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Celtic are in the midst of another significant summer transfer window in terms of the number of players who have come to or left the club.

One big departure saw Tom Rogic wave goodbye to Parkhead at the end of the Bhoys’ latest Premiership-winning season.

With 272 appearances to his name in a Hoops shirt, the Australian scored 46 goals, delivered 49 assists and won seven league titles along the way.

Taking this into account, it safe to say that whoever comes in to replace the midfielder has some pretty big shoes to fill.

One man who has been linked with a move to Celtic in the past few months and who could be seen as the club’s next version of Rogic is fellow Australian midfielder Aaron Mooy.

After making a combined total of 152 appearances for Huddersfield and Brighton, in which he scored 13 goals and provided 17 assists, the 31-year-old joined Shanghai Port two years ago.Since then, the midfielder has scored six goals and provided three assists in 31 appearances in China.

This shows just how similar he is to Rogic in terms of being a useful figure in front of goal from midfield.

Labelled a “classy” player by Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling in 2019, Mooy is currently valued at £4.5m by Transfermarkt.

The former Brighton dynamo also wowed Pep Guardiola during his time with Manchester City, with the Spaniard hailing the 31-year-old as “amazing”.

Having already played under Ange Postecoglou on international duty between 2015 and 2017, Mooy knows what it takes to work under the current Celtic boss.

In fact, he had this to say about playing under the 56-year-old: “He’s a very good coach. The style that he wants to play is the way I like playing as well. I’m happy to be playing under him. He’s intimidating, but the way he wants to play football, I want to play like that as well.”

Therefore, this could work in Celtic’s favour should the manager try and convince his fellow countryman to join his squad in Glasgow.

With the Bhoys in need of some midfield reinforcements following the departure of Rogic, plus Nir Bitton and now Ismaila Soro, securing a deal for Mooy should be at the top of Celtic’s priority list before the 2022/23 campaign starts.

AND in other news: Ange can seal dream Souza alternative with Celtic swoop for “complete” £5.4m-rated gem

Soon-to-be free agent Christian Eriksen is ‘mulling over’ a number of offers from Premier League clubs, including one from Everton, according to The Times.

The Lowdown: Eriksen’s return to England

The Denmark international returned to professional football earlier this year after Brentford signed him in January on a short-term deal until the end of the season, after Serie A medical rules forced Inter Milan to terminate his contract (via The Athletic).

The 30-year-old is set to become a free agent in a few days’ time upon the expiry of his contract, and a myriad of English top-flight clubs have stepped up with offers for the Dane.

According to the Liverpool Echo’s Christopher Beesley, Everton manager Frank Lampard is keen on strengthening his options in midfield this summer, with Goodison Park touted as a possible destination for the former Tottenham playmaker.

The Latest: Everton offer for Eriksen

According to a report by The Times (via Liverpool Echo), Eriksen is ‘mulling over’ a plethora of offers from Premier League clubs.

It is understood that Everton are one of those who have offered the player a contract, with the Brentford man now assessing his options.

According to football.london, ‘there had been some suggestions’ that Eriksen’s priority is to stay in London, but it is now believed that he would be willing to play elsewhere.

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The Verdict: He’d be a fantastic signing

Considering the vast number of clubs expected to be in for the Dane this summer, this will be no easy signing to make for the Merseyside club. Tottenham are deemed to be one of the favourites for the 30-year-old, supported by Antonio Conte’s recent comments that Eriksen is in ‘fantastic form’ and has ‘great quality’ as a player (via 90min).

However, with Everton’s offer a potential reality, what a fantastic signing this would be for the Toffees.

When compared with positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, Eriksen ranks in the 99th percentile for assists, non-penalty expected goals plus expected assists, and shot-creating actions (via FBRef).

Therefore, the Toffees should do anything they can to sign the attacking midfielder this summer.

According to a report from Football Insider in the last 48 hours, Alexandro Bernabei has agreed to join Celtic and is set to undergo a medical to complete his move to the Scottish Premiership.

The Lowdown: Lanus exit links

The Argentine has just over 12 months remaining on his contract with Lanus, something which has seen his future thrown up in the air, and the Hoops haven’t wasted any time in taking advantage of his situation.

Eyebrows were raised earlier this month after the left-back was missing from the Primera Division’s match-day squad, hinting that he was edging closer to a possible exit, and after a fresh update, it looks as though a switch to Glasgow is officially on the cards.

The Latest: Bernabei set for Celtic medical

Loan superstar Jota is believed to be on the brink of sealing his permanent deal to return to Parkhead, and it now looks as though another name will be added to the ranks in Bernabei.

In an article published by Football Insider, it’s claimed that the flying full-back has ‘told friends he is signing for Celtic’ after agreeing ‘personal terms’.

The 21-year-old is believed to have ‘received an offer’ from Parkhead, with a £3.75m transfer fee agreement reached.

It’s reported that a club source has told the website that their target has been ‘given permission’ to undergo a medical and put pen to paper on a contract, with the move expected to be completed ‘in the coming days’.

The Verdict: Competition for Taylor

Bernabei now looks set to become Ange Postecoglou’s third signing of the summer after Cameron Carter-Vickers and Benjamin Siegrist, and he will be able to push Greg Taylor for a place in the Bhoys’ starting XI.

During his spell at Lanus, the defender has provided ten assists as well as managing to get on the scoresheet four times himself, via Transfermarkt, showing impressive end product from the flank.

Bernabei has the pace and possesses the attacking qualities down the wing that would perfectly suit the Australian boss’ front-footed system, and so has the potential to contribute to plenty of Celtic success in years to come.

Phil Hay has dropped an update on the future of Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

What’s the talk?

Speaking on a recent episode of The Phil Hay Show, the titular journalist revealed that, despite the 26-year-old’s recent claim that he would like to remain at Elland Road, should Manchester City act upon their reported interest in the England international, he could see the Whites academy graduate leaving LS11 in the summer transfer window.

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Regarding Phillips’ future at Leeds, Hay said: “I think Manchester City are the team to watch with him because they do like him. Fernandinho has obviously come to the end of the line and they’ll be after a defensive midfielder. The fact that they have money and the fact that they like Phillips tells you that could happen.”

Supporters will be gutted

Considering just how crucial a part of the Leeds side Phillips has been since their promotion to the Premier League back in 2020, in addition to the midfielder’s comments suggesting he would be happy to stay at Elland Road this summer, should the 26-year-old go on to join Pep Guardiola’s side in the coming months, it would certainly be an outcome that will leave the Whites faithful gutted.

Indeed, over his 29 top-flight appearances in 2020/21, the £45m-rated talent was undoubtedly Marcelo Bielsa’s standout performer, making an average of 1.6 interceptions, 2.6 tackles, 1.7 clearances and winning 5.3 duels – at a success rate of 52% – per game.

The £38k-per-week midfielder also impressed going forwards, scoring one goal, registering two assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, in addition to making an average of 1.2 key passes, 4.7 long balls and completing 41 passes per fixture.

These returns saw the 19-time capped international average a simply breathtaking SofaScore match rating of 7.21, not only ranking him as the Whites’ best player in the division but also as the ninth-best midfielder in the Premier League as a whole.

And, while a hamstring injury severely hampered Phillips’ game time in the 2021/22 campaign, the 26-year-old still managed to impress over his 20 league outings, providing one assist and creating one big chance, as well as making an average of 1.2 interceptions, 2.7 tackles, 38.9 passes and winning 4.8 duels per game.

As such, while it would appear extremely likely that Jesse Marsch would be handed a large sum of money to work with in the summer transfer window if Phillips were to move onto pasture new, it is nevertheless clear to see that the loss of a player as talented as the Leeds-born star would come as a gutting blow to everyone involved with the Whites.

AND in other news: “From what I’m told..”: Phil Hay drops Leeds transfer claim, supporters surely buzzing

Leeds United employee Noel Whelan has backed Joe Gelhardt to play a leading role against Brighton in their crucial Premier League match this afternoon. 

The lowdown: Leeds bereft of options

Already likely to be without talismanic striker Patrick Bamford after Jesse Marsch confirmed that the 28-year-old was still being ‘assessed’ during Friday’s pre-match press conference, Dan James’ suspension leaves the Whites with little in the way of attacking options.

Rodrigo completed 90 minutes in midweek against Chelsea but the Spaniard can also play in deeper roles, whilst winger Jack Harrison was added to the injury list as Leeds succumbed to a 3-0 victory at Elland Road.

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Gelhardt was chosen to lead the line recently against Arsenal before being withdrawn when Luke Ayling saw red inside the opening half-hour, and Whelan has backed the 20-year-old to be handed another opportunity…

The latest: Whelan wants Gelhardt to start

Speaking to Football Insider, the Leeds ambassador urged Marsch to opt for a more ‘natural’ centre-forward option for today’s clash against Graham Potter’s side.

The 47-year-old said: “It’s very difficult as a young player to come into any squad when you’re on the back of defeats. It’s a lot to carry on your shoulders and a lot of responsibility.

“It’s made more difficult with the injuries and the sending offs. We’re losing that experience, we’re losing players. Dan James, Luke Ayling, Stuart Dallas, Adam Forshaw, that is a huge amount of experience in these last few games we’re missing. I hope it doesn’t hurt us, I hope somebody steps into their shoes and becomes that leader. Probably a little bit earlier than they expected.

“We’ve not had a natural goalscoring striker, a number nine, all season. That’s been difficult for us. Whoever’s played there has found it quite difficult to play that number nine role. In my opinion, Gelhardt is the more natural number nine.

“He is as close as to a number nine as we’ve got at that football club and I believe he’s got to start. There’s nothing in my mind that says that kid will not thrive against Brighton. I think he can take all the responsibility, he’s got that maturity about him in his game.

“We need captains and leaders out there. It might come a little early for some but they need to rise to this challenge.”

The verdict: Time to step up

Already a match-winning hero with a late goal against Norwich City earlier in the campaign, Gelhardt may need to come to the fore once again when Leeds need him most of all.

So far this season, the Liverpudlian starlet – who was described as ‘astonishing’ by talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham – has scored twice and provided three assists in 18 Premier League outings, impressing for the most part given his tender years.

However, it’s for the Whites’ under-23s that Gelhardt has mainly flourished, netting seven goals in just 10 matches at that level, and Marsch would be well served to turn to someone with such a clinical nature for a pivotal final two games for Leeds.

Alternatively, the American could stand firm with Rodrigo or gamble on another youngster in Sam Greenwood, but whichever way the boss turns today, the Elland Road faithful could be looking for an out-of-sorts Raphinha to return to form.

In other news: Phil Hay claims Orta now wants to sign ‘unbelievable’ ace even if Leeds go down; club green-light sale

Singled out as a bright prospect in the domestic circuit, the Tamil Nadu allrounder has earned a call-up to the Indian side for the Sri Lanka Tests by dint of his all-round abilities

Shashank Kishore21-Nov-20175:35

Playing Test cricket for India is a dream come true – Vijay

Tamil Nadu allrounder Who is Vijay Shankar?
Vijay is a batting allrounder who can bowl nippy medium pace. Since 2012-13, Vijay is one of six cricketers who has scored over 1500 runs and taken more than 25 wickets. His first-class batting average is an impressive 49.14 after 32 matches, while his bowling average is 42.81.What has he done to merit selection?
Being an allrounder has worked in his favour. Although he was brought in as a replacement for Bhuvneshwar, Vijay has been brought in effectively as cover for Hardik Pandya, who has taken a break from the first two Tests of the Sri Lanka series. With the pitches for the last two Tests likely to assist fast bowlers, the team management and selectors could look at Vijay as a fourth bowler who can also double up as a batsman.Did you know that Pandya actually replaced Vijay once?
Vijay missed out on India A’s tour of Australia in 2016 and was replaced by Pandya, who cashed in on the opportunity and was fast-tracked into the India dressing room.What are his strengths?
In the Tamil Nadu dressing room, Vijay is known as the ‘tough runs man’, a batsman with tight defence who is nonetheless capable of scoring quickly.Is he a handy bowler?
His ability to swing the ball and bowl accurately has only added to his reputation, even though his first-class numbers – 27 wickets in 32 matches – hardly do justice to his bowling abilities. While his bare bowling numbers – an average of 42.8 compared to a batting average close to 50 – are far from impressive, Vijay has worked on improving his bowling under the guidance of L Balaji, the former India fast bowler who is currently Tamil Nadu’s bowling coach.”I started off with a gentle medium-pacer, but over the last two years, I’ve worked hard on my bowling,” Vijay told ESPNcricinfo. “I’ve been fortunate to have the guidance of Bala. I’m now comfortable bowling long spells. Strength training has brought the pace up. Basically, I’ve tried to be accurate and keep up the pressure created by the new ball bowlers.”What is Vijay’s domestic record like?
Vijay gained prominence in the 2014-15 season after helping Tamil Nadu finish as runners-up in the Ranji Trophy. Vijay scored 577 runs and had eight wickets. He captained Tamil Nadu to a title victory in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (domestic 50-over competition) in 2016-17, fetching198 runs and eight wickets. He struck a century for India A against the visiting Bangladesh A side in a two-day fixture in Hyderabad in February, and then showed his prowess as a finisher during a 133-run stand in a successful chase with Sunrisers Hyderabad captain David Warner in IPL season 10.How has his form been this Ranji season?
In three Ranji matches this season, Vijay has managed one century and taken six wickets across 66.3 overs, including a four-for that gave Tamil Nadu the first-innings lead against Mumbai. Prior to the season, he was part of India A’s limited-overs squad for the series against New Zealand A in Visakhapatnam in October, and also traveled to South Africa for the A team tri-series featuring South Africa A and Afghanistan A.

Who makes it to the IPL XI for 2016? Here are ESPNcricinfo’s picks, keeping in mind the four-overseas-players rule

Alagappan Muthu30-May-201612:01

O’Brien and Agarkar’s team of the season

1. Virat Kohli – 973 runs, 152.03 strike rate
Runs against all kinds of bowling. Runs all around the ground. Runs all across the country. A lot of runs that stated Test-match strokeplay has a place in T20s. Not sure what more he needs to prove. Perhaps the existence of time travel.2. David Warner – 848 runs, 151.42 strike rate
The critics said his team’s batting was suspect. His single-handed efforts showed the rest how to do it. Sunrisers Hyderabad may not have become champions if not for his masterful 93 not out in the second qualifier.3. AB de Villiers – 687 runs, 168.79 strike rate
Scored IPL 2016’s fastest century from No. 3 and hunkered down to salvage a failing innings from the same position in a big-match scenario. Considering his reality-bending batting and the chemistry with Kohli, perhaps he should try bending space-time next.4. KL Rahul – 397 runs, 146.49 strike rate, five catches, four stumpings
Began his tournament trying to fit in among the sloggers, then realised his USP is playing proper shots. Provided Royal Challengers peace of mind with four fifties when Chris Gayle was misfiring. Had to deal with keeping wicket too.The best wicketkeeper-batsman in IPL 2016, arguably, was Quinton de Kock but he would be one overseas player too many in this XI. MS Dhoni made some fantastic saves, with his legs no less, but barring one innings in a dead rubber he didn’t do too well with the bat. So Rahul was the best choice despite a few lapses; his reprieve of Andre Russell may well have cost his team a game from a winning position.5. Yusuf Pathan – 361 runs, 145.56 strike rate
At one stage, he was averaging more than Kohli. Finished with 72.20, although eight not-outs in 13 innings helped. But that’s what is required of a finisher. Seeing a chase through. Did spectacularly in Bangalore, when he took a task of 120 in 11 overs and wrestled it to the ground with five balls to spare.6. Chris Morris – 195 runs, 178.89 strike rate; 13 wickets, 7.00 economy rate
Edged out Shane Watson and Andre Russell because of his range of skills. He made a fifty on Test debut, so he can bat properly, and he made a 17-ball fifty in the IPL, so he can bat crazily. Is a standout with the ball as well, courtesy his ability to rush batsmen with pace and bounce, and undo them with excellent yorkers.7. Krunal Pandya – 237 runs, 191.12 strike rate; six wickets, 7.57 economy rate
Most of his runs came up the order, including a blinding 86 off 37 balls against Delhi Daredevils. But his clean ball-striking could be effective down the order as well. His left-arm spin is rapid and accurate, so batsmen can rarely use the pace to their advantage. Dismissed de Villiers and Kohli in the same over. Dismissed de Villiers again in Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore’s next encounter.8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 23 wickets, 7.42 economy rate
Swings the new ball. Jams the old one into the batsmen’s toes. Trusted himself to execute yorkers – a ball which, if misplaced by an inch, could go a mile – at a time when bowlers prefer other options. Was Mr Dependable for Sunrisers – all the more impressive considering he bowled an over that cost 28 runs in his first game of the season.9. Yuzvendra Chahal – 21 wickets, 8.15 economy rate
The fact that he played most of his games at M Chinnaswamy Stadium – one of the smallest grounds in the IPL – and ended up the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament speaks of his knack for T20 cricket, and also pushed him into this XI ahead of Amit Mishra, who is arguably the better all-format bowler.10. Dhawal Kulkarni – 18 wickets, 7.42 economy rate
A T20 game is usually won or lost in the early exchanges. With his 14 wickets in the Powerplay, Kulkarni is an asset. It wasn’t often that he bowled in the slog overs but with Bhuvneshwar, Morris and the next man in, he doesn’t need to in this side. He made it here ahead of the Sharmas, Sandeep and Mohit.11. Mustafizur Rahman – 17 wickets, 6.90 economy rate
He kind of already makes time stop still with his cutters. Just ask any batsmen he has dismissed. He pitches the ball outside leg to tempt the slog and gets it to break off the deck towards the outside edge. And he has a mean yorker. The one that left Russell on the ground with his stumps askew provided one of the images of the IPL.Now, who should captain this XI? Warner took the trophy. He played with the added pressure that came with the knowledge that the Sunrisers middle order wasn’t performing and he had to provide the bulk of the runs. On the other hand, Kohli had to deal with losing Mitchell Starc and Samuel Badree – two of his spearheads – to injury, was imaginative with his fields and bowling changes, and raised his game when Royal Challengers needed to win four out of four to make the playoffs; the lowest score he was dismissed in that period was 109. So, flip a coin and choose.

Stats highlights from the last match of the group stages, between Pakistan and Ireland in Adelaide

Shiva Jayaraman15-Mar-20154:51

Insights: Pakistan’s tight death bowling

0 Hundreds by Pakistan batsmen in this World Cup before Sarfraz Ahmed’s unbeaten 101 in this match. Before this game, Pakistan were one of two teams – Afghanistan being the other – whose batsmen hadn’t hit a century in this World Cup.0 Centuries by Pakistan wicketkeepers in the World Cup before this game. Moin Khan’s 63 against South Africa in 1999 was their highest before Sarfraz’s 101 in this match. The last century by any Pakistan batsman in the World Cup was Imran Nazir’s 160 against Zimbabwe in 2007. This was also Sarfraz’s maiden ODI hundred.7 Hundreds by wicketkeeper-batsmen in this World Cup. Overall, there have been 15 centuries by wicketkeeper-batsmen in World Cups, 11 of which have come in the last-two World Cups. Kumar Sangakkara has hit five of these.0 Captains from Associate Member teams to hit a century in the World Cup before William Porterfield. Canada’s Ashish Bagai and Netherlands’ Peter Borren had both scored 84 in the previous World Cup against New Zealand and Ireland respectively, which was the previous highest by an Associate captain in the World Cup.Sarfraz Ahmed’s maiden ODI century was the first by a Pakistan wicketkeeper in the World Cup•Getty Images4 Hundreds by Ireland’s batsmen against Test teams including Porterfield’s in this match. Apart from Ireland’s four hundreds, there have been only three hundreds from Associate Nations against Test teams in the World Cup. Kyle Coetzer of Scotland, Ryan ten Doeschate of Netherlands and John Davison of Canada are the three batsmen to score them. As many as five of the seven hundreds by Associates against Test teams have come in the last two World Cups.4 Number of century partnerships by Pakistan openers in the World Cup. Before the game against Ireland, the last such stand was between Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez against West Indies in the last World Cup.32 Runs conceded by Pakistan in the batting Powerplay – the most they have conceded in these overs in this World Cup. Pakistan have had the best economy in the batting Powerplays in this tournament, conceding runs at just 4.31 runs an over.1999 The last time both Pakistan openers got 50-plus scores in a World Cup game was when Saeed Anwar hit an unbeaten 113 and Wajahatullah Wasti got 84 against New Zealand in the semi-finals of the 1999 edition. Including this match, there have been only four such instances for Pakistan in the World Cup.52 Runs Pakistan’s first wicket had added in five innings in this World Cup before this game. The partnership between Sarfraz Ahmed and Ahmad Shehzad was Pakistan’s first fifty-plus opening stand in this World Cup.8 Number of batsmen to get out hit-wicket in the World Cup before Misbah-ul-Haq in this match. Regis Chakabva was the last player to be dismissed in this manner, against UAE earlier in this World Cup.

England’s batsmen did not appear to know whether to stick or twist on the opening day, but should have followed the lead of their captain

George Dobell at Chester-le-Street09-Aug-2013After the apocalypse, when the first few survivors emerge from their bunkers and caves, it seems safe to assume they will find only two types of creature unscathed: a certain type of hardy insect and, marking his guard and waiting for his next ball, Alastair Cook.There is more than something of the dung beetle about Cook. There are times when he makes his job appear hideously unattractive, when he appears unequal to the struggle, when his batting is so grindingly unattractive that you want to hide your children’s eyes from it. He is as much cockroach Cook as captain Cook.But Cook has always been more interested in substance than style. And despite the fact that he was clearly not at his best on the first day of this Test, he provided an example to his team-mates in determination and persistence.Cook’s innings was torturous. He batted as if his feet were set in concrete and as if the bat handle were laced with barbwire. He never looked comfortable and barely timed anything sweetly.But he survived. He survived for almost four hours. He fought and he concentrated and he refused to give it away. He saw the shine off the ball and the energy out of the bowlers. He put so great a price on his wicket that it took an excellent delivery, a peach of a ball that pitched outside off and nipped back, to finally prise him out.The point that Cook understands better than any of his team-mates is that there is no hurry. There are times in Test cricket when it is necessary to score quickly and seize the initiative. But generally, particularly as an opening batsman, the priority is survival and accumulation. The runs follow. They may come slowly, but they come a lot less slowly than they will if you’re back in the dressing room ruing your dismissal.There is no need to try to steal the initiative with aggressive batting. It can be gained with more certainty and more security by stealth. It can be gained by refusing to give the opposition a chance and by gradually wearing them down and batting them out of the game. It doesn’t have to be gained the Kevin Pietersen way. Draws, at least draws where the weather has not intervened, have become almost an anachronism in Test cricket in England and Cook understands that the game still allows the time to build an innings over a day or more.

Our position is our fault – Trott

Jonathan Trott admitted England had been the architects of their own downfall after losing nine wickets of the opening day of the fourth Investec Ashes Test at Chester-le-Street. Choosing to bat on a slow but blameless surface, England subsided from a position of 107 for 1 to end to the day on 238 for 9.

“We’re disappointed as we got ourselves into a good position and then got ourselves into a bad position,” Trott said. “As a group, we’re disappointed that we’ve ended the day probably behind.

“Generally in cricket you get yourself out. It can be due to good pressure from the opposition and you end up playing a shot to a ball you shouldn’t. It’s not too often you get unplayable deliveries.Generally the fault is on yourself as a batsman and I think we could all say that today. It was a little bit uncharacteristic of us as a side. We put a lot of value on our wicket, so when that doesn’t happen, there a few disappointed guys.

“250 is an average score at Durham. We could say we’re at par, but clearly we’re not. We didn’t have the best of days towards the end.”

Trott defended England’s slow scoring rate, but accepted they had not played the offspin of Nathan Lyon very well. He did insist, however, that England could still win the game.

“You look at his figures and say we didn’t play him the best,” Trott said. “My dismissal started it. We’re disappointed because we were getting out in soft ways. The ball wasn’t really turning a huge amount, so the guys are disappointed and keen to put it right.

“You don’t have to go out there and score like a one-day game. You hang in there and wait for your time. You earn the right to score runs in Test cricket.

“But we have a similar score to the one we made at Trent Bridge. We ended up winning that game, so hopefully we can do the same here.”

But while Cook made Australia work for his wicket, some of his colleagues gave theirs away as if contributing to a charity. While much of the day was characterised by grim defiance, several of the batsmen – Cook apart – fell to aggressive strokes or playing at deliveries they would have been better leaving alone. To lose four wickets on the first day of a Test to a finger spinner on a pitch offering little or no turn speaks volumes for the self inflicted nature of England’s problems.There was little balance to their approach. Jonny Bairstow, surely desperately in need of a strong second innings performance to retain his place, went scoreless for over an hour at one stage then he squandered that resistance by falling to an unnecessary sweep. While Jonathan Trott batted beautifully to help England to a promising platform of 107 for 1, the flick he attempted across the line that resulted in his dismissal was unnecessary.The same word – unnecessary – may be used to describe Pietersen’s stroke, pushing at a non-turning off-break angled across him and edging to the keeper, or, perhaps the nadir of the innings, Ian Bell’s decision to skip down the wicket four balls after tea in an attempt to hit over the top and lofting a catch to mid off. Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad fell to strokes so gormless that it is tempting to try to sell them a time share. It was all so unnecessary.England’s problem was not that they blocked too much for too long; it was they did not do it for long enough. They seemed so uncomfortable with the policy of defence, so full of the need to assert themselves, that they perished in an unnecessary attempt to break the shackles. They should have had the mental strength to know that ending the day on 160 for 1 was quite adequate.There is an irony here. Earlier this summer, Nick Compton was dropped, in part, due to a perceived inability to score with the requisite impetus. Despite having registered two centuries in his previous five Tests, England replaced him with men who were deemed more positive. Even in the two games prior to his dropping, Compton seemed uncomfortable with his natural game, like a man forced to drive too fast in dangerous conditions. He did not play his natural game.This sent out a message to England’s other batsmen. It told them, possibly subconsciously, that they had to be more assertive. That they had to push on. That their run-rate mattered. It was, in retrospect, a significant error on the part of the England management.The problem actually stems back further than that. Since they reached the No. 1 Test ranking, England have lacked the patience to build formidable Test totals. Whether that is due to sated hunger or whether other sides have worked out methods to bowl to them is debatable.Certainly England’s struggles here owed much to the pressure built by Australia’s bowlers. While the seamers did not use the new ball quite as well as they might have done – Cook and Joe Root were barely forced to play – the ability to ‘bowl dry’ and to build pressure on England was executed brilliantly by a very well disinclined attack.But England had done the hard work. They had seen off the new ball, the bowlers at their freshest and the pitch at its most lively. They had built the foundations. All of which just goes to make their largely self-inflicted collapse all the more galling.

ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the second ODI between South Africa and Sri Lanka, in East London

Firdose Moonda at Buffalo Park14-Jan-2012Banner of the day
International cricket rarely comes to East London, so when it does the fans go all out. Despite the gloomy weather, Buffalo Park was a sell-out and people packed the grass embankments with umbrellas, picnic baskets and signs of support for the team. One fan thought he was at a rugby match, and had a “Go Bokke” poster, a reference to the Springboks, the South African rugby team. A second sign said: “Mom send money, beer is expensive.” But the banner of the day went to this beauty about Hashim Amla: “Some say that Hashim’s beard holds special powers. Its street value is higher than Rhino horn. We know him as Hashim the boundarinator Amla.”Catch of the day
Dale Steyn does not have a typical fast bowler’s physique. He is not particularly tall or gangly; he is more of a stocky quick with fitness that cannot be matched. He has already pulled off some breathtaking moves in the field against Sri Lanka, but his catch to dismiss Mahela Jayawardene topped them. Jayawardene has struggled for runs but looked in better form at Buffalo Park. He smashed Morne Morkel down the ground for four and then moved swiftly inside the line of the next delivery to glance it down the leg side. The scoop went in the air towards Steyn, who moved to his left, timed his jump and snatched the ball from the sky.Shot of the day
Hashim Amla has found sublime form in the 50-over format in the last two years and got South Africa off to a dream start. While Graeme Smith searched for areas to score runs and ways not to get out, Amla played some of the shots of the match. Off the 13th ball he faced, he stepped out to a length ball from Nuwan Kulasekara and drove him inside-out over extra cover for six. No watchmaker could time a shot sweeter, and there was an element of brutality about it that you would not expect from a man nicknamed the Monk.Hiccup of the day
In the last 12 months, South Africa have stumbled in run-chases that should have been strolls three times: against India in Johannesburg, England in Chennai and then New Zealand in the World Cup quarter-final in Dhaka. Surely, there would not be another crumble. When AB de Villiers was run out, after dabbing the ball to short third man, whispers of the dreaded c-word began. South Africa needed 44 runs to win off 56 balls, with six wickets in hand. This time, they got home.Lost chance of the day
Tillakaratne Dilshan, the Sri Lanka captain, has flattered to deceive throughout this tour, with the only sign of his capabilities being a 79-ball 78 in the third Test. In East London, he wasted another opportunity when he got overanxious after nine run-less balls at the start of Sri Lanka’s innings. Dilshan pushed the ball to cover point and hesitated in setting off for a run. By the time he decided to go through with the run, Faf du Plessis had pounced on the ball and thrown down the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Dilshan was only just short of the crease, but it meant he had gone through two ODIs of the series without scoring a run.Bluff of the day
Runs had started to come more easily for Sri Lanka when Dinesh Chandimal decided to get adventurous. He tried to pull a Dale Steyn short ball but edged it past the stumps. Morne Morkel at fine leg gave chase, as did AB de Villiers from behind the stumps. It was always going to be Morkel who reached the ball first, but when de Villiers got halfway to it he turned and affected a mock throw to keep the Sri Lanka batsmen on their toes. The stunt fooled no-one but was a sign of de Villiers’ keenness to constantly stay ahead of the game.