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O zagueiro, que completou 37 anos no final de fevereiro, encerrou sua passagem de dois anos pelo Cuiabá, em novembro do ano passado. Desde então, o atleta reforçou os treinamentos pessoais com seu fisioterapeuta, projetando uma boa temporada em 2023.

Paulão é considerado um dos atletas mais experientes do Brasil, segundo a imprensa. Suas passagens vitoriosas por diversos clubes do país comprovam essa alcunha. De 2011 pra cá, foram 9 títulos conquistados, entre eles os estaduais pelo Internacional, Cuiabá e Fortaleza, o Brasileirão pelo Cruzeiro e duas vezes a Superliga Chinesa, atuando pelo Guangzhou FC. Contudo, o jogador afirma que ainda tem muito o que construir no futebol.

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– Sou um cara que estou sempre me cobrando, quero sempre melhorar. Mesmo após todos esses anos e passagens por grandes clubes, eu fico ansioso para saber o que vem pela frente. Por isso, sigo trabalhando para estar preparado quando o novo desafio chegar – disse Paulão.

Em 2022, Paulão disputou 25 partidas com a camiseta do Cuiabá e marcou um gol. Foram 15 vitórias, 5 empates e apenas 7 derrotas.

Manchester United’s busy summer is well underway, with Ruben Amorim having a huge task on his hands to transform the situation at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils’ dismal season in 2024/25 was reflected in their measly league standing in the Premier League, which saw them finish just a handful of places above the drop zone.

Issues became apparent at both ends of the pitch, with a real lack of star quality within the frontline and the defence areas, as seen by their tallies of goals scored and conceded.

However, the 40-year-old has the opportunity to make the changes he desires to his first-team squad, needing funds from the hierarchy to make the additions to bolster his ranks.

With a couple of months left in the transfer window, Amorim has plenty of time to plot the signings he wants in one department, with countless players remaining on their radar.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers

After scoring just 44 goals in the Premier League last season, United’s need for a new talisman is evident, with Amorim making numerous moves in the window already.

Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen are two forwards who have been hugely on their radar this window, unsurprisingly so given their respective tallies of 54 goals and 37 goals across all competitions in 2024/25.

However, another name has entered the mix in the form of Chelsea star Christopher Nkunku, potentially looking to take advantage of his lack of action at Stamford Bridge.

A report from The Athletic states that the Red Devils have been in constant talks with Enzo Maresca’s side over a move for the Frenchman, who only started nine league games last season.

It also states that a potential swap deal could take place which could see winger Alejandro Garnacho potentially move in the opposite direction, with the Argentine set to depart the club this window.

If United were required to pay a straight up fee, then previous reports have suggested the Blues are looking for around £59m to let him go.

Why United’s latest target would be the dream Watkins alternative

Ollie Watkins is another name who’s been mentioned with a move to United throughout this summer window, with their interest reaching the next level in recent days.

It’s been reported that the Red Devils have made contact with Aston Villa over a deal for the 29-year-old, who’s registered 31 combined goals and assists in the most recent campaign.

Unai Emery’s side could be open to offloading the England international this window, bolstering their PSR standing, whilst handing Amorim an added option within the final third.

However, it may cost the hierarchy a pretty penny, after Arsenal had a £50m offer rejected for Watkins back in the January transfer window seven months ago.

As a result, they could turn their attention to Nkunku. While his form at Chelsea has been questionable, he was “unstoppable”, in the words of European football expert Zach Lowy at RB Leipzig, scoring as many as 23 goals in his final campaign in Germany.

When comparing the pair’s respective figures from the Premier League last year, the Blues talent has managed to outperform the Englishman in numerous key areas, potentially being a bargain addition.

Nkunku may have registered fewer goals, but has posted a higher shot on target accuracy rate – handing Amorim the clinical option he craves in the final third.

How Nkunku compares to Watkins in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Nkunku	Watkins
Games played	27	38
Goals scored	3	16
Shot on target accuracy	44%	43%
Progressive passes	2.5	1.1
Pass accuracy	90%	72%
Key passes	1.4	0.8
Take-on success	37%	24%
Carries into final third	1.6	0.7
Aerials won	43%	42%
Stats via FBref

He’s also dominated in terms of his link-up play, completing more passes and more key passes per 90, having the opportunity to provide those around him with chances and also offering the side a needed focal point.

The Frenchman’s all-round dominance is reflected in his take-on success and aerials won, potentially being a key option that could either feature as a nine or even a ten in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system.

Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for the Blues outcast would cost this window, it’s evident that the former RB Leipzig talisman would be a better option than Watkins.

There’s no denying that the Villa star would be a viable option, but ultimately, Nkunku has showcased that he has the all-round ability to catapult the Red Devils to success in the near future.

Best signing since Bruno: Man Utd open talks to land "the next Mbappe"

Manchester United are looking to complete a positive transfer window this summer.

1

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 1, 2025

The countdown to the start of Celtic’s season is on with Brendan Rodgers having now learned the fate of his Bhoys in green and white.

It was confirmed on Friday morning, during the SPFL’s fixture launch, that the Hoops will begin their Premiership title defence at home to St Mirren on Sunday 3 August, before traveling to Pittodrie to face Aberdeen a week later.

Also, with a season-defining Champions League play-off to come at the end of August, Rodgers is eager for the club to act swiftly in the transfer market, so are they about to add defensive reinforcements?

Celtic targeting a new defender

According to a report by Sky Sports News, Celtic are ‘in talks’ with J League club Albirex Niigata, as they aim to sign Hayato Inamura, adding that the 23-year-old is ‘keen’ on a move to Parkhead.

Inamura has made just 34 professional appearances, with his team currently in the J League relegation zone, scoring his first-ever senior goal during a 3-2 defeat at Avispa Fukuoka on Saturday.

Before joining Albirex Niigata, he had come through Japan’s college system, representing Maebashi Ikuei High School and then Toyo University, but could he now be on his way to Glasgow?

The latest on Maik Nawrocki's Celtic future

As noted by Mark Walker of the National, Maik Nawrocki could leave Celtic this summer, with Tan Kesler, who is the sporting director at Pogoń Szczecin, confirming they have “talked” about the possibility of bringing him back to Poland.

However, having finished fourth in last season’s Ekstraklasa, thereby failing to qualify for Europe, the Dockers are unlikely to be able to match the £4m Celtic paid to sign Nawrocki from Legia Warszawa in the first place two years ago.

Fair to say, the centre-back has not made much of an impact since arriving in Glasgow, making just 18 appearances, scoring his first goal for the club against Aberdeen last mont

Appearances

18

Starts

12

Minutes

1,081

An unused substitute

30

% of total minutes played

11%

Thus, having started just 12 of Celtic’s 107 matches across the last two seasons, it should not come as much of a surprise that he is angling for a move this summer.

So, would Inamura be an upgrade?

Well, Anthony Joseph of Sky Sports describes him as a “left-footed centre-back” who is also capable of filling-in at left-back, which could be useful versatility.

Should he arrive, he would become Celtic’s ninth Japanese player, as the table below outlines.

Kyōgo Furuhashi

2021-2025

165

Shunsuke Nakamura

2005-09

159

Daizen Maeda

2022-present

158

Reo Hatate

2022-present

142

Tomoki Iwata

2022-24

42

Kōki Mizuno

2008-09

12

Yūki Kobayashi

2023

7

Yosuke Ideguchi

2022

6

Fair to say, there are some bona fide successes on that list, including last season’s top scorer Daizen Maeda, as well as key midfielder Reo Hatate, who would surely help Inamura acclimatise to life in Glasgow.

Analyst and scout Will Glavin describes Inamura as “tactically intelligent” as well as “comfortable building from the back”, adding that he would add “technical quality” to Rodgers’ team, concluding that this is a “low-risk investment”.

Meantime, Stephen McGowan of the Herald forecast that he will be able to compete with Auston Trusty and Liam Scales for the starting left-centre-back spot, with the place as Cameron Carter-Vickers’ partner very much still up for grabs.

So, this appears to be a sensible addition from Celtic, but one that could spell the end for often-forgotten man Nawrocki, who would find his game time even more limited, forcing him to look elsewhere for game time.

Celtic could sign a better winger than Balikwisha in "outstanding" star

Celtic are in the market to bolster their options in the wide areas this summer.

ByDan Emery Jun 20, 2025

Arsenal are now ready to make an opening offer for a “fantastic” striker who’s “always a threat”, according to journalist Alan Nixon.

Gunners' search for a striker continues

It appears as though Mikel Arteta may finally be about to bite the bullet and bring in a new striker this summer, with the Gunners being credited with an interest in several different forwards from across Europe, including Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, however, has made the bold claim that any new striker will eventually end up being dropped for Kai Havertz, given how important the German is to Arteta’s style of play.

That prediction follows on from Carragher’s comments back in March, when he suggested that a lack of creativity was the real issue for the north Londoners last season, rather than not having a top striker at their disposal: “The problem they have is not a finishing problem. It’s a creation problem.

“They don’t create enough chances. That’s the biggest problem that they’ve got right now.”

Regardless, Arsenal appear to be continuing their pursuit of a new centre-forward, and Nixon has now revealed they are ready to offer Blackburn Rovers more than £1m for 17-year-old Igor Tyjon.

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By
Matt Dawson

Jun 2, 2025

The Gunners are now prepared to make an opening bid for Tyjon, who is a highly-rated young striker, although he only featured twice for Blackburn in the Championship last season, indicating that he could be some way off Premier League level.

"Fantastic" Tyjon could be a future star

While he is yet to make an impact at first-team level for Blackburn, the teenager has received high praise in the past, with former manager John Eustace saying: “Igor has been a standout young player since I have been at the football club. He had a fantastic pre-season. He’s just played for England in the week. I was delighted to give him his debut today. He has worked, very, very hard.”

“He’s a 16-year-old boy and we have to remember that. He is certainly one for the future.”

Blackburn U21s boss Mike Sheron has also been left impressed by the starlet, adding: “I love his bravery and his positivity. We asked him to play off the left tonight and he’ll receive the ball in any situation.

“He’ll turn, he’ll try to go forward, he’s positive, he looks after it, he’s always reliable in possession and he’s always a threat.”

As such, Tyjon could be a shrewd signing for Arsenal this summer, and he may one day be capable of leading the line, but their primary goal this summer should be to bring in a proven top-level striker, in order to compete for the Premier League title next season.

Despite losing their last five games of the regular Championship season, Sunderland are Premier League-bound once more after Wembley produced yet more drama in a play-off final.

Tommy Watson would break Sheffield United hearts right at the death to hand his hometown club a passage up to the big time, but all these jubilant celebrations will soon be met by the crashing fear of realism as Sunderland attempt to stay afloat in such a brutal division.

Already, however, the Wearside high-flyers have been active in the transfer market to try and boost their young squad, with Enzo Le Fee about to pen a permanent Stadium of Light contract.

Away from the standout loanee joining for good, there are a whole host of other rumours involving incomings that will please fans of Regis Le Bris’ underdogs.

Sunderland's growing list of transfer targets

Amazingly, Le Fee might not be the only statement addition in the centre of the park this summer.

The rumour mill continues to churn out the wild possibility of Jordan Henderson returning to his hometown roots, whilst another flashy buy in the midfield department could soon come in the form of Manchester United winger Amad Diallo.

Yet, away from Henderson and Amad’s names being tentatively linked, Sunderland could look to improve defensively this summer by shopping in Le Bris’s native France.

As per a new report from the Daily Mirror, that has been relayed by the Sunderland Echo, the AS Monaco ace is being looked at by the Black Cats as part of an ambitious summer rebuild, meaning the old guard in the building might be moved to one side for the likes of Singo to shine.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Indeed, any move for the £20m-rated defender could prove to be an upgrade on long-serving hero, Luke O’Nien.

How Singo compares to O'Nien

O’Nien’s appearance at the final whistle at Wembley tells you all you need to know about his warrior-like character as the veteran defender celebrated with his arm in a noticeable sling.

Whilst that grit and determination might well be of value to the Black Cats in such a demanding league, the strong 30-year-old could soon take a back seat for a fresh body to arrive in the form of Singo.

After all, whilst O’Nien can play both as a right-back or as a centre-back like Singo, it’s clear from the numbers below that the 23-year-old target is more accustomed to being a Premier League-level defender for Sunderland right now, over the long-standing Wearside servant.

Games played

27

48

Goals scored

1

3

Assists

2

1

Touches*

65.9

73.5

Accurate passes*

45.1 (87%)

52.7 (87%)

Big chances created

3

1

Ball recoveries*

5.1

3.4

Clearances*

4.0

3.9

Total duels won*

4.7

3.9

Clean sheets

7

16

Indeed, Singo has already shown he can cut it with the top dogs in Ligue 1 when amassing one goal and two assists when lining up either in the heart of defence or down the right flank last season.

But, away from solely offering Sunderland a new expansive option out from the back, he also possesses that same hunger and drive to battle like O’Nien, with the “monster” Ivorian – as he’s been labelled by football analyst Ben Mattinson – actually bettering his ex-Wycombe Wanderers counterpart in terms of clearances, ball recoveries and duels won throughout last season, even when plying his trade in a top league.

Also capable of pulling off an audacious flick like this one, everything is pointing in the direction that landing the “freak athlete” – as he’s been further noted by Mattinson – would be a worthwhile addition for Le Bris’ men ahead of Premier League action finally returning, with a sprinkle here and there of quality giving the Black Cats a hopeful fighting chance at survival.

Sunderland could soon sign their next Amad in "unplayable" EFL star

Sunderland could finally win their next Amad Diallo with this tricky attacker.

ByKelan Sarson May 29, 2025

After such a dismal season in 2024/25, Manchester United have a huge opportunity to end the campaign on a high with the Europa League final on the horizon.

Ruben Amorim’s men face Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao on Wednesday night, looking to claim his first trophy in charge and secure a place in the Champions League next year.

Such an achievement could be vital in their pursuit of landing new talent this summer, with the manager already targeting new additions to help revitalise his current squad.

Qualifying for the biggest club competition in Europe could hand the Red Devils a boost of offering top-level talents an exciting project despite their lowly Premier League standing.

With the summer window rapidly approaching, work has already been done behind the scenes to hand Amorim with the tools needed to be a success at Old Trafford.

The latest on United’s pursuit of new talents this summer

Matheus Cunha appears to be edging ever closer to completing a switch to join United this summer, with the deal entering its final stages, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The 25-year-old has already accepted a proposal to move to Old Trafford this summer, with the hierarchy ready to trigger his £62.5m release clause in four instalments.

However, he could be joined at the Theatre of Dreams by one of his compatriots, with Atalanta’s Ederson the latest player on their radar, according to reports in Italy.

They claim that the Red Devils have been in contact with a move to land the Serie A star, currently having the advantage over Manchester City and Juventus in the race for his signature.

The journalist also confirmed that the 25-year-old would cost a fee in the region of £50m this summer, but that the hierarchy are set to enter negotiations after the Europa League final.

Why United’s £50m target could be Amorim’s own Pogba

Paul Pogba still holds the club-record for the highest fee paid for a player, costing £89m from Juventus back in the summer of 2016, just a couple of years after departing on a free transfer.

The Frenchman made over 200 appearances during his second spell at Old Trafford, helping them win the Europa League – something which Amorim could hope to replicate this week.

The midfielder caught the eye in his box-to-box role for the Red Devils, often producing a moment of magic with the ball at his feet, resulting in countless excellent strikes in the North West.

Despite leaving on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, his spell at the club was a success, potentially replicating such a deal with a move for Ederson in the coming months.

The Atalanta star could follow in Pogba’s footsteps by completing a switch from an Italian outfit, also possessing a similar skillset, which could make him a key component in Amorim’s overhaul at the club.

When comparing his stats to those of Pogba’s from his first year at United, the Brazilian has managed to star at both ends of the pitch, making him a superb option as a box-to-box in the manager’s 3-4-2-1 system.

Ederson, who’s been labelled “monster” by The Mirror’s Ryan Taylor, has achieved a higher pass completion rate, handing other players at Old Trafford the chance to improve their own tallies.

Games played

36

30

Goals & assists

5

9

Shot-on-target accuracy

31%

23%

Goals per shot-on-target

0.4

0.3

Pass accuracy

86%

83%

Tackles won

1.6

1.3

Interceptions made

1.2

0.8

Despite registering fewer combined goals and assists, the Brazilian has notched a higher shot-on-target rate along with a better goal-per-shot-on-target rate – highlighting the clinical edge he possesses in attacking areas.

He’s also won more tackles per 90 and completed more interceptions, offering Amorim the added defensive cover he needs within the midfield department at Old Trafford.

£50m may seem to be another hefty investment from the hierarchy this summer, but it’s one that would drastically improve the options currently at Amorim’s disposal.

Should he manage to reach similar levels to those produced by Pogba, it would be an excellent pickup, potentially playing a key role in any success down the line under the current management team.

Man Utd flop who should be "fourth choice" has been even worse than Onana

This Manchester United flop has been an even worse signing than Andre Onana.

ByDan Emery May 20, 2025

The last five years at Tottenham Hotspur have been characterised by one thing: change.

The North Londoners have fired three permanent managers since Mauricio Pochettino was sacked, and with how things have gone this season, Ange Postecoglou could be the next.

On top of that, the team has undergone a massive overhaul, with all-time top goalscorer and England captain Harry Kane sold to Bayern Munich in 2023.

Mauricio Pochettino

July 2014

November 2019

Jose Mourinho

November 2019

April 2021

Nuno Espiriot Santo

July 2021

November 2021

Antonio Conte

November 2021

March 2023

Ange Postecoglou

July 2023

TBC

In fact, one of the last remaining stars from Pochettino’s team is Son Heung-min, and even then, it feels like just a matter of time before he is moved on as well, so it’s a good thing Hotspur Way might just be about to produce the perfect replacement.

Son's recent form

So, it’s important to first recognise that, with a total haul of 173 goals and 93 assists in 450 games for the North Londoners, Son is both a legend of the club and, arguably, the Premier League as well.

However, he’s going to be 33 years old at the start of next season, and while he’s still a useful player, he’s not as devastatingly effective as he once was, which is hardly surprising, as according to research from The Athletic, wingers hit their peak at 26 and become significantly less effective in 1-on-1 situations when they hit 30.

It sounds harsh, but when looking at this season compared to the campaign in which he turned 30, the 21/22 season, it’s clear that he’s taken a step back.

For example, in that campaign, he scored 24 goals and provided eight assists in 45 games, totalling 3526 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.40 games, or every 110.18 minutes.

In contrast, he has scored 11 goals and provided 12 assists in 42 appearances, totalling 2981 minutes this year, which works out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.82 games, or every 129.60 minutes.

Appearances

45

42

Minutes

3526′

2981′

Goals

24

11

Assists

8

12

G+A per Match

0.71

0.54

Minutes per G+As

110.18′

129.60′

On top of that, according to FBref, he has fallen from the top 1% of attacking midfielders in the Premier League for non-penalty goals in the 21/22 season to just the top 32% this season.

In short, Son remains a player who could undoubtedly contribute for the next couple of years, but he is someone who will need to be replaced, and luckily, Hotspur Way may be in the process of brewing the perfect player.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Spurs' future Son replacement

So, while a number of you may be thinking of Mikey Moore, and understandably so, we are talking about an academy gem who’s yet to even make a first-team appearance: Lucá Williams-Barnett.

Now, for those who are aware of the superstar in the making, you might be confused about how an attacking midfielder could be the answer to Son’s eventual departure, but therein lies one of the 17-year-old’s big strengths: his versatility.

During his time at Hotspur Way, the tremendously exciting prospect has played in a number of positions, including central and attacking midfield, left midfield, centre-forward and, of course, on both wings, leading academy expert John Wenham to describe him as a “cheat-code.”

However, it’s not just his positional versatility that should excite fans and see him included in first-team games next season, but his sensational output.

For example, in 17 appearances this season, totalling 1375 minutes, the teenage phenomenon, whom analyst Ben Mattinson described as someone “to keep an eye on”, has already amassed a frankly absurd haul of 18 goals and nine assists.

Appearances

17

Starts

16

Minutes

1375′

Goals

18

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

1.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

50.92′

Incredibly, that means the Luton-born dynamo is averaging 1.58 goal involvements every game, or one every 50.92 minutes.

Ultimately, it’s too soon to expect Williams-Barnett to come into the first team and replicate his sensational youth form right away, but in the coming years, as Son is increasingly phased out of the team, we do not doubt that the teenager will get his chance and prove his worth.

Ange could soon unleash a "freak" Romero replacement at Spurs

The sensational teenager could be a game-changer for Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 8, 2025

Aston Villa are now looking to a seal a deal for a “devastating” midfielder ahead of their Premier League rivals, and he is keen on the move, according to a report.

Aston Villa pursuing new midfielder

Villa are on course to have another successful season under the helm of Unai Emery, having reached the Champions League quarter-final and the FA Cup sem-final, and their midfield has been particularly impressive.

Youri Tielemans was dubbed “one of the best midfielders in the world” by analyst Raj Chohan earlier in the campaign, while Morgan Rogers has caught the eye in a more advanced role, with the Englishman ranked among the Villans’ most consistent performers.

However, it appears as though Emery is keen to bolster his midfield options even further this summer, with FC Barcelona’s Marc Casado becoming one of the latest players to be shortlisted, and talks over a deal have now been opened.

Emery has green-lighted a move for Casado, but the Spaniard is not the only target in central midfield, with a report from The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealing Aston Villa are working to close a deal for Rosenborg star Sverre Nypan.

Arsenal and Girona have also been named as potential suitors for Nypan, but the Villans are now looking to move ahead in the race for his signature, and the 18-year-old is believed to be keen on a move to Villa Park.

Personal terms and a transfer fee are still yet to be agreed, so there is still work to be done before a deal is finalised, but there is now optimism that the move will be possible.

Previous reports have detailed a deal could amount to £12.5m, potentially making the youngster a low-cost addition to Emery’s squad.

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Posts ByBrett Worthington Apr 14, 2025 "Devastating" Nypan is one for the future

Given the talent Emery has at his disposal, it may be difficult for the young Norwegian to make an instant impact at Villa Park, but there are clear signs he could be capable of going on to be an important player.

The teenager has a very impressive goal and assist record in Norway, amassing 25 goal contributions in 62 appearances for Rosenborg, which is an eye-catching tally at such a young age.

The attacking midfielder has also caught the eye of football scout Ben Mattinson, with the starlet standing out due to his ability to pick out his teammates in dangerous areas.

Nypan could be a fantastic signing for Villa, and it would be a real statement of intent if they are able to beat the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City to his signature.

From being injury prone in 2023 to “leaner and lighter” in 2024, he has become KKR’s reliable bowler this IPL

Alagappan Muthu20-May-2024There are fragile things in this world. Hopes. Dreams. Glass. Andre Russell’s 35-year old body in IPL 2023. He didn’t bowl at all for the first three matches of the season. But when he did he started with a wicket. He had two by the time he finished his first over. But then when he came back to start the third, he pulled up after one ball – which by the way was another wicket – and then left the field.Even in this small and arbitrary sequence of play that really has no relevance right now, it is still clear just how talented this man is and the biggest threat that stands in the way of its expression. At least, he was able to play that whole season, and managed so very carefully that he only bowled an average of one over per game. There was an injury in 2021 which put him out of the tournament. And he was in such good form too; he took his T20 career-best 5 for 15 against Mumbai Indians.Russell’s 36-year old body in IPL 2024 seems to be free of such misfortune. Fuelled by the desire to represent West Indies when the T20 World Cup is played on their own soil in just a couple of weeks’ time, humbled by the fact that his old captain and now coach Daren Sammy lived up to his word of ‘do well and I’ll get you back in the squad’, and inspired by people who take a beating for a living but simply refuse to ever go down – UFC fighters – it is looking good.Related

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Tactics board: Bhuvneshwar vs Narine, Russell vs Klaasen, and the Head-Abhishek threat

Russell's 2024 T20 World Cup prep: 'I'll be looking like a UFC fighter'

“At the moment, I have four packs, so working on the next two,” Russell said with a smile two months ago. “Definitely being leaner and lighter is working for my body and it shows in my performance as well. I like watching the UFC. To see those guys looking strong and lean is a motivation for me, so I set myself a goal. I know it is going to help in my cricket – bowling, fielding, and also in my batting.”Russell did not play any international cricket for two years from the end of the 2021 T20 World Cup. He was, of course, a staple on the franchise circuit. Eighty-eight matches of 20-over cricket for nine teams across seven countries. Sixty-three of those saw him in the colour purple (there’s a smidge even on the new Trinbago kit). Russell is West Indies first. He’s always insisted on that. But he has just as strong feelings about the Knight Riders. They’ve taken good care of him and he’s pushed himself to pay them back. This IPL season it’s been with his bowling because he hasn’t really been needed with the bat.Russell has sent down 25.2 overs, a 66% increase from 2023. He’s actually still to face as many balls as he’s bowled (120 vs 152). He’s become one of their bankers. Or at the very least an important part of their all-round threat. Because he does this thing where he can, if needed, start his spell really late in the game. He doesn’t need a warm-up. He’s too experienced to be scared. He’s quick. And he’s clever. Batters sometimes expect him to target the nose and toes at 150kph and he sucker punches them with his slower balls, which account for five of his 15 wickets this IPL. At times, he even starts celebrating, arms spread wide, running off to some distant corner of the ground, right after he induces the false shot. He just knows it’ll be caught. He just knows he is too good.

“I like watching the UFC. To see those guys looking strong and lean is a motivation for me, so I set myself a goal. I know it is going to help in my cricket – bowling, fielding, and also in my batting.”Andre Russell

This flexibility that Russell offers – he’s said yes to bowling 25% of his deliveries in the death – enables Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy to come on at a time they much prefer and as a result of that do very well themselves. Thanks to those two mystery spinners, KKR have been the most dangerous bowling unit in the middle overs this year, with 47 wickets (rank 1) at an economy rate of 8.42 (rank 2).IPL 2024 has been all about the batters and ESPNcricinfo has an algorithm that ranks them based on not just the runs they’ve scored but the difficulty they faced – the quality of bowling, the match situation, whether their performance was the key to securing victory. Here it is. Russell has had them for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the league phase and now he’s coming for dessert. Eight of his 15 wickets are of batters who are in the top 20 on this list. That’s Suryakumar Yadav and Rajat Patidar (twice each), Abhishek Sharma, KL Rahul, Nicholas Pooran, and Marcus Stoinis (once each).KKR haven’t played in Ahmedabad yet in this IPL. It is a ground that tends to neutralise spinners. But till date, it is hard to tell if anything but his own body can neutralise Russell. He produced a match-winning 64 off 25 balls and backed that up with two wickets when they faced Sunrisers Hyderabad earlier in the season. Tuesday could be time for an encore.

They now have the experience of putting up a total at this ground, to add to their know-how of chasing one from the Pakistan game

Alex Malcolm06-Nov-20225:02

Dravid: ‘It’s not easy to be consistent with the kind of strike rate Suryakumar has’

If, and it is a big if for no other reason than this World Cup has been unpredictable, India do make it to the final at the MCG on Sunday, then they might have a significant advantage.Melbourne’s inclement weather has allowed just two completed games at the MCG in this tournament, and India have played and won both. There has been only one other game where a ball was bowled when England lost to Ireland via rain, Duckworth, Lewis and Stern.Related

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• With every innings, 'free spirit' Suryakumar moves one notch above the rest

• Suryakumar leads India's charge to top of Group 2

More than that, India have been able to experience both sides of the conditions at the MCG, part by luck and part by design. Rohit Sharma won both tosses. They bowled first and chased against Pakistan. Against Zimbabwe, they opted to bat first and defend.”We just wanted to experience what it was to set a score in these kinds of conditions,” India coach Rahul Dravid said after the match. “Also, we felt that if we batted first, it would give us an opportunity to play 20 overs and just get into that ability of still trying to get a par or par-plus score batting first.”They did just that. On a fresh MCG pitch, with the experience of seeing both top orders collapse in the India-Pakistan epic, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli negotiated the nipping new ball and paced the first ten overs superbly to set up an assault in the last ten.Thanks to Suryakumar Yadav’s special, India plundered 107 runs off the last ten overs to post an above-par total of 186 for 5.They preyed too on Zimbabwe’s inexperience at the ground. Rahul’s excellent half-century might have been cut short on 30 had Wellington Masakadza known where to stand at deep midwicket.India’s bowlers got an invaluable outing, defending late into the evening as batting got easier•Associated PressThe MCG is so big square of the wicket that easy twos can be picked off to the sweepers in the deep, but fielders must hedge their bets to protect the boundary as well. The threat of two had Masakadza in too close, and he committed the cardinal sin of allowing a catchable ball go over his head and land inside the rope. It was a harsh lesson to learn for Zimbabwe, whose only previous experience of the ground in a practice game had not prepared them adequately.”We played a warm-up game here against Sri Lanka before the World Cup actually started and the MCG was a very different picture than what it was tonight,” Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine said.”Such an electric atmosphere… It’s quite difficult when you’re on the field because you can’t even shout to anybody [even if they are] close to you, because they’re just not going to hear you.”One of the things we learned was you’ve got to keep your eye on the keeper obviously, and me at all times, to understand where to go. I think it’s very easy to get caught up in all the noise.”And that’s another advantage India have. It has been their noise and their cauldron in this World Cup so far. Should they reach the final, they will be the only team to have experienced it twice, with Pakistan having experienced it once.Pant got his first game of the World Cup, while Ashwin found his groove picking up 3 for 22•Getty ImagesIndia’s bowlers also got another invaluable outing, this time defending late into the evening as batting got easier. Spin is usually a great weapon at the MCG on the drier January pitches in the BBL. But in October and November, it has been hard graft. Axar Patel had another expensive night, but R Ashwin found his groove picking up 3 for 22.”For the spinners, I think you needed to understand the pace and how you can’t bowl at one pace or one length,” Ashwin said after the match, “and you need to be able to change it up and keep bowling and keep staying in a fight. Because there are going to be good shots being played on this pitch because batters do know once they get off to such a start that they have to attack the spinner.”India also got the chance to experiment with their side having already locked up their semi-final spot pre-game thanks to South Africa’s collapse against Netherlands. They selected Rishabh Pant instead of Dinesh Karthik and he batted at No. 5.It’s obvious India are aware of the spin threats remaining in the tournament. From Adil Rashid to Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan, they all turn the ball away from the hitting arc of India’s right-hand batters. Axar was promoted against Pakistan at the MCG with no success. Pant missed out against Zimbabwe because of a brilliant catch from Ryan Burl at long-on. But it was a worthwhile exercise to see what it looked like.Dravid, though, was quick to point out it was not an indicator of anything to come. “Everyone is available for selection,” he said. “Just because somebody missed out in this game doesn’t mean that we can’t go back to him.”There are still a lot of ifs, buts and maybes before it is decided who will grace the MCG for next Sunday’s final. But India have banked some knowledge. And in a tournament of complete unknowns, it’s worth something.