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The most prolific against the men from the Caribbean, most runs without a duck, and English teenagers

Steven Lynch15-Jan-2008

Jacques Kallis: the sixth batsman to score 2000 runs against West Indies, and with the best average © Getty Images
I saw that Jacques Kallis passed 2000 runs in Tests against West Indies the other day. Has anyone else scored more, against West Indies or anybody? asked Joubert Franck from Cape Town
Jacques Kallis was actually the sixth man to reach the milestone of 2000 runs in Tests against West Indies. He now has 2073 runs against them, just ahead of Allan Border (2052), but still behind Steve Waugh(2192), Graham Gooch(2197), Geoff Boycott (2205)and the clear leader SunilGavaskar, whose 2749 runs included a record 13 centuries against WestIndies. Kallis, though, averages 74.03 against them, the highest of anyonewith more than 2000 runs. The record against a single Test opponent is heldby the one and only DonBradman, with 5028 for Australia against England.Has anyone taken 100 wickets in ODIs against a single opposing team?asked Nishin de Silva from Colombo
No one has yet managed this particular feat. Top of the list, with 92against Sri Lanka, is the leading wicket-taker in all ODIs, Wasim Akram. He’s also insecond place on this particular list, with 89 wickets for Pakistan againstWest Indies. Third is his longtime new-ball partner Waqar Younis, with 84 againstSri Lanka, just ahead of Muttiah Muralitharan, with 81for Sri Lanka against Pakistan.Who took the most wickets in one-day internationals in 2007? askedAhmat Ranawat from Vadodara
The top wicket-taker in ODIs in 2007 was New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori, with 43, just aheadof Zaheer Khan of India, with40. They were both quite a long way short of the alltime record, 69 wicketsby Pakistan’s Saqlain Mushtaq in1997. For a full list of the bowlers with most ODI wickets in a calendaryear, click here.Mike Hussey just passed 2000 Test runs without a duck – is thisunique? asked Dan Martin from Adelaide
Before the Perth Test against India Michael Hussey had scored 2120 Testruns without a duck. He’s just behind the South African AB de Villiers, who has now scored2201 runs without being out for 0 – his 63 duckless innings is the currentrecord (Hussey has 33). Sri Lanka’s Aravinda de Silva holds theoverall record – he had scored 2779 runs before being finally out for a duckin his 75th innings, in his 45th Test, in 1994-95.Have any teenagers ever played Test cricket for England? asked TimMilgate
The youngest man ever to play for England was Yorkshire’s Brian Close, who was 18 years and149 days old when he made his Test debut against New Zealand at Old Trafford in 1949. Two otherteenagers have represented England in Tests: Denis Compton and Ben Hollioake were both19 when they made their debuts in 1937 and 1997 respectively. Compton made acentury against Australia atTrent Bridge in 1938, just 19 days past his 20th birthday, and remainsEngland’s youngest Test century-maker. For a list of the youngest Testplayers from all countries, clickhere.Who made the most runs and took the most wickets in one-dayinternationals in 2007 for a non-Test team? asked Johan van Gerritsfrom Amsterdam
The leading ODI run-scorer from a non-Test country was Ryan Watson of Scotland, who made560 runs, five more than Ireland’s William Porterfield. Top of thewicket tables for the non-Test nations was Kenya’s Peter Ongondo, with 30: anotherKenyan, Steve Tikolo, andHolland’s Ryan ten Doeschatewere equal second, with 23. For a full list of the top ODI runscorers of2007, click here; for the top wicket-takers, click here.

After recent stutters against Luton Town and Toulouse, Liverpool got back to their ruthless best against Brentford in the Premier League to cap off an impressive start just before the third international break of the season. Sitting second and just one point away from league leaders Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp's side have the opportunity to go above last season's treble winners when they square off at The Etihad in the first game back after the international break.

If the Reds are to mount a serious title challenge, however, then they may need to look towards the January transfer window to complete Klopp's midfield rebuild. And reports suggest that FSG could be about to do exactly that.

Liverpool transfer news

Liverpool's summer overhaul, despite how many changes were made, has been fairly seamless. Those who arrived have slotted straight in and have impressed where the likes of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho began to fail. Dominik Szoboszlai has been particularly impressive, offering the Reds mobility in the middle of the park once again. Ryan Gravenberch, meanwhile, has shown signs of becoming yet another bargain under Klopp, as he bounces back from Bayern Munich failure.

One struggle that has remained is the defensive midfield role, however. So far, Alexis Mac Allister has been shoehorned into the role and has, therefore, been exposed at times. Reports suggest that FSG could solve that problem in January though. According to Sport, Liverpool have taken the lead in the race for Andre Trindade. The Fluminense man is reportedly worth €35m (£30m) and has attracted the interest of the Premier League giants, alongside Barcelona.

Previous Liverpool transfer news suggested that the Reds had pulled out of the race to sign Andre, but now it seems as though they are leading the way in the chase for his signature in a major twist ahead of January. When the winter window opens, the Brazilian is certainly one to keep an eye on.

Liverpool leading the way for "monster" Andre

When looking at Klopp's newest version of his Liverpool side, there's a sense that the only player missing is an out-and-out defensive midfielder capable of replicating Fabinho's role when at his best. It has become clear fairly quickly that Mac Allister is not the man to do that and would be better used in a more advanced role similar to his Brighton & Hove Albion days. Andre, however, could be that player for the Reds. Andre's stats, compared to Mac Allister's, certainly suggest as much.

Player

Progressive Passes Per 90

Interceptions Per 90

Tackles Won Per 90

Andre Trindade

6.43

1.09

1.40

Alexis Mac Allister

5.42

0.69

1.21

It comes as little surprise that the Fluminense man has been at the centre of praise over the last year or so, including from ESPN's Fernando Campos, who posted on X: "Pressing and playing with the confidence of someone who knows he's different. Get out of the hush and make the team work. André Trindade is the best defensive midfielder in the country and is a monster of a player."

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany could be set to enter the market once again at Turf Moor to add a defensive addition to the ranks at Turf Moor, according to reports.

What's the latest news involving Burnley?

The Clarets have endured an unfortunate start to their Premier League return despite being competitive in both opening games, with Manchester City and Aston Villa claiming maximum points at Turf Moor, as per Sky Sports.

Cited by The Daily Mail, Burnley manager Kompany defended his decision to field youth over experience in his side's 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa in his post-match press conference, stating:

"Learning comes at a price in the Premier League. It's a conscious choice. We want to move forward and I have seen enough from us to see something is there. Villa are a good opponent. The goal we scored to make it 2-1 helped us build momentum but at the peak of that, we conceded a third. If you get punished, you have to learn from it."

Learning the ropes in the English top-flight is never an easy feat, especially when factoring in that Kompany is still trying to integrate new signings Lawrence Vigoroux, Zeki Amdouni, Aaron Ramsey, Jordan Beyer, Sander Berge, Wilson Odobert, Dara O'Shea, Hannes Delcroix, Luca Kolesho, Nathan Redmond and Jacob Bruun Larsen into his squad and priorities where they all fit into his tactical framework, as per Transfermarkt.

According to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Auona on X, Burnley could be set to enter the market for yet another addition to their ranks, as he stated: "EXCL: Burnley made an offer to Genk for Mike Trésor. The player of KRC Genk wants to sign in Premier League.

Negotiations are progressing. It's a loan with option."

Next up for Burnley is a trip to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest in the second round of the Carabao Cup as Kompany looks to avoid losing three consecutive fixtures.

Who could Burnley sign?

According to RMC Sport journalist Fabrice Hawkins, Burnley are in the mix to sign Marseille youngster Isaak Toure alongside a host of clubs from France and Belgium, as he explained:

"Isaak Touré interests Clermont, Lorient, Nantes, Metz, Anderlecht, Burnley. In Lorient, we could witness a crossover with Bamo Meïté. Lorient wants it but offers a loan. OM want a transfer for him as for BMeïté. The other tracks are less concrete."

Toure is highly-rated in his homeland and is a colossus in the heart of Marseille's backline and is one of the tallest players in world football, standing at 6 foot 9 tall. Last term, he made 25 appearances for his current employers across all competitions, registering a solitary goal in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

Labelled as "very promising" by Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig, Toure ranks highly among his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions in the art of blocks, having successfully made around 1.79 per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the 94th percentile for this metric, as per FBRef.

Kompany is known to be willing to give youth a chance at Turf Moor and Toure could be the latest installment of promising talent to arrive at Burnley before the window closes.

With Emma Hayes watching on from afar, there are a number of storylines to follow as the U.S. aims to secure a first trophy of 2024

They're almost here. We're now closer to the Olympics kicking-off than we are to the end of the 2023 Women's World Cup ending, meaning the next big tournament will be here before you know it.

Yet, the U.S. women's national team still finds itself in a state of limbo. Waiting for Emma Hayes to come in, interim boss Twila Kilgore is using her time in charge to integrate young players, but there's only so much we can learn about the team as a whole before Hayes steps in.

Because of that, the upcoming Gold Cup is largely about individual cases and battles, not about an overall style of play. Hayes' tactics will shine through once she's actually in charge. Until then, it's about preparing for that moment.

So who can seize their chance? Which players, both new and familiar, will be under the microscope? GOAL takes a look at the USWNT storylines to watch during the tournament…

GettyHoran's apology

Lindsey Horan addressed the elephant in the room rather quickly. After calling American soccer fans "not smart" during an interview with , Horan made sure to get her apology out there right as camp gathered. She was sorry for the statement; it wasn't the right thing to say.

So that part of it is done. Now, though, we'll have to say what comes of it. Horan was the team's captain at the World Cup, and one would assume she'd remain in contention for that spot heading into the Olympics. With Hayes coming in, nothing is certain, but Horan is still one of the team's senior leaders.

However, we'll have to see what fan reaction is like to her in the months to come. Did she upset too many people? Or will enough of the population have understood what she was trying to say, even if it was poorly worded?

Either way, Horan is one to watch. Fans will be looking on, many with a critical eye after the Lyon midfielder's comments. She'll need to put in some good shifts during this tournament or else fans, both educated and uneducated, will have plenty to say.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesOlympic-like scheduling

Let's make it clear: the Gold Cup is no Olympics. The quality just doesn't match up. It does, however, offer the U.S. a chance to adjust to an Olympic-like schedule, helping them prepare for the cadence of what's to come.

If all goes to plan, the U.S. will play six games over the next three weeks. It's very similar to what the Olympics will look like, with the U.S. needing to play six games in 17 days to claim the gold medal. This is a pretty good tuneup, a chance for the U.S. to map out recovery, rest and training schedules for the bigger games to come.

The Gold Cup games will be centered around Southern California, allowing the U.S. to also get used to something of a base camp. It'll be a bit more spread out at the Olympics, with games scattered around France, but this will get the team used to being in an extended camp together.

It's not a perfect comparison, as the two tournaments aren't like-for-like. But even so, there are things to be learned from this Gold Cup ahead of the big one this summer.

Getty ImagesStriker situation

Alex Morgan isn't at the Gold Cup, and the discussion as to whether she will be able to force her way back in by the time the Olympics rolls around will go on and on. For now, though, the question is who will get the nod at striker during this tournament?

Sophia Smith feels like the likely answer. A striker for the Portland Thorns at club level, Smith played out wide at the World Cup and never quite got going. A move back inside makes too much sense, particularly because it opens up a spot for someone like Mallory Swanson (when healthy), Jaedyn Shaw, Lynn Williams or Midge Purce to start in attack.

The central spot, though, could go to Mia Fishel, and this Gold Cup feels like a perfect chance to see if she sinks or swims, pun intended. The 22-year-old Chelsea forward scored her first goal for the USWNT against Colombia back in October, but only has three caps to her name. This could be a chance to give her a real runout to see how she'll fare at a higher level. If that does happen, Hayes will be keeping a close eye on her, even if she already sees plenty of Fishel at Chelsea.

There are options here, and Hayes will at some point need to put some very good attacking puzzle pieces together. This tournament could show off a bit more of what that looks like, even if we have to wait for Swanson and Catarina Macario to heal up to get the full attacking picture.

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Getty ImagesRodman's ascent

The USWNT has played six games since their World Cup elimination, and Trinity Rodman has scored in three of them. It's an indication that she's next up in becoming a USWNT star, if she isn't already.

Yes, Rodman was a starter at the World Cup, but it feels like she's really starting to find her place in the team. There's another level to her game, for sure, and the 21-year-old winger is just starting to scratch the surface of it. The Gold Cup gives her another chance to rise, another chance to inch closer to being a superstar.

Now, you don't become a superstar at a Gold Cup; you do it at a World Cup or Olympics. Rodman will inevitably be judged by what she can do during the bigger tournaments ahead. The question is if she'll be a piece or a bonafide leader of the next generation. If Rodman can continue her ascent, the USWNT attack reaches a whole new level of scary.

Everything that could have gone wrong for Manchester United has done so far this season in the Premier League, with injuries to the likes of Luke Shaw, an off-pitch dispute between Jadon Sancho and Erik ten Hag, and disappointing results on the pitch.

In four games, the Red Devils have lost twice, with both defeats coming in North London against Tottenham Hotspur and then Arsenal. Meanwhile, the two wins that they have picked up were far from convincing, as they edged past Wolverhampton Wanderers on the opening day before being forced to come from two goals down to defeat Nottingham Forest.

United's current predicament has forced Ten Hag to turn his attention towards the January transfer window, and one particular star is interested in making what would be a record departure from his current club.

What's the latest Manchester United transfer news?

United ticked plenty of boxes over the summer. They welcomed a modern day goalkeeper in the form of Andre Onana, whilst also adding midfield depth with the arrivals of Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat. And to complete their transfer window, they signed forward Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta. Yet, with four games gone, it has been calamitous for the Red Devils.

With that said, it's clear that more reinforcements are needed, and that could come in the form of Brentford's Rico Henry. According to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, Brentford could accept a £35m-plus offer for their left-back in what could be a club-record sale.

The defender is also said to be interested in a big move, and a transfer to United would be exactly that. The Red Devils were also reportedly interested in Henry during the summer transfer window, but were not able to afford a permanent deal. When January comes around, it will certainly be interesting to see if United test Brentford's resolve, and if Henry pushes for a move away from the Bees.

How has Rico Henry performed this season?

Brentford have got off to a strong start in the Premier League once again this season, remaining unbeaten in four games, drawing against Spurs, Crystal Palace, and Bournemouth, as well as defeating Fulham. And Henry has played a large part in that run, starting in every game.

The left-back has earned plenty of deserved praise during his time with the Bees, including from Thomas Frank, who told the BBC: "On the defensive side, one-on-one actions, I actually haven’t seen a player or winger in the last two years in the Premier League that got the better of him.

"Maybe they got a cross in, but in general in these one-v-one duels he is so strong. He is so quick and he is in a fantastic place. If he can just get a tiny bit more output with assists and goals, that would be the next step for him. But he is another good example of a good character working very hard that will run through a brick wall for the team."

Given Henry's talent, United's interest comes as little surprise, making January an interesting month to keep an eye on when it comes to potential arrivals at Old Trafford.

West Ham's Emerson scored an outrageous long-range goal in a 4-1 win over Brentford in the Premier League.

Emerson bags stunning strikeWest Ham cruise to victoryJarrod Bowen hits first career hat-trickWHAT HAPPENED?

West Ham enjoyed a comfortable victory over Brentford, with Bowen impressing with a hat-trick for David Moyes's side. However, Emerson also caught the eye with a stunning strike from long range that flew into the top corner to seal the victory in some style for the Hammers.

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Monday's win will ease the pressure on Moyes as West Ham bounced back from an awful 6-0 defeat to Arsenal and a loss to Nottingham Forest by picking up their first victory of 2024. The defeat means Brentford stay in 16th place in the table and are just five points off the relegation places.

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Getty/GOALWHAT NEXT FOR WEST HAM

West Ham head to Goodison Park next to take on Everton. The Toffees have been boosted ahead of the game after an appeal saw their 10-point deduction reduced to six.

Mikel Arteta may be the next manager to announce his imminent departure as a report claims that he is considering leaving Arsenal this summer.

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Arteta reportedly considering Arsenal exitClaims come days after Klopp & Xavi announcementsGunners boss still has a year on his contractWHAT HAPPENED?

After Jurgen Klopp announced that he will leave Liverpool at the end of this season and Xavi confirmed he will step down as Barcelona coach, Arteta is the third big name to be linked with a shock departure this summer. According to the Spaniard has told people close to him that he is considering calling time on his Arsenal career once the 2023-24 campaign ends.

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As Xavi just confirmed his exit on Saturday, the report says that no one at Barcelona has been in touch with Arteta about taking over as head coach at Camp Nou. However, president Joan Laporta is said to be an admirer of the former Barcelona, Arsenal and Everton midfielder and believes he would be a good fit for the club.

DID YOU KNOW?

Arteta joined Arsenal as head coach in December 2019 and has turned the north London team into Premier League title contenders, having been top of the table until late on last season before they missed out as Manchester City beat them to the crown. His team are still in the mix this season, but have fallen to third place and sit five points behind leaders Liverpool.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR ARTETA?

Arteta's contract with the north London side runs until the summer of 2025. If he really wants to leave the Gunners a year early, he would have to negotiate with the club for a peaceful end to the partnership which has lasted almost five years.

San Diego Wave teenage sensation, Melanie Barcenas, scored a stunning goal for the USYNT against Canada in the Under-17 Concacaf Championship.

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USYNT defeat Canada 5-0Barcenas scores outrageous effortSD Wave star had big 2024 aheadWHAT HAPPENED?

The 16-year-old prodigy rocketed an effort into the left corner of the net seven minutes into the match, scoring the first of five goals for the USYNT in a shutout victory over Canada, Tuesday. The Wave's up-and-coming superstar played a brilliant one-two on top of the box before firing home. With the result, the US recorded their third victory of the group stage and finished as the leaders of Group B.

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Barcenas is one of the hottest up-and-coming prospects in all of American soccer, with the teenager breaking onto the scene with the Wave in 2023. Her idol Alex Morgan has helped her adapt to the professional game, and now 2024 could promise a lot.

As for the the USYNT, it's a brilliant showing against a top opponent. Barcenas' opening goal helped pave way for a dominant second half, where they overcame a tough Canadian defense and slid four goals by them.

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WHAT NEXT FOR BARCENAS, THE USYNT AND THE WAVE?

The 2024 NWSL season does not kick off until March this spring, with the Wave beginning their campaign in the 2024 NWSL Challenge Cup against Gotham FC. For the USYNT, with their victory Tuesday, they now advance to the semifinals where they'll take on Haiti on February 9.

West Bromwich Albion are now eyeing a move for Reading left-back Nesta Guinness-Walker, with a new report revealing they could stand a good chance of signing him…

What's the latest West Brom transfer news?

With less than two weeks remaining of the summer transfer window, Carlos Corberan is still keen on bringing in new reinforcements, particularly in defence, with Football Insider reporting West Brom are keen on Millwall defender Jake Cooper.

As the 28-year-old is now entering the final year of his contract with the Championship outfit, a number of clubs are hoping to land him for a cut-price fee, with Leeds Untied and Rangers also being named as potential suitors.

Financial constraints have hindered the Baggies' ability to bring in the players they would have liked, but they could also make a move for Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien, who will now be allowed to go on loan to the Championship.

However, Corberan's main priority appears to be strengthening his defence, and West Brom are now eyeing a move for Reading left-back Guinness-Walker, amid a financial crisis at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, according to a report from Football Insider.

The Royals have informed senior players, including the left-back, that they may be sold to raise funds, and the Baggies are ready to seize the opportunity to take him to the Hawthorns.

With Reading desperately trying to balance the books, Corberan has been presented with the perfect opportunity to bring in a new defender, however there may be competition for his signature.

Blackburn Rovers are also credited with an interest in the 23-year-old, with Jon Dahl Tomasson looking to add some late signings to his squad before the deadline on September 1st, so West Brom will have to see off competition from their Championship rivals.

Who is Nesta Guinness-Walker?

Born in Twickenham, the Englishman made his first professional appearance for Metropolitan Police in the FA Cup, before going on to earn a move to AFC Wimbledon, who were in League 1 at the time, making a total of 97 appearances for the Dons.

The former Wimbledon man has managed to work his way up the footballing pyramid very quickly, making 28 appearances in the Championship for Reading last season, and he has picked up where he left off in League 1 this term.

So far this season, the defender has averaged a 7.25 Sofascore match rating, the third-highest in the Reading squad, having been ranked as the Royal's best-performing player against Port Vale, making a total of five tackles.

Not only is the Reading ace capable defensively, but he is also able to threaten on the front foot, as displayed when he completed an outrageous elastico skill move before firing a shot on goal against Hull City last season.

Having now had his first taste of Championship football, Guinness-Walker could be ready to join a team that will have aims of fighting for promotion this season, and West Brom should undoubtedly test the waters with an opening bid in the near future.

Arsenal have long been craving a winger who will afford Bukayo Saka an element of rest.

The England superstar has played a huge amount of football in the last 24 months, failing to miss a single Premier League game in the last two years.

Signing someone to lift that burden, therefore, would be a good idea.

Who could Arsenal sign?

The Gunners haven't been linked with too many wingers throughout the summer. A year ago, they tried to sign Raphinha before making Pedro Neto a priority target.

However, another name has been Kaoru Mitoma.

The Brighton sensation is one of the most eye-catching in the Premier League and amid interest from Manchester City as well, has been touted at £50m.

Arsenal have been interested in the last few months too, and should player funds be raised, a late dash for the player in the window cannot be discounted, according to football.london.

What are Kaoru Mitoma's strengths?

The Japanese superstar is a dribble king. There are no two ways about it. This is a player who once studied the very art of doing so and his goal against Wolves on Saturday afternoon proved that.

He darted past three players from a run that started about 35 yards from goal. Cutting inside phenomenally from the left-hand side, he then weaved his way into the penalty area before finding the net in ruthless style.

Passing

Crossing

Dribbling

Aerials

Long shots

Interceptions

Lay-offs

That run encapsulated everything that is great about this "unplayable", "serious talent" as he was described by journalist Ryan Taylor last season.

Such a piece of play was reminiscent of a certain Saka too. Unlike Mitoma, he plays off the other side, cutting devastatingly onto his left foot. We saw that against Nottingham Forest last weekend as he moved inside towards the edge of the penalty area before curling a sensational finish past Matt Turner.

Clearly, they are two of the most exciting and tricky wingers in the division.

What supplements their similarities is FBref, who suggest that Arsenal's number 7 is in fact the most similar player to Mitoma.

As you can see in the data provided, when it comes to progressive carries and touches inside the opposition's penalty area, they are almost identical. Indeed, for the former, Mitoma ranks inside Europe's best 6% of wingers, while Saka sits inside the top 8%.

With regards to shot-creating actions, 4.33 vs 4.60 per 90 minutes in favour of Saka, they are nearly on par and there is little difference between their assists per 90 minutes either.

Of course, Saka is the more complete player at the moment. He scored 14 times and registered 11 assists in the Premier League alone last season, but Mitoma, with his seven goals and six assists, wasn't too far behind.

Gabriel Martinelli has been devastatingly brilliant from the left-hand side over the last year, scoring 15 times and supplying six last term, but in the Brighton superstar, Arteta would unearth another mesmerising option down that flank, one who could potentially emulate Saka's influence at the Emirates.