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Newcastle United could look to strengthen their attack with the signing of one "sensational" former Premier League player, according to a new update.

Latest Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies have bounced back impressively after a poor start to the season, picking up some hugely important wins and generally looking like one of the leading teams in the country again. Last week's stunning 4-1 win at home to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League was arguably one of the best nights in the club's history, while in the league, there was an 8-0 win away to Sheffield United recently. Granted, dropped points in the 2-2 draw at West Ham on Sunday were frustrating, but things are going in the right direction again under Eddie Howe.

PIF made some eye-catching Newcastle signings during the summer transfer window, including Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes, and while the former has taken a little time to get used to English football, he could prove to be a special signing. As for future additions, there will be the chance for Howe to bolster his squad further when the January window arrives, with the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Pedro Neto players who could join Newcastle in the future. It does look as though the Magpies could prioritise their attack, midfield and defence as they aim to improve, with a fresh update further suggesting that that is the case.

Newcastle transfer update; Sane, Barella and Guehi

A report from Spain shared a Newcastle transfer update, claiming the Magpies are interested in signing former Manchester City winger Leroy Sane, who is currently plying his trade at Bayern Munich, Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella and Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi in a three-signing blitz.

The Magpies are looking at making some significant signings at the end of the season, seemingly viewing 2024 as a great chance to go up another gear, and the German is one of the names on the list. Sane could be a fantastic signing by Newcastle if they managed to strike a deal with the Bayern man, considering he has been hailed as a "sensational" player by journalist Ronan Murphy in the past.

The 27-year-old speedster has been in sparkling form for Bayern so far this season, with Sane scoring six goals in seven Bundesliga appearances – he also netted against Manchester United in his side's 3-2 win in the Champions League – and he is someone who has proven himself in the Premier League, winning two titles with City.

Superb at dribbling

Crossing can be inconsistent

Finishing has improved

Attitude has been questioned

Possesses great speed

Work ethic not always the best

There have been times when Sane's attitude has been called into question, which is a potential negative against Newcastle signing him, but he is at an age where he has matured as a footballer and could be heading right into his peak, and the thought of him strutting his stuff at St James' Park is mouthwatering. Capable of excelling on either flank, the Germany international could prove to be a shrewd signing to rival all the current wide options at Howe's disposal, from Miguel Almiron to Anthony Gordon, and he may well be a statement signing that other clubs would sit up and take notice of.

Manchester United legend Dwight Yorke believes Andre Onana is a downgrade on David de Gea and tries too much to be an "outfield player".

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De Gea left United last summerOnana replaced him in goalYorke feels Spaniard is better keeperGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

After De Gea was deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford, United paid Inter Milan £48 million ($61m) to recruit stopper Onana, but the Cameroon international has been somewhat underwhelming in his first season with the Red Devils, allowing basic errors to creep into his game. Now, ex-United striker Yorke has expressed his belief that United made a mistake by bringing in the 27-year-old at De Gea's expense.

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He told OLBG: “Man United have brought in a keeper who wants to start the attacks and is more aggressive in trying to dominate teams with possession. People have asked me why have I been so critical of Onana, I'm an individual who sees it as it is, it doesn't matter to me who or what you are. The Premier League is different, you will get found out by playing in a high-profile team at a high-profile position. Onana is not as good as David de Gea. Onana tries to be an outfield player rather than a goalkeeper sometimes.”

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In De Gea's last season at United (2022-23), the Spaniard kept 17 clean sheets, won the golden glove, and had a save percentage of 71.1 in the Premier League. So far, Onana has kept eight clean sheets and his save percentage is 74.5 in the English top-flight. The ex-Ajax man was brought in, among other reasons, as De Gea was not great with the ball at his feet, with Onana deemed to be better in that regard. However, arguably, he has not lived up to the hype so far.

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WHAT NEXT?

While De Gea is still looking for a club after being a free agent since last June, Onana and United will next be in action at home to Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on March 17. After the international break they take on Brentford in the Premier League on March 30.

Sir Alex Ferguson had a day to remember at the Cheltenham Festival as his horses claimed back-to-back victories, sending him into fits of jubilation.

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Monmiral was pegged at 25/1 before the raceStunned bookies by winning the raceFerguson bagged a handsome £50,000 in prize money GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The iconic football figure, known for his passion and competitive spirit, celebrated wildly as his 25/1 longshot, Monmiral, triumphed in the Pertemps Network Final. Monmiral's unexpected win not only stunned punters but also earned Ferguson a handsome £50,000 in prize money. Co-owned by Ferguson, Ged Mason, and John and Lisa Hales, Monmiral defied the odds and clinched victory over the favoured Kyntara in a thrilling race.

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But the celebrations didn't end there for the Red Devils legend. Ferguson's next horse of the day, Protektorat, secured victory in the Ryanair Chase, making it two wins out of two for the decorated manager.

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WHAT FERGUSON SAID

Standing alongside former England boss Sam Allardyce, Ferguson expressed his elation, praising jockey Harry Cobden for his stellar performance.

Ferguson remarked, "Well, that was fantastic, what a jockey." When questioned about whether the victory compared to winning the Champions League, Ferguson replied: "Oh no, that's different, that's different."

Newcastle United have enjoyed another strong start to a Premier League campaign under Eddie Howe as they sit sixth in the table after nine matches.

The Magpies ran out 4-0 winners against Crystal Palace last time out and are now the top scorers in the division with 24 strikes to date.

However, that does not mean there are not areas for improvement and one move the club could make to take them up another level is to swoop for Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe, who could be a big upgrade on Elliot Anderson.

Howe has been touted with an interest in the Gunners ace, who has come up through their academy system, and it will reportedly take a fee of £60m to secure his signature.

The January transfer window is still a while away from opening but Dan Ashworth and the Toon head coach may already be drafting their plans, with a possible move for Smith Rowe seemingly on the agenda.

How many goals has Anderson scored for Newcastle?

The 20-year-old midfielder is yet to register his first senior goal in a Newcastle shirt in 41 first-team appearances for the club, which includes 32 Premier League outings.

He has also only registered two assists in that time and has not been able to offer regular quality at the top end of the pitch, although it would be harsh to expect that at his age.

Anderson has produced zero goals and one assist, along with 0.9 dribbles per game, in nine top-flight matches so far during the 2023/24 campaign, which has included four starts, as per Sofascore.

These statistics suggest that the Scottish youngster has not made a significant impact on the pitch and a loan could be a valuable experience for him during the second half of the season, which the signing of Smith-Rowe would free up the space to facilitate.

How many goals has Smith Rowe scored for Arsenal?

Smith Rowe, on the other hand, has racked up 18 goals and 11 assists in 103 games for Arsenal after coming up through their youth set-up.

Just like Anderson, he is a versatile gem who can operate in a central midfield role or out wide on either flank and can, therefore, be utilised in the same positions that Howe has been using the current Newcastle prospect in.

The Gunners ace has not started a Premier League game since the start of last season but his form during the 2021/22 campaign suggests that there is an excellent player for Howe to unearth if the Magpies can sign him in January.

Smith Rowe contributed with ten goals, two assists, and one dribble completed per game across 21 top-flight starts, and 33 appearances in total, that season.

The 23-year-old wizard, who was once described as "exciting" by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, has proven himself to be able to score goals and make a big impact on a regular basis as a midfielder in the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta trusted him from the start and he delivered, which suggests that Howe could get the same from him during the second half of the season and beyond if he places trust in the talented ace and affords him the chance to start games.

Therefore, Smith Rowe could come in as a big upgrade on Anderson with his potential to provide more quality in the final third at this level.

The visitors are 1-0 up, and will hope for contributions from younger members of their side such as Aiden Markram and Wiaan Muller

Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando31-Jul-2018Big PictureJust how far this Sri Lanka top order has to go in ODIs could not have been made more clear in the first match on Sunday. Batting coach Thilan Samaraweera said his team had spoken about seeing out the likes of Kagiso Rabada in the first 10 overs, before taking more risks against the less experienced South Africa bowlers later in the innings, but the hosts nevertheless found themselves 36 for 5 in the ninth over, the game already virtually lost inside 40 minutes.Kusal Perera and Thisara Perera then struck up an encouraging partnership worth 92, but it never looked like the kind of stand that could alter the game’s outcome. This is exactly how so many Sri Lanka innings have played out over the past 18 months – the majority of the batsmen failing dramatically, while one or two others make half-decent contributions that serve only to make the loss less abject.South Africa will be glad to have tasted victory for the first time on the tour, but they know they are not exactly a world-beating ODI unit either. They have spoken about blooding young players in this series, and on Sunday, one of those players, left-arm wristspinner Tabraiz Shamsi, came good, taking 4 for 33 to wipe out the Sri Lanka lower order after the seamers had made those early breakthroughs. With regular spinner Imran Tahir rested for this series, Shamsi has a gold-plated chance to carve out a place for himself in the ODI XI.Others, such as Wiaan Mulder, Aiden Markram and Lungi Ngidi, also have opportunities to embed themselves in the side as the series goes on.Form guideSri Lanka LWWWL (completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa WLLWLIn the spotlightNormally, South Africa tours of Sri Lanka mean runs for Hashim Amla. In ODIs, there is no other country he would prefer batting in, having hit two hundreds in his six innings on the island, with an average of 62. On this tour, though, Amla’s scores (across Tests and the first ODI) have read 15, 0, 19, 6, and 19. And while his prowess against spin has truly stood out on previous trips, spinners have dismissed him on each occasion this time, so far. He had also crossed fifty only once in six innings in the ODI series against India earlier this year. South Africa’s coaches are certain he will rebound, but at 35, a few more modest scores could get fans wondering whether this is merely a slump or a more permanent decline.AFPThe man to dismiss Amla in that first ODI was Akila Dananjaya whose new-and-improved googly (he has been working on pushing it faster through the air), fooled the batsman and rattled his stumps. Dananjaya is not always a penetrative bowler, but he is very rarely expensive, which on its own is a not insignificant virtue in this modest Sri Lanka attack. While Sri Lanka attempt to get the rest of their team in order, Dananjaya has done enough over the past eight months to suggest he is a player worth investing in. Even if he has the occasional bad game – though he really doesn’t have many of those – Sri Lanka might do well to play him in as many matches as possible leading up to the World Cup.Team newsSouth Africa are likely to keep their XI from Sunday, which means Heinrich Klaasen will probably continue to sit out, while Mulder plays as an allrounder.South Africa (possible): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Aiden Markram, 4 Faf du Plessis (capt), 5 JP Duminy, 6 David Miller, 7 Wiaan Mulder, 8 Andile Phehlukwayo, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Tabraiz Shamsi, 11 Lungi NgidiSri Lanka will be without fast bowler Lahiru Kumara, who split a webbing on his left hand during fielding drills. Kasun Rajitha is most likely to play in his place. They may also think about handing left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya a debut, with Lakshan Sandakan the most likely to sit out if that happens.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Kusal Perera, 2 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 3 Upul Tharanga, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Angelo Mathews (capt.), 6 Shehan Jayasuriya, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Akila Dananjaya, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Lakshan Sandakan, 11 Kasun RajithaPitch and conditionsDespite Sri Lanka’s collapse, there were no major demons in the Dambulla track on Sunday, and another good one-day pitch is expected. No rain is forecast for the day.Stats and trivia In seven innings so far this year, Amla averages 24.71, with a strike rate of 80. His career average is 50.02, with a strike rate of 89. From 18 bowling innings, Akila Dananjaya has a career economy rate of 4.97. This is despite his having played in one of the weakest Sri Lanka ODI bowling attacks in the last 20 years. Sri Lanka have now lost nine ODIs in a row to South Africa – a losing streak that goes back to July 2014.

Following Aston Villa's start to the Premier League season, Unai Emery will be desperately hoping that the international break hasn't put an end to their growing momentum. Prior to the two-week stoppage, the Midlands club had finally got out of second gear, enjoying a four-game unbeaten run in England's top flight. The key to keeping that run going could be keeping as much of the squad as possible available and firing on all fronts.

Aston Villa team news

As things stand, Villa are without Jacob Ramsey, Tyrone Mings, Alex Moreno, and Emiliano Buendia when it comes to injuries ahead of the trip to West Ham, leaving Emery slightly short. The former Arsenal boss will hope that he can fall back on the likes of Moussa Diaby, Ollie Watkins, and Pau Torres to once again take his side to victory, in what would be a statement against a side who have got off to a similarly solid start in the form of the Hammers.

The Midlands club have at least been boosted by the latest Nicolo Zaniolo news. Jacob Tanswell of The Athletic posted the update on X, saying: "Nicolo Zaniolo is training and available to play for AVFC in light of assisting the Italian Football Federation and relevant authorities' investigation into alleged illegal betting activity."

Both Zaniolo and Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali were among those to be questioned by police as part of the investigation. Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli was also caught up in the investigation, and has been handed a seven-month ban after agreeing a deal with the FIGC and admitting the breaching of betting rules. It remains to be seen whether Zaniolo and Tonali will be punished.

Nicolo Zaniolo's stats

From Villa's perspective, they'll be hoping that Zaniolo is not punished in similar fashion to Fagioli, if found guilty of breaching betting rules. Zaniolo's stats certainly show that he's an important part of Emery's set-up. According to FBref, the midfielder has made 11 progressive carries, ten progressive passes and made six blocks in just three Premier League starts this season.

The Italian may just get another chance to add to those numbers against the Hammers too, in what will be another tough test. Following the recent investigation, it's unsure whether Emery will opt to throw Zaniolo straight into his side, however.

At his best, Villa's summer signing has been the subject of high praise, including from Claudio Ranieri, who said, via Corriere Dello Sport: “He is a decisive player, we have seen him against Bodo. He is a striker who has to find the ball in space, he has an impressive quality and strength – even if sometimes he could pass it a little more when he is on the edge of the area.

“But when he has the door in front of him, it’s hard to go wrong. Zaniolo is what we saw on Thursday night. Mourinho knows how to manage it. With what he has been through he cannot always play. It is important for the boy to feel the trust of everyone: coach, teammates, club and fans.”

Chris Gayle and Rovman Powell went berserk at the start and end of West Indies’ chase respectively, but the visitors held on for a 2-1 margin

The Report by Mohammad Isam28-Jul-2018Tamim Iqbal celebrates his 11th ODI hundred•AFPRubel handed one demerit point

Bangladesh fast bowler Rubel Hossain has received one demerit point for a Level 1 code-of-conduct offence during the series decider in St Kitts.
In the 28th over of the chase, the stump mic picked up an inappropriate word used by Rubel, after Shimron Hetmyer edged him for a boundary.
At the end of the match, Rubel admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Chris Broad. No formal hearing, therefore, was needed.
This is the second demerit point accumulated by Rubel in two months, following one that he incurred for showing dissent during the second T20I against Afghanistan in Dehradun on June 5.

It went so quiet in the rest of Warner Park that you could clearly hear the Bangladesh dressing room celebrating their first away ODI series win in nine years. West Indies fought till the end, but ultimately went down by 18 runs in a contest that was decided by the side with fewer mistakes and more nerve. The 2-1 series win comes on the back of an ordinary Test series, but the visitors once again showed that ODIs remain their preferred format. It is also Bangladesh’s second ODI series win in West Indies, and their third overall against them. West Indies though remain without a series win for four years now, and much of the defeat fell at their feet in Basseterre.Rovman Powell’s unbeaten 41-ball 74 that included five fours and four sixes, was the only thing that stood between Bangladesh and an easier win, but he too fizzled out in the last two overs, hitting only one six. He had little support at the other end, with Shai Hope taking up 94 balls to make 64, which is likely to remain a talking point across the Caribbean.But Bangladesh had no such problems when they batted. Tamim Iqbal’s 103 came off 124 with seven fours and two sixes, which set up the last 10 overs for Mahmudullah, whose unbeaten 49-ball 67 got the visitors to a 300-plus total. He added 53 runs for the fifth wicket with captain Mashrafe Mortaza, who promoted himself to No. 6 for the first time in 10 years and made a crucial 25-ball 36.Tamim had batted till the 39th over, helping Bangladesh to a position of strength after they made another indifferent start. Anamul Haque fell early once again, leaving Tamim and Shakib with the rebuilding job for the third time in a row. They added 81 runs for the second wicket, Tamim starting off with three fours in the first Powerplay before surviving a chance at short midwicket on 28.Shakib, who struck three fours in his 37 off 43 balls, fell to a flighted Ashley Nurse delivery. Mushfiqur was bowled by a Nurse half-tracker before Tamim and Mahmudullah added 48 runs for the fourth wicket, during which Tamim reached his century. His first six was a straight hit off Sheldon Cottrell while the second – a slog sweep off Bishoo – took him to 98 before he reached his century in the following over.Bangladesh made 96 off the last ten overs.A whack over the off-side off Mashrafe signaled Gayle’s intent in West Indies’ chase. His first six was literally hit out of the ground. The replaced ball was sent to the boundary the next ball, albeit through an edge going past slip. His next six was a slap over extra cover before Bangladesh pulled things back with Evin Lewis’ wicket. Mashrafe removed him for the third game in a row after he’d scratched around for 13 off 33 balls.But Gayle went on, hammering Mosaddek for a six over his head, before launching Mahmudullah twice off successive deliveries in the 18th over, first over midwicket and then over long-on. But Rubel Hossain brought an end to Gayle’s whirlwind knock in the 22nd over, having him caught at long-on by Mehidy.Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer understandably couldn’t push at Gayle’s pace but did the next best thing: dragged West Indies along for another 13.5 overs without any further damages.Hetmyer struck two fours in his 30 off 42 balls before Mehidy bowled him with one that skidded on from short of a length. Hope, who was dropped by Rubel at long-off on 36, added another 45 runs for the fifth wicket with Rovman Powell who had to do all the heavy lifting at the end. Hope finally fell in the 44th over, with West Indies requiring to score at more than 10 an over.Powell struck all four of his sixes off Mustafizur, two over midwicket and two over long-on, but neither Holder nor Nurse could provide him the strike at crucial times or provide big hits of their own.Bangladesh just held on to the win. Mehidy was the best bowler on show once again, picking one for 45 while Mashrafe took two for 63. Mustafizur and Rubel also took one wicket each.

United States women's national team star Trinity Rodman was suspended for the start of the NWSL season, so she spent it with some lucky fans instead.

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Rodman missed the Washington Spirit's NWSL openerUSWNT star was suspended after red card last seasonSo spent Sunday with some lucky fans insteadWHAT HAPPENED?

Rodman was sent off in the Washington Spirit's final game of 2023 and was therefore unable to be involved in her team's season opener on Sunday away at Seattle Reign. But instead of travelling with the team to the game, she stuck around in Washington and watched the match with some fans who certainly won't forget the experience.

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The Spirit suffered a 1-0 defeat in Seattle, with the game-winner scored from the penalty spot by Bethany Balcer with just three minutes on the clock. Rodman's return to selection will be a boost next week, then, as the team looks to get its first win of the new season.

GettyDID YOU KNOW?

Rodman was named Rookie of the Year and to the NWSL Best XI when she helped fire the Spirit to a first-ever Championship triumph in 2021. She was also rewarded with a new contract that made her the highest-paid player in the league at the time.

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WHAT NEXT FOR RODMAN?

Rodman will be back in action on Saturday, when the Spirit welcome Bay FC to Audi Field for its home opener.

After winning their third-straight CONCACAF Nations League Sunday evening, USMNT captain Tyler Adams praised boss Gregg Berhalter's role in the team.

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U.S. defeat Mexico 2-0Adams praises boss BerhalterTeam heading in right directionWHAT HAPPENED?

Following their 2-0 victory over Mexico, where Adams himself notched a blistering goal in the first half to give the U.S. the lead at the break, the American captain showered praise on the team's leader on the touchline. The Bournemouth midfielder believes the USMNT is on the right track under their head coach and says he's "developing" the group in a proper manner.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT ADAMS SAID

"What are you really judging him off, you know what I mean? We continue to win in certain situations. Our first World Cup experience was a positive in a lot of people's minds. He's developing us in the right way. He's having conversations with us off the pitch that are continually developing us and, most importantly, he's challenging us," he told Fox reporter Doug McIntyre/

"He won't talk about that goal that I scored ever to me. He'll talk about why didn't you hit this pass? Why didn't you do this? Why wasn't your body open to play forward in this situation? And as a player, you really, really embrace that.

"He's doing more for us as a country in developing us as young players than people see, obviously, on the field. It's not easy to come into camp and have two days to train. Some guys played 90 minutes and get in a day before the game and have to play again. So this camp was a success, and I think we need to continue to have more moments like this."

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There has been criticism of Berhalter's reign, notably of late – after the U.S. nearly didn't advance to the final, escaping past Jamaica via an own-goal from the Reggae Boyz that sent the match to extra-time, where the USMNT came out on top

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WHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT AND ADAMS?

Adams will return to Bournemouth this week looking to play a role at the weekend with the Cherries when they take on Everton in the Premier League. The USMNT, meanwhile, will report for action this June with a pair of international friendlies against Colombia and Brazil before the 2024 Copa America begins.

Afghanistan’s spinners, led by Mujeeb and Rashid, could pose interesting questions to a batting order that’s proven to be brittle

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando16-Sep-2018Big PictureIt’s debatable how much of an upset an Afghanistan victory would even be, on Monday. ODIs are, without a doubt, Sri Lanka’s worst format. Over the last 18 months, they have lost half the matches they have played against Zimbabwe, for example, on top of which they have comprehensively lost ODI series against India, Pakistan and South Africa. And although they did win one tri-series involving Bangladesh and Zimbabwe early in the year, Sri Lanka are now reeling after the 137-run pummelling by Bangladesh on Saturday – a game in which long-standing fielding and batting inadequacies were emphatically exposed.They now face the possibility of bowing out of the Asia Cup only three days into the tournament. Even if they beat Afghanistan, their progress into the Super Four is not assured, particularly given the woeful run rate they collected in Saturday’s 137-run defeat. They have to win on Monday, and hope that Bangladesh beat Afghanistan in order to cement a Super Four place.What will buoy Afghanistan is that they possess the kind of attack that could make Sri Lanka crumble again. Sri Lanka have not played legspin particularly well over the last two years, and who better to exploit that weakness than Rashid Khan? Having watched the Sri Lanka middle order stall against Bangladesh’s finger spin on Saturday, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi might be licking their lips too.But what makes this game interesting is that Sri Lanka’s bowlers won’t mind the look of Afghanistan’s top order either, which can sometimes be brittle. Importantly for Sri Lanka, all-sorts offspinner Akila Dananjaya will be available for this game, having missed the first match in order to attend the birth of his child, and that is a substantial boon, considering he has been perhaps Sri Lanka’s most consistent player across formats in 2018. Here are two inconsistent batting outfits, and two attacks sprinkled with dynamic bowlers. Perhaps by dint of experience at such tournaments, Sri Lanka have an edge, but it is not much of one.Form guideSri LankaLWWLL (completed matches, most recent first)
Afghanistan WLWWWIn the spotlightEven by the standards of Lasith Malinga’s heyday, his returns on Saturday were excellent. He struck twice in his first international over in more than a year, then went on to deliver a full quota of overs without conceding a boundary, while taking two more wickets. For much of the last three years, Malinga has been in the low 130kph range, but although he is still sporting a belly as large as it has been, he somehow was getting his speeds back into the 140kph range on Saturday, which makes him a far more threatening bowler. His challenge will be to maintain that intensity across another 10 overs, in the searing heat of the UAE, only 48 hours later.Right through their victorious ODI and T20 series against Ireland, Afghanistan used young offspinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman as an opening bowler. The results were pretty good – Mujeeb was generally economical with the new ball, and helped ensure that when the team’s primary weapon Rashid came into the attack, the opposition’s top order had not done much damage. Opening with Mujeeb might be a ploy worth trying again, because early on in their innings, the likes of Upul Tharanga and Kusal Perera – who bat in Sri Lanka’s top four – tend to enjoy a little pace on the ball. There are also plenty of left-handers in this Sri Lanka batting order for Mujeeb to bowl at, especially if Niroshan Dickwella replaces a misfiring right-hander.Team newsAfghanistan may largely stick to the combination that brought them success in Ireland – though they did switch up their batting order right through that series. They may consider playing a second frontline seamer in Sayed Shirzad, in addition to right-armer Aftab Alam.Afghanistan (possible): 1 Mohammad Shahzad (wk), 2 Ihsanullah, 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Hasmatullah Shahidi, 5 Gulbadin Naib, 6 Asghar Afghan (capt), 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Najibullah Zadran/Sayed Shirzad, 9 Rashid Khan, 10 Aftab Alam, 11 Mujeeb Ur RahmanSri Lanka will probably swap in Dananjaya for Dilruwan Perera. They might also think about replacing Dhananjaya de Silva with Niroshan Dickwella.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Kusal Mendis, 2 Upul Tharanga, 3 Dhananjaya de Silva, 4 Kusal Perera (wk), 5 Angelo Mathews (capt), 6 Dasun Shanaka, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Suranga Lakmal, 9 Akila Dananjaya, 10 Amila Aponso, 11 Lasith MalingaPitch and conditionsThe temperature in Abu Dhabi is forecast to be a shade more forgiving than it has been in Dubai, by which I mean it is supposed to be in the 30 degrees range rather than the low forties. It is possible dew could form after nightfall, perhaps making the ball slightly harder to grip for the team bowling second.Stats and trivia Sri Lanka have won both of their matches against Afghanistan so far, with the second of those wins having been a narrow four-wicket victory at the 2015 World Cup Rashid Khan has gone wicketless only once in his last 22 bowling innings in ODIs, picking up three five-wicket hauls in that time Kusal Mendis has now gone 19 completed ODI innings without making a half century. His last fifty came against Zimbabwe in June last yearQuotes”We don’t start off competitions well, and that has been evident in the last seven months. If you take the tour to Bangladesh, we lost the first two games. Then against South Africa in the first ODI we lost something like five wickets for 30 runs. We lost 60 for six yesterday. When they are under pressure, the batsmen lack options and clarity. The decision making becomes poor and they lack confidence. We need to make their mental aspect right.”