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He spoke about wanting to bat time and make an impact, and did it in style in a historic Test

Nagraj Gollapudi12-Jul-2020Dom Bess mocked him in the first innings. Jermaine Blackwood had charged England’s offspinner on Friday to hit hard into the hands of James Anderson at mid-off. Bess imitated swinging a golf club, as if out of a bunker in the golf course adjacent to Ageas Bowl. Blackwood’s audacity was not to the Englishman’s liking.Blackwood’s inclusion in the team was a clear indication that West Indies were uncertain about their top order, and would need to bench their lead spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, who had taken ten wickets in West Indies’ last Test, in November against Afghanistan. But could Blackwood be trusted?Recently Andy Roberts told Michael Holding (on the latter’s You Tube channel) that it was one thing to score in domestic cricket, where Blackwood emerged as the top run-scorer in the West Indies Championships (which got him into the squad), and another to dominate a famed fast bowling attack like England’s. Roberts was not certain how long Blackwood could curb his natural instinct, to attack.Roger Harper, the West Indies chief selector, though, had said he was impressed by Blackwood’s maturity. Blackwood himself wanted to snap the moniker of being a “ball beater”. He said he knew how to bat a situation and his main aim in England would be to bat time.ALSO READ: Jermaine Blackwood: ‘More determined, more focused after being dropped’He had even trained with the most valuable player in T20 cricket, someone known for keeping his cool with both bat and ball in high-pressure situations in franchise cricket – fellow Jamaican Andre Russell. Yet, the manner in which he charged Bess when West Indies needed him to play time and build an innings, made Bess’s subsequent description of it to host broadcaster Sky Cricket as a “rogue” shot seem apt. Blackwood had lasted 22 balls for his 12 runs.Sunday offered Blackwood another shot at redemption. West Indies had been flattened by one of their own – Jofra Archer, formerly of Barbados now of England. Archer first sent John Campbell to ice his big toe on the right foot with a scorching yorker first ball of the morning. Kraigg Brathwaite and Shamarh Brooks were defeated by pace.Overnight, the Caribbean would have slept with hopes of a historic win. By the time it woke up the dream seemed nearly crushed at 35 for 3 with two sessions left.Blackwood’s innings began somewhat restlessly. On 5 he attempted to cut Bess from close to his body. He had already played 20 balls. The ball jumped on him, but Stokes, at slip, had moved swiftly to his right already, and saw the ball fly past his flailing, outstretched left hand. Blackwood was getting edgy. In the next over, against an over-pitched delivery from Wood, Blackwood would ease to his first boundary, off his 26th delivery.He had started to settle down, in mind and on the pitch. Even as England attacked him and Roston Chase with short deliveries in the second session, both men held firm. They knew the ball was soft. The pitch was flat. The sun was shining. They rotated the strike instead of indulging in fancy strokeplay.Both men were patient, vigilant, and enjoyed their element of luck. On 20, Blackwood gloved a short delivery from Stokes that was climbing on to his hips, but Jos Buttler fumbled, failing to even gather the ball neatly. The umpire erred too, signaling the run a leg bye. Stokes held his head, moaning in disappointment.Jermaine Blackwood and Jason Holder chat in the middle•AFP via Getty ImagesBlackwood did not get distracted. Archer came for his first spell post lunch and fired a fuller length delivery into the Jamaican’s legs. If he missed, it would be plumb. Instead Blackwood flicked his wrist deftly to time a lovely boundary. He was now waiting for the ball instead of showing any rush of blood. He was even presenting the full face of the bat. When Stokes fired up the pace into the high 80s mph and produced a bouncer, Blackwood ducked quietly and then nodded his head as the frustrated England captain uttered a few words.Stokes was not giving up. Next over, he attacked Blackwood in the channel. The batsman poked, but Rory Burns, at short gully could not even spot the ball as it zipped passed even before he could get both hands together for the reverse cup. That was the second time Blackwood had survived a close call in a matter of two deliveries. On the last ball off the previous over, by Archer, Chase had pushed the ball to the left of Zak Crawley at cover and set off. Blackwood did not move as both batsmen found themselves at the same end. Luckily Crawley fumbled, too, allowing Blackwood to finish the run. To his credit, Blackwood did not allow that incident to dent his confidence. Knowing there was no third man, he played an expansive upper cut for four when Archer then banged in a short delivery.To understand the worth of Blackwood’s innings you need to look at how he responded to the situation after Chase left. Blackwood showed the maturity that Harper had witnessed in first-class cricket. He did not let his intent drop as he drove Bess through the covers in the over after Chase was out. Buttler chirped in his ears, “move to 49” to try and distract the Jamaican. But Blackwood was batting in his own bubble now. He would clear the milestone and continue to punish the loose deliveries.England has always brought out the best from Blackwood. In seven matches, including this one, he has scored 605 runs at a more than healthy average of 55, including one century and three half centuries. His control percentage on Sunday was in the 70s, but Blackwood has always got a start in the fourth innings against England, including making 41 in that famous Headingley triumph in 2017.

“If England laughed on Friday, Blackwood walked back to the silent claps of the West Indies camp on Sunday. In normal times, he would have got a standing ovation.”

In the first hour of the final session, Blackwood was aware that England would peg him back with the short stuff, but also attack his stumps. Archer did that to perfection. But Blackwood, by now, was wise to the bowling plan. He remained in his crease but was light footed, ducking and weaving the barrage of short deliveries that were fired at him. Stokes kept ringing in Blackwood’s ears from slip and on following through. Blackwood did not do ego.With the finish line in sight, Stokes fired another short delivery at Blackwood, who arched back to pick an easy four past the empty third man area. He was now five short of a match-winning, and possibly series turning, century.Stokes pitched fuller. As he had done frequently throughout this innings, Blackwood went for the shot. He believed it was there to be hit. It was an airy, punched drive, hit with the full face, but was plucked by Anderson at mid-off. In a game of risk and reward, this time Blackwood paid the price. But it was not a high price to pay like two days back. If England laughed on Friday, Blackwood walked back to the silent claps of the West Indies camp on Sunday. In normal times, he would have got a standing ovation.Back home in the Caribbean, several thousands would have deservedly given him one. West Indies head coach Phil Simmons had asked Blackwood to play time and put pressure on bowlers. Blackwood carried out that task for four hours in his 154-ball stay.He is no more the ball-basher. In a historic Test match played behind closed doors, Blackwood emerged as the unlikely hero. Writing history in his own way.

Freya Kemp could yet play a full role in the Women’s Ashes in the new year, according to England’s captain Heather Knight, despite flying home early from their tour of South Africa in order to manage her recovery from a long-term back injury.Kemp, 19, claimed two wickets with her left-arm seam across the three matches of last week’s T20I leg of the multi-format series, and bowled her full allocation of overs in their emphatic nine-wicket win in Centurion on Saturday.Kemp has suffered two stress fractures of her back in recent years, the first of which prevented her from bowling competitively for 14 months, but Knight insisted her withdrawal from the ODI and Test squads in South Africa was due to a surfeit of caution, rather than a recurrence of the injury.”It wasn’t originally part of the plan,” Knight said on the eve of the first ODI in Kimberley. “We were hoping to have her available for all three formats but, obviously, with her history with back injuries, she’s someone that we have to manage quite tightly and really look after.”We’re gutted to lose her,” Knight added. “She’s a great person to have around the group, and obviously a hugely exciting prospect for us. But the right thing for Freya was to go home and have a little look at how her back’s going, and then hopefully build towards those Ashes.Related

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“We’re really hopeful that she’s going to be fit and available, but it’s a tricky one with stress fractures. You just have to be a little bit careful around loads. She was obviously able to partake in all three games, so that’s a good sign, but the decision was made that she wasn’t going to be in a place to be ready for the one-dayers and the Test.”England’s 3-0 win in the T20Is means they will guarantee themselves at least a share of the multi-format series if they can win the first ODI at Kimberley on Wednesday, with two further 50-over matches to follow in Durban and Potchefstroom, and the one-off Test beginning in Bloemfontein on December 15.With the Ashes looming in January, Tammy Beaumont and Kate Cross – England’s longer-format specialists – are back in contention, as Knight’s team seeks to finetune their 50-over plans after successful summer series against Pakistan and New Zealand. A used track is in prospect at the Diamond Oval, which is expected to offer less pace than was on offer in the final two T20Is.”We haven’t played a huge amount of ODI cricket recently, so it’s a format that I really enjoy playing,” Knight said. “Everyone’s pretty excited to get into the longer format, and have a little bit more time to execute your skills and build plans around one day game.””Obviously with the Ashes, we’re not looking too far ahead,” she added. “Continuing to have success on this tour is, naturally, going to be the way that we’re going to build into the Ashes. The focus very much on South Africa and what they’re going to bring against us tomorrow.”

Manchester United’s business in the transfer market has left a lot to be desired over recent years, with many of their additions failing to make the grade in the Premier League.

Rasmus Hojlund is arguably the biggest example in the current squad, costing £72m from Atalanta back in the summer of 2023, but has struggled to make the desired impact.

The Dane has only scored four times in the league throughout 2024/25, leading to rumours over his long-term future at Old Trafford, with a return to Serie A on the cards this summer.

It’s crucial that the hierarchy back Ruben Amorim in the market over the coming months, but more importantly is that they hand him the right players to operate in his 3-4-2-1 system.

Matheus Cunha has been the first addition, but if the club are to have any chance of rising up the table next campaign, added reinforcements are needed to help the Brazilian within the final third.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

A striker has been the priority of United so far this summer, especially after missing out on number one target Liam Delap to fellow Premier League outfit Chelsea.

Since his move to Stamford Bridge, the likes of Victor Osimhen, Dušan Vlahović and Jean-Philippe Mateta have all been touted with a move to join the Red Devils.

However, other forwards have also been on their radar, with Lyon winger Malick Fofana the latest player linked with a move to Old Trafford, according to French outlet L’Equipe.

Their report states that Jason Wilcox is considering making a bid for the Belgian youngster, who registered 16 combined goals and assists across all competitions – costing in the region of £38m.

It also claims that Chelsea are firmly in the race for his signature, with Amorim’s side once again facing the prospect of a transfer battle with Enzo Maresca’s side for a player’s signature.

Why United’s £38m target could be Amorim’s next Amad

Despite Hojlund’s failures within the final third this campaign, other players around him have managed to star, including Ivorian forward Amad Diallo.

The 22-year-old was seen as an outcast under former boss Erik ten Hag, but was handed the platform to impress after Amorim’s arrival in late November last year.

He’s since taken his career to the next level at Old Trafford, registering 19 combined goals and assists across all competitions in 2024/25, with his £36m transfer fee now looking somewhat of a bargain.

Amad even scored a hat-trick in the comeback win over Southampton and bagged the winner in the Manchester Derby at the Etihad, a feat that made him an instant hero among the fanbase.

Such a deal needs to be replicated going forward, with new target Fofana providing just that should he make a move to Manchester in the coming months.

He possesses a similar skillset, with both being nimble left-footed forwards who can operate off either wing, potentially operating in a wing-back role in Amorim’s system if needed.

When comparing his stats to those of Amad from the recent campaign, he’s managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, highlighting how much of an impressive addition he would be.

Games played

29

26

Goals & assists

9

14

Shot-on-target accuracy

48%

36%

Progressive carries

6.3

5.1

Carries into final third

3.2

2.5

Take-on success

47%

46%

Crosses completed

4

1.9

Fouls won

2.1

1.3

Fofana, who’s been labelled “special” by journalist Zach Lowy, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists, but has notched a higher shot-on-target rate, demonstrating his clinical ability in the final third.

He’s also managed to complete more progressive carries and more carries into the final third per 90, handing the side an added threat given his desire to get forward with the ball at his feet.

The Belgian’s trickery has made him a constant nuisance to opposition defenders, completing 47% of his attempted take-ons and winning more fouls per 90.

£38m in today’s market is a solid price for a 20-year-old star who could improve massively in the years ahead under Amorim’s guidance, offering the side a new star in attacking areas.

If he can replicate Amad’s success in the Premier League in the near future, it would be another bargain and an addition that could take the club back towards their former glory.

An Elanga repeat: Wilcox in talks to sell £105k-per-week Man Utd talent

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There was a point during the overtures of the summer transfer window that Liverpool were clear ahead of any hopefuls in the race for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike.

Liverpool are considered frontrunners in the race to sign the French forward, but Chelsea and Manchester United are also locked in negotiations with the Bundesliga club and the player’s representatives.

It’s an open race, and one which the Anfield side will be frustrated that they cannot advance in, given Darwin Nunez still sits firmly in Arne Slot’s squad. The Uruguayan striker is expected to leave the club this summer but, despite interest from Serie A and the Saudi Pro League, real progress has not yet happened.

Luckily, not much should change on the Ekitike front just yet, with his employers standing firm on their €100m (£85m) price tag – a valuation they don’t seem keen to meet.

Since Nunez is all but set to go, it would be wise for the Reds to search for alternatives, and Viktor Gyokeres is a name that has been bandied about.

Liverpool's interest in Viktor Gyokeres

Newcastle United qualified for the Champions League and does have the capacity to double down on their staggering £150m valuation of Alexander Isak.

Thus, alternatives like Ekitike and Sporting’s Gyokeres have been mapped out, and the latter is certainly an attractive option, given he has scored 97 goals across 102 appearances for the Portuguese club.

Arsenal and Manchester United have both shown more concrete interest than Liverpool in recent weeks, even if the Reds are keen, with the Gunners sure to be emboldened by the striker’s intimation that he would rather move to the Emirates than Old Trafford.

There’s no doubt that Gyokeres would prove an upgrade on Nunez, whose natural talent hasn’t been enough to make things click in England’s top flight, but the former is 27 and Sporting chiefs want his €100m (£85m) release clause met, which would put him in the same park as Ekitike.

Liverpool reportedly made contact with the Sweden international back in May, though there are concerns that his ridiculous rate of scoring would struggle to translate into Premier League life, and that’s why Liverpool have made contact with an exciting upgrade.

Liverpool open talks for Nunez replacement

As per the latest from TEAMtalk, Liverpool believe they have found a way to offload Nunez and solve their quest for a number nine at the same time.

Indeed, that’s by offering the 25-year-old, along with Federico Chiesa, to Napoli in return for Victor Osimhen, with talks having already happened regarding a potential swap deal.

Osimhen, 26, has just completed a successful loan spell with Galatasaray after a divorce from the Naples side, and his summer transfer is a given.

Valued at £60m, the Nigerian goalscorer is more affordable than the other forwards we’ve mentioned, and if Nunez, Chiesa or both are included in the package, he would be cheaper still.

Why Liverpool should sign Victor Osimhen

Frugality has been something that dissenters have targeted FSG with for a while, but who can say Liverpool’s owners have been anything but ambitious in the market thus far this month?

Even so, there’s a lot going on in the Anfield offices, and the coffers aren’t inexhaustible. Osimhen represents an affordable deal for an elite-level marksman.

Ekitike has a high ceiling, but the Frenchman isn’t as refined as Napoli’s man right now, and perhaps Osimhen is also more accomplished than Gyokeres, who has yet to prove himself at age 27 in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Indeed, the rangy centre-forward has been hailed for his “world-class” finishing by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, and that’s something Liverpool have been lacking at the front of the ship to be sure.

24/25 – Galatasaray

41

37

8

23/24 – Napoli

32

17

4

22/23 – Napoli

39

31

5

21/22 – Napoli

32

18

6

20/21 – Napoli

30

10

3

But goalscoring isn’t Osimhen’s sole forte. Powerful, robust and more dynamic than he might seem at a glance, the £83k-per-week striker likes to drive forward with the ball at his feet and make things happen for his teammates.

Make no mistake, Gyokeres is a high-level finisher and complete in his forward play, but Liverpool would be gambling in bringing him to the Premier League over someone more proven in Osimhen. The Premier League champions, after all, need the best of the best.

As per FBref, he ranked among the top 4% of forwards across Europe last season for shot-creating actions, the top 18% for progressive carries and the top 16% for ball recoveries per 90.

This shows that he’s mobile and efficient in utilising his athleticism, not just standing as a target man in spite of his prowess in the box.

Silky and stylish and all the rest, Osimhen would be a credit to Liverpool’s first team, bringing a fiery personality and a winning mentality.

Gyokeres is a physical force of a player himself, but he simply hasn’t achieved the same heights as Osimhen despite being a year his junior, and given that he would cost more, Liverpool will need to consider their options carefully, lest they make the wrong choice and hinder their chances of defending their Premier League title with Slot at the helm and indeed struggle to conquer trophies on tournamental fronts.

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