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The 19-year-old Delhi batsman walked out to bat on an empty stomach and ended up feasting on Jharkhand’s attack on a flat track with a 48-ball hundred

Arun Venugopal08-Nov-2016

Rishabh Pant probably doesn’t intend to deliver punchlines, but does them anyway, and in style. Sample this: ” (There are no limitations in cricket. Everything is unlimited. I need to raise the limits of my performances).” The Delhi batsman said this after smashing a 48-ball century against Jharkhand in Thumba to add to his hundred in the first innings.With 799 runs, including four hundreds, Pant is also the leading run-getter so far in this Ranji Trophy season. The 19-year-old, though, doesn’t want to count the number of centuries he has scored. “Only performances matter – the bigger the better,” he tells ESPNcricinfo.Delhi’s top order responded strongly after being asked to follow on, scoring 214 for the loss of three wickets. When Pant’s turn came, he walked out to bat on an empty stomach, again. “I get very little time for breakfast,” he said with a laugh. “Because, every day I either have batting or wicket-keeping [drills before play]. That’s the system in every match.”That, however, didn’t stop Pant from creaming Jharkhand’s bowlers for 135 in 67 balls, with 78 runs coming in sixes. Pant was surprised to learn his 21 sixes in the match was the second-most in a first-class game. (I felt I wasn’t batting properly and that I had to play better, that’s all). I had got an opportunity to bat again; that hasn’t happened in the most of our matches,” Pant, who has batted in only seven innings from five games, says.Jharkhand left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem, who is Pant’s Delhi Daredevils team-mate in the IPL, was at the receiving end of some “unbelievable” strokes. “There was some rough and we were trying to land there, but he would step out and easily hit sixes off even those deliveries that were out of his reach,” Nadeem says. “In the first innings, he was batting on 99, and when Sunny Gupta, the offspinner, was bowling, he hit him against the spin over midwicket. That was a pretty huge six.”According to Nadeem, bowling to Pant was particularly difficult given how flat the pitch was. “There are the Virender Sehwag-types who believe in their strokes right from the start rather than taking singles. Pant belongs to that category,” he says. “There were fielders on the boundary line, but he was still clearing them easily.”For his part, Pant said when the shot is timed well, it doesn’t matter if the ground is small or big. Coach KP Bhaskar had called for better shot-selection from Pant after Delhi’s 160-run loss to Karnataka, but according to Pant, Bhaskar has asked him to back his natural game. He believes playing his natural game and batting responsibly aren’t mutually exclusive. “When you express yourself, it doesn’t mean you are not playing responsibly,” he said. “People generally think that when someone plays attacking cricket, he doesn’t bat responsibly. But, if you don’t play responsibly, there is only one outcome: you get out.”Does Pant think he could have scored the hundred in fewer deliveries? “Of course. I had reached 96 in around 42 or 43 deliveries. But then, they were bowling outside off, and I couldn’t force myself to go after those deliveries,” he says, and throws in another punchline for good measure: ” (Anything can happen in cricket).”

Zimbabwe have conducted interviews to fill the position of head coach, left vacant by the sacking of Dav Whatmore in June. Heath Streak, Andy Blignaut and South Africans Peter Kirsten and Justin Summons were interviewed by five ZC board members on Wednesday. An appointment is expected to be made before the Sri Lanka Tests later this month and is likely to be a two-year contract with the mandate to ensure Zimbabwe qualifies for the 2019 World Cup.Of the candidates, Streak is considered the favourite while Summons is the dark horse. Based in Johannesburg, Summons worked with both Prosper Utseya and Brian Vitori to correct illegal bowling actions. Both bowlers have subsequently been cleared to play.Summons will have tough competition from Streak, who was Zimbabwe’s bowling coach under Alan Butcher between 2010 and 2013 and has had stints with Bangladesh and at the IPL since. Streak will likely be able to continue in his role with IPL team Gujarat Lions, which occupies him for only two months a year, even if he gets the Zimbabwe job.Blignaut does not have the same experience as Streak but does share local knowledge. He has been coaching at Peterhouse, one of Zimbabwe’s most prestigious sporting schools, and was being considered for a role with Zimbabwe’s under-19 side earlier this year.Kirsten is also currently involved at a school, Redhill in Johannesburg, while also working as a commentator on SABC Radio. His most recent coaching experiences are all in Africa; he was involved with Uganda, Kenya and Sierra Leone. Kirsten also coached Western Province in the past.Zimbabwe’s South African connection is strong. Their most recent acting head coach was Makhaya Ntini, who took over for ODIs against India and two Tests against New Zealand. With only one victory in eight games, Ntini, who does not have any coaching qualifications apart from the Level II that all former Test players automatically hold, came under pressure and Zimbabwe were forced to seek out another head coach. Ntini is still in Zimbabwe and players have been training under him and batting consultant Lance Klusener in the lead-up to matches against Pakistan A. Ntini and Klusener, who have signed contracts with ZC, are expected to be retained in the roles of bowling coach and batting consultant respectively.Zimbabwe are scheduled to play two Tests against Sri Lanka in Harare starting on October 29, after which they will play an ODI triangular series also involving West Indies.

Manchester City could potentially make a future move for Evan Ferguson, with Sky Sports reporting that the striker has been mentioned as a potential Erling Haaland replacement.

Who is Evan Ferguson signing for this summer?

The Brighton striker has been in scintillating form so far this season for his club, becoming a pivotal member of the first-team squad despite being just 18 years old. Having fired in six goals and two assists, his efforts have helped the Seagulls climb into the top six in the Premier League and begin to dream of European football in the next campaign.

With his performances impressing, it has understandably led to interest from other top-flight clubs. City's rivals Man United, for example, have previously been linked with a potential move for the forward. However, a new contract with Brighton has led to some of that interest waning for the time being. He has now committed his future to the Seagulls until 2028 as part of this new deal.

However, a new report from Sky Sports has revealed that Man City could potentially launch a future bid to sign the player. It states that Pep Guardiola's side have already "discussed" who could potentially replace Erling Haaland should the player decide to leave the Etihad Stadium.

Ferguson was one of the names that was thrown out as a potential successor for the former Borussia Dortmund man – implying that should Haaland move on, a swoop for the Brighton striker could be launched.

Will Evan Ferguson join Man City?

The striker could certainly slot into the City lineup based on his showings in the Premier League so far.

Considering that he is just 18 years old, what he has already achieved is superb. It means he surely has the potential to get even better in the future. As a forward with six goals in the league this campaign – and managing 1.9 shots per game, too (the fourth-highest tally at the club this term) – he is a striker that plays without fear and is not afraid to get into advanced positions and test the opposition goalkeeper. That's the kind of play you want from a poacher; someone who can get into the goalscoring areas and isn't afraid to have a shot at goal.

In addition, he's been called "incredible" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig following his displays in the Premier League this year. Ferguson is catching the eyes of plenty – and if City did make a move for him, it could be a shrewd addition to their frontline.

Tottenham Hotspur teenage sensation Mikey Moore is drawing attention at youth level and has a bright future ahead of him, journalist Alasdair Gold has claimed.

What's going on with Spurs and Mikey Moore?

Despite being just 15, Moore has begun to establish himself as one of the brightest prospects in the Spurs academy, making 10 appearances at under-18 level, scoring three and assisting four times this season.

With the Spurs first team in disarray, interim head coach Ryan Mason may begin to consider using the final few games of the season as a chance for some of the academy to gain experience around the matchday squad.

Given the remarkable talent Moore has displayed so far, it may not be long before he is seen with the senior team.

Speaking on the Gold and Guest Podcast (3.30), Gold stated that Moore has a big future ahead of him, and was mesmerised by his ability given his young age.

"Mikey Moore is so young, he's on the other end of the age scale in that under-18 side. He's going to be such a player," he stated.

Should Mason turn to the academy?

Spurs have given up ground in the hunt for a top-four position, and whilst they are still in the race, it seems unlikely that there would be wholesale changes to the team despite the current run of poor results.

However, if Spurs are out of the running for a Champions League spot by the end of the season, they could turn to some of their promising youngsters to help prepare for next season.

Playing the likes of Lucas Moura and Arnaut Danjuma now seems a pointless exercise, given that neither will likely be at the club next season, with Moura leaving and Danjuma's loan ending, and it was Moura coming off the bench who gifted Liverpool their winner at Anfield.

Mason, who previously coached some of the youth teams at the club, could use the final few weeks of his interim role to give big opportunities to the brightest talents in the academy, and players like Moore could gain some invaluable experience by being around the first team.

Spurs have had few top talents come through the academy in recent years since Harry Kane's remarkable rise, but by giving more youngsters a chance now, they could then use pre-season as a means of assessing if any could be of use to the first-team next season.

In the last few weeks, both the U17s and U18s have been crowned champions at their respective level showing just how promising the signs are for the young players in N17.

If Spurs qualify for the Europa League, or the Europa Conference League, then a deep squad topped up with academy prospects could help them rotate in the group stages, and help develop some of their high-potential wonderkids.

يخوض منتخب مصر مباراة صعبة أمام منافسه الكونغو الديمقراطية، والتي تجمع بينهما ضمن منافسات كأس أمم إفريقيا.

وتقام مباراة مصر والكونغو الديمقراطية بملعب سان بيدرو، في إطار لقاءات دور الـ16 من المسابقة القارية.

وتأهل منتخب مصر لدور الـ16 من كأس أمم إفريقيا، بعدما احتل المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب المجموعة الثانية، برصيد 3 نقاط.

وتواجد منتخب مصر في المجموعة الثانية التي تضم إلى جواره غانا وموزمبيق والرأس الأخضر (كاب فيردي).

طالع | مواجهات دور الـ16 من كأس أمم إفريقيا

وتعادل منتخب مصر مع منافسه موزمبيق، في الجولة الأولى بنتيجة 2-2، والجولة الثانية أمام غانا بنتيجة 2-2، والجولة الثالثة ضد الرأس الأخضر 2-2.

وتمكن منتخب الكونغو الديمقراطية من احتلال المركز الثاني في ترتيب المجموعة السادسة بعدما جمع 3 نقاط من التعادل في ثلاث لقاءات ضد المغرب وتنزانيا وزامبيا. موعد مباراة مصر القادمة في كأس أمم إفريقيا أمام الكونغو الديمقراطية

ويلتقي منتخب مصر منافسه الكونغو الديمقراطية في دور الـ16 من كأس أمم إفريقيا، يوم الأحد المقبل، 28 يناير، في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، الحادية عشر بتوقيت السعودية.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Mason Mount for months and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the club's pursuit of the player.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Mason Mount?

Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the Chelsea midfielder is a main transfer target for Liverpool ahead of the summer transfer window.

Romano tweeted: "Mason Mount remains one of the main targets for Liverpool since February, in case he’s gonna be available on the market.

"It depends on Chelsea-Mount talks over new contract — currently on stand by, no agreement at this stage."

Will Liverpool sign Mason Mount?

There is no doubt that a midfield rebuild is desperately needed on the red side of Merseyside with a number of players either out of contract this summer or coming to the latter stages of their careers.

Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita are not expected to extend their stay at Anfield when their contracts expire in the summer, whilst Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara are both well into their 30s at this point, paving the way for an opportunity to completely refresh the centre of the pitch.

Indeed, the Liverpool hierarchy will be keen for the squad to start competing for trophies and comfortably finish inside the top four as soon as possible, so bringing in ready-made Premier League experienced midfielders like Mount could be the key to a quick return to competing at the highest level.

Despite Chelsea's struggles this season, Mount has been one of the biggest young talents in the country for a long time with a Champions League trophy already under his belt with his boyhood club and a wealth of experience at international level, as he is a key player in Gareth Southgate's England squad.

Over 23 Premier League appearances, the 24-year-old – who was dubbed a "mad player" by Rio Ferdinand – has scored three goals, registered two assists and created three big chances.

Furthermore, he's averaged 1.3 key passes, 1.4 tackles and won 3.6 duels per game, proving that he is a progressive player who works hard, traits Jurgen Klopp will no doubt love.

The pair are seemingly a match made in heaven with the German particularly renowned for turning hardworking players into some of the most recognisable talents in world football. Think Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, now two of the most notable names on the globe.

Thus, if the powerbrokers at Anfield could meet the reported £70m price tag for Mount, there is no reason why he can't reach his full potential too – with CBS Sports reporter Adi Joseph already claiming that the midfielder could become a "superstar" at Liverpool.

That is hard to argue against when you consider that Klopp has already achieved in English football.

With that being said, if the club could strike a deal for Mount this summer, it would provide Klopp with a player who could be an extremely valuable asset in their pursuit of more success.

Tottenham Hotspur are yet to make contact with former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, despite him being open to talks over a reunion.

What's the latest news on Pochettino and Spurs?

The 51-year-old has been consistently linked with a return to Spurs since the north Londoners announced Antonio Conte's mutually agreed departure. Pochettino is one of the big-name free-agent managers currently available for hire, alongside the likes of Luis Enrique, Julian Nagelsmann and Zinedine Zidane, with all four attracting interest from Tottenham.

Pochettino's possible return to Spurs is seen as a fan-favourite option, not least because the Lilywhites have arguably failed to really kick on since his exit in 2019. That same year, he guided Spurs to a first-ever Champions League final.

The former Southampton boss, though, is just one manager Spurs have been linked with and left-field options like Brendan Rodgers, who is also a free agent after leaving Leicester City, have not been ruled out completely.

As well as the Northern Irishman, chairman Daniel Levy is said to hold an interest in the likes of Oliver Glasner, Arne Slot, Roberto De Zerbi, Thomas Frank and Celtic's Ange Postecoglou.

Going back to Pochettino, a report by The Evening Standard has shared the latest on Tottenham and a possible reappointment of the Argentine. Indeed, it is believed that he is 'open to talks' over re-joining Spurs, but there's one problem.

Despite Pochettino's apparent eagerness to speak with his ex-club, Levy is yet to take any action, with the South American still waiting for contact.

Should Pochettino return to Tottenham?

If or when Spurs do make an approach, we believe he is exactly the kind of figure who could reignite a sense of positivity at N17 and steer Tottenham back in the right direction.

Pochettino already possesses proven Premier League experience at the Spurs helm and has worked with many of the club's current crop of players already – potentially ensuring a smooth transition from the Conte era.

Hailed as being a 'ruthless' tactician by talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook, Pochettino would return to Spurs with trophy-winning pedigree – having clinched a Ligue 1 title with PSG last year.

His status as a free agent who is open to making the move is yet another reason Levy should waste no time in opening talks with Pochettino.

As Chelsea threaten to poach Tottenham's other manager targets, their former boss could be the best solution for Spurs.

West Ham United have endured somewhat of a woeful domestic campaign under David Moyes, with European football providing the only solace for the club.

They find themselves languishing in the Premier League relegation zone, just ten months since finishing the season in seventh position and securing continental football for the second year on the bounce.

Moyes’ summer signings haven’t quite lived up to expectations, with Lucas Paqueta and Gianluca Scamacca severely underperforming and considering they were signed in order to take the Hammers to the next level, it’s been extremely disappointing to see.

The Italian arrived having netted 18 Serie A goals for Sassuolo last season, and he certainly looked like he could improve the clubs' firepower.

The £90k-per-week hitman has struggled however, scoring only eight goals so far and one of his attempts on goal during a defeat to Liverpool earlier in the season was dubbed “woeful” by journalist Toby Cudworth, suggesting how poor he had been during his early stages.

The end of the campaign is fast approaching and Scamacca has been a shadow of the striker he was last season in Italy and things have to change.

Moyes may unleash a youngster who certainly looks like he is about to burst onto the scene – Divin Mubama.

Who is Divin Mubama?

The 18-year-old striker is the future of the club, the question is, when will he finally make his breakthrough into becoming a first-team regular?

The West Ham faithful may argue that the time is now, especially with the poor form of Scamacca and with the youngster scoring against AEK Larnaca last week, he finally has his first goal for the senior side.

The youngster has scored an impressive 49 times from just 76 appearances across the U18 and U21 age groups, and he has even been hailed as a “top talent” by writer Will Lebeau following his recent success.

He is still extremely raw and has plenty to learn, but with senior figures such as Michail Antonio and Declan Rice to provide him with words of encouragement, he may well be ready to make his mark sooner rather than later.

Unless Scamacca can drastically improve between now and the end of the season, Mubama might find himself with the chance burst into the first team scene sooner than even he would have imagined.

After all, it can't get much worse for the Hammers. Trusting in youth could well be the way to go between now and the season's climax.

Leeds United fell to their first Premier League defeat under Javi Gracia over the weekend, as they handed Graham Potter’s struggling Chelsea side just their second win of 2023.

It was admittedly a disappointing effort from the travelling Whites, who surely would have seen this as one of the best opportunities in recent memory to turn over the Blues at Stamford Bridge.

But where the Yorkshire outfit normally enjoy plenty of the ball, they were restricted to just 43% of it which was converted into just two shots on target. If they struggle to score when they boast the majority of possession, that task was made even more troublesome by their lack thereof.

It was difficult to retain the ball when the central striker, Georginio Rutter, was enduring such a tough first start in the league.

As such, the Frenchman was raw, lightweight, and ultimately dragged off after 68 minutes. Perhaps his Spanish boss will think twice about reinstating him to the lineup after his performance.

How did Georginio Rutter play vs Chelsea?

Although one of the tougher full Premier League debuts to be handed, it was still expected that the tricky 20-year-old could threaten a threadbare back four. However, the former Brighton and Hove Albion coach instead opted to revert to a back three, which crowded out the diminutive striker amongst a trio of hulking defenders.

As such, Rutter was limited to just 34 touches, of which he only managed to complete four passes all game.

His anonymity throughout the game came as a huge detriment to his side, as he lost possession 21 times in a desperate attempt to create anything. Whilst there were flashes of his quality, and he nearly found the back of the net if not for a fine block.Just one successful dribble all game truly highlights just how little space he was afforded.

Even journalist Beren Cross took to Twitter to claim that he was “virtually a non-entity against three defenders”, suggesting he is far from up to speed when it comes to the physicality of English football.

Although he is now their club-record signing, Gracia must try to alleviate the pressure currently suffocating Rutter if he is to help him shine. There is clearly an abundance of talent waiting to be unleashed, but perhaps dropping him for their next match could be the best move as he slowly integrates him through short cameos rather than tough starts.

Wolves’ attackers have consistently let the side down across the last two seasons but perhaps none more so than Hwang Hee-chan, who last found the net in the Premier League in February 2022.

With Julen Lopetegui likely to make wholesale changes this summer, regardless of the division that the Old Gold find themselves in, the Spaniard must consider getting rid of Hwang for good.

Why should Wolves sell Hwang Hee-chan?

When the South Korea international joined on loan from RB Leipzig last season, he looked to be a shrewd acquisition by Bruno Lage, as he hit four goals in 14 appearances, which encouraged the Midlands club to make his move permanent in January.

He would sign a contract until 2026, joining in a deal worth £14m, but his form since then has been abysmal to say the least, with the Old Gold perhaps regretting that decision given their woes in front of goal in recent times, as well as the influx of new attackers under Lopetegui.

This season has seen the 27-year-old forward make 18 appearances in the Premier League for Wolves, in which he has no goals and just one assist, averaging a woeful 6.22 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Remarkably, this ranks him as the 26th-best performer at Molineux so far this campaign, which emphasises just how poor he has been and why Lopetegui needs to cash in this summer.

His performances this term have been an unfortunate continuation of the form he showed in the back end of last season, as his Arsenal on February 24, before a run of 13 games in which he managed just one assist.

Is Hwang stealing a wage at Molineux?

While Hwang is not one of Wolves’ top earners at Molineux, receiving £30k per week, it seems clear that he doesn’t have a future in Lopetegui’s squad, especially with attacking players such as Pedro Neto and Sasa Kalajdzic also likely to limit his game time further when they return from their respective injuries.

Although he would show glimpses of quality in Wolves’ 3-0 win over Liverpool recently – providing two key passes – he would pick up another injury in that game which is expected to keep him out until mid-March, at a time when the Old Gold need as many attacking players available as possible.

Therefore, it seems clear that the former Red Bull Salzburg man cannot be relied upon as a consistent source of goals and good performances in this Wolves side.

As such, Lopetegui should look to cash in on the South Korean this summer, rather than seeing him continue to waste a wage.