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The Australia captain wants her team to continue to strive for perfection in what has become a dominant Ashes campaign

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jul-2019

Meg Lanning channeled the annoyance of not converting starts in the Ashes into a record-breaking innings at Chelmsford, as Australia secured the multi-points series in overwhelming style. Yet, she was still targeting further improvement from her impressive team.Lanning plundered 133 not out off 63 balls, beating her own record of 126 – which had been jointly held with Sterre Kalis of Netherlands for a month – for the highest individual innings in women’s T20Is. It is a mark of the standards set by Lanning that her previous scores in the Ashes (16, 18, 69, 57 and 21) had been below expectation and she showed no mercy on the England bowlers, taking them for 17 fours and seven sixes.She added a second-wicket stand of 134 in 12 overs with Beth Mooney (55 off 33 balls) and 66 in five overs with Ash Gardner as Australia piled up 226 for 3 which England got nowhere near threatening. This gave them a 10-2 lead in the series with two T20Is remaining.”I hit the ball today as well as I have for a long time, that’s what T20 does, you are out there and swing the bat a little bit and hope for the best at times,” Lanning said. “To be honest myself and Beth, we just wanted to play good cricket shots and we got good reward for that. It was a really good batting deck.”I feel like I’ve been hitting the ball reasonably well without being able to play really freely and felt if I was able to stick at it long enough it would happen. Was nice to be able to cash in, some days you are on and you have to make the most of it.””[I have been] a bit frustrated, I have big expectations and want to contribute all the time. I felt like I was getting starts but kept getting out and that was annoying me a fair bit. So when I got going today I was keen to keep putting the foot down and take the opportunity because it doesn’t come along very often.”Australia retained the Ashes with the drawn Test in Taunton and, unlike the previous series in Australia, have ensured against England fighting back to level the points in the T20s. Following their 3-0 success in the ODIs, and a performance in the Test where they never looked like losing, going unbeaten through the series is now very much on the cards.”It’s massive, it’s what we came here to do – win the Ashes outright. To do it early on is a nice bonus,” Lanning said. “We’ve played some good cricket throughout, it has been closer than the scoreboard suggests but we’ve been able to win the big moments in game. We are keen to keep going, we don’t want to give them any sniff”We strive for perfection, we don’t get there, but we want to get as close as we can. We can probably improve a little in the field which is a good thing for our group because we want to keep getting better. I think that’s why we’ve been able to have some success over the last 18 months, that drive, and everyone in the group has that.”

Leeds United have a number of players linked with exits in the January transfer window and BBC pundit Alan Hutton has shared he's heard from Elland Road.

Leeds set for busy January

Leeds have settled in well to life in the Championship and have established themselves as contenders for promotion this term; however, Daniel Farke will be aware that quality additions will be needed to further his side's push to reclaim entry into the Premier League.

The Whites are believed to have made their interest known in Bournemouth and Wales striker Kieffer Moore, who will be available for a loan away from the South Coast for the remainder of the campaign providing his £40,000 per week wages are covered, as per The Sun.

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Nevertheless, Ipswich Town, West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham City, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Cardiff City are also keen on offering the 31-year-old marksman an avenue to kickstart his 2023/24 campaign following a lack of involement at the Vitality Stadium.

Speaking to CaughtOffside TV YouTube channel, journalist Ben Jacobs has named Leeds as suitors for Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos, as he told the outlet: "Crystal Palace are interested in Santos and there are Championship clubs as well. Ipswich may be one to watch and I think that Leeds are still in the market. Even though they made some replacements they lost Weston McKennie and there could be a window of opportunity there."

On the flipside, Crysencio Summerville, Patrick Bamford and Luke Ayling have all been linked with moves away from the club this month.

Summerville could leave Leeds – Hutton

Speaking to Football Insider, former Scotland international Hutton has indicated he has heard "whispers" that Summerville could leave the club this window in light of recent reports linking him with a move to the Premier League to join Aston Villa.

Crysencio Summerville statistics in 2023/24 – all competitions (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

24

Goals

12

Assists

6

Crysencio Summerville in-game statistics – Championship (WhoScored)

Shots per game

3

Key passes per game

3

Completed dribbles per game

2.6

Hutton told the outlet: "I think they will keep Bamford this January. You need a strong squad to get promoted and he’s shown multiple times that he’s capable of scoring goals. He’s just been unlikely this season with injuries and his form.

"With the likes of Georginio Rutter up front, it doesn’t help. It’s been difficult for him. ​​​​​I’m starting to hear whispers about Crysencio Summerville – could he be on the move?

"They’re seven points off second place and Southampton are really pushing too, so it will be interesting. I don’t think they’ll want to lose any of their top players unless they have to."

Keeping hold of Summerville would be a huge boost for Leeds as they chase promotion and you would suspect Farke will be begging the owners to keep the young Dutchman in Yorkshire for six more months at least.

AC Milan ace Christian Pulisic has outlined the main difference between the Premier League and Serie A after playing in both divisions.

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Pulisic spent four years at ChelseaJust finishing first season at AC MilanAmerican contrasts two divisionsWHAT HAPPENED?

After more than four years with Chelsea, where he scored 26 goals in 145 games between 2019-2023, the United States international joined Milan last summer. In contrast with his sorry end at the Blues, the 25-year-old has scored 15 goals and bagged nine assists for the Italian giants this term, with 12 of his goals coming in Serie A. Now, he has spoken about the differences between the two leagues.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT CHRISTIAN PULISIC SAID

The USMNT star told : "My hypothesis is that Serie A is much more tactical, the English championship much more physical and technical. If you come from the Premier League with these qualities, you can immediately make the most of it."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Pulisic has shown he is a big talent but, arguably, did not live up to the £58 million ($73.8m) Chelsea splashed out on the then-20-year-old back in early 2019. The former Borussia Dortmund star joined Milan for just £17m ($22m) and that has proven to be something of a bargain. The American ace will now have to continue to improve and take his game to the next level next season.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Pulisic will hope to feature in Milan's final Serie A game of the season when they take on already-relegated Salernitana on Saturday. The Rossoneri sit second in the division, a whopping 19 points behind champions Inter Milan.

Trevor Bayliss hopes Alex Hales’ punishment will “send a message” to every other player in England about the consequences of unprofessional behaviour.Hales was dropped from England’s World Cup plans last week after it emerged he had failed a second drugs test. While the drug concerned was recreational and the ECB insists Hales was not dropped directly because of that failure, Bayliss believes that other players witnessing the episode will have been left in no doubt as to the standards expected of them in the future.But there is also a wider context. The sport is currently trying to reach out to a new, mass market, family audience yet has found itself hamstrung by unsavoury stories involving players in the media. After the Bristol incident which saw Ben Stokes tried, and cleared, on the charge of affray, the squad had, according to Bayliss, made efforts to improve the “culture” around the team. But news of Hales’ drugs test failure put them back in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons and led Bayliss insisting “those days are over”.”It’s not just a message to the players in this team: it’s a message to the rest of the players in England and throughout county cricket,” Bayliss said. “Those sort of decisions will not be tolerated.”Hopefully county cricketers learn from it: there’s not going to be any future for you if you go down that track. It is a message to everyone else out there that those days are over.”You can still go out and have a few beers and enjoy yourselves, but it’s about making the right decisions and choices. It’s part of being a young sportsman these days, there is that extra exposure, and you have to be that bit more diligent that you do make those right decisions.”Alex Hales at a Notts training session•Getty Images

While Bayliss confirmed he was right behind the decision to drop Hales – and suggested the squad had quickly moved on without him – he insisted a recall was possible if the player could demonstrate he was capable of “making the right choices”.”Unfortunately, Alex made some wrong choices and the end result is that he’s been deselected,” Bayliss said. “I think it was the right decision. I never had the chance to get near a World Cup as a player and I can’t imagine throwing it away.”I spoke to Eoin Morgan before that meeting with the senior players [that recommended dropping Hales]. He said he would take that to the players and see what their response was. I think we were all on the same page. There were some mistakes made 18 months ago, but in the last 18 months this group of players have all worked extremely hard on their culture and unity.”There hasn’t been any talk about it at all amongst the group of players. Things have carried on as per normal. Everything has just moved on very smoothly. We’ve played two games and I haven’t heard a whisper about it. Everyone has moved on and we’ve got James Vince in the team at the moment who I suppose is a similar type of player. Everyone has moved on.”But Alex can certainly make a comeback. There’s no roadblocks there. He’s obviously been an important part of this team over the last half-a-dozen years or so, and there’s no reason why he can’t learn to make the right choices in future and make it back into this team. It’s certainly been relayed to him that his career is not over, but it is up to him.”

David Beckham has explained why bringing “perfect player” Lionel Messi to MLS was “always” part of his plan at Inter Miami.

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Argentine icon snapped up in 2023Made a stunning impact on & off the fieldInspiring next generation in the StatesWHAT HAPPENED?

The Manchester United and England legend, who is now a co-owner in Florida, helped to complete a stunning transfer coup in the summer of 2023. Messi, who had reached the end of his contract at Paris Saint-Germain, was lured to America amid talk of interest from Barcelona and the Saudi Pro League.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowAdvertisementGettyWHAT BECKHAM SAID

Messi has starred in the United States, and continues to break records, with Beckham telling of why he was so determined to land the South American superstar: “It’s just that effect Leo has on the game, and the world. One of the reasons why we wanted to bring him to America was to inspire the next generation – that was my plan. I obviously wanted to bring him for the player he is and the person he is. I played against him numerous times – actually twice, thankfully – but I’ve been a fan of him and watched him for many years. I always had the plan to bring the greatest player to ever play the game, in my opinion, to our team. Luckily it happened.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Beckham added on his GOAT claim – with that debate, which also includes the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Maradona, having been running for some time: “I think everyone’s got their own opinion. There are a lot of great players to have played the game over the years, but in my opinion he is the perfect player.”

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Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?

Beckham made his own move to America in 2007, when joining the LA Galaxy, and said of using that experience to help secure Messi’s signature: “I could actually come at him and with him with my experience of moving to America and coming to a league that at that time wasn’t established like it is now. There were only 13 teams in the league, now there is almost 30, and it’s in a different position to what it was back then when I first came. But he’s always loved Miami, he’s always loved the idea of the project of making the game even bigger in this country. When you bring someone like that to America, people notice. It’s been very special.”

Everton boss Sean Dyche is keen to build on his side's brilliant run of form in the Premier League and could now be in the running to sign a talented player on loan in January.

Everton's spirited run continues…

Despite their well-documented points deduction, Everton are flying under Dyche and recorded their fourth successive Premier League victory at Turf Moor on Saturday evening, with goals from Amadou Onana and Michael Keane ensuring three points in a comfortable triumph in Lancashire.

Now sitting on 16 points from 17 matches, the incredible reality of the Toffees' situation is that they would actually be in the mix for the top six if their sporting penalty for financial breaches didn't exist; nevertheless, their players deserve an immense amount of credit for their refusal to become downtrodden by recent events.

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As cited by The Independent, Dyche praised his players' resilience to claim three points amid a current of injury problems present at the club, saying:

"I was delighted. We’re a side pieced together yesterday morning. We lost Myko (Vitaliy Mykolenko) with a tight groin and because we’ve got injuries and suspensions we can’t risk players so we had to change everything in a morning. Their acceptance to go and deliver a performance that can win was very pleasing."

Excitingly, Everton will turn their attention towards an exciting EFL Cup quarter-final showdown against Fulham at Goodison Park on Tuesday night, in a fixture that could potentially edge them closer to a first piece of major silverware since 1995.

Without a doubt, the prospect of silverware being up for grabs will make the Toffees an attractive option for potential January targets and Dyche could now strengthen his bid for success by bringing in a talented attacker on loan.

Iliman Ndiaye is an Everton target

According to reliable reporter Alan Nixon of The Sun, Everton are keen on a loan swoop in January for Marseille forward Iliman Ndiaye, who was a crucial figure in Sheffield United's promotion campaign last term. The Blades, alongside Crystal Palace, are also keeping tabs on the Senegal international, who has struggled for regular game-time since moving to the Orange Velodrome in the summer.

Five most similar players to Iliman Ndiaye (as provided by FBRef)

Club

Player

Jonathan Ikone

Fiorentina

Christian Pulisic

AC Milan

Mykhailo Mudryk

Chelsea

Ludovic Blas

Rennes

Gonzalo Plata

Al Sadd

Marseille could look to cut their losses on the 24-year-old and Everton could get a second chance to land Ndiaye after they previously held an interest in him earlier this year.

Labelled "incredible" by former teammate Oli McBurnie, Ndiaye has made 21 appearances in all competitions for Marseille this campaign, registering one goal and three assists in the process (Ndiaye statistics – Transfermarkt).

Capable of leading the line as a number nine or providing an effective foil to the main striker either from a central position or both flanks, the Rouen-born man possesses a unique degree of versatility that would undoubtedly go down well among the Goodison Park faithful.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has been told he has another unhappy player on his hands at Old Trafford as they try to rectify a poor start to the campaign.

Manchester United's form under Erik ten Hag…

Undoubtedly, the Red Devils have been embroiled in a rollercoaster ride so far this term that has included its fair share of issues on and off the field at Old Trafford. Jadon Sancho, Antony and much-maligned loanee Mason Greenwood all hit the headlines away from the field earlier in the season as Ten Hag continues to battle with a current of chaos in the North West.

Manchester United have lost five out of their opening 12 Premier League matches and also sit bottom in Champions League Group A with three defeats from their first four fixtures. Nevertheless, the Red Devils have started to build some stable form in the Premier League and surprisingly find themselves as the most in-form team in the division over their last five games, taking 12 points from a possible 15.

Stability is a feature that has long been missed at Old Trafford since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, and their rocky status continues to persist behind the scenes at ownership level; however, Sir Jim Ratcliffe finally looks poised to complete a deal to lay claim to 25% of the Red Devils.

Despite not being an exact science, an unstable culture and club environment can lead to players losing confidence and form, something which can also be multiplied by outside criticism from media circles.

In light of this, one Manchester United star has come under fire for his start to proceedings this term from a Premier League legend, who believes that the man in question may not be entirely content at Old Trafford.

Alan Shearer says Marcus Rashford is unhappy at Man Utd

In conversation with Premier League productions, cited via The Mirror, pundit Alan Shearer has indicated that Manchester United star Marcus Rashford may be "unhappy" at Old Trafford amid an inconsistent start to the season for the England international.

Newcastle United icon Shearer told the outlet when asked about Rashford's recent form: "I think the simple answer is we don’t know because we’re not within the football club. But what we’re looking at is someone who clearly looks very unhappy. He looks moody, and when that’s the case, you’re never going to perform at your best.

"Whether he feels he’s better than what’s at Old Trafford at this moment in time, I don’t know. Whether he feels let down by recruitment because he went to another level in terms of his goals last year. The club haven’t gone to it this season which maybe he wanted or expected to. You’re not seeing a happy footballer; you’re not seeing a happy person at this moment in time in Marcus Rashford. He looks a different player for England than he does for Manchester United."

Scrutiny over performances is always going to be a key feature of playing for a club with vast expectations such as Manchester United. However, Rashford will be keen to show the English public that criticism surrounding his displays has been overstated. Over the next couple of weeks, he will form part of the Three Lions squad for their EURO 2024 qualifying double-header against Malta and North Macedonia.

Manchester City are tussling with a number of Premier League clubs for the signing of a "superb" midfielder, a fresh transfer rumour has claimed.

Man City transfer news

Pep Guardiola's side were in imperious form on Sunday afternoon, heading to Manchester United and comprehensively outplaying their rivals in the derby. In the end, City cruised to a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford, with Erling Haaland scoring twice and Phil Foden also finding the net, further suggesting that they are again very much the team to beat in the Premier League title race.

Guardiola did plenty of transfer business during the summer window, bringing in the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and Jeremy Doku, among others, while players such as Ilkay Gundogan and Aymeric Laporte left the club for pastures new. City always look willing to do some interesting transfer business at any opportunity, and January isn't too far away, giving them another chance to bolster their squad.

With Kevin De Bruyne still absent through injury, and Kalvin Phillips potentially leaving the club at that point, it looks as though they are eyeing up one impressive midfielder to come in.

Man City want Exequiel Palacios

According to an update from TNT Sports [via Sport Witness], Manchester City are keen on signing Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Exequiel Palacio in January, but they face competition for his signature. Newcastle United and Aston Villa are also in the conversation to snap up the Argentine, in what is described as a "tantalising opportunity" for the player to head to the Premier League. It is also stated that all three English sides are "seriously considering the possibility" of signing Palacios.

While some may feel that City already have an embarrassment of riches at their disposal in midfield, Palacios could be an outstanding signing if their interest proves to be genuine. The 25-year-old is now a World Cup winner, having tasted glory with Argentina last year, and Palacios' stats show that he featured three times in the tournament, doing his bit for his country. He appears to be a key man for a Leverkusen side currently who are top of the Bundesliga ahead of German giants Bayern Munich, featuring in all nine league games this season and starting eight of them.

Journalist Zach Lowy once heaped praise on Palacios back in 2019, at a point when he was a big young talent, saying of him:

"Hard to believe Exequiel Palacios is only 20. Kid's got it all – a superb weight on his final ball, pausa, nonstop running from box to box, great decision-making – and he's learning from one of the best managers in the world in Marcelo Gallardo. Florentino missed out on a gem."

At 25, Palacios is seemingly at a great point in his career, having enough experience under his belt was also still being a relatively young player, and he is someone who could be a great understudy for Rodri, also earning plenty of playing time because Guardiola likes to shuffle his lack so often. As mentioned, Phillips could head out somewhere else on loan, having struggled to make the grade at the Etihad, and the Leverkusen ace could even prove to be an upgrade on the England international.

Join us for live coverage and reaction of the findings of the two reviews into Australian cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Oct-2018

Surrey chased down a Middlesex total of 221 for 5 with almost contemptuous ease to win by nine wickets at The Oval

ECB Reporters Network03-Aug-2018

ScorecardTruly remarkable hitting by Aaron Finch and Jason Roy thrilled a sell-out Kia Oval crowd of 24,000 as Surrey chased down a Middlesex total of 221 for 5 with almost contemptuous ease to win the Vitality Blast London derby by nine wickets.Finch finished on a stunning 117 not out from 52 balls, while Roy had made 84 from only 37 balls when he swung seamer James Fuller to deep mid wicket off the fifth ball of the 14th over.Even Paul Stirling’s spectacular 58-ball 109 was overshadowed as Finch and Roy plundered an astonishing 194 for Surrey’s first wicket – scoring 98 in the initial six-over powerplay alone – to spearhead a victory achieved with a barely believable four overs to spare. It was Surrey’s fourth win from eight South Group games, but Middlesex’s seventh defeat from nine.Australian powerhouse Finch, the world’s No 1 T20 batsman, led the assault by reaching his fifty in a mere 16 balls – unsurprisingly a Surrey record – but England white-ball opener Roy was hardly a slouch, racing to his own half-century in 24 balls.Finch and Roy’s partnership was also a Surrey T20 first wicket record, beating the 187 they had themselves put on against Kent at the Oval two years ago.Spare a thought for Middlesex’s shell-shocked bowlers as sixes and fours simply flew from the bats of Finch and Roy. Tom Barber’s first over, the second of the innings, went for 17 as Finch plundered three successive fours and poor James Harris, who sent down the third over, saw it cost 23 runs as Finch smashed his first, second and fourth balls for six.In all, Finch hit eight sixes and 11 fours in his sixth T20 hundred, and second of this Blast campaign, while Roy’s final tally was seven sixes and seven fours. Nic Maddinson then came in to keep Finch company until the win was completed at 222 for 1, swinging Barber for a six of his own high over mid wicket in his unbeaten 13.Ironically, Middlesex’s 221 for 5 equalled their previous highest total in T20 cricket, the 221 for 2 scored against Sussex at Hove in 2015.Stirling, dropped off the first ball of the match by Maddinson at cover when he lifted a back foot force at Jade Dernbach, soon settled into the destructive hitting which is such a feature of his white-ball batting. He also hit a 36-ball 66 when Middlesex beat Surrey at Lord’s on July 5.Nick Gubbins, however, did most of the early scoring with four fours in a quickfire 20 before he was held on the deep mid wicket ropes by Tom Curran off Dernbach.Stirling then took over, swatting Mat Pillans’ first ball for six and square cutting his next ball for four. Curran was driven for two offside fours and the six-over powerplay ended with the same bowler being thumped over long on for six as Stirling went to 34 and Middlesex accelerated to 67 for 1.Gareth Batty’s off spin was also savaged, with sixes lofted wide of long off and pulled over mid wicket. Batty’s next ball, in the 11th over, disappeared over long on for another six and the Northern Irishman reached 99 with his seventh and final maximum, a massive blow launched off Will Jacks’ off spin over wide mid wicket.A single from the next ball took him to three figures, and there were two more fours off Rikki Clarke before the veteran all-rounder bowled him leg stump, making room, with the final ball of the 16th over.Stevie Eskinazi made a useful 27-ball 31 to support Stirling in a second wicket stand of 111 before giving Clarke a swirling catch off his own bowling with a skied swipe in the 14th over.That left Middlesex 136 for 2 and, although Eoin Morgan was run out for nought without facing a ball, after a mix-up with Stirling, runs continued to come quickly as Fuller thumped Dernbach for two sixes.When Stirling finally fell, a recalled James Franklin hit out merrily in an eight-ball 21, but little did he know that his and Fuller’s efforts would be in vain, despite what seemed to be a challenging total, as Surrey’s openers laid waste to the Middlesex attack.