Jos Buttler has said he is ready to shelve the reticence that undermined his last attempt at cracking Test cricket and believes he will be trusted by the team management to play his natural attacking game

Andrew Miller06-Jul-2016Jos Buttler has said he is ready to shelve the reticence that undermined his last attempt at cracking Test cricket and believes he will be trusted by the team management to play his natural attacking game if, as widely anticipated, he is handed a recall for next week’s first Test against Pakistan at Lord’s.With a space opening up in England’s middle order following Nick Compton’s decision to take a break from cricket, and with doubts about Jonny Bairstow’s wicketkeeping undermining his revelatory run of form with the bat against Sri Lanka, the path is clear for Buttler to resume his role with the gloves at No.7, especially if Ben Stokes, his fellow hard-hitting batsman, is deemed unready for an immediate recall following the knee operation that ruled him out of the last two Tests.

Buttler keen to open in T20s again

Jos Buttler says he enjoyed the experience of opening the batting for England in the one-off T20 at the Ageas Bowl on Tuesday, and believes it is a role he can excel in in the future.
“It’s an area of my game I want to develop,” he said. “Batting in the powerplays is something I want to be able to do. Any batsman, you want to be able to face as many balls as you can to influence the game as much as you can.
At the end of the day it will come down to what the team needs. I was asked if I fancied it, and thought ‘why not? I’ve got nothing to lose’. I really enjoyed it. At the end of the day it comes down to what the captain and the coach think is best for the team, and I’ll do that.

A return for Buttler at Lord’s would, on the one hand, be something of a leap of faith, seeing as he has not played a red-ball match since England’s Test tour of the UAE more than eight months ago. On that trip, he was dropped ahead of the final Test against Pakistan at Sharjah following a dramatic collapse in form and confidence. Since the start of the previous summer’s Ashes at Cardiff, he had mustered 156 runs in seven Tests at 13.00, with a highest score of 42, at a strike-rate of less than a run every two balls.However, Buttler’s coruscating form in limited-overs cricket continued at the Ageas Bowl on Tuesday night, when his unbeaten 73 from 49 balls eased England to an eight-wicket win in the one-off T20 against Sri Lanka, and his rediscovered confidence is so tangible that selectors appear sorely tempted to unleash him once again in the longest format.Asked whether he felt it mattered that he hadn’t played a first-class match for so long, Buttler responded, tellingly: “In the olden days maybe it would, but in the new set-up maybe not.”And should he be named in this weekend’s squad, then Buttler believes that the recent injection of a have-a-go mentality into England’s Test plans will allow him to play the natural game that has served him and his team-mates so well during his recent white-ball experiences, both for England at the World T20 and against Sri Lanka, and for Mumbai Indians in the IPL.”I don’t think I’d be trying to bat time,” he said of his likely Test gameplan. “Having had time out of the game and watching certain players in our team from the sidelines in South Africa and watching on the TV this summer – the way Jonny plays, the way Joe Root plays, the way Ben Stokes plays – they’re always trying to put the pressure on. That’s the way English cricket has gone. It’s about scoring runs. It doesn’t matter how, it’s how many. You take your bat out there to score runs, so try to score them.”That was something that Buttler conspicuously failed to do towards the end of his previous stint in the Test team, particularly on the slow, low wickets in Abu Dhabi and Dubai when he appeared to fear the consequences of trusting his attacking instincts. But, with Trevor Bayliss, England’s head coach, cultivating a “no fear” attitude to his team’s strokeplay, Buttler believes he’s ready for another go.”If that’s what the coach is telling you to do, it’s a good start,” he said. “It probably comes down to making peace with what you guys [the media] are going to write and what the public are going to think, and accepting that if you get caught at second slip having a big whoosh, so be it. I’d rather do that than leave one and get bowled. The game’s about scoring runs. What I’ve learned, whatever colour the ball is, is that me trying to hit the ball is going to get the best out of myself.”Buttler was memorably encouraged by Bayliss to put his Test ambitions on the backburner earlier this year, and was given the go-ahead to sign a lucrative deal to play a full season of IPL cricket for Mumbai Indians. But the time away from the Test team has merely sharpened his desire to make amends for his shortcomings last time out.”I’ve had some time away to think and put cricket into perspective,” he said. “I’ve had some fantastic experiences over the last six months and learned a lot – just by siting there watching. I think the IPL was a fantastic experience. You come back so much more confident from that, brushing shoulders with those kind of guys. A lot more clarity about the mentality it takes to succeed.”When you get dropped and left out, you have a good think,” he added. “Obviously I’ve experienced some great things in the Test team, and you realise why it’s the best form of the game. But when you get dropped you have that hunger to get back in. I haven’t played red-ball cricket for a long time, but I’ve really enjoyed my cricket and enjoyed doing what I’ve been doing. Whatever happens, it doesn’t change your ambition. Whatever colour the ball is, you want to score runs and influence the game.”In many ways, the confidence in Buttler’s game is as significant as his obvious talent, for he readily admits that, at the age of 25, and with five years of experience at international level under his belt, he is better able now to rationalise the ups and downs of the sport that so clearly got to him late last year.”It’s the most confident I’ve felt,” he said. “You gain another year. As a 21-year-old, when people said you’ll become a better player with experience you don’t really believe it. Maybe now I’ve understood what that means.”Some of the experiences of the last year I’ve gone through, the highs and lows, have really put it in perspective – does it really matter, the cricket stuff? It’s about not getting too caught up with everything, and just enjoying it. I’ve felt in good form. You try to capitalise on that and use your experience to make the most of it. It really boils down to enjoying your cricket and making the most of it.And with that frame of mind, he feels really to conquer any logistical challenge that the international schedule can throw at him.”When you’re averaging 10, you’re not going to be very confident. The word is conviction. I didn’t have the same conviction as I had against the white ball. That’s what I’ll have to do. Show that conviction, that confidence, and take it on.”

Liverpool target Alexis Mac Allister is 'vulnerable' to a potential transfer in the forthcoming transfer window and could leave Brighton & Hove Albion, according to journalist Alex Crook.

What's the latest transfer news involving Alexis Mac Allister?

As per Football Insider, Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister is attracting attention from Liverpool said to be 'ready to go' and joining a bigger club than the Seagulls in the summer.

The report also states that Brighton are open to parting ways with the playmaker if their value in the range of £70 million is met by his prospective suitors.

In addition to the Reds, Chelsea and Manchester United are also keen on Mac Allister in their hunt to add to their respective squads ahead of 2023/24, according to The Guardian.

Puraboca note that Mac Allisters's father, Carlos Javier Mac Allister, has had his say on the Argentina international's future, stating:

“Normally the next [transfer window] will find him playing in another club, we don’t know which one. The talks are just beginning in general, but it is most likely that Alexis will already be playing in another team next July.”

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Crook thinks that Mac Allister could be among the front runners at Brighton to leave the Amex Stadium this summer.

Crook explained: “I think Mac Allister looks the most vulnerable just because his dad’s been quite vocal about the fact that he expects him to leave. There’s interest from Manchester United and Liverpool.

“Caicedo’s signed a new contract, so I think it would take a huge bid to get him away. I think they're trying to get Mitoma tied to a new deal. So, if they lose anybody, it probably would be Mac Allister.

“But again, he only signed a new deal just before the World Cup. So that's big money for him as well.”

What are Alexis Mac Allister's stats like this season?

In 2022/23, Mac Allister has been in fine form for Brighton, registering ten goals and two assists in 31 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

FBRef also shows that the 24-year-old has successfully performed 78 shot-creating actions in the Premier League this term, demonstrating his capacity to create chances for himself and his teammates on a regular basis.

Mac Allister has also earned an average performance rating of 7.07/10 for his exploits this campaign, making him Brighton's third-most consistent performer behind Solly March and Kaoru Mitoma, according to WhoScored.

Liverpool are known to be in the hunt for midfield reinforcements and Mac Allister could add a different dimension to the engine room under Jurgen Klopp if the German coach can entice him to Anfield this summer.

Manchester United are believed to be interested in making a move for Fulham sensation, Joao Palhinha this summer, with manager Erik ten Hag seemingly keen to bolster his midfield ranks ahead of next season.

What's the latest on Palhinha to Man United?

According to The Sun, the Red Devils are said to be 'monitoring' the 27-year-old ahead of the upcoming window, with it looking as if the Carabao Cup winners will 'make their move' once the market re-opens.

The report suggests that the former Sporting CP ace – who only arrived at Craven Cottage on a £17m deal last summer – could fetch as much as £60m if he was to depart in the near future, with Marco Silva's side having already identified a potential replacement for the Portugal international in the form of Porto's Mateus Uribe.

It would appear that Palhinha has been something of a long-term target for those at the Theatre of Dreams, with reports early last year having suggested that United were keeping tabs on the 20-cap menace.

Would Palhinha be a good fit for Man United?

While the addition of the 6 foot 3 titan would arguably not be the playmaking, Frenkie de Jong-esque signing that Ten Hag may be craving, it would certainly add some further steel to a midfield department that has only recently been strengthened by the £70m addition of Casemiro from Real Madrid last summer.

To have the potential to partner the latter man alongside Palhinha on occasion is truly mouthwatering indeed, with the Old Trafford outfit set to have a simply menacing and destructive duo on their hands in front of the back four.

In the case of the Cottagers' rock, the £50k-per-week monster has arguably been "one of the signings of the season", according to Sky Sports reporter Jamie Weir, having been a real standout presence at the heart of the midfield in west London throughout the current campaign.

Hailed as being as "strong as an ox" by Weir, the towering brute currently ranks first in the division for tackles made (105) as a marker of his ball-winning prowess, memorably making nine tackles and winning 12 duels in total when taking on Ten Hag's men in the Premier League back in November.

That class was again evident when the two sides met again in the FA Cup prior to the international break, with Palhinha winning nine of his 13 total duels, while also showcasing his quality in possession after completing three of his four attempted dribbles.

To have such an all-rounder alongside Casemiro would certainly offer the top-four hopefuls real solidity, with the Brazil international – who has been hailed as the "cement" in the side by Ten Hag – also a ferocious presence in the centre of the park after averaging 3.1 tackles per game this season in the league, a record only slightly lower than that of Palhinha (four tackles per game).

That partnership would also potentially allow the current United man to offer more in a creative sense having thus far created five big chances and averaged 0.9 key passes per game, with Palhinha – who has created zero big chances and averages just 0.2 key passes per game – providing more of a defensive shield.

Whether or not the deal does come to pass, it would certainly be of intrigue to see Ten Hag put together a midfield pairing that few teams in the league would relish coming up against.

Journalist Charles Watts has praised Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka after his goal-saving tackle on Joe Willock against Newcastle United.

What's the latest on Arsenal and Granit Xhaka?

With the Gunners still hoping to win the Premier League and the Magpies looking to secure Champions League football next season, it's no surprise that this encounter was full of quality as well as plenty of fight.

Indeed, it was a fiercely contested encounter that could have potentially gone either way but Arsenal's quality told on the day as they picked up all three points.

Goals in each half – first from Martin Odegaard and then an own goal from Fabian Schar – were enough to see Mikel Arteta's men win 2-0.

But the outcome of the match could have been different had Xhaka not made one brilliant tackle to deny former Gunner Willock from netting against his former club.

While speaking about the win on his YouTube channel, Watts handed the £120k-p/w star and 8/10 player rating for his efforts before highlighting the "special" challenge.

He said (08:07): ”Xhaka I gave him eight [out of ten] as well. That block from Granit Xhaka to deny Joe Willock was just something very, very special.

"It just looked a certain equaliser. How he got there in time, I have no idea, but he did. A really good performance from Xhaka, he bang up for it.

“There was lots of times when you thought: 'Oh, is he going to go over the edge here and get himself sent off?' Because it could have happened.

"But it didn't, he kept himself just on the right side of it. And it was a top performance from him.”

How good was Xhaka against Newcastle?

It's safe to say Watts wasn't the only one impressed with Xhaka on the day. For instance, in the player ratings for football.london, Kaya Kanak also handed him an 8/10.

The journalist added: "A superb all-round midfield display from the Swiss international. Two blocks to prevent almost certain Newcastle goals and then some passes in the final third to split the Newcastle defence wide open. Great leadership and fight too when things got feisty."

As per Sofascore, he also showed quality on the ball with 27 completed passes (the fourth highest for Arsenal), one key pass, and 3/4 long balls. And was key definitely too with two tackles, one blocked shot, and four clearances (the most from either side).

All in all, it's safe to say Xhaka earned his paycheck with this superb display.

Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy by extension are considering the possible appointment of free agent manager Brendan Rodgers.

Who could Spurs appoint as manager?

It's been well over a month since Spurs parted company with Antonio Conte, and few would've envisaged the state of N17 just under a year after the Italian guided them to 2021/2022 Champions League qualification.

Fast-forward 12 months and the future is looking uncertain at best, with Levy now having to cope in the absence of a recognised sporting director since Fabio Paratici was forced to resign from his post.

His 30-month worldwide ban from football was upheld by the Italian courts and FIFA for his involvement in the Juventus financial scandal. In the dug out, there has been plenty of chopping and changing as well, with Spurs seeing two interim bosses take charge after Conte's exit.

Cristian Stellini was recently dismissed after failing to turn Tottenham's fortunes around and Ryan Mason is now tasked with finishing the season as strongly as possible.

Europa League is still within touching distance, depending on results around them and how the likes of Liverpool, Villa and Brighton fare.

In the background, Levy is working to appoint Tottenham's next manager, and there is a plethora of candidates in Spurs' thinking.

According to 90min, one of them is Rodgers, even despite his recent sacking by Leicester City. Indeed, the 59-year-old is apparently being considered by Tottenham and Levy by extension.

Interestingly, the former Liverpool boss was actually a contender to replace Jose Mourinho in 2021 before the job eventually went to Nuno Espirito Santo.

What could Rodgers bring to Spurs?

Regardless of his dismal end at the King Power Stadium, Rodgers has still proven to be a brilliant coach in past seasons, and it wasn't too long ago he won both the FA Cup and Community Shield with Leicester in 2021.

Man City boss Pep Guardiola is a big admirer, calling him a 'top quality' manager back in 2021, with former Spurs defender Alan Hutton in complete agreement.

Speaking to Football Insider, the ex-Scotland international claimed Tottenham fans would love Rodgers' appointment, stating:

“I think he would play a different brand of football from the managers they have had in the past.

"The managers have been set up to play very defensively, hit teams on the counter-attack and Brendan Rodgers doesn’t seem to want to play that way.

“Tottenham have got the squad to go and challenge. Not for first and second, but definitely for top four and certain trophies and European competitions. I think the fans would love a manager to come in like that and play a more attractive style of football."

Durham’s reward for sneaking fourth spot in the NatWest T20 Blast North Group is an away trip to South Group table-toppers Gloucestershire

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jul-2016Durham’s reward for sneaking fourth spot in the NatWest T20 Blast North Group, courtesy of Warwickshire’s capitulation at Old Trafford, is an away trip to South Group table-toppers Gloucestershire who have the two leading run-scorers this year in Michael Klinger and Ian Cockbain.Essex, who grabbed the final qualifying place in the South Group when their game against Glamorgan was abandoned after one innings due to rain, visit Nottinghamshire in the first of the quarter-finals on August 8.The other two quarter-finals will see Northamptonshire, last year’s losing finalists, host Middlesex and Yorkshire, who produced a late surge after a poor start to the group stage, will travel to Glamorgan.Finals day will take place on August 20 at Edgbaston. Of this year’s quarter-finalists only Northamptonshire and Middlesex are previous winners.Quarter-final drawAugust 8 – Notts v Essex 1830 + 30 minutes extra time
August 9 – Northants v Middlesex 1830 + 30 minutes extra time
August 10 – Gloucs v Durham 1830 + 30 minutes extra time
August 11 – Glamorgan v Yorks 1900 + 30 minutes extra time