries, only starting 12 top-flight fixtures this term.

Still, as per Sofascore, he has created seven big chances this season to complement an impressive return of three goals and four assists, also averaging 1.3 key passes, 1.2 dribbles and 3.5 ball recoveries per game.

A versatile attacking midfielder and noted for his "magic" ability by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Olmo is capable on alternate flanks but finds his playmaking at its zenith when situated in the No. 10 spot, hailed for his "exceptional abilities" by Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann, formerly of Leipzig.

His multi-angled attacking approach is exactly what Tottenham need, offering a direct threat while supplementing his teammates, having clinched 28 goals and 33 assists for RB Leipzig in total.

Why Spurs are interested in Dani Olmo

Tottenham might already have an elite playmaker in James Maddison but Giovani Lo Celso will possibly leave the club this summer and is out of contract at the end of the 2024/25 campaign anyway, with little chance of a resolution.

As per FBref, Olmo ranks among the top 22% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for total shots and assists and the top 25% for interceptions per clearances per 90.

Dani Olmo: Similar PL Players

#

Player

Club

1.

Cole Palmer

Chelsea

2.

James Maddison

Tottenham Hotspur

3.

Alex Iwobi

Fulham

4.

Michael Olise

Crystal Palace

Stats via FBref

Olmo might not quite be sparkling right now but he's been inhibited by these niggling muscular issues; put those firmly behind him and he will no doubt return to the first-class form that has led to interest from some of Europe's heavyweights in the past.

His stylistic similarities to Maddison highlight the success that might be found in welcoming him to the fold, but perhaps more intriguing is the semblance with Chelsea's Cole Palmer, who signed for the Stamford Bridge side from Manchester City for an initial £40m on transfer deadline day last summer.

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Palmer ranks among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 13% for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for pass completion and the top 10% for progressive passes per 90, showcasing his crisp passing and technical attributes that place him in the same bracket as Olmo, albeit performing at a far superior level right now.

He might not be playing his finest football right now, but what matters is that Olmo carries a protean threat with a natural flair and guile on the ball that would open up a dimension to this building Tottenham team.

Dani Olmo playing for Spain

He's not quite got the raw ball-delivering expertise of Maddison, nor has he the same lofty energy of Dejan Kulusevski – few do – but Olmo offers elite deftness in possession, dropping his shoulder and darting with a stag's gait through the lines.

Dynamic would be the apt phrasing: described as a "good finisher" by former La Masia coach Denis Silva Puig and well regarded for his mentality and lifting effect on his peers. Leipzig have won the past two DFB Pokal titles, with Olmo grabbing three goals and five assists from eight matches during this run.

Palmer too is tactically flexible and polished, complete, in his skill set. An attacking midfielder with much to prove after leaving Manchester City for struggling Chelsea, he has belied his age and inexperience to incredibly chalk up 16 goals and 12 assists from his opening 35 appearances as a Blue.

Chelsea have seen the impact of signing such a player, have drank from the cup of Palmer's prodigious quality, and while Mauricio Pochettino's side are struggling, Palmer certainly is not.

Postecoglou has the tactical wherewithal to make his move and bring Olmo to the club, offering an ostensibly higher calibre of football and a chance to take his promising career to the next level.

At £51m, it's a bit of a no-brainer. Manchester City might be interested but if the Lilywhites act incisively, Olmo will surely wind up down N17.

Morgan looks forward to working with McCullum, Karthik at Kolkata Knight Riders

“There are a lot of dynamics about being a captain when you’re playing in India that I don’t know about.”

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Apr-20204:43

‘The 2019 World Cup final massively lifted the profile of the game’ – Eoin Morgan

Eoin Morgan has been making “the best out of a bad situation”, enforced by the coronavirus pandemic, spending time with his three-week-old baby. Had things been normal, Morgan would not have been at home, he would have been part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad in the IPL.Reflecting on a remarkable year for him as England’s white-ball captain, Morgan said that the 2019 World Cup final had lifted the profile of cricket in England in unprecedented fashion.”I think the journey that we went on is probably the most exciting. In 2015, the embarrassing nature in which we were bundled out of that World Cup and the journey we embarked on to try and change the brand of cricket that we played with a new group of extremely talented players over the course of four years – it’s brilliant,” Morgan told .Morgan on the reverse-sweep and his playing role:

“The more experience that I’ve got, I find myself batting in that middle order and hopefully being there at the end. It’s probably one of the better skills that I do have and probably over the last two years, it’s been at its best.
“I started playing reverse-sweep when I first came to London as a 16-year old and signed up at Middlesex. Playing at Lord’s, the boundaries were very short square of the wicket and they are really long straight. When I played in the first team as a 17-18 year old, trying to clear the long straight boundary at Lord’s was very difficult for me. So I started playing a lot more sweeps just because they were more effective at our home ground. I sort of drilled the reverse-sweep and swept for as long as I could. The reverse-sweep has been one of my favourite shots because it’s been so effective over the years.”

“It sort of culminated in last year’s World Cup. The final was the most dramatic game of cricket and the best game of cricket that probably has ever been played which contributes to the hype of it. But I think one of the great things about it was on the day of that great game of cricket was, it’s always now associated with the longest ever Wimbledon final that was epic as well. It helped us in growing cricket outside of the normal bubble that we’re already in to a different audience, and for us at home it has lifted the profile of the game like we’ve never seen.”Straight after the World cup win was the Ashes series which was absolutely amazing to watch. Australia thoroughly deserved to win it [the series was drawn with Australia retaining the urn] but again, the dramatic nature in which the whole series unfolded really did attract the whole country and sort of galvanised one of our biggest rivalries in sport. It was fascinating to watch and I thought it was a great year for us, cricket-wise.”Morgan was also looking forward to a second stint with Knight Riders, having played for the franchise from 2011 to 2013. He will reunite with good friend Brendon McCullum, the two having first built a friendship when they were team-mates at Knight Riders. McCullum is now the head coach of the franchise.”I think his contribution not only to New Zealand cricket but to world cricket really took the front in 2015 with their campaign – throughout the 2015 World Cup,” Morgan said. “They really did, I suppose, transform the fate of a nation and the hope of a nation in the way that they played. They played aggressive, positive cricket but also in a way that wasn’t in your face the whole time. It was really good to watch, it created a huge amount of attraction and I think majority of the time actually the way that they play and the manner that they play overlooks the skill level that they produce.”And I think Baz is the reason for that turnaround. I think he has had a huge input in the way they’ve played and in all formats as well not just white ball. I suppose it makes that move to KKR all the more sweet when he’s head coach. I think if we see any similarities in the impact that he’s had as a player and as a captain on his coaching, the impact will be monumental. I really do think he’s changed the landscape of cricket and the attitude of the way people play.”Morgan was also looking forward to learning from Dinesh Karthik, the Knight Riders captain.”While I’m here to help, I also want to learn as much as I can from him. There are a lot of dynamics about being a captain when you’re playing in India that I don’t know about, I’ll be picking his brain the whole time,” Morgan said. “I’ll naturally be myself and try to give as much as I can just like the rest of the international players. But it’s going to be fascinating to see how and when we get to play and how the competition lines up. Because everybody is going to come out of isolation extremely excited, rearing to go, batting, bowling, fielding the whole lot.”

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