It wouldn’t be a transfer window without Chelsea being linked with endless players given their antics over the last couple of years.

Todd Boehly has been responsible for a huge overhaul within the playing department, splashing the cash on various players to help push the club back towards the summit of the Premier League.

With less than two weeks to go, the Blues are yet to sign any new players to bolster Enzo Maresca’s side in their quest for a top-four place come the end of his first campaign at the helm.

After the latest win against Wolves on Monday night, the club currently occupy a Champions League spot with just 16 games to go, in what would be a successful first year in West London for the Italian.

However, if the side are to remain in such a position over the coming months, added investment before the market closes could be vital, including one player who’s recently been touted with a switch to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea make contact for PL star

According to journalist George Lakin, Chelsea have made contact with Wolves over a January move to land Matheus Cunha before the end of the transfer window.

The 25-year-old also has admirers from Newcastle United, but at this moment it appears as though Arsenal are leading the race for his signature should he leave Molineux.

Lakin also confirmed that the Brazilian has said he wants to leave the West Midlands outfit just a couple of weeks after news broke that he was set to sign a new deal with Vitor Pereira’s side.

Cunha has registered ten goals and four assists in his 21 Premier League outings throughout 2024/25, undoubtedly being Wolves’ shining light in what has been a hugely disappointing season for the club.

It’s safe to say any deal for the former Atlético Madrid star would bolster Maresca’s attacking options, offering a new dimension and an upgrade on another player who’s been touted with a move to the Bridge.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Why Cunha would be better than Garnacho for Chelsea

Over the last couple of days, Chelsea have been linked with a plethora of attacking talents, with one name standing out in the form of Manchester United youngster Alejandro Garnacho.

The Argentine has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford in recent days, with the Blues battling Serie A side Napoli in the hunt for his signature.

The 20-year-old could be allowed to leave Ruben Amorim’s side should any club present an offer in the region of £55m, with Maresca’s men still one of the clubs in the race for his services.

However, given the recent emergence of the links to Cunha, a deal for Garnacho should be pushed to the side with priorities needing to be directed towards the Brazilian given his stats from the ongoing campaign.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats via FBref, the Wolves star has massively outperformed the United youngster, providing immediate quality for the Blues in their quest for a top-four finish.

Cunha, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by one Arsenal insider, has registered way more combined goals and assists in the Premier League to date, highlighting the quality he possesses in the final third.

Games played

21

21

Goals & assists

14

4

Progressive passes

4.5

1.6

Shot-creating actions

3.9

3

Take-ons completed

2.1

1

Take-on success rate

45%

26%

Aerials won

32%

5%

He’s also completed more take-ons and achieved a higher take-on success rate, having the ability to feature in various attacking roles along with the likes of Cole Palmer at the top end of the pitch.

Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for the Brazilian would cost owner Boehly this month, it’s evident that he has a lot of qualities that would make him a better addition than the Argentine.

If a move was to be successful for any forward before the closure of the window, it’s pivotal that a move is prioritised for Cunha over Garnacho, with the attacking midfielder having the edge in terms of quality in numerous areas – as demonstrated by his figures.

He's a dream for Palmer: Chelsea hold talks to sign £67m "menace"

Chelsea have made contact over a deal to sign the £67m-rated centre-forward.

2 ByDan Emery Jan 22, 2025

As Everton look to welcome their first signing of the Friedkin era and David Moyes’ second tenure, the Toffees have now reportedly set their sights on hijacking West Ham United’s move to sign a £25m forward.

Everton transfer news

Whilst their chances of survival have looked up since the arrival of Moyes for his second spell in charge, Everton still need a number of fresh faces if they are to rise out of the depths of a relegation battle and into the comforts of mid-table. On that front, a number of names have already been mentioned too, as Friedkin look to splash the cash for the first time since taking charge.

Among those names has been Emerson Royal, who is set to fall down the AC Milan pecking order after Kyle Walker’s January arrival. Those at Goodison Park could finally replace an ageing Ashley Young by handing Royal the chance to secure Premier League redemption for the first time since leaving Tottenham Hotspur last summer.

It’s not just their backline that needs improving, however, with Everton currently set to lose Dominic Calvert-Lewin when his contract comes to an end in the summer. With that in mind, one target has reportedly emerged.

According to De Telegraaf in the Netherlands, Everton now want to hijack West Ham’s deal to sign Brian Brobbey with the Dutchman already in London amid recent speculation.

Related Moyes could sign his own Bruno Fernandes at Everton with bid for £10m star

Everton are looking to make a raft of signings with David Moyes at the helm.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Jan 24, 2025

The Toffees could swoop in and match Brobbey’s reported €30m (£25m) valuation plus any bonuses ahead of West Ham and deal the London club a frustrating blow before the end of the window.

The forward would certainly be an impressive coup with Tottenham Hotspur also reportedly interested. If Everton can win such a race this month, then the Friedkin era would undoubtedly be off to an excellent start in the transfer market.

"Prolific" Brobbey would be an instant upgrade

If there are any growing concerns over how Everton’s attack will look without Calvert-Lewin in the summer, then the arrival of Brobbey would quickly put those to bed. Not only would the Ajax star be a replacement for the England international, but he’d be an instant upgrade.

The Dutchman has been a rising star for a number of years now and whilst this season’s numbers have dropped, 22 goals and 12 assists in the last campaign highlight exactly what Brobbey is capable of at his best.

Still just 22 years old, Brobbey has found himself at the centre of Jacek Kulig’s praise throughout an impressive Ajax rise, with the football talent scout dubbing the forward “prolific” back in 2022.

For just £25m, Brobbey is a forward who is well worth the gamble if Everton want to sign a player capable of dragging them into mid-table this season and beyond all whilst replacing Calvert-Lewin. As West Ham hesitate, the Toffees should come swooping in this month.

Eric Cantona savaged Manchester United owners for "destroying everything" and admitted that he would not choose to support the Red Devils now.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Cantona vexed with United's leadershipHits out at club ownersCriticised the idea of playing at a new stadiumFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The 58-year-old former French forward, who remains a beloved figure among the Red Devils’ faithful, did not hold back in his criticism of both the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Speaking passionately, Cantona condemned the direction United has taken under their stewardship, claiming the club has lost its essence.

AdvertisementGOAL WHAT CANTONA SAID

Cantona came down heavily upon Ratcliffe's decision to make 450 club staff redundant and said: "The soul of the team and the club is not in the players. All the people around are like a big family. I remember a dressing-room with players and Sir Alex Ferguson, all these people you don‘t know who helped us to feel at home and be in a family. I think it’s very important to respect these people like you respect your manager and teammates.

"Since Ratcliffe arrived, it’s the complete opposite. He doesn’t want Sir Alex Ferguson as an ambassador anymore. He is more than a legend and I think we have to find this soul again. This team of directors, they try to destroy everything. They don’t respect anybody."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Cantona voiced strong opposition to plans to rebuild Old Trafford, likening it to Arsenal’s controversial move from Highbury to the Emirates.

"They even want to change the stadium. The stadium is iconic," he added. "For me, Arsenal lost their soul when they left Highbury, and I’m sure a lot of fans miss Highbury. It’s like when you go in a house and feel a special energy. Can you imagine Liverpool playing in another stadium than Anfield? It’s impossible. I don’t think United can play in another stadium than Old Trafford. But I think maybe we are dreamers and they are more like an economy and a strategy. I hate this kind of thing. I hate this kind of decision."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

DID YOU KNOW?

In a shocking statement, Cantona confessed that, if he were picking a club to support today, Manchester United would not be his choice.

"I support United because I really love United," he said. "But now if I was a fan and I had to choose a club, I don’t think I would choose United because I don’t feel close to these kind of decisions. Do you feel close to this project? I don’t think so."

قلص فريق بيراميدز، الفارق مع البنك الأهلي بتسجيل الهدف الأول، لتصبح النتيجة 2-1، في المباراة التي تجمع بينهما حاليًا ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري.

ويلتقي البنك الأهلي مع بيراميدز على أرضية استاد القاهرة الدولي، في الجولة الخامسة من المرحلة النهائية للدوري.

طالع أيضاً.. الزمالك يعلن تفاصيل إصابة محمد صبحي أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا

وسجل إبراهيم عادل، هدف بيراميدز في الدقيقة 48 بعد اختراق جيد من الجانب الأيسر ليسدد الكرة بالقدم اليمنى بشكل رائع في شباك البنك الأهلي.

وكان محمد إبراهيم قد تقدم بالهدف الأول للبنك الأهلي في الدقيقة 4، بعدما تلقى تمريرة عرضية داخل منطقة جزاء بيراميدز صوبها بقدمه اليمنى في المرمى.

وجاء هدف البنك الأهلي الثاني في الدقيقة 21، بعد تمربرة داخل منطقة الجزاء قابلها أسامة فيصل بتصويبة متقنة سكنت الشباك.

ويحتل بيراميدز حاليًا المركز الثاني برصيد 47 نقطة، متأخرًا بنقطتين فقط عن الأهلي المتصدر، في حين يأتي البنك الأهلي في المركز الخامس برصيد 33 نقطة. هدف بيراميدز الأول أمام البنك الأهلي

The allrounder has cited issues with the team environment as the reason for her decision, and looks forward to “playing domestic cricket around the world”

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Aug-2022

Deandra Dottin, the scorer of the fastest century in Women’s T20Is, has announced her retirement from the West Indies team. The allrounder made the announcement via Twitter, citing reservations with the team environment as the reason behind her decision.Dottin has made no indication that she has retired from any other team barring West Indies. She is currently representing Barbados at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and said in her retirement announcement that she is “looking forward to playing domestic cricket around the world”.Related

Deandra Dottin ends international retirement ahead of women's T20 World Cup

Deandra Dottin warns West Indies to get their house in order

Deandra Dottin's shock retirement took Hayley Matthews by surprise

Stats – Deandra Dottin, West Indies' six-hitting all-round superstar

'When Deandra Dottin says give me the ball, you just give her the ball'

Whether this includes the inaugural Women’s CPL that begins on August 30 – she is set to captain Trinbago Knight Riders in the three-team tournament – remains to be seen, since the tournament will be played under the auspices of Cricket West Indies. She is, however, set to play for the Manchester Originals in the second season of The Hundred in the UK.”There have been many obstacles during my cricket career that I have had to overcome[.] [H]owever, the current climate and team environment has been non-conducive to my ability to thrive and reignite my passion,” Dottin wrote in her announcement.”I am appreciative of the opportunities afforded to me and I have ruminated on my decision over a period of time. Playing for the West Indies and representing the region has been an honour. During my 14 years of playing, I have trained at my best and grown as a player physically, mentally and emotionally. It is the combination of this growth that has assisted me in reflecting on what is truly important to me.”With much sadness but without regret, I realize that I am no longer able to adhere to team culture and team environment as it has undermined my ability to perform excellently.” Dottin is West Indies’ most-capped international cricketer, having played 124 T20Is (she has also played two for Barbados at the ongoing Commonwealth Games) and 143 ODIs since her debut in June 2008. She has scored 3727 ODI runs at an average of 30.54, including three hundreds, and 2697 T20I runs – 2681 for West Indies – at 25.93, with two hundreds. Among the 38 batters to have scored at least 1000 T20I runs, only four have a better strike rate than Dottin’s 122.98.The most memorable display of her spectacular hitting came at the T20 World Cup in 2010, where she smashed an unbeaten 112 off just 45 balls against South Africa in St Kitts. She reached her hundred in 38 balls – it remains the Women’s T20I record, and was the overall record in all T20Is until October 2017, when South Africa’s David Miller hit a 35-ball hundred against Bangladesh.With the ball, Dottin has picked up 72 wickets in ODIs and 62 in T20Is, including a career-best haul of 5 for 5 against Bangladesh in 2018 – the best bowling figures in Women’s T20 World Cup history. Injuries had limited her bowling workload in recent years, but she still made a contribution when she stepped up for the rare over of medium-pace. In the opening game of this year’s Women’s World Cup, she stepped up to bowl the final over when New Zealand needed six runs to win with three wickets in hand. Dottin, who had only bowled 11 overs in the preceding three years, won West Indies the match, conceding just two runs while picking up two wickets and completing the match-ending run-out.

MatériaMais Notícias

Em processo de recuperação, o atacante Ferreira passará por uma cirurgia visando a retirada de uma hérnia inguinal, esclareceu o Grêmio através de comunicado oficial emitido em seus canais oficiais.

RelacionadasGrêmioGrêmio notifica STJD sobre cantos homofóbicos em derrota para o CruzeiroGrêmio10/05/2022GrêmioGrêmio terá semana livre para se recuperar do revés frente ao CruzeiroGrêmio09/05/2022CruzeiroVÍDEO: veja o gol da vitória do Cruzeiro sobre o Grêmio pela Série BCruzeiro08/05/2022

>Confira os clubes com mais dívidas no futebol brasileiro em 2021

Recentemente, o atleta recorreu a um tratamento diferente dos modelos oferecidos pelo Imortal, baseado no trabalho de células-tronco para acelerar a sua reabilitação, algo que ficou explícito como não tendo sido visto com bons olhos nos bastidores do clube.

Tanto é que, na mesma nota onde informou sobre a necessidade de cirurgia por conta de problema que não foi indicado em nenhuma avaliação anterior recente, o Grêmio deixou claro que, apesar de respeitar “o direito individual de escolha dos pacientes”, não tem por hábito adotar o que chamou de “técnicas experimentais”.

Outro elemento que demonstrou a insatisfação por parte do clube foram as palavras ditas ao jornal ‘Correio do Povo’ pelo Diretor Médico do Imortal, Ciro Simoni:

-Nós nunca teríamos indicado. Nenhum clube brasileiro usa isso. Ele está por conta e risco. Se tivesse evoluído, ele já teria ficado bom.

CONFIRA A NOTA OFICIAL DO GRÊMIO

O Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, por meio de seu Departamento Médico, esclarece que não adota, em seu corpo técnico de trabalho e/ou atletas profissionais, terapias experimentais (PRP, células-tronco), em conformidade com resoluções do Conselho Federal de Medicina acerca de tal prática.

As informações sobre prazo de recuperação e retorno às atividades serão comunicadas posteriormente.

It has been a sensational season for Nottingham Forest so far.

The men in Garibaldi Red are flying, and currently sit third in the Premier League with 44 points to their name, the same number as Arsenal who are second only on goal difference. Liverpool are the only club with more points and sit six points clear of Forest at the top of the table.

Momentum is a crucial thing in a top-four race, which Forest can surely consider themselves in now. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have now gone unbeaten in nine games across competitions, and seem in a good place to secure shock Champions League qualification.

To keep that momentum going, they might well dip into the transfer market and have been linked with attacking reinforcements, notably Yoanne Wissa.

It was reported on Tuesday that the club have submitted a bid for the Brentford striker but he’s not the only player on their radar before the month is out.

Nottingham Forest target attacking depth

The player in question here is Villarreal and Spain international attacking midfielder Alex Baena. The 23-year-old has been impressive once again this term for the Yellow Submarine, and could now depart the club as soon as January.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to reports from Spain, Forest are one of the teams who are eying up a move for the Euro 2024 winner, perhaps as soon as January. The report suggests they have ‘shown a clear interest’ in bringing him in.

However, the East Midlands outfit are not alone in the race for the Villarreal star, who has a £51m release clause. They are allegedly ‘willing’ to trigger that exit clause but face competition from fellow Premier League outfit and top-four rivals Newcastle United, as well as German giants Bayern Munich.

Why Baena would be a better signing than Yoanne Wissa

It has been a superb 2024/25 campaign for Baena in that famous yellow shirt of Villarreal. He has five goals and five assists in 18 top-flight games for the LaLiga outfit this term, including two assists in a single game against Espanyol.

The Villarreal number 16 was described as a “difference-maker” by Spanish football journalist Gonzalo Rodriguez, which certainly rings true when you consider the fact he has only registered a goal involvement in one loss this season. He is also incredibly consistent and has only had a maximum of four games without a goal or assist this term.

Baena’s stats via FBref over the last year compared to other midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues are, to put it simply, outstanding. He ranks highly for many creative metrics, showing the influence he can have on his side in the final third.

For example, the Spanish attacking midfielder, who won Euro 2024 and Olympic gold last year, ranks in the top 1% of midfielders for several key metrics. That includes key passes, which he plays an average of 3.47 each game and shot-creating actions, which he averages 5.96 per 90 minutes.

Key passes

3.47

99th

Assists

0.45

99th

Expected assists

0.41xA

99th

Passes into penalty area

2.42

99th

Shot-creating actions

5.96

99th

If the stats are anything to go by, Baena’s influence on the Forest team will be monumental. He could be the man to help steer the two-time European champions towards the promised land of the Champions League.

However, if he is going to sign for Forest for around £50m, it does beg the question of whether it is still worth the East Midlands club signing the aforementioned Wissa from Brentford. They reportedly had a £22m bid rejected for the attacker but could well go back in for him.

Wissa has been fantastic for the Bees this term, with 11 goals in 19 Premier League games. However, that is not more than Chris Wood, with the Forest striker currently on 14 goals from 22 appearances, and showing no signs of stopping.

With that in mind, if it is either Wissa or Baena, perhaps adding to the supply of goals for Wood, thus signing the Spaniard, is a better investment.

The money that is being spent on the Brentford star could instead be reinvested to bring in someone who is an elite creator and will improve Wood’s output even more.

It remains to be seen which signing Forest make, but perhaps spending that kind of money on someone who is statistically one of the best creators on the continent might be a better investment as the club look to establish itself as a genuine top-four contender.

Nottingham Forest could land dream £26m Hudson-Odoi upgrade this month

Forest are looking for attacking reinforcements

ByJoe Nuttall Jan 19, 2025

West Bromwich Albion are now in advanced talks over a deal for a “full-back’s nightmare” after having a £5 million bid accepted, according to a Sky Sports reporter.

West Brom transfer news

The first week of the January transfer window has passed, and the Baggies are yet to sign a player or find a replacement for Carlos Corberan. The Spaniard left the club before Christmas, and Chris Brunt, Damia Abella and Boaz Myhill have all been in interim charge since.

Those three are expected to be in charge of their upcoming FA Cup game against AFC Bournemouth, but a shortlist has now been drawn up in the hope they find an appointment before their next league game against Stoke City.

West Brom could hire Wicky alternative who "lives in the West Midlands"

West Bromwich Albion could now appoint this manager to replace Carlos Corberan.

2

By
Kelan Sarson

Jan 7, 2025

As their search for a new manager continues, it hasn’t stopped transfer talk from gathering pace involving the Midlands side. Earlier this week it was reported that West Brom are in the race to sign Adam Devine from Rangers. The 21-year-old is out of contract at the end of this season, but a move could happen this month as the Baggies want to add more competition to their right-back spot despite Darnell Furlong becoming one of the best right-backs in the league.

As well as looking to sign Devine, West Brom are also interested in signing Lewis Koumas on loan from Liverpool. The forward has impressed at Stoke City this season, scoring four goals in 29 appearances, and the Baggies, along with Sheffield United, are keen on securing him for the second half of the season.

West Brom in talks with representatives of £5m EFL player

Devine and Koumas are not the only targets for the Baggies, as according to Sky Sports reporters Lyall Thomas and Keith Downie, West Brom have had a £5 million bid accepted for Middlesbrough’s Isaiah Jones and are now in talks with his representatives.

The 25-year-old, who has been described as a “full-back’s nightmare” by journalist Josh Bunting, has been at the Riverside Stadium since July 2019. Joines joined Middlesbrough’s under-21s when he arrived, and after playing 22 times for that age group, he moved into the first team in the 2021/22 campaign.

Since then, Jones has been a key part of Middlesbrough’s starting XI under the managers they have had. The right-winger, who can also play down the middle and on the left-hand side, has taken his game to a new level under Michael Carrick, but despite playing 23 times in all competitions this season, Boro have now accepted a bid for his services.

Downie reports that Middlesbrough have accepted £5 million bids from West Brom and Luton Town to sign Jones. Boro have now given the player permission to speak to both clubs as discussions take place over personal terms. He goes on to add that while the Baggies are keen on landing the winger, Luton are considered the favourites to sign Jones at this moment in time.

The five-match series presents an opportunity for both sides to firm up their T20 World Cup plans

Hemant Brar28-Jul-2022Big pictureMove over ODI cricket, the new dying format of the game. Welcome, T20Is, the kid on the block, more so in a T20 World Cup year.With the global tournament in Australia less than three months away, this five-match T20I series presents a big opportunity for West Indies and India to firm up their plans.After failing to qualify for the knockouts of the 2021 edition, India changed their batting template. This year, they have scored at a rate of 9.45 per over. If you leave aside 2013, when they played just one T20I, this is their best scoring rate in any calendar year. In fact, only New Zealand (9.58) have scored at a faster rate than India this year.With Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya returning after being rested for the ODI series, India will look to further fine-tune their approach. They have also brought back Paddy Upton as a mental conditioning coach to keep the players in the best frame of mind.In recent years, T20I cricket has been West Indies’ strongest suit. But, not for the first time, they will be without many of their stars who lit up various T20 leagues around the world. Kieron Pollard has retired, while Andre Russell and Sunil Narine are not part of the squad.The team, though, will carry the confidence from their 2-0 win against Bangladesh in the format, as well as from a much-improved performance in the ODI series against India. Nicholas Pooran will once again be the key to West Indies’ fortunes. He will have the support of Shimron Hetmyer, who is back in the squad after proving his fitness. The question is, can others – especially the bowlers – lift their game as well?Form guideWest Indies WWLLL (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
India LWWWWIn the spotlightDinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant were not supposed to compete for the same spot. But if India play Karthik as a specialist finisher, that means there is one fewer middle-order slot available. If we consider Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya as the certainties for the World Cup, Pant’s place could possibly be in danger. In 50 T20Is, Pant has a strike rate of just 124.27, which pales in comparison to his overall T20 strike rate of 145.44. Is being a left-hander enough to warrant a place in the side? But then has Karthik done enough to secure his place in the XI? He is supposed to be the enforcer in the last five overs, but his first-ten-balls strike rate in T20Is this year is a mere 81.36 (48 runs off 59 balls). For comparison, his corresponding strike rate in IPL 2022 was 166.67 (190 runs off 114 balls). This series should give India a clearer picture for this conundrum.Rishabh Pant or Dinesh Karthik or both – who will India choose?•PTI Shimron Hetmyer has proved his fitness, but is he carrying his form as well with him? At IPL 2022, he excelled in the role of a finisher for Rajasthan Royals, scoring 314 in 15 innings at a strike rate of 153.92. But in the two months since then, he hasn’t played any cricket. And just like Pant, he too has contrasting strike rates in T20Is and T20s. Overall, he has struck at 133.45 but at the international level, that number plummets to 118.71.Team newsHetmyer is back in the West Indies T20I squad after clearing a fitness test. Evin Lewis continues to miss out, so West Indies are likely to persist with the opening combination of Kyle Mayers and Brandon King.West Indies (probable): 1 Kyle Mayers, 2 Brandon King, 3 Nicholas Pooran (capt & wk), 4 Shimron Hetmyer, 5 Rovman Powell, 6 Jason Holder, 7 Odean Smith/Dominic Drakes/Romario Shepherd, 8 Alzarri Joseph, 9 Akeal Hosein, 10 Obed McCoy, 11 Hayden Walsh JrIndia seem to have found all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle. It’s now about putting them in their right places. With KL Rahul not available, will they continue to open with Pant? Has Deepak Hooda, with his all-round game with the bat and handy offspin, pipped Shreyas Iyer for a slot in the middle order? Who will lead the spin attack in the absence of Yuzvendra Chahal? It seems we will have to wait for the match day to find the answers.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Rishabh Pant (wk), 3 Deepak Hooda/Shreyas Iyer, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Dinesh Karthik, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Harshal Patel, 9 R Ashwin/Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 11 Avesh Khan/Arshdeep SinghPitch and conditionsThis will be the first international match to be played at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba. The venue has hosted 31 CPL games, the last of which was in 2020. The scoring rate in those games was 7.40. The weather, though, could play a spoilsport as there is an 80% chance of rain on Friday morning.Stats and trivia Both Hardik and Ravindra Jadeja are two strikes away from 50 T20I wickets. Only Yuzvendra Chahal (79), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (70), Jasprit Bumrah (69) and R Ashwin (61) have taken 50 or more wickets for India in T20Is. On Wednesday, Martin Guptill (3399) overtook Rohit (3379) as the leading run-scorer in T20Is. Both players will be in action on Friday. Eleven bowlers have bowled ten or more powerplay overs in T20Is this year. Among those, Akeal Hosein’s economy rate of 9.20 is the worst in that phase.Quotes”We have been playing good T20 cricket. We had good games with India in India. We know the quality that they have. Let’s wait and see how we come up on Friday.”

Former New Zealand fast bowler Heath Davis has come out as gay. He is the first male international cricketer from his country to do so.In a documentary series for called “Scratched: Aotearoa’s Lost Sporting Legends”, Davis opened up about his sexuality and the “lonely” experience of living separate lives on and off the field until he moved from Wellington to Auckland.”The first tour to England [in 1994], I was starting to discover myself, was going to a few bars and things privately to see what life was… well, you are on the other side of the world, no one is going to know you,” he said. “I left that part of my life there. There was a lot of that, just keeping your personal life separate.”It was lonely. Going to saunas and seedy places to get sex because you didn’t want to be seen and that sort of stuff. I had systems and people in place where I could talk about these things but I didn’t feel comfortable.”Davis, renowned as one of the fastest bowlers New Zealand has ever produced, but who struggled for control, played five Tests and 11 ODIs between 1994 and 1997. After being dropped by New Zealand for the last time in 1997 following a tour of Australia, Davis opted to move to Auckland.”All the stars aligned to move,” he said. “Everyone in Auckland knew I was gay; in the team it didn’t seem to be that big an issue. Maybe some of the young ones if you’re sharing a room with them or something, but just petty s**t. Things I thought might have been issues weren’t really. I just felt free.”Davis moved to Brisbane in 2004 and in 2009 had to have part of his foot amputated after a forklift truck accident.Overall, in his Test career, he took 17 wickets in five matches with a best of 5 for 63 against Sri Lanka and claimed 11 wickets in ODIs.Former England wicketkeeper Steven Davies became the first male international cricketer to publicly come out as gay in early 2011.