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An update has been issued by the Football Association after West Ham and Brazil star Lucas Paqueta was cleared of spot-fixing.

Paqueta cleared by independent commissionFA will not appeal decision Brazilian's lawyer hails 'momentous' judgementFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Paqueta has been cleared of spot-fixing following a two-year investigation by the FA. The Brazilian was accused of deliberately trying to pick up a yellow card in four Premier League games between November 2022 and August 2023 to influence betting markets. A lifetime ban from football was expected to have been handed down if a guilty verdict had been returned.

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The Brazilian's wife has previously admitted it's been a "nightmare" time for her husband, while Paqueta has spoken of his gratitude at being cleared. The FA has now issued another update and confirmed it will not appeal the decision by an independent commission to clear the West Ham star.

WHAT THE FA SAID

A statement from the FA read: "The written reasons for the independent Regulatory Commission’s decisions on the misconduct charges against West Ham United FC’s Lucas Paqueta have now been published. The FA will not be appealing against the alleged breaches of FA Rule E5 that were found not proven by the Regulatory Commission. The Regulatory Commission will decide an appropriate sanction for the breaches of FA Rule F3 that were found proven and the details will be published at the earliest opportunity. The FA is committed to ensuring that the integrity of football is maintained, and full and thorough investigations will always be conducted into serious allegations of rule breaches."

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Paqueta's lawyer Nick De Marco also posted a response on : "Running to over 300 pages, the decision is understood to be the longest sports-related judgment ever issued in the world – a reflection of how serious the case was, the amount of evidence deployed in what was the biggest case in The FA’s history, and one of the most momentous in my own career as a sports lawyer. It is a careful, forensic decision which I encourage anyone interested to read in full. I remain delighted for my client Lucas, cleared of all the serious charges of spot-fixing, grateful to the whole legal team especially counsel Kendrah Potts & solicitor Alastair Campbell of Level, and also to the Regulatory Commission itself for its thorough, careful and fair determination of what was a difficult case for all involved. I shall not be making any further comment at this stage – the decision speaks for itself."

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami had chances but couldn't contain a clinical Seattle team in front of a record home crowd

Lionel Messi had scored 33 goals across 33 club finals. But in his 34th, he was silenced as the Seattle Sounders stunned Inter Miami 3-0 in front of a raucous home crowd to lift the Leagues Cup trophy in the 2025 final on Sunday night.

Lumen Field delivered an electric atmosphere, with a record crowd of 69,314  – surpassing the old mark of 69,274. And, in a rare sight, most of that support was for the home side rather than the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. Seattle fed off it from the start.

The Sounders pressed immediately and nearly struck inside three minutes. Osaze De Rosario, son of MLS legend Dwayne, found himself unmarked on a free kick just outside the box but sent his effort wide. Minutes later, Messi slipped into the area with a good look at goal, only for Oded Vargas to recover brilliantly with a sliding challenge.

De Rosario made amends in the 26th minute, capping a flowing sequence involving Pedro de la Vega, Jesus Ferreira, and Christian Roldan with a thumping header from Roldan’s pinpoint cross. Ferreira nearly doubled the lead before the break, smashing a shot off the post from close range.

Inter Miami boss Javier Mascherano switched from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3 after halftime, and the Herons immediately looked more dangerous. Messi had a golden chance to equalize three minutes into the second half, but after being teed up perfectly by Luis Suárez, he skied his shot into the stands.

At 56 minutes, Mascherano doubled down by pulling defenders for more attackers – a gamble that backfired. The game opened up, and Seattle pounced. Paul Rothrock nearly scored after exploiting Sergio Busquets’ move to centerback.

Brian Schmetzer introduced Georgi Minoungou, who made an instant impact, winning a penalty from Yannick Bright that Alex Roldan dispatched coolly past Oscar Ustari. Rothrock made no mistake with his second big chance, racing clear on a counter to bury Seattle’s third and seal the Leagues Cup title. 

A brawl ensued after the game when Suarez appeared to put Vargas in a headlock. Both benches emptied, with players and coaches throwing punches. The sequence lasted for about two minutes before things ultimately calmed down, and both sides claimed their medals in the trophy presentation.

With the win, Schmetzer becomes the first manager to claim every major North American trophy, solidifying his place among the great American coaches. Both Seattle and Miami clinched berths in next year’s Champions Cup as a result of their participation in the final, along with the LA Galaxy as a result of their third-place game win.

GOAL rates Inter Miami's players from Lumen Field. 

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Oscar Ustari (6/10):

Not much he could do with Seattle's opener. Made a crucial save on a one-on-one with Rothrock in the second half. 

Jordi Alba (6/10):

Solid but not his normal creative force in the final and Miami suffered as a result. 

Maxi Falcon (6/10):

Struggled initially in marking De Rosario, but more than made up for it in the second half. Made several important key plays for Inter Miami, including bailing out Busquets in the second half after he was easily beaten on defense. 

Gonzalo Lujan (5/10):

Miami couldn't contain De Rosario in the first half – despite Seattle scoring just one goal – and Lujan was part of the problem as he couldn't handle the physicality of the Sounders' striker. Pulled in the 56th minute as Mascherano made an attacking substitution with Telasco Segovia coming on. 

Ian Fray (6/10):

Effective but quiet night for the 23-year-old. Fray didn't make any mistakes, but didn't offer much on attack. Was brought off in the 70th minute for Fafa Picault in an attacking change. 

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Sergio Busquets (6/10):

Was a strong facilitator in the first half, then was moved to central defense in the second half as Mascherano wanted to go with a more attacking lineup. Showed his age against Seattle's pace and got a yellow card in the 69th minute. Was burned badly on a counterattack as Rothrock nearly scored after the former Barca star couldn't keep up. 

Yannick Bright (5/10):

Did the dirty work as always, but he will regret a costly mistake in bringing Minoungou down for a penalty. 

Rodrigo De Paul (7/10):

It was a tale of two halves. In the first, he looked completely lost as a wide player in a 4-4-2. But once shifted into a three-man central midfield after the break, he came alive. At Atlético Madrid, De Paul built his reputation as one of the world’s best in a central or defensive role, not on the wing. That’s been clear since he arrived in Miami, and it was especially obvious on Sunday. The moment he moved inside, he became far more effective.

Attack

Lionel Messi (6/10):

Quiet night for the usually unstoppable and inevitable star. Messi had no answers for Seattle's physicality or pace in recovery. His missed chance immediately after the break summed up his night. 

Luis Suarez (8/10):

One of his most effective nights as a Inter Miami player was perfect in link-up play and created chance after chance. The fact that he connected on three key passes – all in the box – tells an unfortunate story for Miami. They just weren't clinical enough. Suarez's rating would have been higher if it weren't for his postgame actions.

Tadeo Allende (5/10):

Went from wide midfielder to winger, but it didn't matter. He was invisible and had an easy chance, created by Suarez, and couldn't convert directly in front of goal. 

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Telasco Segovia (5/10):

Wasn't as direct as he typically is and didn't make much of an impact. 

Fafa Picault (5/10):

Brought some width, but that's about it. A quiet night from the Haiti international. 

Benjamin Cremaschi (NA):

Brought on with six minutes left for Bright, after he conceded the penalty. Didn't have much time to make an impact. 

Javier Mascherano (5/10):

Where to begin? The Argentine was clearly outcoached by Schmetzer, with Inter Miami unable to respond. More concerning was his insistence on starting De Paul as a wide midfielder. He did make a smart adjustment by shifting to a 4-3-3 in the second half, but then undercut his own team by stripping away defensive balance to chase the game. With Miami trailing by one, it came off as a desperate move. In the end, Mascherano seemed to coach his team out of a potential win.

Antonio Conte’s Napoli have adapted seamlessly to Kevin De Bruyne’s arrival and Romelu Lukaku’s injury, with Fabio Capello praising the Italian tactician and his AC Milan counterpart Max Allegri. Napoli reshaped their attacking approach around the Belgian star, while Conte’s flexibility contrasts with Allegri’s composed style with Sunday’s Milan clash promises a tactical showdown and Serie A spectacle.

Conte and Allegri off to strong starts in Serie A

The pre-season loss of Lukaku to injury coupled with the many new additions to the Napoli squad posed some danger for the Italian tactician, but the reigning Italian champions are off to a strong start this season. They are top of Serie A with a perfect record thanks to the incorporation of summer signing De Bruyne and the presence of Rasmus Hojlund, a late arrival from Manchester United. 

Meanwhile, Milan have undergone an overhaul since Allegri was appointed ahead of the new campaign. The have a new-look midfield with Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot doing well alongside Youssouf Fofana despite promising big-money signing Ardon Jashari being ruled out through an injury.

It is the flexibility of both coaches, Capello told , that makes them among the best in the game. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportCapello praises Napoli and AC Milan coaches

“Both Conte and Allegri always have their teams in control, even though they don't have fixed formations," he said. "Both know how to be flexible, adapting to the material at hand, without tactical prejudices like football Talibans. They are exceptional at organising and recognising players, even when they have to buy players on the market." 

Asked what the key difference between the pair are, he added: "The way they communicate externally. Both have strong personalities and can always be very direct, but Max is more corporate and composed, while Antonio tends to complain more, even pointing the finger at the club."

Kevin De Bruyne’s impact at Napoli

Belgian international De Bruyne’s move has been hailed as transformative for Napoli. The 34-year-old already has two goals to his name in Serie A already, but Capello stressed there are still challenges ahead for the coach.

"Conte had certainly already established some rules, but De Bruyne's arrival and Lukaku's injury forced the coach to reshape the team," he said. "For example, with the Belgian centre-forward, we looked more for the layoff, the ball to his body to let his teammates move forward, while with Hojlund, we logically go deeper. The key, however, will be to increasingly make De Bruyne comfortable, the man who can help you make the leap in quality, even in the Champions League, where Napoli must play a leading role."

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Romelu Lukaku injury and Napoli’s adjustments

Lukaku’s absence has forced Conte to reconsider Napoli’s frontline dynamics, the 32-year-old suffered a high-grade lesion of the rectus femoris in his left thigh, as per reports, during a friendly against Olympiacos and has begun rehabilitation. Last season, Lukaku was crucial, registering 14 goals and 10 assists in Serie A. Napoli now face a critical test of squad depth, balancing the need for immediate attacking output with long-term Champions League ambitions.

Baig and Raza blaze with the bat to extend Gladiators’ disastrous campaign

Danyal Rasool21-Feb-2023Quetta Gladiators’ campaign continues to leap from one disaster to the next. Hours after it was confirmed their Platinum pick, Sri Lankan allrounder Wanindu Hasaranga, would miss the entire PSL, they turned in a wretched performance against a ruthless Lahore Qalandars, succumbing to a 63-run defeat. The 2019 champions were never in the chase of 199 against the defending champions, and the lopsided scorecard didn’t flatter Gladiators in the slightest.It was Shaheen Shah Afridi who spearheaded his side with the ball, knocking Gladiators out of the contest early on in the chase, and sometimes, knocking batters quite literally off their feet. Unplayable inswinging yorkers stung the toes of several top-order batters; one saw Jason Roy end up flat on his stomach. There was, of course, the mandatory first-over wicket, Abdul Bangalzai dismissed for a golden duck. There was a sensational diving catch from him to get rid of Mohammad Hafeez. There was a lovely deception of pace that fooled Odean Smith all ends up. It was a Shaheen Afridi masterclass.Haris Rauf had an off day, but aside from him, there was no aspect of this Qalandars bowling line-up that wasn’t on song. Rashid Khan, playing his first game this year, was at his masterful best, having shaken off a poor spell in the SA20. It was his wicket of Roy, who scored a 30-ball 48 laced with 5 sixes, that snuffed out realistic hopes of a chase, and figures of 4-0-17-1 were well merited. Even David Wiese found himself among the wickets, taking 3 for 23 in his full quota. Brief flashes of resistance from Gladiators’ batters were precisely that, and the outcome was a foregone conclusion long before the final delivery was bowled.Signs of the direction this game was headed in were evident from the outset when Tahir Baig and Fakhar Zaman got Gladiators off to a blazing start. Mohammad Hafeez opened the bowling for the Gladiators, and Baig immediately went after him, clobbering him for two fours and a six in that first over. Even Naseem Shah – who was off-colour – wouldn’t be spared, with Baig picking up two boundaries on either side of square in the powerplay.The partnership had flown along to 49 in 27 balls before Fakhar nicked off to the keeper. But Qalandars continued in that vein throughout, a 56-run stand between Shai Hope and Kamran Ghulam forming the backbone of the middle overs. A cameo from Hussain Talat and an unbeaten late flurry from Sikandar Raza, who smashed 32 in 16, ensured Gladiators were never quite able to find breathing room, powerless to prevent Gladiators from surging towards 200.Well, with one notable exception. Mohammad Hasnain was heroic in defeat against Peshawar Zalmi 24 hours earlier, and today would be an encore. He was sensational once more, particularly at the death, mixing up the lengths and speeds expertly, the only bowler who was truly able to stop Lahore in their tracks. Bar his two death overs, which allowed just 14 runs, Qalandars’ score, as well as Gladiators’ margin of defeat, would have been much greater.Tonight’s game looks to have demonstrated that Qalandars’ defeat against Karachi Kings was an aberration, while Gladiators’ showing only appeared to confirm their victory against that same opposition was exactly that, too.

Ex-Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen claims Mikel Arteta has the Gunners on the cusp of glory despite a dissapointing Premier League title challenge.

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Arsenal go through another season without silverwareGunners beaten to league title by LiverpoolVermaelen adamant success will arriveFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Thomas Vermaelen believes Arsenal are close to winning trophies again under Mikel Arteta. Despite falling short in the Premier League and Champions League this season, Vermaelen emphasised the progress the team has made and the quality of the squad. He feels next season Arsenal will be challenging once more for the game's biggest trophies.

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Arsenal's season started strongly, with title aspirations boosted by impressive Champions League performances, including a mature showing against Real Madrid. However, their Premier League form dipped and they were eventually knocked out of the Champions League. Vermaelen's comments come amidst a debate about whether Arsenal need to win a trophy to validate Arteta's project, following a lengthy spell without major silverware beyond the FA Cup.

WHAT VERMAELEN SAID

Vermaelen told Sky Sports: "He's so close to winning trophies and that doesn't mean as an Arsenal fan or the team itself would be very disappointed how he went towards the end of the season because they want to lift trophies, especially after last season already where we were very close on beating Manchester City and now City dropping. I expected Arsenal to be there. Unfortunately, it wasn't. That doesn't mean everything is going wrong and the job the players and the manager and the staff are doing is not going well.

"So I still strongly believe in that group and in the club itself that again next year it could be challenging again. I feel like Arsenal is now year in year out challenging for trophies and that's where you want to be and then it's a matter of just taking it over the line and and that's the next step that Arsenal hopefully can make very soon."

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Arsenal will be looking to strengthen their squad in the summer transfer window, with the club likely to prioritise a striker to add firepower to their attack. The Gunners will also be aiming to build on their Champions League form and mount another title challenge in the next Premier League season.

Club América's coach said he was surprised by the 16-year-old talent

Mora scored in the All-Star GameWon the Gold Cup with MexicoCurrently plays for TijuanaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Gilberto Mora keeps impressing with his skill and composure despite his young age. In the 2025 MLS All-Star Game, he once again stood out by scoring the only goal for the Liga MX team.

After the match, Club America's André Jardine, who led the Mexican squad, praised the 16-year-old highly. The Brazilian coach described him as a “gem” that Mexican soccer must nurture.

“I’ve dedicated my life to working with young talent in youth systems, and it’s rare to see a player like him,” Jardine said. “Mexico has a gem here, it’s not normal to see a player like that, he is an exceptional player. He possesses great character, is taking full advantage of his national team experience, and he’s undoubtedly special. I believe he embodies a bright future for Mexican soccer.”

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Nico Estevez, the Spanish coach of the MLS All-Stars and Austin FC, also praised the young talent.

"I think he is a very talented player, one of the most gifted Mexico has right now, and very young. He makes everything look easy and makes every play seem effortless," he said. "Those kinds of players are the ones who stand out. He has a bright future ahead, but he’s still young. He needs to keep growing and continue working hard."

AFPDID YOU KNOW?

Mora became the youngest ever player to win an international tournament after lifting the Gold Cup with Mexico at 16 years old just a few weeks ago, according to the Guinness Book of Records.

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Xolos host FC Juárez this Friday in Matchday 3 of the Apertura 2025.

Ashwin says the lack of bounce on the surface meant he had to adopt a different approach in Ranchi

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Feb-20241:11

Manjrekar: Ashwin’s artistry on show once again

After returning just one wicket in the first innings, R Ashwin came roaring back in England’s second dig in Ranchi, with a five-wicket haul that saw the visitors bowled out for 145. Opening the bowling for just the second time this series, Ashwin dented England’s top order with the wickets of Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Joe Root and then came back to clean up the tail.Ashwin said he had to make a ‘mental switch’ in his approach on the Ranchi surface, focussing more on getting the ball to spin with the pitch not offering as much bounce.”So actually I had to go back and rewire the way I had to think about the game,” Ashwin told the host broadcaster after the third day. “I am someone who comes over the top, comes down on the ball. I like the ball to drop on the pitch.Related

Dhruv Jurel manifests his dream scenario

Shoaib Bashir: 'On that wicket, anything is possible'

Stats – R Ashwin goes past Anil Kumble for most Test wickets in India

India vs England has been a tale of two very good captains

Ranchi's low bounce catches India off-guard

“Somehow when I come to the eastern part of the country, I find that there is not enough bite out of the surface. The bounce is literally almost near the shin height, if I can say that.”So I had to really go a lot of side spin. I had to hammer into the pitch for the first part of the spell,” Ashwin said. “And later from the other side, I felt like there was a little bit more purchase. I had to literally rewire and it was a mental switch I had to make.”Ashwin did not use his trademark carrom ball for long periods, but eventually foxed Ben Foakes when he did bring it out, as the England keeper offered Ashwin a return catch off a leading edge.”For some strange reason, my knee has been acting up. So it just takes me 10-12 balls to warm up. But I had a bit of warm up before getting in as well. So once I got my length right, that is when I wanted to really try it,” Ashwin said. “I didn’t want to give extra runs because we are chasing last. So every single run to chase is a big bonus.”R Ashwin picked up his 35th five-wicket haul•Getty ImagesAshwin also got to bowl with the new ball for just the second time this series, and sent back Duckett, Pope and Root in his first spell. He said that when captain Rohit Sharma said he and Ravindra Jadeja were to share the new ball, he was quick to volunteer to bowl the first over.”I’ve enjoyed bowling with the new ball and today was one of those days where Rohit just said that both of you are starting, who wants to start? I put my hand up and said I’ll start the over from this side.”Glad and yeah, the new ball has got some sort of an attachment. I enjoyed bowling with a little bit more speed. Loved it once again.”Ashwin now has 170 wickets in 51 innings while opening the bowling, averaging 19.09.Playing his 99th Test, Ashwin notched his 35th Test five-wicket haul – the joint-highest for India along with Anil Kumble. He also went past Kumble for the most wickets taken in India in Tests. But Ashwin said the personal milestones fade in comparison to a team victory.”I mean you can pick all the wickets you want, you can perform all that you want, a team win is [like] nothing [else]. I mean it’s the best thing that can happen to a cricketer. To in a Test match at the end of 4-5 days, the feeling is surreal. I would like to have that feeling tomorrow and Ro [Rohit] and [Yashasvi] Jaiswal have started really well, so hopefully they can carry on from here.”Ashwin didn’t have a five-wicket haul throughout this series before today, but delivered probably when India needed him the most, having conceded a 46-run first-innings lead to England and staring at the possibility of a steep chase. But in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who has arguably been India’s most influential bowler this series, Ashwin’s efforts helped keep their target under 200.Rohit and Jaiswal, the India openers, took the hosts to 40 for no loss at the close of play on the third day, leaving the team 152 away from sealing the series.R Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav shared nine wickets between them in the third innings•Associated PressAshwin: Kuldeep changing up his pace and trajectory makes him double the bowlerBefore Ashwin could impact the game, India were in a much deeper hole at 177 for 7 in response to England’s first innings score of 353. But a 76-run stand between Dhruv Jurel and Kuldeep Yadav helped India significantly cut down the deficit. While Kuldeep batted out 131 deliveries, Jurel made 90 in just his second Test innings to take India to 307.”I thought we were a little harsh on KD [Kuldeep], got him to bat a little too early than what he would have desired but I felt his defense was gun, he was showing a lot of composure, kept the dressing room very calm,” Ashwin said.”It was even better from Dhruv, I thought,” Ashwin said about Jurel. “Great composure for somebody just playing a second test match. Tight in defence, had a great game plan, wasn’t going bonkers. Picked the right ball to hit. And yeah, that was a huge lift. We batted through till lunch, almost getting on par.”If you had given us even 70-80 runs ahead last night when we went back to the hotel, you would have taken it with both hands.”While Ashwin finished with a five-for, Kuldeep was also running hot with the ball. Introduced in the 25th over, Kuldeep castled Zak Crawley for 60 with the first ball of his third over. He then went on to clean up Ben Stokes before dismissing Tom Hartley and Ollie Robinson in one over.”Yeah, it was phenomenal. I thought Kuldeep bowled brilliantly,” Ashwin said. “But what I really loved about what Kuldeep did today was the way he was working on his run-up, changing the momentum and all that sort of stuff.”We all know how much revs he can put on the ball, what skill he’s got. But when you can change up the pace like that, change the trajectory, which he’s willing to do now, I think he’s double the bowler that he is.”Really happy for him. I just stole the five-for away from him. But that’s how the game goes.”

Century stand leaves home side facing likely 300-plus chase on final day

ECB Reporters Network07-Apr-2024Nottinghamshire look likely to be chasing a 300-plus target on the last day of their Vitality County Championship against Essex after the visitors hauled themselves out of a tricky situation on day three at Trent Bridge.At 129 for 5 shortly before lunch – just 89 runs in front – Essex looked in danger of slipping to defeat, potentially in three days.But after Paul Walter (79) and Matt Critchley (68) fought back in a 132-run partnership for the sixth wicket, Tom Westley’s team were 289 in front at 329 for 8 when rain forced an early close, with Shane Snater 29 not out.It leaves the match nicely poised for an intriguing final day, in which Nottinghamshire will fancy their chances if they can take the last two wickets quickly but Essex would be favourites if they can stretch their advantage towards 350.A win for Essex might turn out to be particularly important in their ambitions for the season with a possible points deduction awaiting if the bat that opener Feroze Khushi was ordered to change after an on-field check on day two is confirmed to have exceeded the maximum permitted size.Essex had resumed on 65 for 1, 25 runs in front, at the start of day three, with neither of the players who supplied the bedrock of their first-innings score able to make a similar contribution second time around.Dean Elgar, who had looked poised for a debut hundred on Friday before a corker from Dane Paterson undid him, copped for another decent ball in the day’s third over. This time it came from the all-rounder Lyndon James, the ball finding a gap between bat and pad and seeming to pinball off the South African’s wrist and thigh pad before leaving the three stumps spectacularly leaning in different directions.His fellow Essex debutant, Jordan Cox, out for 84 in the first innings, faced only one ball, tickling Brett Hutton’s second delivery of the day down the leg side to be caught behind. Hutton’s first ball had seen nightwatchman Sam Cook – dropped on 14 – nick one outside off stump to fall on 29.Critchley survived Hutton’s attempt to emulate Cook with a hat-trick but it wasn’t long before Essex suffered a further setback as skipper Tom Westley changed his mind about playing a ball from Dillon Pennington outside off stump but not quickly enough, feathering a third catch of the innings to wicketkeeper Clarke to leave his side in potential peril at 129 for 5.Just as the first two innings were defined by single big partnerships, the third followed the same pattern, Walter joining Critchley to plot a safe passage to lunch before taking the lead role in a 31-over afternoon session in which the home side were barely able to generate a scare for their opponents, let alone a wicket.By tea their alliance was worth 132, Essex were 221 to the good and in a strong position, assuming the second new ball – available seven overs into the final session – did not prompt the evening collapse that had been the other characteristic of the first two days.In the event, some inroads came in advance of that, leg-spinner Calvin Harrison striking twice in three overs as Walter, who had batted with growing confidence for his 79, edged the third ball after the break to be caught at slip with no addition to the score and Simon Harmer, feet rooted to the ground as he tried to cut, was snapped up by Clarke for his fourth catch of the innings.Hutton removed Critchley leg before in the fifth over with the new ball as Essex lost their eighth wicket but a flurry of attacking shots at the other end saw Pennington concede five boundaries in two overs as the Essex lead edged towards 300 before rain arrived, with 22 overs lost from the day’s scheduled 99.

How Shahid Afridi and Kamran Akmal bludgeoned the Indian attack into submission

On the ball with S Rajesh and Arun Gopalakrishnan14-Jan-2006If the two Ys ensured a fantastic start to the series for Pakistan, then the two As were responsible for converting that start into a mammoth total and completely battering the Indian attack on the second day. Shahid Afridi and Kamran Akmal were together for just 21.3 overs, but during that period added an incredible 170 runs, that’s a small matter of 7.9 runs per over.Afridi, with his seven sixes – including four in an over off Harbhajan Singh – stole the show, but Akmal wasn’t far behind. In their stand, Afridi’s contribution was 88 off 61 balls, while Akmal scored 80 off 68. In the end, Akmal’s century came off 81 balls, just three more than Afridi needed. The Manhattan below shows just how the partnership flourished, and how the Indians were completely powerless to stop the deluge.Rahul Dravid tried all the bowlers at his disposal, but none had any success at staunching the runs. Among those who bowled at least ten deliveries to each batsman, Anil Kumble was the most economical (that’s strictly in context): his 25 balls to Afridi went for only 23, though Akmal carved him for 45 from 33. Conversely, Harbhajan suffered badly against Afridi (59 from 39), but was relatively better against Akmal (15 off 15). As for the medium-pacers, neither Irfan Pathan (27 off 23 against the two) nor Ajit Agarkar (23 off 14) made the slightest impression.

An account of Rahul Dravid through his formative years

Satish Viswanathan17-Mar-2006

‘Consistent, persistent, focused are words freely associated with Rahul Dravid now butthese have always been his strengths’ © AFP
The year 1990 seems so far away but that¹s where we must begin. It was thefinal year of college for some of us, but it was the first year among thebig boys for Rahul Dravid. Then a slightly freckled, wiry lad, he is todaythe Indian captain and on the verge of playing his 100th Test. Then a shyintrovert, today he is perhaps the country¹s most articulate sportsperson.Then a murderer of spin bowling, today he wears down the best and fastest offast bowlers. It has been some journey.From St Joseph¹s School to St Joseph¹s Commerce College (SJCC) is a naturalstep for most Josephites in Bangalore, but for Dravid it was much more thanthat. Here was where he would get three degrees for the price of one. Itwas a great place to study; the college believed in creating well-roundedpersonalities rather than just bright students; and most importantly, SJCChad a fantastic cricket team, one of the hardest to break in to.Many a talented cricketer had made his way into the college after being astar in school cricket, only to then warm the benches for a year or twobefore getting a look in. But not Dravid: at 17, his special ability wasmore than apparent.I remember one incident vividly. Having gone away to represent Karnataka inan Under-17 tournament, Dravid returned with a broken arm and was forced tomiss a few college games. Just days after he had resumed practice, thecollege side was to play a three-day final. The team think-tank wasunanimous that Dravid must come into the side if only for his ability tokeep one end up and allow the otherwise predominantly attacking batsmen toplay their strokes freely. But this meant that we had to drop a batsman whohad scored a mere half-century in the previous game.To cut a small story short, Dravid justified his inclusion, but the lad whowas dropped simply walked out of the college. He didn¹t think for a momentthat Dravid was a better player than him and made his point rather tooforcibly. I met him a few years later, and I was relieved that he was nowable appreciate that Dravid had been more deserving.The other thing that I remember most about him is something he said aftermore than a modest tour of West Indies in1997. ‘My biggest fear is ending myinternational career as just yet another Test cricketer. I want to beremembered as a great Test cricketer.’ This was barely one year after hisTest debut, and coming from someone else it could have sounded boastful, oreven foolish. Not so with Dravid, who was earnest and completely focused onbecoming really good.Single-mindedness has always been his big asset, and this was something wewere exposed to pretty early. I remember a two-day fun-trip out of Banglaorein 1990. While most of the team drank the night away at a cool hill station,Dravid spent the night practicing. No, it wasn¹t cricket. He found out thatour wicketkeeper was a great dancer and decided it was time for somelessons.What the dance teacher didn¹t realize was that this was no ordinary pupil, who would go away after a while; the lessons went on for the whole night. You can see that his feet movement is near perfect on the cricket field these days and has been so for more than a while.Consistent, persistent, focused are words freely associated with him now butthese have always been his strengths. The one thing he has added inabundance is balance. Balance not just at the batting crease but life ingeneral.He does not fly back from an inconsequential series for the birth of hischild but willingly stays awake nights tending to him after that. His busyschedule allows him little time for old friends, but does not forget topersonally call them up for his marriage. While he does not like offendingpeople, it doesn¹t stop him from bringing on Anil Kumble, old friend andproven matchwinner, as third-change spinner on a spinner¹s paradise.On Saturday, Dravid will walk out in his Indian blazer for his 100th Testand may just be overcome enough by the occasion to lose a step or two andwill probably lose the toss too. But whatever happens from here, he hasalready earned the right to described as one of great batsmen in the world.