Everton looked like they were on course for an excellent victory over Manchester United at Goodison Park this afternoon.
Goals from Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure gave the home side a two-goal advantage. Bruno Fernandes grabbed one back before Manuel Ugarte netted the equaliser with ten minutes remaining.
Everton managerDavidMoyescelebrates after the match
The result will sting for David Moyes, coming so close to securing all three points against his former side, but the qualities shown by his team mean relegation from the Premier League will be avoided this season.
Everton’s best and worst performers vs Man United
Since Moyes was appointed, several first-team players have stepped up of late. Against the Old Trafford outfit, Beto was certainly lively.
He scored after just 19 minutes, poking the ball past Andre Onana while also registering three total shots on target, creating a big chance and drawing two fouls.
Doucoure was also excellent during the game. Like Beto, he created one big chance and made a key pass along with winning 100% of his aerial duels against the Red Devils.
Elsewhere, James Tarkowski wasn’t quite at his best, completing just 74% of his passes, losing possession six times while committing two fouls.
At the heart of the midfield, James Garner won just 50% of his ground duels and completed only 16 of his 25 passes, amid a muted showing by the midfielder.
Abdoulaye Doucoure
Perhaps the worst performer for Everton was Jesper Lindstrom. He was subbed off just after half-time due to injury, but he struggled majorly against United’s Patrick Dorgu before that.
Jesper Lindstrom’s game in numbers vs Man United
The Danish winger is currently on a season-long loan at the club, but he has failed to score a single goal. Furthermore, he has registered just a solitary assist across 26 games in all competitions.
Unleashed on the right wing, Lindstrom was expected to give Dorgu a torrid afternoon. Unfortunately, it was the other way around as the Everton player struggled against United’s winter signing.
Everton vs Manchester United – Key Statistics
Metric
Highest-rated
Accurate passes
Bruno Fernandes (84)
Shots on target
Beto (3)
Tackles
Idrissa Gueye (11)
Key passes
Jack Harrison (3)
Ground duels won
Idrissa Gueye (11)
Via Sofascore
During his 55 minutes on the field, he took 22 touches while completing 11 of his 14 attempted passes – 14 fewer than Jordan Pickford – as he struggled to do anything when he was on the ball.
Chalkboard
Lindstrom attempted two dribbles, but failed with both, and he failed to make a key pass or create a big chance during the match.
Defensively, he wasn’t much better. Indeed, the Dane won just one of his seven contested duels, lost possession ten times and was dribbled past once.
Jesper Lindstrom
Hardly the performance Moyes was expecting, and he was the weak link during the first half.
For his display, the winger was given a match rating of 5/10 by Liverpool World, and he must be dropped by Moyes ahead of the clash against Brentford in midweek. If not, the Toffees could hamper their chances of securing three points.
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Leeds United are looking likely to win promotion to the Premier League under Daniel Farke after spending two seasons in the Championship.
The Whites have made Elland Road a fortress and have been just as devastating away from home in recent months, with a 3-1 win at Sheffield United the latest highlight of an incredible campaign.
However, it hasn’t been plain sailing for Farke’s side, with goalkeeper Illan Meslier coming in for criticism during the season after making multiple mistakes.
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The first high-profile error came against Sunderland which cost Leeds two points, then another horror show led to more dropped points away to Hull City.
Against the Blades, Meslier looked extremely shaky early on and scored an own goal, with the Frenchman in the negative for goals prevented, as per FotMob.
But who could replace Meslier at Leeds? We’ve looked at a plethora of shot-stoppers that 49ers Enterprises could target over the summer.
1 Caoimhin Kelleher Liverpool
Liverpool's CaoimhinKelleher
Caoimhin Kelleher of Liverpool is likely to be a man in demand this summer. The Reds currently have Alisson Becker as first-choice and Giorgi Mamardashvili will link up with the Reds squad ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Therefore, Kelleher could be on the move. He has shown his quality at Anfield, keeping 23 clean sheets in 64 appearances. The Republic of Ireland international has won six major honours at Anfield and appears to be at the peak of his powers with a career-high Transfermarkt valuation.
2 Aaron Ramsdale Southampton
At the other end of the Premier League table are Southampton, who invested in Aaron Ramsdale as their No 1 after beating Leeds in the play-off final in 2024.
But things haven’t gone to plan for the Saints, who are on course to return to the Championship, which may result in a number of star players leaving St Mary’s.
Ramsdale, despite conceding plenty of goals, is performing better than the likes of Nick Pope and Emiliano Martinez when it comes to Premier League goals prevented, showing that in a side with a solid defensive base such as Leeds’, he could be a shrewd addition.
3 Mads Hermansen Leicester City
Another newly promoted side who may come straight back down to the Championship is Leicester City, along with No 1 goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.
The 24-year-old has been among the Foxes’ best performers this season, as per WhoScored, while also having a positive goals-prevented ratio.
If Leicester come straight back down, perhaps an immediate return to the Premier League with Leeds could appeal to the Dane.
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ByRoss Kilvington Jan 29, 2025 4 Joan Garcia Espanyol
If Leeds want to look abroad for a goalkeeper target, Joan Garcia of Espanyol could be an ambitious option. The 23-year-old, who helped Spain win Olympic gold last summer, has been outperforming Jan Oblak and Thibaut Courtois in the shot-stopping stats, as per FBref.
He has also been heavily linked with Arsenal in a £20m+ transfer, but the guarantee of first-team football at Elland Road may also appeal should Leeds be promoted.
5 Vanja Milinkovic-Savic Torino
Over in Italy, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic could be another potential European target for Leeds. The Serbia international, who currently plays for Torino, was once on the books of Man Utd in 2014 and is seemingly at the peak of his powers at the age of 28.
Milinkovic-Savic has made more saves than any other Serie A goalkeeper in 2024/25 and is also near the top of the charts for save percentage, while also preventing more goals than any other ‘keeper in the division.
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ByRoss Kilvington Feb 3, 2025 6 Conan Ledesma River Plate
Real Madrid's Joselu in action with Cadiz's Fali andJeremiasLedesma
One goalkeeper who was linked with Leeds during the January transfer window was Conan Ledesma of River Plate.
The Argentinian, once called “the best goalkeeper in the universe”, has plenty of experience in La Liga during his time with Cadiz, averaging a clean sheet every three games in the Spanish top flight.
At the age of 32, Ledesma wouldn’t be a long-term solution, but he appears to be a player on Leeds’ radar, and as he is second-choice at River, he could become an option even if it isn’t as a regular starter in West Yorkshire.
7 Noah Atubolu Freiburg
If Leeds want a young shot-stopper to come in and replace Meslier, Noah Atubolu of Freiburg could be their man. The Germany U21 international appears to be going from strength to strength, and recently set a record of saving four Bundesliga penalties in a row.
As we know with Meslier, his record of saving spot-kicks isn’t as impressive, and with Atubolu outperforming the likes of Gregor Kobel of Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer for save percentage, he could be a shrewd signing.
8 Viktor Johansson Stoke City
Arguably one of the best goalkeepers in the Championship at this moment in time is Stoke City’s Viktor Johansson. Picked up from Rotherham United over the summer, Johansson has continued to impress in the second tier and is the best ‘keeper in the Championship for goals prevented.
Statistically, Johansson has an Expected Goals on Target (xGOT) total of more than 55 but has only let in 44, as well as a better goals-prevented ratio than Burnley’s James Trafford. The Sweden international appears to be in his prime at the age of 26, so he may well be of interest to the Whites.
9 Guillaume Restes Toulouse
Called the second-best goalkeeper under the age of 24 in the media last year was Toulouse’s Guillaume Restes, who is still just 19 years of age.
The Frenchman has already established himself in Ligue 1, making more than 60 senior appearances for his current employers. Should Restes’ impressive rise continue, so will his price tag, but if Leeds are willing to spend their potential Premier League fortune on a new goalkeeper, he could be a smart long-term investment.
10 Michael Cooper Sheffield United
Although a repeat appears unlikely, we have seen a recent deal between Leeds and Sheffield United, with Jayden Bogle swapping Bramall Lane for Elland Road last summer.
Should Leeds win promotion and the Blades fall short under Chris Wilder, Michael Cooper could perhaps be a target for the Whites, with the shot-stopper starring after joining from Plymouth Argyle in 2024.
He has been one of the top ‘keepers in the Championship with Trafford and Johansson, and despite a lot needing to change between now and the summer, crazier things have happened.
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Duo share unbroken sixth-wicket stand worth 91 after wobbly start for tourists on day two
Matt Roller17-Jun-2023Usman Khawaja walked up the dressing-room stairs unbeaten for the second straight evening at Edgbaston, 122 runs better off than he had been the night before. England hoped four overs would be enough to dislodge Khawaja on Friday, declaring in time for a crack at him with the new ball; 24 hours later, he had proved himself immovable.Khawaja was the nearly man of Australian cricket for much of his career, playing 93 times for his country before his 34th birthday without ever feeling like a permanent fixture in the side. His technique and temperament were called into question, and after three years out of international cricket, it seemed he had served his time.But in the Birmingham sunshine, Khawaja cut Ben Stokes for four and raced down the pitch to celebrate his seventh Test hundred since his recall 18 months ago. Since the start of 2023, he has scored hundreds in Australia, India and now, for the first time in his career, England.On a slow, dry pitch, Khawaja and Australia scored at a different tempo to the one England had set on the first day. They scored at barely two-thirds of the rate of England’s first innings, yet with Khawaja’s innings – littered with crisp pulls and handsome drives – ensured that they trailed by only 82 at stumps.It took Australia 24 balls to add to their overnight 14 for 0, absorbing more maidens in the first three overs of the day than England had done in their entire first innings. Khawaja pulled and flicked Stuart Broad and James Anderson for boundaries – he pulled and flicked his way through the day – but it was Broad who brought the morning to life.The first ball of his sixth over was a wide inswinger dangled outside off stump, but David Warner took the bait. He threw his hands at the ball, then his head back: his back leg collapsed as he shaped to thump Broad through the covers, and a thick inside edge deflected the ball into the top of his leg stump.It was the 15th time that Broad had dismissed Warner, but he celebrated as though it was the first, racing away towards the Hollies Stand with his fists clenched so hard that the veins in his neck throbbed. As Marnus Labuschagne asked a policeman to move from his perch next to the sightscreen, Broad sensed something was brewing.Raising his hand and whirling his finger, he geed up the crowd at the top of his mark. Coming from wide on the crease, he angled an outswinger into him, and Labuschagne could not resist driving away from his body. Jonny Bairstow tumbled low to his right, taking the catch one-handed, and Australia were 29 for 2.The hat-trick ball flew harmlessly past Steven Smith’s thigh pad as he shouldered arms with a flourish, and Smith dug in resolutely against whatever Ben Stokes threw at him – including an over of gentle medium pace from Harry Brook inside the first hour. And so, Stokes took matters into his own hands, bringing himself on for only his second over in a match since mid-February, and his first since early April.His first delivery was a front-foot no-ball, perhaps striving to prove his fitness despite a chronic knee issue, but the last ball of his second over skidded into Smith’s pad. Marais Erasmus eventually gave Smith out after Stokes pleaded for the decision, and the DRS could not save him: ball-tracking predicted the ball would have hit the top of the stumps.Travis Head joined Khawaja and counter-punched either side of lunch in characteristic manner. He survived a short-ball barrage after the interval and both left-handers took on Moeen Ali, who bowled as well as could be hoped for a man who came out of Test retirement last week. Moeen started to leak runs, but Stokes stubbornly refused to take him off, or to push the field back.Khawaja took 106 balls to reach his half-century, while Head got there in 60, cutting an out-of-sorts Ollie Robinson away behind square. He didn’t score another run, skipping down the pitch and miscuing Moeen to short midwicket; Moeen pointed to Stokes at mid-off as he turned away in celebration.Moeen should have had two wickets in three balls, beating Cameron Green as he charged out of his crease. Instead, an unsighted Bairstow missed the stumping chance and Green added 72 with Khawaja for the fifth wicket in a stand that spanned the tea interval.The best ball of the day accounted for Green on 38, as Moeen flighted an offbreak wide outside off. It drifted away a touch, then spun back sharply from a good length to beat Green – lunging forwards as though stepping on an insect – on the inside edge and peg back his leg stump.Yet England failed to take another wicket, Khawaja and Alex Carey adding an unbroken 91 for the sixth wicket. Carey had a life on 26, prodding forwards to Joe Root only for Bairstow to put the chance down, an edge past Root at slip off Moeen brought him to 50. Khawaja, too, enjoyed a reprieve. Broad took the second new ball and found some nip off the seam to knock off stump back.But the third umpire noticed that Broad had overstepped, and he survived until the close once again. The crowd had started to filter out by the time he walked off with a beaming smile, at the end of a day that will be remembered as Usman Khawaja’s.
Bieber shared an image of himself rocking Charlotte's third kit, creating a viral moment for the club
Global music star displayed Charlotte merchandise in his Instagram postCelebrity endorsement highlighted growing cultural relevance Charlotte face New York Red Bulls next in MLSGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED
Justin Bieber created an unexpected social media moment for Charlotte FC when the global pop star shared an image of himself wearing the club's merchandise. The popstar has shown support for MLS teams in the past and is a known supporter for the Los Angeles FC, having been seen at their games. The post was quickly capitalized on by Charlotte's social media team, resharing Bieber's post across their official channels.
Star power gives MLS clubs wider exposure, with figures like Bieber helping teams and the league reach new fans.
Getty Images SportWHAT’S NEXT?
Charlotte FC currently sit in seventh place on the Eastern Conference table with 42 points after 27 games and are in the hunt for a playoff spot. They face host New York Red Bulls next on Aug. 25 followed by an away game against the New England Revolution.
Heat, who beat Sixers in last season’s final, moved up to fifth with their point
AAP03-Jan-2025
Rain in Coffs Harbour forced an abandonment•Getty Images
Rain was the only winner as the BBL game in Coffs Harbour between top-of-the-table Sydney Sixers and defending champions Brisbane Heat was washed out without any play.The game was abandoned just over an hour after it was scheduled to start.The point apiece for the no result put Sixers three points ahead of second-placed Perth Scorchers, who were scheduled to play Sydney Thunder later on Friday.Heat, who beat Sixers in last season’s final but lost to them in Brisbane last week, moved up to fifth with their point.Rain had fallen over the north coast venue for several hours.At one stage, it appeared to have almost ceased, but it intensified and forced the abandonment of the game to the disappointment of the several thousand fans who arrived at the ground.Michael Neser had been scheduled to make his comeback from an hamstring injury suffered almost two months ago while playing for Australia A. Heat had also named wicketkeeper Tom Alsop in their squad, with the England Lions representative poised to make his season debut.Heat, who had lost three games straight before Friday’s washout, will next play Thunder in Brisbane on Monday. Sixers, who suffered their first loss in their last start after winning their first four, face Melbourne Stars at the MCG next Thursday.
da bet7： Aston Villa are now willing to meet the price tag to sign an “explosive” new attacking talent this summer, according to a new report.
Several ins and outs expected at Villa with PSR deadline looming
da poker： The Villans have until the end of this month to balance their books with PSR’s hammer looming, so before any incomings can happen, there needs to be some movement in the exit department. That may not be far away now, as it appears there are already two players on their way out of Villa Park, as Emiliano Martínez and Lucas Digne look to seal permanent moves away.
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Martinez has attracted strong interest from Manchester United in the last week or so, as the Argentine is said to favour a move to Old Trafford over joining FC Barcelona, who are also interested in a transfer.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Digne is in talks with Spanish giants Atletico Madrid over a move to Spain, as they look to bolster their options in that area of the team. The Frenchman is in the final 12 months of his contract at Villa, and it now seems he is free to leave the Premier League side, after being in and out of the team last season.
Aston Villa defender Lucas Digne
These potential exits could allow Villa to enter the market and bring in players who they believe can improve Unai Emery’s options. According to ex-Villa chief scout Mick Brown, Aston Villa could look to make a move for Manchester United’s Mason Mount, with Emery a fan of the midfielder.
Aston Villa willing to pay £27m+ transfer demand for Paixao
The Villans don’t just have their eyes on Mount as a new attacking option; according to Dutch outlet Algemeen Dagblad, relayed by Sport Witness, Aston Villa are now keen on signing Igor Paixão from Feyenoord.
Feyenoord have already received record sales from the departures of Santiago Giménez and Mats Wieffer in recent times, but the Dutch side are now open to selling Paixao, as long as they receive a larger transfer fee. The report states that Feyenoord are looking to get more than €32 million for the winger, which is roughly £27 million.
This fee has done nothing to put Villa off, as the report adds that the Premier League side are willing to pay this transfer fee, although as things stand a transfer is still a “long way off at the moment”.
The 24-year-old, who can operate on both flanks, has emerged on Villa’s radar after scoring 16 goals in 34 Eredivisie games last season, and a further two in the Champions League.
Igor Paixão’s Feyenoord stats
Apps
129
Goals
39
Assists
29
Paixao, who has been dubbed “explosive” by scout Jacek Kulig, recently spoke in an interview with Globo Esporte and revealed he “dreams of playing for a big club”.
Paixao said, as quoted by Sport Witness: “Showing my football, being recognised by the big clubs, is gratifying. I dream of getting to a big team; it is the fruit of my work. If it is meant to happen, it will happen.”
da realsbet： Manchester United have now made a bid worth £30 million to sign a “monster” striker in this transfer window, according to a recent report.
Man Utd chasing multiple targets as they search for a new striker
da betano casino： The Red Devils are continuing to work on a deal to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, a transfer saga that has lasted all summer so far. United return to pre-season training next week, and the hope is that they can have a deal wrapped up for the Cameroon international by then, but he may not be the only attacking signing either.
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Given the struggles in front of goal last season, it is no surprise that United are in the market for a new striker to replace Rasmus Hojlund. It was reported over the weekend that United have placed Genk striker Tolu Arokodare on their list of targets after he scored 23 goals in 45 matches last season. The forward is not as well known as the likes of Victor Gyokeres and Dušan Vlahović, and for that, he could cost the Red Devils just £20 million this summer.
As well as keeping an eye on Arokodare, United have held talks with the representatives of Moise Kean and have now been offered the chance to sign the striker from Fiorentina.
Fiorentina'sMoiseKeancelebrates after the match
A report states that he could be available for £44 million after finding his form once again back in Italy, but any deal rests on Ruben Amorim, as he has yet to decide whether he wants the Italy international.
Man Utd table £30m bid to sign Ivan Toney
The list of potential new strikers arriving at Old Trafford this summer doesn’t stop with Kean, as according to a report from Spain, Man United have now made an opening bid of €35m (£30m) to sign Ivan Toney from Al-Ahli.
The report states that United have decided to act quickly and make a move for Toney, as they believe his experience in English football and his physical strength could make him a success at Old Trafford.
It goes on to add that contacts between both clubs and the player’s entourage have already taken place, and now United chiefs are confident they can complete a deal for the English international in the coming days, as Toney would welcome a move back to England and the Premier League.
Since moving to Saudi Arabia last summer, Toney, who has been dubbed a “monster” by former Brentford boss Thomas Frank, has scored 23 goals in 30 Saudi Pro League appearances. The 29-year-old also scored a further six in the AFC Champions League Elite campaign.
Ivan Toney’s Premier League record compared to Rasmus Hojlund
Toney
Hojlund
Apps
85
62
Goals
36
14
Assists
11
3
While Toney, who earns a staggering £400,000 a week, may be older than United’s current first-choice striker Hojlund, the 29-year-old has proven in the Premier League and in Saudi Arabia that he has a better killing instinct than the Denmark international.
During the 2023/24 season, Toney netted 20 league goals in the Premier League, which is far greater than what Hojlund has managed in the last two campaigns combined.
Managing his own workload, a team in transition, and finding a refreshed ODI strategy are on the list
Alex Malcolm13-Apr-2022Maintain the Test rage on the road
Australia waltzed through the Ashes 4-0 under Justin Langer but their patchy Test form prior to that was part of what made Langer vulnerable to the internal and external criticism that ultimately contributed to his exit. Australia have started brightly under McDonald with a 1-0 away win in Pakistan. It was Australia’s first Test series win in Asia since 2011 and their first away series victory anywhere since 2016. McDonald is keen for this current Test team to be known as Pat Cummins’ team and one that he will simply support. But the strategy that he helped implement paid off in Pakistan, and Australia now have the challenge of replicating it in Sri Lanka in July and India next year if they want to play in the World Test Championship final.Related
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Defend the T20 title
The only thing harder than winning a T20 World Cup is defending it and Australia face the unique challenge of needing to do it just 12 months after last year’s triumph in the UAE. The advantage is that it comes in home conditions. The challenge is that Australia will need to improve again. There are questions surrounding the form of captain Aaron Finch, but McDonald is in no doubt he is the man to lead Australia at the World Cup. The emergence of Josh Inglis in the middle order, while the form of Nathan Ellis and Sean Abbott in Pakistan, as well as the possibility of using Tim David as a lower-order hitter, creates both options and headaches in terms of what is the best team structure and strategy for Australia to win the title in Australia. Preparation may also be an issue given their best side might not play much together ahead of the tournament. But that wasn’t an issue last year.Finding a 50-over formula
ODI cricket was the least prioritised format during Langer’s tenure. Australia struggled in the lead-up to the 2019 ODI World Cup but found a way to be very competitive in the tournament only to be blown away by a far superior England side in the semi-final. From then on it was an afterthought. The ODI team has played well during the pandemic but has largely used second-choice players as Australia’s stars rested for key Test and T20I assignments. But Australia now only have 18 months to prepare for an ODI World Cup in India. They did have an extraordinary ODI series win in India in 2019 courtesy of a magical chase in Mohali. But they have lost four of their last five ODI series there and were bounced out of the 2011 World Cup in the quarter-final. The brand of cricket Australia played in 2019 was behind the times. McDonald and Australia need a refreshed strategy ahead of the 2023 tournament.McDonald has to manage a Test team in transition•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesA team in transition
At the end of the 2023 World Cup, even before that, there could be a big turnover of players in all three forms. Finch and David Warner are unlikely to continue after the 2023 World Cup. Nathan Lyon and Usman Khawaja will be 35 and 36 respectively at the end of the 2023 Ashes. Matthew Wade could also finish his international career at the end of the 2022 T20 World Cup while a host of other players will be heading towards their mid-30s. McDonald and the selectors will need to manage all of the exits carefully while getting younger players up to international level quickly in order to keep producing results heading into the second half of his four-year contract.Managing the coaching workload
Langer did rest for three series during his four-year tenure, although one, the 2021 T20I tour of New Zealand, only came about because the simultaneous Test tour to South Africa was cancelled. Australia have a relentless schedule coming up over the next 18 months and it will be impossible for McDonald to coach every assignment. He has already put in place a strategy with CA to rest for certain white-ball series in that period and wants to elevate assistants and consultants during that time to increase the depth in Australian coaching. The idea is a good one, the execution is the challenge.Relinquishing the reins and empowering an assistant to take full control is never an easy thing for any coach to do. McDonald has stressed it is possible provided the right personalities work together towards a common goal of making the team better across all forms. In the age of working remotely, it is also possible for coaches to still be of value to the team environment while working from home for short periods, provided the communication lines are open and the leadership structures are clear.
Agree or disagree? A number of other players had strong claims to be in this side
Andrew McGlashan07-Apr-2021As the Sheffield Shield heads into a final between Queensland and New South Wales, here’s our team of the season. In a bat-dominated competition there are some big run-scorers to miss out but the aim was to pick a balanced side so the extra bowler was selected.
Cameron Bancroft (Western Australia)
Innings: 14; Runs: 678; Average: 48.42, Hundreds: 3Bancroft bounced back impressively after last season’s problems where he averaged 13.16 and gave catches to leg gully with alarming regularity. This was more like the composed, methodical opening batsman that first got the Australian selectors interested as he scored three hundred and batted long periods of time.
Will Pucovski (Victoria)
Innings: 3; Runs: 495; Average: 247.50, Hundreds: 2It might be pushing it a little to include someone who played two games – and both Marcus Harris and Henry Hunt had claims to this spot – but even though it feels a lifetime ago now, Pucovski’s record-breaking performances in the first part of the season are impossible to ignore. Back-to-back double centuries, including the 486-run stand with Harris, propelled him straight into the Test thinking before another concussion set him back. Then, after a debut that brought a composed half-century, a shoulder injury ended his season but he had left his mark.
Marnus Labuschagne (Queensland)
Innings: 9; Runs: 629; Average: 69.88, Hundreds: 3He just loves batting and he made the most of being available for the whole season barring the shock of being dismissed for consecutive ducks against New South Wales and South Australia although that had followed scores of 167 and 117 to start his season. His lowest score in the second half of the regular season was 49 in four innings with his century in Wollongong ensuring there would be no slip-up with the final in sight.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Travis Head (South Australia)
Innings: 14; Runs: 893; Average: 68.69, Hundreds: 3South Australia’s captain was a shining light in another pretty grim season for the team as he filled his boots, either side of the India Test series which saw him lose his place, including a career-best 223 against Western Australia. He would seem likely to return when Australia next play later this year and the selectors will hope that he can show the same type of consistency at the top level to solve the No. 5 spot.
Cameron Green (Western Australia)
Innings: 14; Runs: 922; Average: 76.83, Hundreds: 3The top-scorer in the competition. A huge season for the young allrounder who broke into the Test team on the back of early-season runs then picked up where he left off after the India series with a career-best 251 against Western Australia having previously fallen for 197 against New South Wales. Expect to see more of his ability to change gears over the coming seasons. The bowling has been harder work as he returns from stress fractures of his back with just three wickets but he has plenty of time on his side.
Josh Inglis (Western Australia)
Innings: 12; Runs: 585; Average: 73.12, Hundreds: 3Who will follow Tim Paine as Australia’s Test keeper? The smart money is on Alex Carey, but Inglis has put his name in the frame and is highly regarded – he was close to both the Test and T20I squads recently. A counterattacking player, he had a strike-rate over 80 in the Shield and can take the game away against tired bowlers, but his best innings was the 115 he made against Victoria coming in at 5 for 114.Sean Abbott’s batting went to a new level this season•Getty Images
Sean Abbott (New South Wales)
Innings: 10; Runs: 525; Average: 75.00; Hundreds: 1 | Wickets: 17; Average: 31.82; Best: 6-89Without doubt, Abbott is now a fully-fledged allrounder in Shield cricket. He was New South Wales’ second-most consistent batsman this summer behind Moises Henriques. Held his nerve to secure a one-wicket victory against Queensland in the game of the season and scored his maiden century during a stand of 189 with Mitchell Starc as part of a stunning come-from-behind win against Tasmania. The wickets dried up a little later on, and a split webbing left him sidelined, but an average of 31 is commendable in a bat-dominated season.
Jackson Bird (Tasmania)
Innings: 12; Runs 196; Average: 17.81 | Wickets: 35; Average: 22.17; Best: 7-18The time has probably past for Bird to add to his nine Test caps such is the depth of Australia’s pace bowling but he remains one of the best domestic operators. To average under 23 in a season where quick bowlers have often toiled is outstanding and though he made the most of an outing in Hobart with the remarkable 7 for 18 against New South Wales he was also a threat on the more docile pitches. The batting had an unexpected uptick, too, with consecutive career-best half-centuries.
Scott Boland (Victoria)
Innings: 12; Wickets: 30; Average: 24.00; Best: 6-61In a similar bracket to Bird, but Boland has never had the chance to wear the baggy green. A senior figure within a young, rebuilding Victoria team he led the attack with distinction and would cause problems even in the flattest conditions. His 33 overs in the second innings against South Australia at Glenelg was a herculean effort.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Mitchell Swepson (Queensland)
Innings: 4; Wickets: 29; Average: 22.44; Best: 5-55One of the best parts of the Shield season was to watch Swepson rip his leg-breaks backed up by attacking fields from captain Usman Khawaja. He was superb in the first part of the campaign as Queensland secured two victories in the Adelaide hub. It looked like his summer was over with a neck injury but he recovered to face New South Wales were he produced a Warne-like beauty to fizz back and bowl Daniel Hughes.
Nathan Lyon (New South Wales)
Innings: 14; Wickets: 39; Average: 25.00; Best: 6-21Three of the top five Shield wicket-takers have been spinners, a notable departure from many recent seasons. Lyon, who played all of New South Wales’ matches either side of a Test series which became a struggle with the 400th wicket remaining elusive, finished as the top wicket-taker of the regular season. To see him and Swepson in action together would be exciting. He bowled superbly against Victoria at the SCG to claim his best Shield figures.
Ian Bell, Graeme Swann and Mark Butcher go through the talent pool to pick two separate squads each
ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jun-2020In the era of Covid-19, the cricket calendar will need be redrawn and there will be a crush to fit in all the fixtures that were deferred. It has even been suggested that two formats could be played at the same time. While that may not actually happen, it throws up some intriguing selection questions.How would the three best-resourced sides in the world – England, India and Australia – fare in having two teams play at the same time in a Test and T20I?England: With the height of the summer already approaching, the onus for England is to fulfil as many of their international fixtures as possible to offset a massive potential financial shortfall. To that end, Ashley Giles, the team’s managing director, hinted strongly last week that two separate squads will be the route they take to maintain the biosecure “bubbles” that the ECB is seeking to create within its chosen venues. An initial training pool of 55 players has been selected, and while several of the key names are already one-format picks, some tricky decisions need to be made about the biggest stars. Former England batsmen Ian Bell and Mark Butcher, and offspinner Graeme Swann are our selectors.ESPNcricinfo LtdIan Bell: With a T20 World Cup on the horizon – well, hopefully, anyway – I’d make that format a priority. And I’d want bowlers – people like Jofra Archer, who, I think, would do really well on Australian surfaces. For the same reason, I’d want Buttler and Jonny Bairstow in the T20 side, which brings an opportunity for Ben Foakes in the Test team. He may well be the best keeper in the country and this would be a great opportunity to see a bit more of him at that level. In English conditions, you want Stuart Broad and James Anderson in your Test side. But I would like a point-of-difference bowler in the attack – someone with a bit more pace – so I’d play either Mark Wood or Olly Stone as the quick bowler and maybe rotate Anderson with Chris Woakes as required. I also see Stone as the type of bowler who could be really valuable in an Ashes series in Australia, so I’d like to see him given more opportunity in Test cricket.ESPNcricinfo LtdMark Butcher: Big call as to which team for Stokes, obviously. Think his impact for the Test team is gigantic – he’s able to shape it for longer. Picking Archer in the T20I team was more about Wood’s relative lack of success in the limited-overs arena, though Wood’s recent Test performances have been outstanding. Tom Abell might seem a little left field, but I’ve seen enough of him to take a punt that he is a special player – great mind under pressure. I could have gone for [Alex] Hales or [James] Vince, but decided to go for a clean slate. Both Bairstow and Buttler are irreplaceable in the T20I XI, giving Foakes a clear run at the Test job. No Anderson is perhaps the biggest upset and I’ll gladly have him prove me wrong and play until he’s 40!ESPNcricinfo LtdGraeme Swann: Jos Buttler has never dismantled an attack in Test cricket. He was supposedly picked to turn games from dire situations and revolutionise the way we play, but it has never materialised. He is the one-day king and always looks more comfortable slaying a white ball rather than prodding a red one. Ben Foakes is the best keeper in the country for me, and I’m a purist, so he has to play in the Tests. Alex Hales has served his time. He’s beyond brilliant on his day and easily merits a place back in the one-day side for me. He needs to show huge remorse and humility on a private level to rebuild his relationship with Morgs. The skipper won the World Cup. What he says goes. He could demand the team all wear moustaches and they’d all turn out looking like Dennis Lillee by the end of the day. The sooner their relationship is patched up, the better for Hales and England!