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Everton are in desperate need to freshen up their squad after a difficult relegation battle in the Premier League last season, and a new update has now emerged from a reliable source detailing the summer transfer plans at Goodison Park.

What’s the latest?

The Athletic’s Everton reporter Patrick Boyland has given an insight as to what the club are targeting to improve and how they will go about reinvesting into the squad this summer.

In an article for The Athletic, he confirmed that the Toffees have now released Cenk Tosun, Fabian Delph and Gylfi Sigurdsson upon the expiry of their contracts, and Jonjoe Kenny has also joined the trio in leaving Goodison Park after refusing a new deal at the club.

Boyland added that Everton will look to reduce their costs wherever possible to improve Frank Lampard’s scope to reinvest and rebuild the squad, and any new signings will need to not only be more cost-effective but offer a regular contribution to the team.

Supporters will love it

Everton have earned a reputation for reckless spending and bad transfer decisions ever since Farhad Moshiri arrived at the club in 2016, so supporters will love hearing that the Toffees are finally going to start spending smarter and investing in players who can make a direct impact more often.

The club is already on the cusp of signing James Tarkowski on a free transfer this summer, so that will be a shrewd piece of business for Everton as they attempt to rebuild and improve their squad ahead of next season.

Lampard may need to replace Richarlison, who has been linked with a move to Tottenham in a deal rumoured to be worth £51m. Although losing the Brazilian would be a huge dent in the goal contributions that he offers to Everton, the money earned from the transfer would certainly give the Toffees manager something to work with in replacing him this summer.

Everton are also linked with a move for Conor Gallagher this summer, who has been touted to join Goodison Park on loan. Chelsea would likely be unwilling to sell the player as they see him as a future starter in their team, but again it would be a major coup for Moshiri to immediately improve the side ahead of next season.

Ultimately, if Everton can look to the free transfer market and acquire loan deals, along with selling players who are not up to scratch or looking to move on, they could be in good stead to have a decent transfer window and compete a bit better in the Premier League next season should they identify the right players.

AND in other news – “Interested…”: Insider drops big Everton transfer update, supporters will be buzzing

Everton appear to be leading the race for James Tarkowski as Frank Lampard aims to bolster his defensive options ahead of next season.

What’s the news?

According to The Telegraph, the Toffees now lead the chase for the Burnley defender, ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and West Ham.

The England international is a free agent this summer following the expiry of his contract at the end of June, and with the Clarets’ relegation to the Championship confirmed on the final day of the Premier League season, it seems unlikely that he will remain at Turf Moor.

Tarkowski could be Everton’s “rock”

Lampard has endured a difficult start to life at Everton, with the club narrowly avoiding relegation to the Championship as they finished 16th in the top flight, and that won’t be enough to satiate the supporters.

The Toffees conceded 66 league goals last season – only four teams let in more – and the defence is in urgent need of improvement.

Tarkowski has been earning £70k-p/w at Burnley and would likely want that matched or improved if he comes to Goodison Park.

His former manager Sean Dyche dubbed him “outstanding”, with journalist Alex James previously describing the defender as a “rock”, and there seems little doubt that he would instantly improve Lampard’s leaky defence.

The 29-year-old has an average rating of 6.97 on WhoScored this season, the best of anyone in the Burnley squad, which shows that he was a vital presence at the back despite their relegation. Also, Tarkowski ranked in the top 1% out of positional peers in the big five leagues in both blocks (2.67 per 90) and aerials won (4.95) during 2021/22.

The Everton defence could look a lot different next season if Lampard can secure the signature of the Burnley colossus. It could prove to be the most important signing that the club make during the summer, if indeed it comes off.

AND in other news, Lampard could unearth the new Richarlison with Everton bid for “dangerous” £58m talent

Aston Villa will hold talks over the potential permanent signing of Philippe Coutinho at the end of the season, according to Fabrizio Romano. 

The lowdown

During the January transfer window, the Midlanders signed the 29-year-old from Barcelona on a half-season loan. They have the option to purchase the Brazilian for a fee of £33m, according to The Athletic’s Gregg Evans.

However, the player’s wages could present an issue, with Coutinho thought to be earning a whopping £480,000 per week under his Barcelona contract. That’s exactly four times the amount that Villa’s highest-paid player Danny Ings is thought to be taking home each week.

The 29-year-old will therefore have to agree to a considerable pay cut if he wishes to join the Midlands club in the long-term.

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The latest

Romano took to Twitter on Monday morning to share a quote from Villa manager Steven Gerrard, who upon being asked about the Brazilian’s future at the club, said: “We want Philippe Coutinho here for sure”.

The journalist added that Coutinho’s ‘transfer will be discussed at the end of the season with Barcelona and his agent’.

The verdict

The case against signing Coutinho permanently has actually grown stronger in recent weeks. He made a strong start following his move to Villa, notching seven goal contributions in his first eight matches.

However, he hasn’t scored or set up a goal in his seven appearances since, and against Burnley at the weekend, he failed to make the starting line-up for the first time since his impactful Villa debut as a substitute against Manchester United in January.

It remains to be seen whether Gerrard made that decision with one eye on Tuesday’s clash against Liverpool, but Coutinho’s future isn’t looking as clear-cut as it might have midway through March.

Even a 50% pay cut would put the Brazilian very much out on his own and distort the wage structure, so Villa have to think carefully before they commit to signing him outright.

In other news, this Villa man incurred the fury of some fans against Burnley

Four players the team could turn to after the defeat to India

Firdose Moonda17-Oct-2019Oh, to be a national selector. It’s the job everybody says they can do but nobody wants. On one hand, its the ultimate cricketing power trip, choosing who will play and who will not; on the other, its a job that can be lost simply by doing it because picking someone does not guarantee they will perform well enough to justify their place. And even if the players do meet expectations, selectors are dispensable. Just ask Linda Zondi.South Africa’s former convener of selectors was let go in the post-World Cup cleanout, despite being widely praised for his picks over his four-year tenure. Under Zondi, Kagiso Rabada debuted, Keshav Maharaj became the team’s premier spinner and a host of talented youngsters such as Lungi Ngidi and Aiden Markram made their debuts. But, there’s no space for Zondi in the new structure and South Africa went to India without any officially appointed selectors and some would argue that it shows. ESPNcricinfo decided to help them out. Here’s a look at four players South Africa could have considered for the India Tests and may want to look at for the home series against England:Wiaan Mulder South Africa are still trying to find the right balance for their XI, which currently includes six specialist batsmen and five bowlers. The allrounder roles have fallen to Vernon Philander, Maharaj and Senuran Muthusamy, all of whom have been more impressive with bat than ball, and that’s where Mulder could come in. The 21-year old has played just one Test, against Sri Lanka last year, but should come into consideration for many more. He offers more pace than Philander and comes with a strong batting record. He was the leading run-scorer in the unofficial Test series between South Africa A and India A, where he scored a century in Mysuru and has a first-class average of 38.84. Rassie van der DussenAfter his impressive transition from the franchise system to the International stage at the 2019 World Cup, where he was second to du Plessis on South Africa’s run charts, van der Dussen has earned a lot of praise for his temperament. He is 30, has had more than a decade in the domestic game and has a first-class average of 43.48, which includes 15 centuries. Van der Dussen stayed with the Test team after playing the T20s, leading to speculation he would be added to the squad but was sent home to play franchise cricket after the first Test. He scored 68 and 1 for the Lions in their clash against the Warriors this week and if he can find consistency over the next few rounds, expect to see him in the mix against England.Lutho Sipamla is all smiles after taking a wicket•MSLLutho SipamlaWith Ngidi still searching for Test match fitness, South Africa could have used another option in the fast-bowling department, especially to give Rabada a break. That’s where Lutho Sipamla could come in. He is only 21 but has already established himself as a key part of his franchise’s attack and currently leads the first-class wicket table with 12 wickets at 19.75, including eight from this week’s fixture. Given the concerns South Africa have about their domestic depth, Sipamla will be one to keep an eye on as the season progressed.Kyle VerreynneHeinrich Klaasen is the back-up wicket-keeper batsman in the squad – and is likely to play in Ranchi – but South Africa could do worse than to have options. That’s where Verreynne comes in. He has a first-class average of 48.74 and while it must be remembered that a lot of his runs came at the lower, provincial, rather than franchise level, he is still one to be watched. It helps that he piled 155 in the Cobras ongoing fixture against the Titans and has been hailed by his coach, Ashwell Prince, as a future star.

With Mosaddek Hossain and Sabbir Rahman likely to retain their spots after impressing in Sri Lanka, the selectors have some difficult decisions to make before naming the 14-player squad for the Test series against Australia

Mohammad Isam17-Aug-2017Bangladesh’s selectors are unlikely to make too many changes for the first Test against Australia later this month. The Bangladesh XI that won their last Test, against Sri Lanka in Colombo in March, will be given a longer rope for their contribution so Mahmudullah, whose breathtaking innings against New Zealand helped Bangladesh reach the Champions Trophy semi-finals for the first time, could continue to find himself left out.The 14-man squad that has been finalised by the selection committee will be submitted to BCB president Nazmul Hassan for approval, and will be announced on August 19.ESPNcricinfo understands that Mosaddek Hossain and Sabbir Rahman, who impressed with their batting under pressure in Colombo, will be retained in the middle-order while Taijul Islam, who missed the first Test in Galle before coming in for the Colombo Test, will also be included in the spin attack.From the side that played in Galle in the first Test against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh had made four changes for the Colombo Test. Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah and Taskin Ahmed were dropped while Liton Das missed out due to a rib injury. They were replaced by Imrul Kayes, Sabbir, Mosaddek and Taijul.Imrul didn’t make too much of an impact after replacing Mominul at No 3. He was Tamim Iqbal’s regular opening partner until suffering an injury in Wellington in January; Soumya Sarkar, who took his place, is likely to keep his place, having averaged more than Imrul as a Test opener since last October.With the selectors also looking at a spin-heavy bowling attack on the slow Mirpur pitch, at least two pace bowlers who were in the 16-man Test squad in Sri Lanka could be axed. Taskin, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Rubel Hossain, Subashis Roy and Shafiul Islam are battling for one pace bowling spot, with Mustafizur Rahman the selectors’ first choice.Liton could also be kept in the squad having played only the Galle Test although Mushfiqur Rahim satisfied the high-ups with his glovework in the Colombo Test after being told to give it up ahead of the Sri Lanka Test series.Mahmudullah, meanwhile, is a difficult case for the selectors because of his improved ODI form, but he was dropped from the Colombo Test due to poor form, and was even told to head home and miss what was Bangladesh’s 100th Test. BCB chief Hassan intervened to keep him in the squad.Mominul, a Test regular until he was dropped for the Colombo Test, could perhaps remain in the squad but has strong competition from Nasir Hossain for the extra batting spot in the squad.Among the spinners who have participated in the training camp since July 10, left-arm spiner Sunzamul Islam is slightly ahead of Tanbir Hayder and Saqlain Sajib in the pecking order. Sunzamul was part of Bangladesh’s ODI plans having done well in domestic first-class competitions.

Stats highlights from Royal Challengers Bangalore’s thumping victory over Gujarat Lions in Bangalore

Bharath Seervi14-May-20161 Number of previous instances of two batsmen scoring centuries in the same T20 innings, in 5702 T20s. Kevin O’Brien (119) and Hamish Marshall (102) scored centuries for Gloucestershire against Middlesex in 2011, before AB de Villiers (129*) and Virat Kohli (109) for Royal Challengers Bangalore in this match.229 Runs added by de Villiers and Kohli for the second wicket, which is the highest partnership in the history of T20 cricket. Incidentally, the previous best was also by these two: 215* against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede in IPL 2015. They are the only pair to have shared two double-century stands in T20 cricket.3 Centuries scored by Kohli in this IPL – joint-most by a batsman in a T20 tournament. Michael Klinger had scored three centuries in the span of four innings in the Natwest T20 Blast in 2015.112 Runs accumulated by RCB in the last five overs of the innings – the most by a team in T20s. Previously, no team had scored more than 100 runs in the final five overs (where ball-by-ball information is available). The previous highest in the IPL was 88, also by RCB, against Mumbai, when de Villiers and Kohli shared that other double-century partnership in 2015.2 Number of overs that yielded 30 runs in RCB’s innings – the 18th and 19th overs, bowled by Dwayne Bravo and Shivil Kaushik respectively. This is the first such instance in all T20s.1 Number of higher totals in IPL than the 248 by RCB in this match. The highest is 263 for 5 also by RCB, against Pune Warriors in IPL 2013, when Chris Gayle smashed an unbeaten 175.20 Sixes hit by RCB – joint second-most in an innings in T20s. Fourteen of the 20 sixes were hit in the last five overs.4 Century stands between Kohli and de Villiers in this IPL – the most by a pair in a single IPL season. Shikhar Dhawan and Gautam Gambhir in 2008, and Gayle and Kohli in 2012 had shared three such stands. Overall, this is the sixth century stand between Kohli and de Villiers, one lesser than the overall T20 record of seven between Kohli and Gayle.4 Centuries scored against Gujarat Lions this season, which is already the most against a team in a season. No other team conceded more than two centuries in an IPL season previously.144 Margin of victory for RCB in this match – the largest victory margin in the IPL. The previous record was 140 runs by Kolkata Knight Riders in the very first IPL match, against RCB, also in Bangalore.12.00 Chris Jordan’s economy in his first three IPL matches this season – 132 runs in 11 overs with just one wicket. In this match, he took four wickets conceding just 11 runs in three overs, his best bowling figures in T20 cricket. Both his four-wicket hauls in T20s have come in 2016.0 Number of times RCB got their opposition all out in this IPL, before this match. In the last IPL, they had done it three times. This was also the first time in 11 matches this season that a team scored less than 150 against RCB.

Bob Hawke visited Australia’s training session on Monday, and it wasn’t long before the typical quips surfaced

Daniel Brettig in Sydney23-Mar-2015It took only a few minutes visiting Australia’s training session at the SCG for the former Prime Minister Bob Hawke to lighten proceedings with a typically ribald bit of humour.Hawke spent around half an hour with the team ahead of their World Cup semi-final against India on Thursday, and saved his best quip for the allrounder Shane Watson, following an equal parts fortunate and forthright innings to wrap up the quarter-final against Pakistan in Adelaide. “How much,” Hawke asked mischievously, “did you pay the bloke who dropped you?”Later, Hawke spent time chatting with the young batsman and captain-in-waiting Steven Smith, who wore his broadest grin while speaking with a man known for his lifelong love of cricket, frequent visits to the SCG and habit of draining a glass of beer in front of spectators whenever they see him at the ground.Asked for his opinions of the 2015 Australian World Cup team, Hawke was warm. “We’ve got a good side, a very good side,” he said. “Our batting is very good and an exciting bowling line up. Those fast bowlers, what an array of quickies… about 10 foot tall each of them.”I just wished them luck, but I was very impressed by the camaraderie of them. The relationship between the players seems to be very good. The captain Michael Clarke, he’s not an effusive fella but he has the confidence of his team.”I think he’s been absolutely remarkable personally, the way he’s fought back over his injuries and he’s very much respected for that. The relationship between the players, just listening to them and watching them with each other impressed me very much indeed.”There was something to be taken from this observation, for Hawke was a consistent presence in the Australian dressing room during less happy times when he was Prime Minister and the national team was struggling to regain a place near the top of world cricket.The success of the 1987 World Cup and the 1989 Ashes tour heralded better days, and Hawke personally awarded Allan Border the Order of Australia following the second of those triumphs – an award he had previously handed to the great West Indian captain Clive Lloyd.By the time of the 1992 World Cup, Hawke had been deposed as Prime Minister by Paul Keating, but has retained an interest in the game. Hawke visited the team via the link of the Cricket Australia liaison staffer Pearce Gibbons, whose wife Jill is Hawke’s personal assistant. The opportunity to converse with the team ahead of the Cup semi-final was a fleeting one, for the 85-year-old Hawke was due to fly to China on Tuesday.But he did not leave the team without a confident prediction, even expectation, of success. “They will win on Thursday and they’ll win on the weekend,” he said. “I told them I expected it.”

It will take a greater show of character and determination than any Zimbabwe have managed in the recent past for them to put one past Pakistan

Firdose Moonda22-Aug-2013In between threats of a boycott, the formation of a players’ union and the retirement of a key player, Zimbabwe also have to play some cricket. A two-T20, three-ODI and two-Test series against Pakistan will challenge everything from their skills to their resolve, and could be a litmus test for the sport in the country going forward.Zimbabwe players, through their newly formed union, have negotiated match fees that are said to be in line with other international teams’ standards for this series. Their fans will hope the promise of money in the bank will give them the security needed to perform better than they have in recent times.They were blanked by a second-string India team in a series that ended just over two weeks’ ago, to start new coach Andy Waller’s tenure off in unconvincing fashion. Before that, they drew a Test and Twenty20 series and won a three-match ODI rubber against Bangladesh but, overall, results have not been positive for Zimbabwe since they made their Test comeback two years’ ago.The glory of their initial win was shortlived, with Pakistan bringing them back down to earth after they beat Bangladesh in August 2011. Saeed Ajmal made Zimbabwe’s batsmen, apart from Tino Mawoyo, appear out of their depth in the only Test, and Pakistan went on to record victories in each of the three ODIs and two T20s played thereafter. Zimbabwe were humbled and realised how much ground they would have to cover to compete against top teams.Two years have passed since then and Zimbabwe have not improved as much as they would have wanted. They lost series against New Zealand, both at home and away, and West Indies, away, and were barely a factor in the World Twenty20 last year. The board’s financial worries have mounted to the point where salaries were delayed, paltry winter contracts were offered – and in the case of Craig Ervine, refused – and bargaining for more money has become more pressing than batting or bowling.In the words of the country’s former sports minister, David Coltart, the national team “morale is low and it is reflecting in their performances”. Coltart, a passionate supporter of the game, believes Zimbabwe are capable of more than they have shown but concerns over where the next pay cheque will come from is holding the team back from delivering to their full potential.That will be difficult for Zimbabwe to do also because they do not have their best players available to them. A week before the series began, Kyle Jarvis, regarded as one of the country’s most promising bowlers and a product of the franchise system, announced a premature retirement from international cricket to embark on a county career.Jarvis’ decision will affect many more than just himself. The message he sent to his team-mates is that he does not feel Zimbabwean cricket has a future. If they are feeling the same way, no one can blame them. But they will have to put those thoughts aside to challenge Pakistan.For the first two days of the series, it may be easier to do. The contest begins with back-to-back T20s and Jarvis did not seem to be part of plans in the shortest format. He was not included in the starting XI for the T20s against Bangladesh with the fit-again Brian Vitori, Tendai Chatara and Tinashe Panyangara tasked with the seam-bowling jobs.With Prosper Utseya and a clutch of promising young spinners including Natsai Mushangwe and Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Zimbabwe’s bowling could hold its own in the shorter formats. Jarvis will be missed in the Tests, especially as Chris Mpofu remains unavailable due to injury. If one of the others can step up, they may prove competitive in that department.Batting is their worry, especially against spinners, and they will need someone other than captain Brendan Taylor and senior statesman Hamilton Masakadza to perform. Vusi Sibanda and Malcolm Waller are due some runs while Sikandar Raza will look to build on a promising start. The return of Mawoyo, in the longer format, will also boost Zimbabwe’s chances.What’s more important than individual performances is that all their players to band together. If they can show the same unity on the field as they are showing off it, they may surprise a few people. But they should be warned anything less than a complete showing will not be good enough. They cannot bank on the overused adage that depending on which Pakistan shows up, they may be in with a chance.Pakistan are a far more consistent side than their reputation hints at and will have their own goals, apart from winning, on this tour. When Misbah-ul-Haq left South Africa in March, after their series there, his worry was how much game-time his team would have before they next took on Graeme Smith and Co in the UAE in October.At that time, Pakistan were not scheduled to play any Tests between March and October, so the two matches here will serve as fairly good practice for a far tougher challenge against South Africa. The conditions will not be too much of a test, with Zimbabwe’s late winter pitches likely to be flat and slow, especially in Bulawayo, so batsmen who show the right temperament could spend ample time on them.Their limited-overs squads include some new faces such as quick bowler Anwar Ali and Sohaib Maqsood. After series wins over West Indies in both shorter formats, this tour could be an opportunity for some experimentation, which will be important for Pakistan’s development going forward.For a team that only plays together away from home, this will be another opportunity to bond and form team culture. It may be their focus to work on those things as part of a bigger picture because history, especially the history of two years ago, suggests Pakistan will dominate the series. It will take a show of character and determination, which Zimbabwe have not been able to muster with real conviction in the recent past, to change that.

Harbhajan Singh’s intense opening over ended with the big wicket of Chris Gayle, and consequently put Mumbai Indians on course to win the Champions League

Nitin Sundar at the MA Chidambaram Stadium10-Oct-2011In his utterly brilliant debut novel , Shehan Karunatilaka vividly likens the six balls in an over to the six bullets in a revolver. He writes that a bowler should not mind firing one or two into the air, as long as one of the remaining bullets finds the mark. Harbhajan Singh’s first ball in the Champions League final was one such bullet – it did not get Chris Gayle’s wicket, at least not immediately – but it set up an intense over that ended with his dismissal, and consequently put Mumbai Indians on course to win the Champions League Twenty20.The game was set up beautifully in the first five overs of the chase. Royal Challengers Bangalore had started well in pursuit of 140, with Tillakaratne Dilshan trying to hit the Mumbai fast bowlers out of the attack. Harbhajan persisted with Lasith Malinga for a third over, and the bowler of the tournament delivered a 148-kph yorker to detonate the needlessly-aggressive Dilshan’s stumps.With one member of their top-order troika out of the game, the Royal Challengers needed Gayle and Virat Kohli to stick to the script that had worked for them in the lead-up to the final. Harbhajan would have known that separating them early would give Mumbai an opening into the Royal Challengers’ underdone middle order.The outcome was in the balance when Harbhajan wind-milled into his action, round the stumps to Gayle, who had only faced six balls in the first five overs. The first ball looped in at an angle, and landed on a length outside the off stump. Gayle indifferently reached out and felt for it with an opened face. It wasn’t a poor choice of shot, given that the pitch had not shown signs of spin through the night. The ball, however, gripped the surface and veered away sharply as if it had a life of its own, squaring Gayle up.With the echo of that first bullet still ringing in the air, Harbhajan used skill and subterfuge through the rest of the over to work Gayle over. The second ball spun even more than the first, and was called a wide as it darted away from Gayle’s attempted cut. The viciousness of the spin consigned Gayle to the crease, and Harbhajan kept him guessing with one more fizzer that broke away wildly, and a couple that straightened from a flatter trajectory.Harbhajan Singh seized the biggest moment of the Champions League when he got rid of Chris Gayle, and it was smooth sailing for Mumbai Indians thereafter.•Associated PressSensing the kill, Harbhajan brought in an extra fielder in the covers and positioned a slip for the final ball. He curled it in with his trademark drift, got it to land on off stump and hurry in straight. Gayle was well forward, but the umpire upheld a marginal appeal – not the first slice of fortune that had gone Mumbai’s way in the tournament.With two of their three big guns spiked early, the Royal Challengers subsided in astonishingly limp fashion. Harbhajan continued to bowl beautifully, and went on to nip out the two batsmen most likely to resist Mumbai – Kohli and Daniel Vettori – on his way to figures of 3 for 20.”That first ball actually got Gayle out,” Harbhajan said after the match. “I knew that was an important over in the match, and obviously getting Gayle out was going to be crucial. After that ball, he was not sure which one was going to spin and which one would go straight. The first ball surprised him, and that probably did it for him.”Mumbai had made up for their lack of consistency through the tournament with the uncanny ability to win the big moments. On the day of the final, their captain’s opening over ensured they won the biggest moment of the Champions League, and it was all smooth sailing thereafter.

If Johannesburg began as the mirror image of Perth until a changed ending, the second Test in Durban is starting to resemble the corresponding match in Melbourne

Brydon Coverdale in Durban07-Mar-2009

If Johannesburg began as the mirror image of Perth until a changed ending, the second Test in Durban is starting to resemble the corresponding match in
Melbourne . At the MCG Australia posted a healthy 394 and were well on top of South Africa’s batsmen before a massive partnership from JP Duminy and Dale Steyn rescued the game and set up a historic South Africa victory.At Kingsmead, Australia closed the second day with a 214-run lead and needing two wickets to knock over South Africa and strengthen their hold. The men at the crease? Duminy and Steyn. Ominously for Australia, Duminy was well set on 73. Worryingly for South Africa, the Durban pitch was proving harder to master than the reverse sweep.”It’s quite up and down,” the South Africa spinner Paul Harris said. “It’s not easy. Both sides today struggled to score. It has changed a lot since yesterday. It has definitely gotten quicker. Whatever it’s doing, it’s doing much quicker than the day before.”Melbourne was a much better batting wicket. It will be tough but this team enjoys a scrap and we’re certainly in one now. We’re going to have to play really well to get out of this one, probably the best we have played in the away series or the home series in order to get out of this one.”Their major problem will be to tame a wild Mitchell Johnson, who swung the ball outrageously and found enough bounce to send Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis to hospital with nasty blows. Johnson picked up two wickets in the first over and gave the side a massive lift after a
disappointing end to their batting innings when they lost their last five wickets for four runs.”That’s going to pick up anybody on any cricket team, when you can pick up two wickets in the first over,” the allrounder Andrew McDonald said. “The first over is usually just one or two runs coming off it. But when you put two wickets back in the shed, and then obviously with a couple of blokes retired hurt, it really gave us a great deal of momentum.”McDonald was able to cash in on that momentum to collect three wickets late in the day with his naggingly accurate offerings. In the absence of a specialist spinner, McDonald has played the containing role during the past two Tests and he finished the day with the attractive figures of 3 for 25 from 12 overs, including the vital wicket of Kallis.”That’s my job, to pretty much hold up one end,” McDonald said. “That’s all I do. If I get the wickets, that’s great. I thought I bowled well in Johannesburg, just keeping it tight, and that’s the
same method I used today. Some days you’re going to get the wickets and other days you aren’t. Today was just my day to get a couple.”McDonald was not part of the loss at the MCG, his home ground, and he hasn’t played in a losing Australian team. He has done his best to ensure that trend continues.