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Joe Root admits he was shocked by his first experience of Test cricket in Australia but has promised he will be much better prepared when England return for the Ashes at the end of the year

George Dobell at Headingley29-Mar-20171:05

Taylor tips Root to thrive as captain

Joe Root admits he was shocked by his first experience of Test cricket in Australia but has promised he will be much better prepared when England return for the Ashes at the end of the year.Root, England’s newly appointed Test captain, went to Australia in 2013-14 as a 22-year-old with a growing reputation as England’s finest young batsman. But by the end of the series he had been dropped, England had been defeated 5-0 and he concedes he was “caught cold” by the hostility of the experience.Greeted by abusive crowds, even more abusive opponents and an excellent fast-bowling attack led by Mitchell Johnson, Australia provided a far from gentle welcome. And while Root managed 87 in the second innings in Adelaide, it was the only time he reached 30 and he was dropped, with a series average of 27.42, after the fourth Test.”That first Test match at Brisbane, when I walked out to bat, I think it did it hit me quite hard,” Root said. “It was like I walked into a conservatory door: I was not aware at all that it was there.”For large periods of that trip, I was spending my time and energy working on things that other people said I needed to work on; getting forward; a bigger stride; getting into the ball. But in reality, they were bowling 95mph bouncers, so it was pointless.”But I will be slightly more aware this time. I won’t be caught cold. I know what to expect from what can be quite a hostile environment.”Root is determined that other young players – and Haseeb Hameed would appear to be a prime example – should not be similarly exposed this time.Joe Root: “I won’t be caught cold in Australia”•BRUT Sport Style

“I think it’s very important that the guys that haven’t been there get a good idea of what it can be like,” he said. “They shouldn’t be afraid of it. They should try to embrace it and enjoy it. It’s not always easy to enjoy it, but that tour is a great opportunity for this team.”I think I’ve done all my learning from that tour already. I came back from it and thought: just strengthen all the things that have served you very well for long periods of time and slowly but surely work on the rest of it. From that I gained a lot of confidence. It was a really good way, from being in quite a difficult spot, of feeling good again.”If England are to win in Australia, Root knows that he will have to score heavily. So, odd though it may sound, he says the piece of advice he has most taken to heart since he became captain, is to ensure his own game is in order.”I’ve had a lot of people provide quite similar advice,” he said. “But the one thing that’s really stuck out is ‘just make sure you look after your own game and concentrate on scoring as many runs as possible.'”That might come across as quite selfish. But I think it’s going to be very important for me, mentally as well, to put in the work and set the right example when the opportunities arise.”He doesn’t have to look far to find examples of talented young batsmen who appear to have thrived with the responsibility of leadership. Steve Smith, in particular, has batted exceptionally well in recent times, with Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson also highly impressive.”They are great examples of taking that responsibility and making it a real asset to their games,” Root said. “It’s a good opportunity for me to do exactly the same. Over the last couple of years my consistency has been fantastic. But between 50 and 100 there have been far too many occasions when I have got out.”On a few occasions I have been got out, but the majority of the time it has been a lapse of concentration and that’s not good enough. I’m going to have to make sure that moving forward I set a really good example by going on and trying to make sure I make the most of those good starts and be a little bit more ruthless.”In the past, the more responsibility I’ve been given, I’ve generally responded well to it. Hopefully that will be the same.”Root has enjoyed success in home Ashes series, but his maiden tour of Australia was another story•Getty Images

Root is also confident that, while his England will play tough cricket – “There have occasions in the past when we probably have folded a little too easily,” he admitted – they will be able to retain good relationships with their opponents.”I don’t think there was too much bad blood in our series against India,” he said. “There were a few of our guys who were quite passionate and vocal and Virat and a few of his guys were the same. If you understand and respect that and you don’t take it too far and make it personal then I don’t know what the issue is.”There’s nothing wrong with going and having a beer after the game. It is quite nice actually, if someone has really laid into you for five weeks and then you go up to them with a beer and make them feel really uncomfortable. It’s quite good when you can ask them some difficult questions like ‘how’s the missus? How’s the kids?’ And see how they respond to it.”It is good that we are open to that as a side and hopefully other teams are as well.”Joe Root and James Anderson were speaking on behalf of BRUT Sport Style, the new fragrance from men’s grooming brand BRUT

Newcastle United are one of a number of top clubs who are interested in signing Fenerbahce youngster Arda Guler in the summer transfer window, according to a new report.

How good is Arda Guler?

The 18-year-old is arguably one of the most exciting young players in Europe at the moment, already producing a string of impressive performances for Fenerbahce.

Last season, Guler scored four goals and registered three assists in the Turkish Super Lig, also chipping in with one apiece in the Europa League, becoming a regular despite still being such a young player.

It is no secret that there is a huge amount of interest in the teenager this summer, with many top Premier League sides interested in signing him due to a relatively low £15m release clause. Newcastle are one of the clubs who have been linked with a move, as the Magpies look to complete some exciting transfer business ahead of their return to the Champions League.

A fresh update suggests that their interest isn't going away, although it may not be easy for them to acquire the services of the £2,500-a-week ace.

Could Newcastle sign Guler this summer?

According to TEAMtalk, Fenerbahce are desperately trying to persuade Guler to stay put this summer, but Newcastle are falling in love with the player after their scouting trips:

"Newcastle are huge fans of the player and have tracked him for a number of months. But they are not alone as several other Premier League clubs are keen too. Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Brighton were also in attendance for Turkey’s victory.

"Major European sides Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Inter, Juventus, Dortmund, Leipzig, Benfica and Porto watched Guler’s brilliant goal as well."

Guler is clearly a special prospect, with Italian legend Andrea Pirlo claiming there is "no limit to his potential", as well as hailing his "great technique", so Newcastle signing him could feel like a massive coup.

At just 18, he is already a four-cap Turkey international, scoring once in that time, and he is only going to mature further as a player as the years pass, starring in a central midfield role and being able to take up a more attack-minded position, too.

It is vital that Newcastle sign both players for the present and the future, ensuring they continue to grow into a major force in English football, and Guler is someone who could arrive as an exciting squad player to begin with, before eventually becoming a genuine star and one of the first names on the team sheet.

West Ham United could be in for Everton's Amadou Onana, as the player is "someone that Moyes would be interested in", believes transfer insider Dean Jones.

West Ham United transfer news – what's the latest on Amadou Onana?

And breathe, the transfer saga surrounding West Ham and Declan Rice finally looks to be over as David Ornstein confirmed yesterday that the Hammers and Arsenal have agreed on a fee of £100m plus £5m in add-ons, with just the payment structure to be resolved.

With their biggest outgoing of the summer sorted, the East London club can now turn their attention towards potential incomings, and with the departure of their club captain, they're going to need a fair few names to come through the door of the London Stadium.

One of the names linked to the club is Everton's Belgian "destroyer", Onana.

According to The Sun, the Hammers are interested in the 21-year-old and see him as a potential replacement for the departing Rice and believe an offer in the region of £40m-£50m could be enough to tempt the Toffees into selling, with their FFP troubles still hanging over their heads.

West Ham tried to sign the player from Ligue 1 side Lille last summer but couldn't offer the same package that the Merseyside outfit could, but it could be second time lucky for the claret and blue.

However, with Onana's desire to play at "one of the biggest clubs recognised worldwide", would any offer from David Moyes' side be able to tempt him into what many might consider a sideways step?

What had transfer insider Dean Jones said about the links between West Ham United and Amadou Onana?

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: "I can definitely see him being someone that Moyes would be interested in."

However, given the player's desire to play for a club slightly above West Ham, he sees a move as unlikely, adding: "So at the moment, I find it hard to believe that West Ham will actually get him."

How good is Amadou Onana?

Despite featuring less often than he probably would've liked during last season's run-in, he had an undeniably brilliant debut season in the Premier League for Everton.

In a campaign that saw the historic club stutter and falter almost weekly, the young Belgian was one of the few shining lights in the team.

It's no surprise then that he was the subject of a failed £50m bid from runners-up Arsenal in the January transfer window – a team he would go onto put in a Man-of-the-Match performance against just a few weeks later as Everton dominated the Gunners in a shock 1-0 win.

It was a performance he was hailed for by the media, with Conor O'Neil of the Liverpool Echo calling him "outstanding" and Richard Buxton labelling the player "superb."

According to WhoScored, he has been great all season, averaging an impressive rating of 6.71 across his 33 appearances for the club.

If Moyes can somehow convince Onana that his project in East London can rival some of the elite clubs in the league, then the club should do all they can to get this deal over the line and make him an Iron.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are ready to explore the transfer window if reports linking the club to a La Liga gem are to be believed.

Molineux was rejuvenated by the news that Julen Lopetegui will remain as manager following Financial Fair Play (FFP) concerns, with the Telegraph adding that the club will be able to spend on a budget this summer.

The latest link could unleash a fierce talent at Molineux, in a player that could challenge one of Lopetegui’s top performers.

What’s the latest on Geoffrey Kondogbia to Wolves?

As reported by Spanish publication AS – relayed by Sport Witness – Wolves remain interested in Atletico Madrid midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia.

AS stated that the 30-year-old would be a good signing for Wolves, explaining that he ‘fits’ what the Midlands club need both financially and on the pitch.

The link between player and club has been evident since January, when Fabrizio Romano revealed that Wolves approached the Spanish giants in the winter transfer window.

With one year remaining on his current contract, AS claims that Atleti have a price tag between €5-6m (£4-5m), placing him within the club’s tightened price range.

What could Geoffrey Kondogbia offer to Wolves?

Following the confirmation of Joao Moutinho’s departure and the saga surrounding Ruben Neves’ future, it’s expected that Lopetegui will seek a midfielder this summer.

Lauded as a “monster” by former talkSPORT reporter James Dodd, Kondogbia could be the man to not only succeed the Portuguese aces, but also challenge the current crop of talent in the squad.

Despite only making 10 starts in La Liga this past campaign, the Central African Republic gem maintained a win rate of 62% within his total duels, recording an average of 3.8 per game – reinforcing his dominance in deep midfield, via Sofascore.

At 30 years old and having played in the top divisions in Spain, France and Italy, the experienced whiz could fill the vacancy left by Moutinho in the bid to form strong connections with the talent on show at Molineux.

While Mario Lemina has impressed since signing for Wolves in January from OGC Nice, the former Southampton man could find his space challenged by Kondogbia.

When comparing the two via FBref, the Atletico ace comes out on top in attributes vital for defensive midfielders to possess.

The La Liga star averages in the top 1% of players in Europe in his position in terms of interceptions per 90, averaging 2.41 to Lemina’s 1.05, communicating the experienced player’s ability to read and dictate play.

A similar pattern is highlighted when it comes to the duo’s rate of tackles per 90, with Lemina averaging an albeit impressive 2.95 overshadowed by the £107k-per-week ace’s 3.51 per 90, which places him among the top 3% of midfielders in Europe over the past year.

Lopetegui could fulfil his wish of bolstering his squad significantly while adhering to the necessary budget limits in signing Kondogbia, and with the transfer window officially open, only time will tell if the Spaniard can make the deal a reality.

Scorecard
Suzie Bates’ dominant 64 took her side to a comfortable victory in the first ODI•Getty Images

Captain Suzie Bates made a 46-ball 64, and put on 100 quick runs for the first wicket with Sam Curtis (55*), as New Zealand women beat Pakistan women by eight wickets, with 27 overs to spare, in the first ODI in Lincoln.Bates’ decision to put Pakistan in was vindicated when the visitors were reduced to 27 for 3 in the ninth over. Nain Abidi (49) put on a 62 with Nida Dar (19) for the fourth wicket to begin a recovery, but Pakistan collapsed after Abidi’s dismissal. They went from 89 for 3 to 90 for 6, with medium-pacer Lea Tahuhu (3-37) removing Abidi and Dar, while captain Sana Mir was caught and bowled to 16-year old debutant legspinner Amelia Kerr (1-21).Allrounder Asmavia Iqbal scored an unbeaten 49, but was one of only three batsmen to reach double figures as Pakistan folded for 156 in 49 overs.Bates and Curtis knocked 100 off the target in just 13.3 overs, before the New Zealand captain was caught behind off Sana Mir. Amy Satterthwaite fell four overs later. But the wickets only marginally slowed down New Zealand’s scoring rate, as Curtis took them home with her first ODI fifty.The second ODI in the five-match series will be played in the same venue on November 11.

Incoming manager Ange Postecoglou is looking to bring his Celtic assistant coach John Kennedy with him to Tottenham Hotspur, according to The Times.

Is Ange Postecoglou coming to Spurs?

After he clinched a domestic treble with Celtic at the weekend, Spurs have now confirmed that Postcoglou is on his way to north London, and will commence work on July 1.

The Australian, following their 3-1 Scottish Cup victory over Inverness at Hampden Park on Saturday, has agreed to become Spurs' next manager after Antonio Conte.

"Ange brings a positive mentality and a fast, attacking style of play," said chairman Daniel Levy upon his appointment."He has a strong track record of developing players and an understanding of the importance of the link from the academy – everything that is important to our Club. We are excited to have Ange join us as we prepare for the season ahead."

The former Celtic boss will join Tottenham and reports have already started coming out suggesting that he is set to be backed by Spurs with additions this summer.

Leicester City star James Maddison is among the targets on Tottenham's radar and it appears they can now focus on the looming transfer market.

Postecoglou will also be looking to shape the backroom in his own image as he attempts to reinstall a brand of attacking football and positivity at N17.

According to a report by The Times, he already has plans in that regard, with the Australian "keen" on stealing away his assistant manager Kennedy down south.

Spurs let go of a lot of their staff when Cristian Stellini left as interim boss, and Postecoglou will need to replace them. He apparently doesn't usually take his assistants between jobs, with Kennedy being the obvious exception.

Ryan Mason may well also decide he wants his own gig elsewhere after chairman Daniel Levy opted not to take a chance on him as permanent manager.

Despite Postecoglou wanting to bring Kennedy to Tottenham, he may well have a hard time in doing so, with Celtic eager to hang on to their 39-year-old who is highly thought of.

Who is John Kennedy?

The coach has worked his way up the ladder at Parkhead, having been under the tutelage of many previous Hoops bosses like Ronny Deila, Brendan Rodgers and Neil Lennon.

Kennedy briefly served as interim Celtic manager when Lennon resigned in 2021 and Celtic's board apparently rate him a lot.

The former Scotland international, who was forced to retire from playing at the age of just 26, has also been called a "world-class" coach by former Chelsea star Damien Duff.

Hanif Mohammad, the man who played the longest Test innings, died in hospital after respiratory complications from his lung cancer

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Aug-20162:50

WATCH – ‘Hanif Mohammad – one of Pakistan’s finest’

Hanif Mohammad, the original “Little Master” who played the longest innings in Test cricket, has died at the age of 81. He had been undergoing treatment for respiratory complications from his lung cancer in Karachi’s Aga Khan hospital. Late on August 8, he was shifted to the ICU and placed on a ventilator. Hanif was diagnosed with the cancer in 2013, for which he received treatment in London.Hanif played 55 Tests, including Pakistan’s first. Imtiaz Ahmed, 88, and Waqar Hasan, 83, are the only two survivors from that team. Hanif was renowned for his immaculate defensive technique. He scored 3915 runs at an average of 43.98. His best was an epic 337 as Pakistan saved the Barbados Test in 1958 while following on. It was the longest first-class innings then. At 970 minutes, it is still the longest Test innings.Hanif also held the record for the highest first-class score, 499 which he made for Karachi against Bahawalpur in 1959. The record stood for 35 years before Brian Lara surpassed the record by scoring 501 for Warwickshire against Durham.Hanif was born in Junagadh in the Indian state of Gujarat. He and his four brothers moved to Pakistan after partition; four of the five brothers played Tests while Raees, the fifth, was a 12th man once. At least one of the Mohammad brothers played in Pakistan’s first 101 Tests. Hanif’s son Shoaib played 45 Tests and grandson Shehzar 30 first-class matches. In 2010, a Cricinfo jury chose Hanif as the opener alongside Saeed Anwar in the all-time Pakistan Test XI.After retiring as an international cricketer, Hanif co-founded the magazine in 1972, which he edited for two decades. He also served as the manager of the formidable Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) team, which won the domestic one-day tournament, Wills Cup, three years in a row in the 1980s.ICC’s chief executive David Richardson paid tribute to Hanif, pointing to the impact that his triple-century against West Indies had. “It’s sad to hear of Hanif’s death and I’d like to extend my condolences and those of everyone here at the ICC to Hanif’s family, which counts so many cricketers in its number,” Richardson said in a press statement. “Hanif took batting to great heights and many batsmen drew inspiration from him.”His contribution to the game has been enormous and one can only imagine the kind of impact his batting had on others over the years. Hanif’s triple-century against the West Indies was a legendary innings and unsurprisingly he was one of the original inductees into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.”

Leeds United are seemingly already looking towards a brighter future, given their present is as bleak as can be.

Their recent loss to West Ham United has condemned them to a miserable final day of the Premier League season, where they know that only a win by three or more goals against Tottenham Hotspur can give them a slim chance of survival.

They are wholly reliant on Everton failing to beat AFC Bournemouth at Goodison Park, which is a position Sam Allardyce would not have preferred his team to be in.

Regardless of whether they retain their top-flight status, this is a squad that Andrea Radrizzani needs to completely refresh this summer. If they are to go down, the chairman will be keen to avoid another 16-year stay in the Championship.

Therefore, it seems he has already set his sights on a few low-key additions, who are poised to bear fruit in the distant future.

One such name is Kian Breckin, who the Daily Mail suggested just last week is high on their wish list as the Whites plot another raid of Manchester City's youth.

Having already snagged Darko Gyabi last summer for £5m, they could seek to repeat this model in an effort to one day knit these talented teenagers together.

Who is Kian Breckin?

Born and bred in Manchester, Breckin has been ever-present for their U21 side that has already won the Premier League 2 Division 1, arguably the apex of youth football in England.

Despite being a busy central midfielder with immense close control, where the 19-year-old truly shines is when he is allowed to push forward and add another goal threat for his team. Manchester City's official website even suggests he is "comfortable at receiving the ball in tight areas", which only emphasises his quality.

Across 24 appearances in the league, many of which have been in both offensive and defensive roles, the tricky maestro boasts eight goals and four assists.

With such dominance at youth level, and an apparent ball control far beyond those around him, it is no surprise to see that one talent scout suggested he "resembles [Kevin] De Bruyne". Indeed, it is impossible not to liken Breckin to another star who Pep Guardiola has nurtured too: Phil Foden.

With 14 goals and eight assists this season across all competitions this season, which could still merit a famous treble, the Stockport-born 22-year-old has risen from the academy to become one of the most influential figures for the Citizens.

The former Barcelona boss even claimed back in 2021: "I have said many times in press conferences, but maybe not said it in front of him, Phil is the most, most, most talented player I have ever seen in my career as a manager."

However, in his final full season for the U21s, he would record six goals and five assists from attacking midfield; not a far cry from Breckin's output this campaign.

By securing such an extraordinary youngster now, with the promise that first-team football is far more likely to arrive at Elland Road than the Etihad, perhaps Radrizzani could be set to claim his own Foden to spearhead this aforementioned brighter future.

Chelsea could feasibly build their team around Mason Mount under Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge, according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.

What's the latest news involving Mason Mount and Mauricio Pochettino?

As per Football Insider, Chelsea now have a growing 'confidence' that Mount will agree a new contract in west London despite interest from Premier League rivals Liverpool in his services.

The report states that the prospective appointment of Pochettino is said to be a major factor in their increasing optimism over Mount, while the 24-year-old is also believed to have been promised a 'key role' in the side in fresh negotiations surrounding his future at Stamford Bridge.

According to The Daily Mail, Mount has also become a 'key target' for Arsenal in the summer in light of an impasse in talks regarding his contract at Chelsea; however, negotiations between the England international and the Blues will continue as they attempt to lock him down to an extension.

In terms of when Pochettino could officially arrive at Chelsea, 90min have claimed that both parties only have 'minor details left to iron out in negotiations.'

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist O'Rourke believes Mount could have a similar impact under Pochettino to Dele Alli's notable impression at Tottenham Hotspur when the Argentinian manager coached him.

When asked about Pochettino potentially viewing Mount as a key player at Chelsea, O'Rourke told FFC: "There's a real possibility. Mason Mount is a top player for Chelsea. In the last couple of seasons, he's been vital for them. He was key in their Champions League success a couple of years ago under Thomas Tuchel. He's an England international and was a regular at Chelsea until probably this season, where maybe it hasn't worked out for him as well.

"I'm sure Mauricio Pochettino would want to keep Mason Mount around and help build his team around Mason Mount going forward and have a similar impact that he had with Dele Alli at Tottenham when Dele Alli and Harry Kane were the two main players during his time at the club. I'm sure Pochettino will be confident that he could be the man to get the best out of Mason Mount if he does end up staying at Stamford Bridge."

What have Mason Mount's stats been like this season?

Mount has flickered in and out of consistency at Chelsea this season, registering three goals and six assists in 35 appearances in total for the Blues, as per Transfermarkt.

Nevertheless, the 24-year-old has still been a creative spark for his current employers this term despite a difficult campaign at Stamford Bridge, successfully performing 83 shot-creating actions during his time on the field, according to FBRef.

Unsurprisingly, his contract wrangle has piqued the interest of several high-profile sides, which has been a source of frustration for Chelsea as they look to ward off keen suitors and tie him down for the long term.

Despite this, if Mount is to commit his future to Chelsea, there is no reason to say that Pochettino couldn't be the man to get him back firing if both end up crossing paths in west London.

Arsenal's return to the top of English football was admittedly no different to most success stories.

To achieve steady growth teams must reluctantly spend big on those players who can bridge the gap between themselves and where they want to be, and only when these assets have served their purpose can they be improved upon.

This is a method that saw Manchester City steadily grow into the powerhouse they are today, and was administered on a slightly smaller scale with the Gunners given they did not quite have as far to go as their title rivals.

However, the issue remains that once you have reached the required level, it leaves a club with their new first team members, who are now of the requisite quality, but also those who took them there, who are now deemed surplus to requirements.

Given their charge towards the Premier League, and the immense quality at Mikel Arteta's disposal, it has rendered some of the earlier purchases somewhat obsolete now.

Therefore, to gather precious funds and free up spaces for a higher calibre of additions, this summer could see a real purge of the squad. If so, that would almost definitely see Cedric Soares leave.

Will Cedric Soares leave Arsenal?

Having signed on a free transfer in 2020, the Portuguese defender joined from Southampton as ample backup in that right-back spot. Across all competitions during that first year, he would feature just 24 times for the senior side; far from a key player.

This was a figure that largely stayed the same the season following, however, it is this campaign where the £75k-per-week dynamo's future has clearly been written out. Despite being branded a "fighter" by journalist Simon Collings, it seems that this time there is no role left for him to compete for.

The 31-year-old was shipped out on loan as Arteta clearly envisioned a push further up the table, where the defender would not be of the required quality. Just four appearances across the first half of the season encouraged Fulham to take him on a temporary basis, likely spelling the conclusion of a quiet career at the Emirates.

Especially given his 6.6 Sofascore average rating in the Premier League thus far, which is so far away from the likes of Ben White, who has starred in his makeshift full-back role, having been labelled "Mr Consistent" by journalist Charles Watts.

Darren Bent had predicted that he was "not good enough" when speaking on TalkSPORT back in 2022, but what Cedric has offered cannot be ignored.

Whilst he might be dead wood now, the defender has certainly contributed to their steady improvement as a club. For that, he cannot be discounted as anything other than a dependable signing for Arsenal who can now leave with grace.