All posts by h716a5.icu

Liverpool haven’t made it easy for themselves this season, and in their Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest at Anfield this afternoon, they continued to make hard work of their opponents, with the attackers saving the day once again.

The Reds move into seventh following their 3-2 victory over their relegation-threatened opponents and are now just six points behind Newcastle United in fourth ahead of the Magpies’ clash with Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow, keeping their outside chances of securing Champions League football next season alive.

Despite having 81% possession, more shots on target (6 v 5), more big chances created (5 v 1) and over 400 more accurate passes completed (559 v 76), Liverpool allowed Steve Cooper’s side to take their minimal chances, but ultimately their quality in the final third was too much for Forest.

The hosts started slow and in the first half were unable to find any real opportunities to break the stalemate despite completely dominating the ball, but in the latter 45 minutes, both teams were finally hungry to add goals to their tally.

Diogo Jota quickly picked up where he left off at Elland Road with a fantastic strike converted in the first few minutes of the second half, however, former Liverpool right-back Neco Williams came to his old stomping ground with a point to prove, delivering his team an equaliser just four minutes later.

The Portuguese winger quickly responded with a second, only for it to be cancelled out by Morgan Gibbs-White’s phenomenal finish in the 67th minute, leaving it to Liverpool’s inevitable goal machine Mohamed Salah to secure the winning goal.

Indeed, Jota has finally found his shooting boots after a long drought without a goal, but once again it was Trent Alexander-Arnold who stole the show in his adapted role, with the star absolutely running riot at Anfield.

How did Trent Alexander-Arnold get on vs Nottingham Forest?

The full-back has been under a lot of scrutiny for his defensive performances this season alongside his teammates in the backline, however, Klopp has seemingly found the key that unlocks the 24-year-old’s full potential on the pitch.

Alexander-Arnold has orchestrated absolute chaos for his opponents ever since the second half against Arsenal a fortnight ago and has become an absolute force of nature in the attacking third.

Over his 90-minute performance today, the talented ace – hailed a “genius” by journalist Neil Jones – had 94 touches of the ball, completed 44 accurate passes, offered four key passes and created two big chances, as well as providing the assist for Salah’s 70th-minute winner.

The Anfield faithful will be thrilled with the performances from Alexander-Arnold in his newly discovered role and will surely be hoping it will continue into next season – even with the acquisition of new additions in midfield, as the sky looks to be the limit for the right-back if he can continue to thrive.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been urged to start Leandro Trossard in his side's next game, following a poor run of form which has seen the Gunners fail to win their last four games.

What's going on with Trossard and Arsenal?

Arsenal have seen their title challenge slip away, and a thrashing away at Manchester City has heavily reduced their chances of winning what would have been their first title in 19 years.

January signing Leandro Trossard has impressed since his arrival, notching up eight assists, but has found himself on the bench since Gabriel Jesus returned from injury.

Arsenal have failed to win since Trossard was dropped, and journalist Charles Watts feels that he should return to the lineup as the Gunners prepare to face Chelsea.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Watts claimed that the Belgian has to return to start no matter who he replaces out of the front three.

"When you look at it, since Leandro Trossard has come out of the starting XI, Arsenal haven't won a game," he stated.

"They were winning games after Saliba's injury when Holding was in the team when Trossard was starting. Since Trossard's come out of the team, they've gone four games without a win.

"He has to start, for me. [Arteta] has to find a way of getting him in the starting XI. Whether that's over Gabriel Jesus at the moment, I think you've just got to do it. Jesus was anonymous tonight, so was Saka, so was Martinelli,

"I think Trossard has to start against Chelsea one way or another, and I wouldn't be surprised if someone else started as well."

Who could drop out for Trossard?

Given that the front line was ineffective against Man City, all three attackers are arguably at risk of being benched in favour of the 28-year-old.

Arsenal were hitting top attacking form when Trossard started as a false nine alongside Martinelli and Saka, which included a 3-0 victory over Fulham, and returning to that lineup could help them spark back into life. Although Jesus has shown his quality since joining from City, his performances since returning from injury have been inconsistent, scoring in just three of the seven games since marking his comeback.

It is clear Watts believes Trossard was performing at an excellent level before he was, perhaps harshly, dropped to the bench, and there is a case to be made that Jesus should have to earn his place back in the team, rather than being granted a starting spot.

And if Trossard does start and performs well against Chelsea, we think he will deserve to keep his place in the side, even if that means Jesus has to drop to the bench.

Arsenal have Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia "on the radar" for a potential summer transfer swoop, CBS reporter Ben Jacobs has recently told GiveMeSport.

Will Arsenal sign a new midfielder this summer?

The Gunners were keen to bring in a new central midfielder during the January transfer window, as indicated by their pursuit of Brighton & Hove Albion star Moises Caicedo, having a £70m bid rejected for the Ecuadorian on deadline day.

Given that pundit Gabby Agbonlahor has branded Granit Xhaka "questionable", while he also criticised Thomas Partey for his poor form in recent matches, Mikel Arteta could be even more keen on bringing in new options in the summer.

Arsenal are said to be captivated by Sporting CP's Manuel Ugarte, while they have also submitted a proposal for Chelsea's Mason Mount, however it is another England international they are most interested in.

The Sun report Declan Rice is the north London club's top transfer target, and given that the 24-year-old has previously expressed his desire to play in the Champions League, the Gunners may be well-placed to win the race for his signature.

In an interview with GiveMeSport, CBS reporter Jacobs made it clear that Rice is Arteta's number one target, however he is not the only Premier League midfielder of interest.

Jacobs said: "I still think that if we look at midfield, Declan Rice is the priority. But we know that Moises Caicedo and it is probably fair to say Romeo Lavia, are there on the radar for Arsenal."

Should Arsenal sign Romeo Lavia?

Arsenal are not the only Premier League side interested in signing Lavia, as Football Insider report Chelsea believe they will be able to land the central midfielder for £45m in the summer.

Although that is a large fee for a 19-year-old, who does not have a great deal of Premier League experience, there are some indications he could be a very shrewd addition for the Gunners.

The Southampton ace is competent defensively, ranking in the 91st percentile for blocks per 90 in the past year, when compared to his positional peers, and he has recently been hailed as "superb" by football writer Simon Collings.

As you would expect, Rice outperforms the youngster on the vast majority of key metrics, so the West Ham skipper should remain Arsenal's priority signing.

However, given that the Gunners are willing to listen to offers for Xhaka this summer, multiple new midfielders may be required, so Lavia would still be a worthwhile addition to Arteta's squad.

Rob Newton and Steven Crook hit centuries to bat Northamptonshire to a draw on the final day of the County Championship match with Gloucestershire at Bristol

ECB Reporters Network25-May-2016
ScorecardSteven Crook played a defiant innings at No. 7•Getty ImagesRob Newton and Steven Crook hit centuries to bat Northamptonshire to a draw on the final day of the County Championship match with Gloucestershire at Bristol. Newton, unbeaten on 58 overnight, went on to make 108, off 234 balls with 18 fours, while Crook hit 103 not out before Gloucestershire called off their bowlers in the evening session.The visitors closed on 399 for 8, leading by 157, having batted with far more application than in the first innings. Adam Rossington contributed 39, despite clearly feeling discomfort from the finger injury he suffered while wicketkeeping on Monday, and Richard Gleeson a valuable 31.David Payne (3 for 72) was the pick of the Gloucestershire bowlers, but in general they erred on the short side. The hosts took 11 points from a game they had high hopes of winning at the start of the day, while Northants claimed seven.The visitors began the day on 120 for 3, trailing by 122. After the early loss of Richard Levi for 23, caught behind dabbing at a wide ball from Payne, Rossington helped Newton add 60 for the sixth wicket. Rossington,looked in pain against the quicker bowlers, but played well before miscuing the medium-pace of Kieran Noema-Barnett to mid-on where Payne took a good diving catch.Crook appeared to survive a chance to Roderick, standing up to Noema-Barnett, before he had scored and was unbeaten on 7 at lunch, while Newton headed off on 99 with plenty of time to contemplate his century, having looked untroubled.He brought up three figures by pulling the second ball after lunch, a juicy long-hop from left-arm spinner Graham van Buuren, for his 17th boundary. It was a chanceless hundred, but Newton then fell to the second new ball, which was taken with Northants 241 for 5, still one run behind.Five had been added when Payne found a way between Newton’s bat and pad with a full, swinging delivery, which rattled into his stumps. That brought in Seekkuge Prasanna, on his Championship debut. He immediately went on the counter attack, blasting 26 from 23 balls, including four fours and a six, before holing out to deep backward square, top-edging a short delivery from Payne.At that stage Northants led by only 52, but Gleeson then joined Crook in a match-saving stand. Crook was unbeaten on 82 at tea, with his side 357 for 7 and leading by 115.The final session produced more frustration for Gloucestershire on a pitch offering little assistance. Crook reached a brilliant hundred with successive boundaries off Josh Shaw, having faced 127 balls and hit 17 fours. By the time Gleeson fell lbw to van Buuren for a hugely valuable 31, the partnership with Crook was worth 101 and Northants led by 153. Soon afterwards the players shook hands.

Leeds United kept their survival hopes alive with a vital 2-2 draw at home to Premier League high-flyers Newcastle United on Saturday, with interim boss Sam Allardyce picking up his first point since replacing Javi Gracia in the dugout earlier this month.

There will undoubtedly still be a sense of frustration for the experienced Englishman that his side weren't able to win the game, however, with striker Patrick Bamford notably squandering a gilt-edged chance from the penalty spot to extend the Whites' early lead.

The misfiring marksman was not alone in having underwhelmed against the Magpies, with January arrival Weston McKennie also enduring another tough afternoon, notably losing possession on 14 occasions as a marker of his woes on the ball, while also winning just 50% of his total duels.

As Leeds Live's Beren Cross noted, the United States international simply did not show 'enough consistency with or without the ball in the engine room', with it having been 'another afternoon [when] you're left struggling to see what he brings beyond a long throw.'

Such woes have been a theme of the Juventus loanee's time at Elland Road to date, with pundit Jon Newsome recently suggesting that the 24-year-old looks "out of his depth", while journalist Dean Jones branded the midfielder as looking "slow" and "lazy" when he is "not playing well".

With compatriot Tyler Adams having been ruled out for the season, Allardyce is limited with regard to potential replacements for the struggling McKennie, albeit with it perhaps time to turn to the experienced head of Adam Forshaw for the final two games of the campaign.

Should Forshaw now start for Leeds?

It has been yet another injury-ravaged season for Forshaw thus far, although the 31-year-old has forced himself back into the frame in recent weeks, having been praised by the aforementioned Newsome (BBC Radio Leeds, 30/04/2023) after he "did well" off the bench in the recent defeat to AFC Bournemouth.

That brief impact led to a rare start for the former Middlesbrough man for the subsequent 2-1 defeat away to Manchester City, with the Englishman having been 'one of few to get a foot on the ball and try to make something happen', according to Yorkshire Evening Post's Graham Smyth.

Somewhat surprisingly, the £20k-per-week gem was then omitted from the starting lineup for Saturday's clash with Eddie Howe's men, albeit while again making a strong impression as a second-half substitute, having 'brought a little composure to the chaos', as per Smyth.

The 5 foot 9 ace was able to register three tackles during his 45-minute outing and also register one key pass in that time as a marker of his creative impact, with the Liverpool-born ace's 7.1 match rating, as per Sofascore, having been superior to that of McKennie's (6.7).

With the latter man having had more than enough chances to impress in recent months, Allardyce should make the bold decision to put his faith in the "brilliant" Forshaw over the coming weeks, as hailed by Leeds legend Jermaine Beckford, with time now running out for the Yorkshire side in the battle to stave off the drop.

Anil Kumble, India’s new head coach, has acknowledged the influence of his predecessors John Wright and Gary Kirsten, and expects to adopt their low-visibility style and remain mostly behind the scenes

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jun-20161:30

Anil Kumble’s journey from player to coach

Anil Kumble, India’s new head coach, has acknowledged the influence of his predecessors John Wright and Gary Kirsten, and expects to adopt their low-visibility style and remain mostly behind the scenes. Wright was India’s head coach from 2000 to 2005, and was head coach at Mumbai Indians in 2013-14, when Kumble served as the team’s mentor. Kirsten was India’s head coach from 2008 – Kumble’s last year as a Test cricketer – to 2011.”I played a lot under John Wright, he’s been a great influence on how I’ll go about [the role], in terms of being in the background,” Kumble told . “When I became a mentor for Mumbai Indians, I brought John in because he understood a lot about Indian culture and then the way coaches work. So I’ll pick his brain.”I was involved with Gary Kirsten only for the Test matches, a very short period. He was, again, someone who worked in the background and didn’t make himself visible. Exactly how I’d like to work as well. Not in the front, but behind the scenes.”As a bowler, Kumble combined a cerebral approach with a willingness to keep pounding in for long spells no matter what the match situation. Accordingly, he said his coaching style would have “a bit of everything”, giving data its due while trying to strengthen his players’ response to adversity.”Data is important when you have to devise strategies and man-management is extremely crucial,” he said. “You need the team environment to be consistent and healthy, but also competitive. That is something I would look to have in the team.”The team comes first, the coaches play the background role, you are just trying to prepare the team for the best of their ability, for all conditions and all eventualities. You can’t really plan for adversity, but to try to prepare the team to handle those adversities. That’s exactly what we’ll try and address.”Kumble said he wanted to “build leaders” in his playing group, and said his coaching would have to deal as much with off-field as with on-field issues.”[It is] important as a coach to take the burden off the captain,” he said. “Captain has a lot of things on his head, all cricketing decisions and non-cricketing as well. When I was captain I realised that it’s not just taking decisions on the field but off it as well. Those are quite stressful.”Having been with the Indian team for such a long time and having had various experiences of not just conditions, but outside the cricket field, when you’re a coach, you’re not just coach on the field but also off it. You’re trying to build personalities, trying to build leaders. That’s how I’d like to look at this team. There is some wonderful talent, you need to make leaders out of them, try and understand what ticks them. It’s not a quick fix, you have to understand and then take a call.”Defining his role as that of an “enabler”, Kumble said he would not impose his views on the players.”They are already playing a good brand of cricket,” he said. “I will bring my characteristics as well but won’t impose on them. My job is to convince players to buy into what I believe in and what they believe in. At the end of it, they need to own it. If the team doesn’t own what we agree on, then it’s not going to work. I’m only an enabler. I work as an enabler to make sure things happen.”You need to be tough to play international cricket. It’s not only highs that you will see, you will also see lows. The coach’s role is not only to be a coach during successful periods but to be a coach during tough times.”Kumble said he had already spoken to India’s Test captain Virat Kohli, and looked forward to starting his tenure with a camp in Bangalore, his hometown, ahead of the four-Test tour of West Indies in July-August.”We have the West Indies Test series coming up, so that’s something our focus will be on,” he said. “I’ve spoken to Virat [Kohli] and MS [Dhoni, India’s ODI and T20 captain] must be on the flight back from Zimbabwe. It’s nice to have a camp here in Bengaluru before we tour. We’ll sit down and iron out and get ready for the West Indies tour.”Bowling, getting 20 wickets in Test cricket will win you matches. That’s the focus and we’ll take it from there. Batting, we have some great talent there. I believe this team has the potential. It’s a young team and driven by young leaders. Looking forward to working with Virat and MS. Long-term, we have lots of Tests coming up in India, that’ll be our focus.”Kumble starts his role on a one-year term, and most of India’s Test cricket in that period will be at home. Despite this, Kumble said he would focus on improving their overseas record, and that the process could begin at home itself.”I’m really excited,” he said. “This [overseas record] is something I wanted to commit to. You’ll have lot of time to strategise. The team needs to be really fit to meet the demands of Test cricket. Lot of Tests coming up, the first four are in West Indies where the conditions are not that different to India. But the Indian conditions are where we are comfortable with. Focus will be on our overseas record and the mindset we have to address from home itself. We’ll sit down and make a plan to ensure that we train towards achieving those goals.”Returning to a constantly on-the-road lifestyle was the one major concern Kumble had before he applied for the job; he said he finally decided to go ahead after a “long chat” with his family.”I felt it was the right time for me to get involved. I’m still fit enough to run around. It’s a young team so I believe you have to get your hands dirty, you need to be with the players, train with them, be amongst them. If it was a senior team, you can sit back, strategise and address that. But as a young team, you need to be in the middle and that’s something I can do at this stage.”I had a long chat with the family, 18 years on the road, they’ve taken the stress and the burden. My wife and kids have been really supportive. Not easy travelling again so that was a major decision. Once those two were clear, I put my hat in the ring. The process was great, I felt more comfortable because the three members who were interviewing me were my own team-mates, former colleagues. Process was professional and I enjoyed being a part of it. The presentation that was requested, I made my plan and put a blueprint, a blueprint for others to contribute and make it larger and ensure that all stakeholders own that plan and continue to take Indian cricket forward.”

Newcastle United are understood to be targeting young Manchester City defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who has been in stellar showing on loan at Championship champions Burnley this season.

What's the latest on Taylor Harwood-Bellis to Newcastle?

According to Football Insider, Magpies manager Eddie Howe is 'plotting' a move for the 21-year-old defender, who is entering the final year of his contract with Pep Guardiola's Cityzens and thus is being touted with a departure.

The report states that Fulham and West Ham United are considering a swoop, while Burnley, who have waltzed back into the top-flight, also seek to bring him back to Turf Moor on a permanent basis.

Last month, 90min credited Newcastle's 'strong interest' in the ace, though placed the Toon team alongside a wealth of further outfits all vying for his signature.

Should Newcastle sign Taylor Harwood-Bellis?

Speed and assertiveness is paramount in securing a deal for this rising star, though few clubs across European football, let alone the Premier League, boast allure and affluence to rival United's might.

The £7.5k-per-week star is said to have an admirer in Guardiola, however, the rich pool of talent at the Etihad Stadium could inhibit his match action and leave him chasing scraps.

While Newcastle's defensive line has been imperious and unwavering – with the 31 goals conceded this term the joint-fewest in the division alongside Man City – bolstering the ranks further with a "brilliant", as he was hailed by Raheem Sterling, new dynamo.

Capable of excelling both at the centre of the defence and out on the defensive right flank, Harwood-Bellis played 35 matches across all competitions for the Clarets this term, with Tony Mowbray once describing him as "composed".

Valued at £13m by CIES Football Observatory, the 6 foot 2 ace could be the perfect heir to Dan Burn's defensive throne.

A boyhood Magpie, the towering Burn signed for £13m himself in January 2022, playing an integral role in his outfit's seasonal resurgence before adopting a makeshift role as left-back, and while he has impressed with his reliable performances, it is likely that Howe will target a cemented option, with Arsenal's Kieran Tierney among the names.

The 6 foot 6 titan is now 31-year-old, and indeed will not last forever, hence requiring a "warrior" – as dubbed by Josh Bunting – such as Harwood-Bellis to replace him as Howe looks to construct a team with title-challenging capabilities. A team set to last as the 45-year-old continues to craft a footballing dynasty.

With yet another seam bowler sustaining yet another hamstring injury, the elation following Sri Lanka’s victory in Pallekele has become mild trepidation ahead of the second Test in Galle

Andrew Fidel Fernando03-Aug-2016With yet another seam bowler sustaining a hamstring injury, the elation following Sri Lanka’s victory in Pallekele has become mild trepidation ahead of the second Test in Galle. For Nuwan Pradeep to play the second Test, he will require an extraordinary recovery. Having won a match after collapsing for 117 already this series, Sri Lanka are not expecting a second miracle in the space of a week.If Pradeep is out, the bowlers in triage can now be said to match the quality of the attack Sri Lanka will be forced to field for the second Test. Each of Sri Lanka’s three best quicks – including Dhammika Prasad and Dushmantha Chameera – will be unavailable, as well as Suranga Lakmal and legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay. Captain Angelo Mathews said the increased burden on Pradeep through the England tour, had probably led to the latest injury.”Workload plays a huge role in their injuries,” he said. “If you talk to physio and trainer, they will say with the amount of cricket we play, workload management is important. We had to go with the same lot of fast bowlers for every game in England, and that’s why, probably, they got injured.”Now, we’re in the same situation as in the last match. We’re waiting till tomorrow to get an opinion from the physio and trainer on Pradeep. If he doesn’t play, we have Vishwa Fernando.”Australia have also had to make an injury-forced change, flying in left-arm spinner Jon Holland, who is now a certainty to feature in Galle. Sri Lanka’s batsmen have, in the past, attempted to take advantage of such situations by attacking the new man in the opposition XI, but Mathews has advocated a more cautious approach.”He looks a tall left-arm spinner who lands it on the spot, and to play Test cricket for Australia, he’s got to be good,” Mathews said. “We don’t have much video, but saw a bit and we know what to expect of him.”In Test cricket, you can’t go after a bowler the whole day. You’ve got to play him on merit, take a look at him initially, and see what he has to offer. On these wickets, you’ve got to see what he bowls and what pace he bowls and how he turns the ball. Those things will give you a fair idea how to play him.”Mathews admitted that Sri Lanka had thought about replacing one of their two misfiring openers from the Pallekele Test, with Dimuth Karunaratne’s place under particular scrutiny. Sri Lankan surfaces have been tough on openers from every team over the past few years, however, with first-wicket stands averaging only 25.82 since January 2012. That figure is easily the lowest in all nations, save for Zimbabwe, which has seen substantially less cricket in that time.”We had a chat with the selectors about the openers, and we just want to try and give the boys another opportunity,” Mathews said. “We want to keep the winning combination going. If at all we need any changes, we will do that, but as of now, we’re not thinking of any changes in the top order.”Australia faltered against spin in Pallekele, but Mathews remained wary of the opposition top order’s quality. Sri Lanka are set to field three spinners again, the dramatic turn of left-arm wrist-spinner Lakshan Sandakan to complement gentler, probing offerings from Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera.”You can’t write the Australians off against Herath,” he said. “They came up with a different strategy in the second innings, like using the crease a lot, and sweeping him a little bit. We have got to be cautious. They didn’t get runs, but they are a very attacking top order and the guys who didn’t get runs in Pallekele, we have to be cautious of. It’s a tough place to play spin here. It will turn more than in Pallekele I reckon, but we still need to bowl in the right areas to take wickets.”

West Ham sealed their first appearance in a European final since 1974 with a dramatic 1-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar.

The Hammers will face Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League Final in Prague, in a tie that could embed the current squad into East London folklore.

Last season, the Irons had to endure heartache at the semi-final stage of the Europa League against Frankfurt and will be looking to triumph at the final hurdle on 7 June.

David Moyes’ mind will already be frantically racing regarding his upcoming selection for this monumentally important tie.

However, his side still has Premier League fixtures remaining, and Leeds United will be visiting the London Stadium on Sunday as they scramble to avoid relegation.

One player that could be restored to the lineup is Vladimir Coufal, who, since his arrival in England in 2020, has been one of the club’s most reliable and consistent performers.

Why should Vladimir Coufal start against Leeds United?

Across his West Ham career, Coufal has appeared in 87 of the club’s 112 Premier League games and was a stalwart of the side that achieved consecutive top-half finishes in the past two seasons.

However, a more troubled campaign for the Hammers and the former Slavia Prague man’s own injury problems, has seen his form dwindle.

As a result, in the Netherlands, Thilo Kehrer was preferred to Coufal, but the Czech deserves to be reinstated to the starting XI.

The 36-cap machine is a far more solid defensive asset than the German. This is showcased by the fact that he makes 2.34 tackles and wins 1.77 aerial duels, per 90, whilst Kehrer only records 1.75 and 1.33 for the same metrics.

During his debut term in the capital, Sky Sports Pundit Jamie Carragher lauded the £52k-per-week star and said:

“I love Coufal, I love him! He plays week-in, week-out, he’s maybe not the most eye-catching going forward, but I just think he’s been brilliant and sums up West Ham’s season.”

Experience, defensive nous, and an undeterred work rate are three traits that encapsulate the brilliance of the right back, whilst Kehrer has been accused of lacking those same qualities.

ralkSPORT pundit Kevin Hatchard has previously criticised the former PSG man and said: “Defensively, I think there are problems. Kehrer. I found it curious he was in the Germany team as often as he was, I found it gobsmacking that he was signed by Paris. I don’t get it.”

As well as the domestic games, Coufal should also begin the coveted final to maximise the chance of European history.

Roston Chase became the first West Indian in 50 years to combine a five-for with a century in Test cricket to help secure an improbable draw for his team

The Report by Alagappan Muthu03-Aug-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details2:10

Manjrekar: India didn’t seem to have a Plan B

There is a lot to be said of Roston Chase. He’s languid at the crease. He plays late and close to his body. He wasn’t perturbed by a tough situation. And his timing stood out. Fifty years since it was last done for West Indies and a few days after the 80th birthday of the man who did it, Chase achieved the double of a century and a a five-for in the same Test. In the process he helped pull off an improbable draw: batting for survival, West Indies had lost four wickets in 15.5 overs on day four, but on the final day they gave up only two.Chase looked correct when he defended, graceful when he attacked and bloody determined all through. Sir Garry Sobers would’ve enjoyed a fellow Bajan emulating his feat with an innings like that.On a wet day four, along with 82.1 overs, it appeared West Indies’ fight had gone missing too. Their openers fell early, and in ungainly fashion. One senior player fell for a duck and another was a sitting duck against a short ball. It had become a walk in the park for India. This morning, however, they were stuck in the mud. The first 25 balls cost 40 runs. The fast bowlers were hit through the line and over the top. The spinners were hit against the turn. Chase had finally made it a contest. At tea, he had the favourites sweating. An hour and a half later, he made Virat Kohli concede and take the draw. The first draw at Sabina Park since 1998.India tried to bounce Chase, he pulled them away. India used reverse swing, he kept them out shortening his backlift. India tried to spin him out, but his open stance showed him exactly what was coming at him. On 99, he flicked a ball on his pads right through the man at midwicket, completed the single and celebrated his first Test hundred in his second Test match by crossing his hands in the shape of an X over his head. His coach and team-mates were clapping with gusto. Sir Viv Richards was up on his feet screaming “Roston!”From the other end, Jamaica’s own Jermaine Blackwood smashed 63 off 54 balls and the man who replaced him at the crease, Shane Dowrich, applied himself beautifully. He fell 26 short of what might have been a maiden Test hundred when umpire Ian Gould adjudged him lbw to Amit Mishra not spotting an inside edge.This was only the third time over the last 12 Tests that a Kingston crowd got to watch cricket on the fifth day. And while their numbers could have been better, their investment in the match couldn’t be faulted too much. One fan implored Dowrich to “come again” – meaning restart – after he turned his nose up at the turn a Mishra legbreak got. The outside edge evaded a diving Ajinkya Rahane at slip. Another boomed “good shot, good shot” when Chase drove R Ashwin down the ground. Among the fans was Sheldon Cottrell, who had completed his CPL stint last week, with a little girl next to him. They were all watching history.India bowled 88.1 overs. They conceded 340 runs and could get only two wickets. For the first time in nine days, their opposition was willing to give, well, opposition. Kohli began to chirp at Chase to see if he could be unruffled. Mishra fielded a ball that was pushed back at him and flung it back at the batsman in frustration. Things were getting out of hand. More accurately, West Indies were not giving anything away under the the kind of pressure where giving away an inch was as good as a mile. Chase and Dowrich raised the team’s first hundred partnership of the series at the rate of 3.77 runs per over. Chase and Blackwood had added 93 runs at 5.26 an over. This was not backs-to-the-wall batting. This was special.Those in the know say batsmen need to switch on and switch off. But it was difficult to say if Chase ever switched off. The smallest of smiles broke through when he secured his century; it was only his third in first-class cricket and this was only his 31st first-class match. He was batting like he had a 100 of each.Chase defied India when they had secured a lead of 304 runs, and then taken four wickets in only 15.5 overs on a rain-hit fourth day. With 98.1 overs on the final day, they were supposed to get back-to-back Test victories in a series away from home. Something that has not happened since 2005, against Zimbabwe. Dilute the equation to the top-eight teams, and you end up at 1986, against England.The bowlers did try. Mohammed Shami made the old and the new ball swing. Ishant Sharma kept squaring batsmen up. Ashwin couldn’t have one of his days – 30-4-114-1. Umesh Yadav and Mishra were disappointing, a combined 37-8-134-2.West Indies saw every ball that came down, inspected them carefully and then put them in their place. As good as the strokes themselves was the batsmen’s belief they could measure up.Blackwood showed it when he lifted Shami over his head for a six. When he leapt back, stood tall and hit Ashwin despite the extra bounce to the cover boundary. He became the first West Indian since Shivnarine Chanderpaul in 2014 to hit two half-centuries in the same match.Dowrich showed it when he lofted Ashwin over the long-on fence. When he used Umesh Yadav’s reverse swing to his advantage and flicked through midwicket and when he topped that by pulling the next ball to the boundary.Holder showed it when he blunted a brutal short ball from Shami, dropping his wrists but keeping his eyes on it to make sure he could control where it fell. He got to his fifty with a six against Ashwin.It was only the first time in West Indies’ history that their Nos 5 through 8 had scored 50 or more in the same innings. That’s so rare it has only happened five times in all of Test history.The man who inspired it all walked away unbeaten after an entire day’s play.