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West Ham United are looking at signing a centre-back who silenced Kylian Mbappe recently, as technical director Tim Steidten seeks defensive upgrades.

Aguerd and Zouma attract Saudi interest

A real worry for manager David Moyes this season has been West Ham's lack of solidity in defence at times. The Hammers have been on the receiving end of some real drubbings this season, including a 5-0 at Fulham, 5-1 loss to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup and 6-0 home defeat to Arsenal.

West Ham chiefs believe they can sign a "world class" talent this summer

He scored 21 goals last season.

ByTom Coates Mar 25, 2024

Concerns have surrounded the form of Nayef Aguerd, who is often prone to a fatal defensive error, with reports suggesting that both the Morocco international and central defensive partner Kurt Zouma are attracting interest from the Middle East.

Newcastle United (away)

March 30th

Tottenham (home)

April 2nd

Wolves (away)

April 6th

Fulham (home)

April 14th

Crystal Palace (away)

April 21st

Clubs in Saudi Arabia are eyeing up moves for Zouma and Aguerd, and the latter has been linked with a move away since before the new year. West Ham are said to be targeting defensive reinforcements ahead of the summer window, especially as Angelo Ogbonna's contract runs down to expiry.

Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo is an apparent target for West Ham, while Steidten also keeps tabs on other big name options from the continent.

West Ham looking at signing Jonathan Tah

According to HITC, Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah is one such option. The Germany international has been an ever-present in Xabi Alonso's starting elevens, as table-topping Leverkusen seek to make history by pipping Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title.

Tah has started 23 league matches under Alonso, even getting on the scoresheet four times, and his impressive form has earned him the nod from Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann. West Ham are apparently looking at signing Tah this summer and ran the rule over him during Germany's clash with France on Saturday. He managed to keep the likes of Mbappe at bay, as the PSG superstar could only muster a booking in a quiet display, which Germany won 2-0.

The defender's contract also expires next year as things stand, which could make him a relatively low-cost option. Tah already has a gleaming reputation from his time in the Bundesliga, with those close to him heaping praise on the player's physicality, attitude and general application.

"Jonathan has a great history here. He's an international player. He's ambitious. He is held in high regard by his teammates. We expect him to take the next step personality-wise," once said former Leverkusen boss Gerardo Seoane (via Bundesliga).

Former Germany manager Joachim Low, once drawing attention to his potential, heralded Tah's bursts of speed as a real plus point as well. Low said (via Bundesliga): "He's a young player with a lot of potential. He's physically strong and very quick. Everything is possible."

If Moyes is granted a stay beyond the end of 2023/2024, a defensive asset of Tah's calibre and experience could be just what West Ham need to take their backline to the next level.

Two-year deal extends 27-year association, as club legend focuses on 2nd XI development

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Nov-2019Marcus Trescothick will continue his 27-year association with Somerset after being unveiled as a full-time assistant coach.Trescothick, 43, made his Somerset debut in 1993, and retired from the playing staff at the end of the 2019 season, in which he made a final appearance as a substitute fielder during the club’s defeat in their Championship showdown against Essex at Taunton.He retired with a raft of club records, including the most first-class centuries (52) and the most List A runs (7374), and he also took a record 445 first-class catches in his lengthy career.He has now signed a two-year contract to become a fulltime Assistant Coach. His primary duty will be to assist the Second XI Head Coach, Greg Kennis, and work on the development of players who are hoping to establish themselves within the First XI.”I’m absolutely over the moon to have the opportunity to join the coaching set-up here at the Club and I can’t wait to get my teeth in to it,” said Trescothick.”I spent some time in and around the Second XI last season, so I’ve already spent some quality time with the younger players who have just come into the squad. To think that you might be able to help progress someone’s career is a great feeling and it’s something that I’m really looking forward to.”We have a great coaching set-up and I’ve obviously had the opportunity to tap into the expertise of the current coaches. I also did some work with England last year and hopefully I can use some of that knowledge to help benefit the club over the next few years.”Somerset Director of Cricket, Andy Hurry, said that “the name Marcus Trescothick is synonymous with Somerset Cricket”, and added that he would be given opportunities to work with the first XI in the course of the 2020 season, to pass on the experience gleaned from a hugely successful career that included 76 Tests and 123 ODIs between 2000 and 2006.”His knowledge of the game and what it means to represent this club are a valuable asset and one that we are delighted that we will be able to continue to tap in to,” said Hurry.”Within his job specification there will also be periodic opportunities during the summer for him to support the needs of those players within the current First XI environment.”During the winter he will work alongside the club’s coaches to help to advance our players development. He will also work on all facets of the development of our cricketers both on and off the field.”Head Coach, Jason Kerr said: “Myself and Andy Hurry have spent a long time looking at the structure of the club and discussing how we can best support the players. To be able to add someone like Marcus, with all of his experience, to the support staff is really exciting for us. What is great for us is that his coaching journey is in its infancy and he’s really hungry to learn.”Any decision like this is made with the best interests of the club in mind. We are excited to be aiding his coaching development and we will certainly be tapping into his knowledge to help support our young players.”The calibre and diversity of our support staff is really exciting, and it gives the players the best possible chance of success out there in the middle.”

Thiago Silva made his debut for Fluminense on Monday as he finally returned to his boyhood club from Chelsea this summer.

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Silva made his debut for Fluminense Returned to boyhood club this summer from ChelseaPenned a heartfelt note for his team WHAT HAPPENED?

After his Chelsea contract expired at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, Thiago Silva decided to return to his homeland and join his boyhood club Fluminense. The veteran player received a stunning welcome at the Brazilian club last month as 55,000 people turned up at Maracana to welcome their legend.

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The 39-year-old proved to be the club's lucky charm as they registered their first win in 10 matches across all competitions in his debut game for them. At the end of the match, the former Selecao star penned a heartfelt note for his new team.

WHAT THIAGO SILVA SAID

On Instagram, the former Chelsea and AC Milan defender wrote, "It's been 16 years since I experienced such a beautiful feeling to wear this shirt on the field. Without a doubt, this is a moment I will never forget and I thank God for being by my side and helping us get the victory tonight. I also want to thank my family and the tricolour team for their support and care. We keep striving for more winnings LET'S ALL COME TOGETHER I love you Fluminense!"

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Leonardo Brasil/Fluminense FCWHAT NEXT FOR THIAGO SILVA?

Silva will be next seen in action on Thursday as Fluminense take on reigning champions Palmeiras in an important Brazilian Serie A clash.

Newcastle United have had their fair share of players who have failed to make an impact during their time at St James' Park but have gone on to have a successful career elsewhere.

During the 2010s, the club only really signed players for relatively small transfer fees, in the hope they would impress at the Magpies before making the club a profit should they leave the club.

The club also had relative success with players coming through the academy at the club, with players such as Andy Carroll impressing for the club before leaving for £35m – a great deal given his record of 11 goals in 58 games at Anfield.

Despite the Magpies' success with Carroll, the club made a mistake by letting a youngster leave the club back in 2014, with the player excelling since his departure from the club.

James Tavernier's stats at Newcastle United

After joining the club from Leeds United, defender James Tavernier joined the Magpies back in 2008, signing his professional contract at St James' Park.

He made his Magpies debut in the 2-0 League Cup defeat against Peterborough United, before multiple loan spells away from the club at sides such as Gateshead, Carlisle United, Sheffield Wednesday and MK Dons.

The right-back made his Newcastle European debut in the Europa League qualification tie against Atromitos back in August 2012, before once again being sent on loan, this time to Shrewsbury Town and Rotherham United with the defender winning promotion to the Championship with the latter.

Tavernier's successful spell of five goals and six assists with the Millers saw Championship side Wigan Athletic permanently sign the right-back, ending his six-year stay at St James', with the club doing the right thing in offloading him.

However, ten years on from his departure from the club, the defender has excelled, turning into one of Europe's most influential defenders when it comes to goal contributions, with the Magpies potentially living to regret his departure.

James Tavernier's stats at Rangers

After his time at Wigan, the right-back decided to swap England for Scotland, joining Rangers in the summer of 2015 – in a move that would transform Tavernier's career.

He made an immediate impact at Ibrox, with the full-back reaching 28 goal contributions in his 36 games for the club, the right-back settling straight into life north of the border.

His brilliant career with the Gers hasn't slowed down, with Tavernier taking the armband at the club, and being an instrumental success in the club's first Scottish league title in over a decade, with the defender scoring 11 and assisting ten times throughout the 2020/21 season.

Tavernier has been superb again in 2023/24, with his tally of 14 league goals even higher than that of current Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, with the Swede bagging 12 times in the Premier League under Eddie Howe this season.

His record at Rangers is nothing short of astonishing, especially for a defender. He's featured 449 times for the Scottish side, with the 32-year-old scoring 122 goals and creating 137 assists for his teammates.

Given his remarkable record since his departure from Newcastle, the club potentially missed a trick in not keeping hold of Tavernier during their turbulent time under former owner Mike Ashley.

He's gone on to achieve unthinkable things, with the Magpies making a huge mistake in allowing him to leave on the cheap back in 2014.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

England’s resolve broken during four-wicket afternoon session as they slip to an innings defeat

The Report by Alan Gardner25-Nov-2019New Zealand marked the arrival of Test cricket in Bay of Plenty with an emphatic victory over England. These are times of rich promise for Kane Williamson’s side and they made light of the suggestion that the surface at Mount Maunganui might be too flat to provide a result, Neil Wagner’s ebullient five-wicket haul seeing them home with plenty of room to spare on the final day.For England, it was a case of new coach, new approach, but largely the same result. Having won the toss and gained first use of the pitch, a first-innings total of 353 was soon shown up as inadequate by New Zealand’s more ruthless approach. The brittle nature of their batting was then exposed for a second time, with no one managing more than Joe Denly’s 35 as they crumbled to an innings defeat.ALSO READ: ‘Missed opportunity’ with bat cost England – RootNeeding to bat for most of the day in order to squeeze out of the game with a draw, England lost four wickets during the afternoon session to fatally undermine their cause. Wagner claimed three of them in a five-over burst before tea that ripped the guts out of England’s resistance, with a ninth-wicket stand of 59 between Sam Curran and Jofra Archer only serving to underline what might have been achievable.New Zealand have not lost a Test at home since 2017, and the way they wrestled control in this match – through the record-breaking feats of BJ Watling and Mitchell Santner and a concerted team effort with the ball – ably demonstrated why they sit No. 2 in the ICC’s Test rankings. Watling was named Man of the Match for his marathon double-hundred and while Santner could not add to the three vital wickets he had claimed on the fourth evening, there was a flying catch to savour as New Zealand surged towards victory.Although England did threaten to draw the game out, losing just one wicket in the first 41 overs of the day, it is a marker of New Zealand’s collective strength that someone always seems to stand up when required. Wagner, who looks like he would celebrate the successful purchase of a new hoover with a fist-pumping run towards the cashiers, charged into the fray during the afternoon session to break the tourists resolve.England’s batsmen did, however, lend the odd helping hand. Perhaps most disappointing for Joe Root, the man hoping to help build a new era for England in Test cricket under Chris Silverwood, was his own dismissal and that of his vice-captain, Ben Stokes. Both departed to ill-judged strokes against balls that were not threatening their stumps, clearing the path for Wagner to run through the rest of the line-up.Watch cricket on ESPN+

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The loss of Stokes, England’s top-scorer in the first innings, dealt the gravest blow to their hopes of saving the game. He and Denly had taken the score to 121 for 4, approaching the afternoon drinks break, when Tim Southee’s perseverance outside off stump was rewarded as Stokes was bowled off his inside edge trying to force a wide delivery.New Zealand, and Wagner, sensed their moment. Denly’s 142-ball vigil was ended a few overs later, when Wagner went around the wicket and found some extra bounce from a length to flick the glove – Kumar Dharmasena declined the initial appeal but Williamson immediately, and confidently, reviewed.Ollie Pope was then suckered in Wagner’s next over, mishitting what looked like a wide full toss but was actually a knuckleball towards cover, where Santner continued a memorable Test by clinging on a full stretch. When Jos Buttler opted to leave Wagner’s first delivery with the second new ball, only to see it crash into the base of off stump, the game was effectively up. Curran and Archer stitched together a partnership to extend proceedings into the final session, thwarting Santner’s attempts to add a five-for to his hundred; but Wagner returned to claim the last two wickets with consecutive balls and seal an impressive win.The teams came back for the final day at Bay Oval with two outcomes on the table. Either New Zealand would take the seven wickets required, and possibly knock off a few runs, to claim victory and a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, or England and the pitch would conspire to deliver a draw in Mount Maunganui’s maiden Test.The initial signs were that bowling out England for a second time would be hard work, despite the pitch increasingly offering assistance to spin – and the departure of Trent Boult for treatment on a side problem after bowling just one over must have been a concern for Williamson. New Zealand only managed one breakthrough during the morning, but the fact that the departing batsman was Root would have encouraged hopes that they could get the job done.Root, fresh to the crease after Jack Leach’s dismissal from the final ball of day four, had looked reasonably assured, clipping a couple of fours off Santner but otherwise taking his time to get in. However, facing a field with three catchers in the covers, he was surprised by Colin de Grandhomme going short and steered limply to gully, departing having failed to make a significant contribution to the England innings for the second time in the match.

United States women's national team head coach Emma Hayes is set to add former Aston Villa boss Carla Ward to her staff for the Olympic Games.

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Ward left Aston Villa back in MayFormed friendship with Hayes while in WSLNow set to join USWNT staff for OlympicsWHAT HAPPENED?

Ward chose to leave Villa at the end of the 2023-24 season, stating that is was the "right time" to prioritise "my daughter and the rest of my family life". The former Sheffield United and Birmingham City manager spent three years at the club, reaching two cup semi-finals and securing an impressive fifth-placed finish in the 2022-23 Women's Super League campaign.

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Ward is now set to return to coaching as understands that she will join the USWNT staff in what is described as a flexible role, overseeing various areas such as performance analysis and opposition scouting. The 40-year-old formed a close friendship with Hayes while coaching against her in the WSL and will now join her for the upcoming Olympic Games.

DID YOU KNOW?

The USWNT will be searching for a fifth Olympic gold medal in France this summer, with it the most successful nation in the Games' women's football tournament by some distance. No other country has won gold in the event more than once since it was introduced in 1996.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR THE USWNT?

Hayes' side kicks off its 2024 Olympic campaign on Thursday, taking on Zambia in Nice. Germany and Australia are the other teams in the U.S.'s group.

Manchester United are reportedly considering Burnley midfielder Sander Berge if they fail to sign Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain.

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Man Utd trying to get UgartePSG remain firm on €60m valuationRed Devils plotting move for BergeWHAT HAPPENED?

According to the Red Devils are diligently planning for various scenarios to bolster their midfield options this summer. Berge, 26, is open to a transfer following Burnley's relegation. Whereas, the Lancashire club are also eager to offload players to stabilise their financial situation.

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Nonetheless, Ugarte remains United's top choice. The Parisians are on the verge of signing Joao Neves for an initial fee of €60 million (£51m/$65m) from Benfica, with potential add-ons pushing the total to €70m (£59m/$76m). Renato Sanches is set to return to Benfica on a one-year loan with PSG covering his wages as part of the Neves deal. This transfer activity at PSG could facilitate Ugarte's departure, although negotiations remain complex.

DID YOU KNOW?

PSG have set a firm price of €60m for Ugarte, reflecting the amount they paid Sporting CP for him last summer. Despite United's €50m (£42m/$54m) offer, PSG are unwilling to sell at a discount. This steadfast position complicates United's efforts, even as they have reportedly agreed on personal terms with Ugarte.

However, United's quest for Ugarte is not without challenges. Bayern Munich have expressed interest in the midfielder, as have two Italian clubs and another Premier League team. This heightened competition reinforces PSG's valuation and further complicates United's negotiations.

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(C)GettyImagesWHAT NEXT?

Given the potential hurdles in acquiring Ugarte, United's consideration of Berge represents a pragmatic approach. Moreover, his physicality and Premier League experience could further offer the stability United seek in their midfield.

Glasgow Rangers manager Philippe Clement faces an interesting summer ahead, particularly in terms of improving his squad.

The Belgian did sign three players during the January transfer window, and while Mohamed Diomande will make his loan move permanent in the summer, Fabio Silva and Oscar Cortes will return to their parent clubs.

The trio are all under 22, proving that Clement is looking to go down the route of signing talented prospects who could thrive at this level, before moving them on for a solid profit after a couple of years.

Not only does he have the task of bringing new talent in across various positions in his first team squad, but the 50-year-old will have to manage his outgoings well too.

At the end of the current season, six Rangers players are out of contact, with the vast majority of them expected to depart Ibrox, which will free up some wages for Clement to use in the transfer window.

Rangers players out of contract this summer

The Ibrox side find themselves in a similar position to last season, with a host of first-team players entering the final few weeks of their current deals as the climax of the campaign approaches.

Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, and Scott Arfield were among the names released in 2023, while there are more big names this year.

Player

Games played

Club joined from

John Lundstram

145

Sheffield United

Ryan Jack

210

Aberdeen

Kemar Roofe

98

Anderlecht

Leon Balogun

79 (across two spells)

QPR

Jon McLaughlin

46

Sunderland

Borna Barisic

231

NK Osijek

John Lundstram, Ryan Jack, Borna Barisic, Jon McLaughlin, Kemar Roofe and Leon Balogun are the six players whose futures remain undecided as yet, but it looks fairly certain that aside from Lundstram, the rest will be on the lookout for a new club this summer.

The former Sheffield United midfielder has established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet, while the other five have made 86 appearances between them this season.

Clement could be set to add another midfielder or two to his first-team squad during the summer, which means Jack will most likely be released.

Ryan Jack’s Rangers statistics

Jack could end up winning the treble during what may be his final season at Ibrox, despite injury issues hampering him throughout 2023/24.

Indeed, he has only started 12 matches all season due to a variety of injury problems and this has meant his influence in the team has decreased, especially over the previous few years.

The Scot has made 210 appearances for the Light Blues since joining from Aberdeen in 2017 on a free transfer and there is no doubt he has been a wonderful signing in terms of value for money.

This season, however, Jack has averaged just 42 minutes per game in the Premiership across his 11 appearances, succeeding with 87% of his passes, creating two big chances, losing possession just 4.6 times per game and winning 0.5 total duels per game.

Hardly the worst statistics in the world, but his lack of game time has meant the midfielder has failed to build on any decent performances due to his crippling injury-related issues forcing him out of the majority of games.

The best course of action would have been for the club to sell him last summer in order to secure a transfer fee, while retaining the services of Glen Kamara, who was certainly an upgrade on Jack.

How much Rangers sold Glen Kamara for

Under Michael Beale, Kamara was often excluded from the starting XI during the second half of the 2022/23 campaign, making just nine league starts as it was clear he wasn’t going to be in Beale’s plans for the following season.

Having cost just £50k back in 2019, the Gers accepted a bid of close to £5m for the midfielder during the dying embers of the transfer window last summer, showing that they made a massive profit on the former Dundee man.

During his spell in Glasgow, Kamara made 193 appearances for the Light Blues, scoring nine goals in the process, and was a key member of the side that won the league title in 2020/21 while reaching the Europa League final the following season.

Steven Gerrard hailed the Finnish gem as a “monster” during the early stages of his stint at Rangers and his presence in the heart of the midfield made the club stronger.

During the Europa League run, Kamara scored once and grabbed two assists, while winning an impressive 56% of his total duels per game along with making 1.2 interceptions per game and losing possession just 7.1 times each match.

Under Clement, he may have enjoyed his football again and featured on a more regular basis, but Beale clearly felt a fee of nearly £5m was too good to turn down.

Kamara is enjoying life so far at Leeds United and it's clear these performances would have made him an upgrade on Jack if he had replicated them in Glasgow.

What Glen Kamara is doing now

The 28-year-old has missed only four Championship games for Leeds this term, inspiring them to a title challenge as they look to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Across the whole squad, Kamara currently ranks fourth for accurate passes per game (52), while also ranking fifth for key passes per game (1.2) and 17th for possession lost per game (6.3), indicating that he is back to his best in England this season.

There is no doubt that the former Arsenal starlet would have been an excellent option for Clement to call upon at Rangers, especially when the club were going through a tough injury crisis around the festive period.

Beale was sacked just a month after selling Kamara, which proves that the sale may have been avoidable had he not been in charge.

Hopefully, he can help Leeds secure promotion back to the top flight after just one season in the second tier, and it is evident he is playing under a manager who trusts him to perform on a weekly basis.

He was far too good to be sitting on the bench at a club like Rangers, and he could fulfil his ambitions of playing in one of the finest leagues in Europe next season.

Rangers hit gold on ace who's worth more than Goldson & Souttar in 2024

Rangers hit the jackpot on a player they sold under Walter Smith in 2008

ByRoss Kilvington Apr 1, 2024

Ultimate team man turns his back on injury woes and you rather hope there’s a few more Tests left in this quick yet

George Dobell in Port Elizabeth19-Jan-2020Fast bowling is a tough business. A tough, serious business. Think of Gus Fraser, trudging back to his mark with a face as long as Livery Street. Or Jimmy Anderson, scowling his way through another spell. And who can blame them? Invariably fast bowlers have spines held together by plates and screws, toe nails that come off in their socks and blisters as large as a side of bacon. They’re kept going by a diet of physio and pain killers. Their future is full of hip operations and micro-fracture surgery.But, at almost every moment of this Port Elizabeth Test, Mark Wood has had a smile on his face. Before his overs, he’s run up to the umpire to give him his hat or jumper, much in the way you see excitable children act when they start playing cricket. And between deliveries, he’s thrown the ball up in the air to give himself catches, much in the way you see excitable children act when they start playing cricket. Often, in delivery, his commitment is such that he hurls himself off his feet. And ahead of play, he ran over to the traditional musicians who were entertaining the crowd to have a go on their drums. All while wearing a broad grin. Much in the way you see excitable children…And you can understand why. For Wood has spent more of his career in rehab than a Hollywood star. He’s undergone numerous operations on his ankle and, since his last competitive match – on July 14 – had knee surgery and endured a lengthy period on the sidelines due to a serious side strain.ALSO READ: England surge towards victory on Root four-wicket haulIt’s worth looking back on the moment that injury was incurred. It was the World Cup final. The 45th over of the New Zealand innings. Wood, who had defied all the predictions to play in 10 games in the tournament, was mid-way through his final over when he felt sharp pain in his side. He knew, in that instant, he was in trouble.He could have stopped bowling. Had he done so, he might still have had an outside chance of returning before the end of the Ashes. But the game was in the balance and he didn’t want to let his team, his captain, down. He completed his spell. The last two deliveries, with no thought to his own welfare, were bouncers. The pain worsened considerably.”I had three balls left,” he recalls. “And every ball I bowled it got worse. I knew it was pretty bad. But it’s a World Cup final and I didn’t want to limp off after 9.3 overs. I spoke to Eoin Morgan about going through those three balls, but I knew I was out of the Ashes.”So Wood will never take moments like these – representing his country, tearing in and unleashing whole spells of 90 mph deliveries – for granted. He knows such experiences are precious and fleeting. He knows it could be over at any moment.”I’m just trying to enjoy it,” he says. “I’m just trying to have fun, take it all in and play with a smile on my face. It’s been a lot of fun.”I love it. I’ve waited quite a while to come back. July was the last game I played and, with the way my body has been, it’s something you can’t take it for granted. This could be my last game.”I’m not just hoying [throwing] out clichés. That’s genuinely how it is. I have to take it as it comes because that’s the nature of how I bowl. Tomorrow I could fall over for the 54th time in the game and strain my ankle or something like that.”I’m just about patched together. I’m wrapped up like a mummy on my left leg. Something is going to hurt eventually but it’s part and parcel of being a fast bowler. I’m not a natural. I’m not 6ft 5in and built like a tank, so I have to give everything I’ve got to try and rev it up.”Now there will be those, reading this piece, who look at the scorecard and wonder what all the fuss is about. And it is true, at this stage, Wood only has two wickets. And while he has also seen a chance or two put down, struck five sixes in a brisk 42 that helped set up the declaration and plucked a fine catch out of the air – “I made a bit of a meal of that,” he says bashfully – the fact is there have been other, far more eye-catching individual performances in this match.But in a team game like this, we cannot be judging the value of players’ contributions simply by the scorecard. The truth is, Wood has bowled at a pace – somewhere around 94 mph at his quickest – that has brought a new edge to this England attack. Some of the South Africa batsmen – notably Zubayr Hamza – have looked horribly unsettled by him. And, while there is no way of proving it, you suspect Wood has, in both innings, helped create chances at the other end as rattled batsmen struggle to retain their composure. You suspect his value is far greater than the number of wickets he has so far taken.”I like the word ‘assists’,” he says, while trying to explain his contribution. “I think it’s good to bowl in a partnership.”The wicket of Dean Elgar will have been especially rewarding, though. Elgar is probably, at this stage, the best player of pace in the South Africa side. So to set him up with a spell of short balls and then send his off-stump sent cartwheeling with a rare full delivery that may have left him a fraction provided more tangible rewards than the slaps on the back from appreciative teammates.”Every fast bowler wants to see a stump going flying,” he says. “And that was a great feeling. And one that really helped with my confidence. If you don’t get a wicket you’re thinking ‘I need to try and prove a point; I need to show my value and keep my place in the team.'”Dean Elgar was bowled by Mark Wood•Stu Forster/Getty ImagesYou could argue – and you may well be right – that Wood overdid the short ball here. In the second innings, 41 of the 66 deliveries he has so far bowled have been short or back of a length. Only two have been fuller than a length. For a man capable of swinging the ball – both conventionally and reverse – that seems like a bit of a waste. He’s better than playing the part of a simple enforcer.Incidentally, that final spell was six overs. It’s too long for a bowler of Wood’s pace and fragility. Mitchell Johnson, at his very best, rarely bowled a spell longer than three or four overs. England could learn from that.But those were the orders and he’s a team man. “You do what is best for the team,” he says. “I noticed my pace dropped off a little at the end. But when you’re bowling bouncers all the time, it takes it out of you.”Wood’s career stats are, in the grand scheme of things, fairly unremarkable. This is his 14th Test; he has one five-for and an average of 36.81. But we should probably distinguish Wood’s statistics before he lengthened his run-up and afterwards. Before that change, there was a lot of talk about his pace, but not much evidence. He routinely bowled in the mid-80s and he routinely underwent ankle surgery.But since the end of 2018, when he made the decision to lengthen that run, he has bowled with consistent pace and hostility. The only other Test he featured in since then included his career-best performance – he was player of the match after dismantling West Indies in St Lucia – while his World Cup spells included the fastest delivery of the tournament and meant that only four men claimed more wickets. Just as importantly, the longer run appears to have taken a bit of stress off his body. But for that side strain – the knee was more of a clean-up job than anything especially serious – his body (and most crucially, his ankle) has stood up pretty well to the exertions.For that reason, there is hope he could appear in the fourth Test next week. And with Jofra Archer now bowling again in training, there is a possibility that England could field both their fast bowlers on a Johannesburg pitch which has, at times, been rated among the fastest in the world.”I’d love to play there,” Wood says. “I’ve never actually played a match there, but I trained there once and the ball flew through. I’d love to have a go there.”The word “love” comes up a lot in Wood’s conversations at present. He says he “loved” his batting, “loved” how well Ollie Pope batted and Dom Bess bowled and “loves” being back in the team and “doing something I really enjoy”.The result is that, if the weather relents – “I thought Africa was the sunniest place in the world,” Wood mused, “but I come here and it’s just like Durham,” – England have a great chance of achieving back-to-back victories in South Africa for the first time since January 1957. To put that in perspective, Winston Churchill’s second spell as Prime Minister had just finished. It’s a significant achievement.So was the gamble to keep bowling in the World Cup worth it?”Absolutely,” he says with feeling. “I’d take being a World Cup winner even if I didn’t play another game of Test cricket. I would not swap that for the world. I’ve always got that to look back on. It was the pinnacle of my career.”He’s probably right. But to see him throw himself into his work again at Test level, to know how hard it’s been to get back to this level, to appreciate how much better England’s attack looks when he is part of it and to witness his uninhibited enthusiasm… you rather hope there are a few more Tests left in Mark Wood yet.

Weatherald and Nielsen also make fifties, while Paris and Moody pick up three wickets each

The Report by Alex Malcolm14-Feb-2020Tom Cooper fell agonisingly short of his second Sheffield Shield century of the season, but his 99 helped South Australia to a strong position on day one against Western Australia at Adelaide Oval.Cooper was bowled for 99 by a cracking inswinger from Joel Paris with the second new ball. But his third half-century of the season, combined with his mammoth 271 not out against Victoria, took him past 600 runs for the competition and to the top of the run-scorers’ list. He struck 12 boundaries and played fluently to combine for an 80-run stand with Harry Nielsen, who made 53.Jake Weatherald was the third Redback to make a half-century as the home side piled up 8 for 352 after they were sent in to bat by Western Australia stand-in captain Shaun Marsh.WA made early inroads removing Henry Hunt and Callum Ferguson as the ball nipped and swung in the first hour. Weatherald and Travis Head counter-attacked with a brisk 86-run stand that featured 17 boundaries in just 20 overs, before Paris made the breakthrough forcing a mistake from Head to give wicketkeeper Josh Inglis his third catch.Weatherald fell to a stunning catch from Marsh at second slip after chasing a wide awayswinger from David Moody, and when Will Bosisto was also caught by Marsh off Moody, the Redbacks were 5 for 143.But Cooper and Nielsen steadied the ship. The latter looked very comfortable having replaced Alex Carey who is away on international duty, but after reaching his half-century, he fell in the same manner as Weatherald with Marsh taking his third sharp chance.Cooper looked set for a century but Paris swerved an inswinger back through the gate. South Australia’s tail wagged, though, with Chadd Sayers and Daniel Worrall both making valuable contributions. Sayers made 38 not out and combined with Cooper in a 48-run partnership before adding an unbeaten 38 with Worrall against the second new ball to frustrate the visitors and take the total beyond 350.