Samuel Luckhurst criticised a Manchester United star, who looked “haunted” in the first half of the 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Man Utd complete second-half comeback to prevail at Palace

Man United’s performance in the first half of the win against the Eagles left a lot to be desired, with Mark Goldbridge taking to X to criticise Ruben Amorim, while also taking aim at the manager’s reluctance to change things at half-time.

However, Amorim’s approach ultimately paid off, with Joshua Zirkzee cancelling out Jean-Philippe Mateta’s opener early in the second half, before Mason Mount secured all three points after being laid off by Bruno Fernandes from a free-kick.

The Red Devils were able to close out a 2-1 win, bringing their four-game winless run against Palace to an end, but it was far from a vintage performance, with Luckhurst taking to X to criticise Casemiro’s performance during the first half.

The reporter said: “Not remotely got going and Casemiro looks haunted up against Adam Wharton again.”

Man Utd should go all out to sign Wharton

It is little wonder United are so keen on signing Wharton, who put in a fantastic first-half performance, once again catching the eye with his passing ability.

With Amorim in the market for a new midfielder, INEOS should go all out to sign the Crystal Palace star, who was unlucky to be on the losing side after bossing the midfield in the first half, although Casemiro did manage to turn things around.

Although he lost possession 11 times, the Brazilian made a number of key defensive contributions throughout the match, winning seven duels, the second-highest number of any United player, while also making two interceptions, three clearances and three tackles.

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Journalist Liam Canning was also left impressed with the 33-year-old’s display, in what could be his final season as a Man United player, although an encouraging new update from Fabrizio Romano suggests the central midfielder could extend his contract beyond next summer…

Aston Villa will look forward to strengthening their squad in January when it comes, albeit Roberto Olabe is already getting to work by sealine some intriguing internal deals at his new club.

Aston Villa suffer surprise loss to Go Ahead Eagles

Despite being overwhelming favourites in the city of Deventer, the Villans suffered a surprising 2-1 loss to Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League on Thursday night, leaving them tenth in the league phase after three matches.

Unai Emery fielded a strong squad including the likes of Emiliano Martinez, Jadon Sancho and Ollie Watkins. However, Evann Guessand’s opener was cancelled out by two strikes from the hosts before Emi Buendia’s missed penalty capped a forgettable night in the Netherlands.

Speaking post-match, the Spaniard urged his side to react after their six-game unbeaten run came to an end, as he said: “This showed us how difficult it is to play away in Europe. Even dominating chances, we conceded mistakes, some chances. We must accept it.

“There is still work to do. We have broken the good form we have and I hope we recover quick. We were very optimistic before the match, but we lost. Now we have to react.”

Ollie Watkins has drawn criticism at Aston Villa from Ian Wright and his one goal in 12 appearances across all competitions is unlikely to convince the masses, albeit the England international is still a supreme force on his day.

Other senior figures were drafted in from the bench to try and save the say, including John McGinn and Matty Cash, but couldn’t work their magic. Intriguingly, TBR report that McGinn and Cash are set to sign contract extensions at Villa Park as Olabe gets to work.

Now, the Villans could be set to see two of their other prize assets put pen to paper at the club as they look to build for the future.

Aston Villa could also tie down Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans

Speaking to the outlet, Graeme Bailey also confirmed Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers are in talks with the club over new deals after McGinn and Cash agreed in principle to remain at Villa Park.

He said: “It is great news for Villa that Roberto Olabe has hit the ground running, it shows a real relationship between him and Emery, that he can come in and just continue talks and indeed make quick progress.

Aston Villa leading race for "amazing" £26m star who now wants to leave his club

The Villans are in the strongest position to sign a new forward.

ByDominic Lund Oct 21, 2025

“I am told Cash’s deal is done and McGinn is also agreed in principle. Clearly they want to get these deals done before January, which makes sense as they can then attack the window fully. Talks over a deals for Rogers and Tielemans are also continuing, but are not as advanced at this point.”

Rogers and Tielemans are both key cogs in the Villa machine, evidenced by the fact they have made 185 appearances for the club between them, and the fact there is small progress being made will be music to the ears of supporters.

Despite their appeal on the market, Emery keeping hold of both would greatly help his side’s Premier League prospects, though it remains to be seen whether they can push an agreement over the line.

В одной из лучших средневековых стратегий Crusader Kings 3 стартовали бесплатные выходные. Сыграть в неё может любой пользователь Steam до 12 сентября 20:00 (МСК). Сейчас игра продаётся со скидкой за 744 рубля.

Акцию приурочили к выходу дополнения Friends & Foes, которое разнообразит повседневную жизнь правителя. DLC добавляет в игру «сотни историй о детстве, заклятых врагах, строптивых сыновьях и бурных романах».

Crusader Kings 3 геймерам предстоит управлять целой династией правителей выбранного государства. Возможности игрока безграничны: можно захватывать земли, вступать в брак, воспитывать наследника, вести интриги, заниматься дипломатией и торговлей, соблазнять, предавать и даже казнить исторических личностей. Одна из главных особенности игры — живой мир, наполненный тысячами динамических событий, влияющих на судьбы персонажей.

В Steam Crusader Kings 3 получила более 50 тысяч отзывов, 92% из которых — положительные. Критики тоже остались в восторге от стратегии — игра набрала 91/100 баллов на Metacritic, став одним из лучших проектов 2020 года.

Ранее в Steam началась распродажа издателя Focus Entertainment.

Следить за халявой и скидками на игры можно в нашем Telegram-канале.

⚡️ Процессоры AMD тоже подорожают

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В сервисе Steam появилась очередная порция бесплатных проектов. В свежую подборку попали 8 игр разных жанров — рогалик, головоломка, стратегия и не только.

Saloon King — простенький вестерн-шутер, где нужно помочь дикому ренегату захватить салун и город. Проект получил 100% положительных отзывов. Страница в Steam.

A Dual Ascent — игра с видом сверху, где нужно управлять одновременно двумя персонажами при помощи одного контроллера. Сюжет рассказывает о девушке и старом звере, которые пытаются добраться на вершины великой горы. Страница в Steam.

Mortimer: First Launch — симулятор енота с головоломками и интерактивным окружением, где можно посетить альтернативную версию парка Хэтбилл во Флориде. Страница в Steam.

Peek-A-Mimic Christmas Castle — трёхмерная головоломка про поиск спрятанных предметов в уютном замке, жители которого готовятся праздновать Рождество. Страница в Steam.

Burntime Remastered — переработанная версия постапокалиптической стратегии 1993 года, получившая улучшенную графику и поддержку широкоэкранных режимов. Страница в Steam.

InKing — экшен-рогалик в духе Vampire Survivors. Имеет 100% рейтинга. Страница в Steam.

100 Korea Cats — игра про поиск котов на огромном рисунке с корейским городом. Есть платное дополнение с дополнительным уровнем. Игра получила 92% рейтинга. Страница в Steam.

POCKET MYSTERY EP DX — пиксельный хоррор в духе игр с портативной консоли Game Boy Color. Главным героем выступает детектив Уокер Райланс, который исследует таинственный отель с целью раскрыть убийство четырех человек. Страница в Steam.

Следить за халявой и скидками на игры можно в нашем Telegram-канале.

⚡️ Анонсировали Total War: Medieval 3 — спустя 19 лет после релиза второй части

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В мобильном приложении EGS стартовала бесплатная раздача Pilgrims — инди-игры от создателей Machinarium и Samorost. Скачать проект на своё устройство можно до 7 августа.

Pilgrims — квест 2019 года про искателя приключений, который должен решить проблемы разных персонажей, чтобы заполучить неуловимую птицу. В игре есть 45 достижений, для получения которых придётся пройти проект несколько раз. Pilgrims вдохновлена карточной мини-игрой из Samorost 3. В Steam она получил 96% положительных отзывов. В Google Play её скачали более 100 тысяч раз.

Напомним, что недавно на Android вышел бесплатный мобильный шутер на выживание Grimzone, похожий на «смесь S.T.A.L.K.E.R. и Unrecord». Чуть раньше в сервисе Google Play состоялся релиз симулятора полицейского с открытым миром OWRC Police: Chase Simulator.

😣 Цены на SSD пойдут ввысь вслед за ОЗУ

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The fast bowler finds a way to thrive in all conditions but in Kanpur his magic balls just kept beating the bat

Alagappan Muthu27-Sep-2024It started from the very first delivery of the day. Jasprit Bumrah saw it skitter through at shin height and bounce before it reached the wicketkeeper.In a way, that helped India. Their pre-match suspicions about Kanpur having low bounce were confirmed and their slip cordon was a lot more confident with the positions they’d chosen, really close in to the bat. Bangladesh’s first wicket fell because Yashasvi Jaiswal was only 14 metres away at gully.Bumrah puts a lot of effort behind the ball. His action is only one small part of why he is so hard to face. The rest of it comes from the snap of his wrist, which helps him dig the seam into the pitch and extract every bit of help that’s there, whether it’s movement or bounce. The fact that he did all that and the ball still barely rose up off the surface set the tone for the rest of his day.Usually, it’s great being Jasprit Bumrah. Just this once, it wasn’t.He bowled three straight maidens to start his spell, with Zakir Hasan hopping about, unsure of which of his edges were in danger. He also allowed 17 leaves in his nine overs. He was a little up and down. And yet, the genius that he is, he still produced 22 false shots (that’s a ratio of one every three balls) and beat the bat thrice (6) as often as any other bowler.Eventually, even the good work that he was doing brought Bumrah a little bit of frustration – because this time unlike many others – he was really trying to get wickets instead of what he usually does which is settle on a length and slowly prey on the batter’s technique. He kept shifting from over the wicket to around and back again, like a go-between trying to patch up a lover’s quarrel. He had to experiment like this because the softness of the pitch had given Bangladesh a margin of error. On a harder surface, the ball might have gone through quicker and carried through higher and made him more of a threat. On this one, the batters seemed to have an extra second to adjust to all the sideways movement he were getting.India, though, had a deep enough bowling attack and together they kept Bangladesh under enough pressure that at the end of a truncated day’s play, they were still in control of the game. Their decision at the toss to bowl first – a first such instance in a home Test since 2015 – was built on the basis that the three-man pace attack would be able to exploit the overcast conditions. And it can be no bad thing that their fast bowlers are getting as much of a workout as they are in a home season that is leading into a huge away tour of Australia.1:14

Manjrekar: If India’s batting comes good, could be a third series win in Australia

Akash Deep’s performances, not just his wickets, but the way he seems to be getting them in his first spell, are a good sign. If he keeps this up, one of the problems that affect India when they travel – the support bowlers following the lead bowlers and releasing the pressure – may not have too much of a say on the final scorecard.For now, the attention remains on Kanpur. Its weather will keep India’s fast bowlers front and centre and Bumrah will be back on day two – so long as the rain stays away – producing more magic balls. Everybody walked off to the dressing room on the back of one, actually, and as he saw it nip past, instead of taking the outside edge, Bumrah threw his head back and half smiled. Usually, it’s great being him. Just this once, it wasn’t.

Aston Villa only have a limited time to raise funds in their battle to avoid PSR sanctions, with the footballing financial deadline for 2024/2025 looming on June 30.

£120k-a-week Aston Villa outfielder has now opened talks to join elite club

He could leave with Emiliano Martinez.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 21, 2025

Unai Emery’s side can only register a loss of around £15 million for the year just gone, according to a recent report by The Athletic, with Premier League clubs only permitted losses of around £105m over a rolling three-year period.

Villa are forecast to be over this limit as things stand, prompting NSWE to explore the possibility of selling their women’s team in a bid to comply with PSR and swerve breaches.

Emery falling just short of qualifying for the Champions League at the end of 24/25 cost them dearly both on and off the field, and there is every possibility that Villa could look to secure a big-name exit in the next two days to raise funds.

Their marquee sales of Jhon Duran and Moussa Diaby to Saudi Arabia have really helped in this regard, but they could require at least one more as the PSR deadline looms.

Atletico Madrid held talks with Lucas Digne over a switch to La Liga recently, according to Football Insider, and the 52-cap Frenchman, with just one year remaining on his £120,000-per-week contract, could be a prime contender for the exit door.

Emiliano Martínez, Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana are other players named as potential candidates to leave, while clubs are expressing a serious interest in Villa sensation Morgan Rogers as well.

The clock is ticking for Villa to agree a significant departure, and they could be handed a chance to make some money off Kosta Nedeljkovic’s talks to join RB Leipzig permanently (Sky Germany).

However, according to journalist Wayne Veysey, Villa have also alerted representatives to their stance over selling star striker Ollie Watkins.

Aston Villa tell agents they're ready to sell Ollie Watkins

Emery’s side rejected a low-ball £40 million bid from Arsenal for Watkins in January, but the Gunners haven’t followed that up with any formal approach so far this summer.

Writing for Football Insider, Veysey states Villa have told “senior agents” that they’re ready to sell Watkins by Monday, but they’re yet to find a buyer for the talismanic forward, who bagged 17 goals and 14 assists in all competitions last term.

The 29-year-old, who’ll turn 30 in December, also became the club’s all-time top Premier League goalscorer at the back end of 24/25, surpassing Gabriel Agbonlahor, but Villa have apparently made it clear they’re willing to do a deal.

Emery may not be a fan of this decision, or supporters for that matter, considering they already let Duran go earlier this year – and it would be an almighty task to replace Watkins’ influence up front.

“He deserves it completely because he is a hard worker,” said Emery about Watkins, after the ex-Brentford star broke Agbonlahor’s Premier League goalscoring record for Villa.

“He is committed with Aston Villa. His courage has been fantastic and to achieve it is very fantastic. I am so, so grateful to have a player like him.”

Manchester United, who are looking to sell out-of-favour winger Jadon Sancho, could be forced to send him out on loan once again despite interest from Turkish giants Besiktas. United want a permanent solution for Sancho as he is into the final year of his contract, although the Premier League side have an option to extend the deal by a year.

Man Utd could send Sancho out on loanBesiktas and Dortmund want the wingerSancho has one year left in his contractFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Sancho is part of United's 'bomb squad' – a group of unwanted players that the club would want to get rid of before the summer transfer window closes on September 1. While they have managed to ship off Marcus Rashford to Barcelona on a loan deal, players like Sancho, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho still remain at Old Trafford. Garnacho is strongly linked with a move to Chelsea, but Sancho and Antony's futures remains uncertain.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

On Tuesday, Sancho saw his Instagram flooded by requests from Besiktas fans to join the Turkish side this summer, while club president, Serdal Adal claimed that he would love to sign the winger this summer. Borussia Dortmund are also keen on reuniting with their former player, who enjoyed two successful stints at the German side. Amid interest from the Turkish league and the Bundesliga, report that the Red Devils might be forced to loan him out again as the window ticks down.

DID YOU KNOW?

Other than Besiktas and Dortmund, clubs in Italy and the Saudi Pro League have also shown interest in the 25-year-old. It now remains to be seen where Sancho heads to before the transfer window closes.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

Amorim's side are now preparing for their season opener this Sunday as they host Arsenal at Old Trafford. The United attack has been bolstered by the additions of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.

“She can accelerate as well as play the defensive role, which is great as a batter to have”

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jan-2025

Pratika Rawal has made one of the strongest starts to an ODI career by any batter, male or female. No woman has scored as many runs in their first six innings as Rawal has – 444 at an average of 74.00 – and only one man, South Africa’s Janneman Malan, has done better.On Wednesday, Rawal made her biggest splash yet, stroking 154 off 129 balls, adding 233 with her opening partner Smriti Mandhana, and helping India smash multiple records – including their biggest ODI total, 435 for 5 – during the third ODI against Ireland.Related

Mandhana and Rawal's tons fire India to record win

Stats – Mandhana smashes fastest ODI century for India on record-breaking day

Mandhana, India’s stand-in captain in the absence of Harmanpreet Kaur, was full of praise for Rawal after the match, and noted her versatility as one of her biggest strengths.”Yeah, really pleased with the way she’s batting,” Mandhana said of Rawal. “I feel [she] has a really calm head on her shoulders, knows what she’s doing, has I think both sort of games, where she can accelerate as well as play the defensive role, which is great as a batter to have.”To see her rise from the first one-dayer against West Indies [last month] to now is really nice, and good runner between the wickets as well, converts the ones into twos, which always helps in one-day cricket. So really happy for her, and I hope she keeps continuing her form, because it’s a big year for us [India are due to host the ODI World Cup in August-September].”‘Sometimes you have to go out and respect the conditions, but [on] wickets like these – if it’s in your slot, you have to go for it’•BCCI

India’s batters enjoyed a hugely productive series against Ireland, chasing down 239 in less than 35 overs in the first ODI and posting 370 in the second before Wednesday’s record-obliterating events. Mandhana felt that the Rajkot pitch was the kind where batters could play their shots with utmost freedom, and she certainly did on her way to scoring India’s fastest-ever ODI century, off 70 balls, and finishing with 135 off 80 balls.”I would love to carry this wicket [everywhere I go] as a batter for sure, but as a captain I don’t know. It’s a hard wicket to bowl on. But for me it was very clear than I wanted to go out and try and play shots which are in my arc, because it’s not every day that you get the opportunity to do that as an opening batter, because sometimes you have to go out and respect the conditions and play, but [on] wickets like these and the outfield – if it’s in your slot, you have to go for it.”There was no clear plan. I just said, if it’s in my arc, I’m going to go for it. Some days it comes off, some days it doesn’t. Today I’m happy that it came off.”Having posted a record total, India went on to defend it with aplomb, with spinners Deepti Sharma, Tanuja Kanwar and Minnu Mani sharing six wickets and help bundle Ireland out for 131. The 304-run win was India’s biggest in ODIs.Tanuja Kanwar picked up 2 for 31•BCCI

Ireland had batted through their 50 overs in the first two ODIs, but Mandhana felt India’s bowlers had been just as good in those two games – it was just that there was a bit more help for the spinners in the third ODI, with the same pitch being used through the series, and that Ireland’s batters had tried to play more shots in pursuit of their steep target.”I think today the wicket also gave a lot of assistance to our spinners, because it was the same wicket which was used in the first two ODIs as well, so there was a little bit of spin on offer,” Mandhana said. “I think first two one-dayers, there was not much in it, and also today they came out and were trying to play some shots, and sometimes, when the batters play shots, that’s the best time to get opportunity to get them out.”In the first two one-dayers I thought they were just trying to take a single or double, which again… it’s a hard wicket to bowl and try and get them out. I wouldn’t say that the bowlers did not do [well] in the first or second ODI. I think they bowled brilliantly in the first and second ODI as well, but today there was a little bit more in the wicket for them and, as I said, the batters playing shots helps.”For all the damage the spinners did, it was fast bowlers Titas Sadhu and Sayali Satghare who set the tone, taking two of the first three wickets to begin Ireland’s slide.”Yeah, I think they both bowled really well, got us the first two early wickets, which is always good to get with the new ball, sets the foundations for the spinners to come,” Mandhana said. “Saima [Thakor], Sayali, Titas, all three bowled really well throughout the three ODIs, and it’s a pretty difficult wicket and outfield to bowl [on], so really happy for them.”

In another era, Woakes may well have been England’s premier swing bowler for a decade

George Dobell02-Sep-2021In another era, an era without James Anderson, Chris Woakes may well have been England’s premier swing bowler for a decade. And in another era, an era without Ben Stokes, Woakes may have been England’s premier seam-bowling all-rounder, too.But sometimes it seems it is Woakes’ destiny to be the supporting actor to the Oscar-winning star; the sidekick to the hero; the straight man to the comic. Despite his outstanding record – and it might be remembered he was England’s player of the year in 2020 – he had not played a Test in more than a year and, if England were at full-strength – with Jofra Archer and Stuart Broad and Stokes et al available – there’s every chance Woakes would have been overlooked once again.He should, by rights, be a star in his own right. Instead you get the impression that, when he is recognised in public, people come up and ask what it’s like to play with Stokes. You imagine Stokes doesn’t get that in reverse.So it was pretty typical that he should end without a five-for after the first day of the LV= Insurance Test at the Kia Oval. It wasn’t that he didn’t deserve one – he surely did – but more that it seems more than a little typical that he shouldn’t quite gain the credit he is due. He has a better bowling average in England (22.47) than either Anderson (24.06) or Broad (25.78) but, aged 32, he has played only 39 Tests.He provided a reminder of his abilities here. Generating movement that none of his colleagues, even Anderson, could match, and bowling at a slightly quicker pace, Woakes maintained a probing off-stump line and claimed four wickets to help his side gain the upper-hand on the first day of this match. In English conditions at least, he really does demand selection.Related

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It should have been even better. There were two dropped chances off Woakes’ bowling, both of them in a slip cordon that seems to change every time you look at it. Virat Kohli, poking at a beauty which left him, one of those fortunate to survive. How like Woakes to defeat the best player and still end up without the wicket. His figures (3-19 from 11 overs at one stage) were dented by a late assault from Shardul Thakur, too.Maybe a reminder of Woakes’ skills required. He hadn’t played a first-class game for more than a year – his previous one, the final Test against Pakistan last summer, finished on August 25, 2020 – and has had a frustrating time of late. Having been sidelined in Sri Lanka after being deemed a close contact of Moeen Ali, who had been diagnosed with Covid, he then found himself surplus to requirements in India. As an IPL player, he was not considered for the Test series against New Zealand and then suffered a freak heel injury, sustained when he slipped down some stairs, which kept him out of the first three Tests of this series.Joe Root recently described Woakes’ last year as a “nightmare,” but Woakes, typically, was more phlegmatic.”There are a lot of people in the world who have had a lot worse 18 months than me,” he said. “But it has been a weird time. And I was absolutely desperate to play cricket again. It’s felt like a long time coming. I do feel I’ve missed out a bit by not being able to build on the year I had before [in 2020] but I loved it today. They were good conditions in which to bowl and I was happy to show what I could do again.”You wonder if that unassuming affability has sometimes held Woakes back. You can’t imagine him taking to TV, as Broad once did, to bemoan the decision to leave him out of a side, can you? Or posting videos of himself on social media, as Anderson once did, to prove his fitness to reluctant selectors. He is not a sulker, a moaner or a prima donna. He spent several months in bio-bubbles over the winter without bowling a red ball in anger. He didn’t utter so much as a tut. Maybe, at times, he should make it slightly less comfortable for coaches to leave him out.”I don’t look at it that way,” he said. “It’s well publicised that my record in England is much better than my record away. But I played a lot of cricket last summer. I like to think that, had I been available this summer, I would have been in the first XI.”Chris Woakes celebrates the wicket of Rishabh Pant•Getty ImagesWoakes’ reputation as a home-track bully is understandable. He takes his wickets in England at a cost of 22.47 apiece, but overseas they cost him 51.68. But it might also be a bit outdated.When Darren Gough worked with the England team as a bowling consultant, towards the end of 2019, he encouraged Woakes to forget about floating the kookaburra ball up in the hope of gaining swing. Instead he encouraged him to hit the pitch harder – as hard as he could – on a length in a bid to extract anything he could from the seam and surface.Combined with his other skills – not least the wobble-seam, which is a relatively new addition to his armoury – this seemed to add an edge to Woakes’ game. In two overseas Tests since (one of them on the bowlers’ graveyard that is Hamilton) he claimed seven wickets (including that of Kane Williamson) at a cost of 25.71. It’s a small sample size, but his potential value in Australia shouldn’t be discounted at this stage.It was no coincidence that Woakes’ introduction into the attack coincided with England seizing the initiative in this match. India were 28 without loss after eight overs when Woakes came on. He didn’t concede a run in his first three overs – there was only one scoring stroke in his first five-over spell – and, with Ollie Robinson (8-6-8-1) equally frugal at the other end, England delivered seven successive maidens at one stage.The pressure brought two wickets, with Woakes dismissing Rohit Sharma in his first over with one that lifted and left him to take the edge. Later Ravi Jadeja poked at one which left him, Rishabh Pant was defeated by a slower ball – a reminder of Woakes’ limited-overs skills which, but for Stokes’ brilliance, might have been player of the match in the World Cup final – and Thakur was beaten by one which nipped back.Woakes later confessed that, having “not played a lot of red ball cricket,” he was more than a little nervous and concentrated on his core skill of moving the ball away from the right-handers. “I knew the lads have had some success with the wobble seam, so I tried that more than I usually would,” he said. “And thankfully, I got away with the nerves as the surface was responsive and I got that early wicket.”He confessed, too, that the efforts of bowling 15 overs would hurt him tomorrow. But it will be sweet pain. He had waited a long time for this and had proved, once again, that England are lucky to have him.