All posts by h716a5.icu

Arsenal have already undergone a summer of revolution, yet manager Mikel Arteta remains undeterred to continue adding should the right personnel become available.

Is Michael Olise leaving Crystal Palace?

Whilst Declan Rice's huge move likely swallowed up the bulk of their remaining budget, the Spanish manager likely remains open to the idea of further acquisitions, should they move on some of the deadwood.

Given this is a venture they are undergoing, perhaps the links suggesting they could move to Crystal Palace's Michael Olise might come to fruition after all, even if it had once seemed somewhat sceptical.

The wide man does fit the bill as someone who would thrive under the conditions handed to the forwards within the Emirates, with his silkiness and creativity sure to aid his teammates. Not least Gabriel Jesus, who will be hoping to chase down the Premier League's top scorers, should he maintain a clean bill of health for the season.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

Given how he has grown into their main man at just 21 years old, the Eagles are demanding a fee of £50m to even begin discussions.

How good is Michael Olise?

The youngster has enjoyed a true standout year in England most recently, having completed his meteoric rise to the top that began humbly at Reading.

However, it is worth noting that the France U21 international did enjoy a one-year spell within the Gunners' academy, suggesting a reunion could be on the cards.

Especially if he is to bring his quality back to north London, as he is fresh from a campaign where he boasted two goals and 11 assists in the league. The latter figure would have seen his creativity ranked joint-first among Arsenal's squad last term, just to emphasise what he adds to a side even as good as Arteta's.

His 7.13 average rating outlined this further, with the wide man averaging 1.9 key passes per game too. Only Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka managed more in the league last term, making it no surprise at all to see him branded "magic" by The Athletic's Ed Malyon.

As aforementioned, Jesus would likely benefit more than most, given he endured a profligate and injury-hit season most recently. Despite scoring 11 league goals, this came despite racking up an expected goals tally of 14.16.

To compare these figures with Erling Haaland, the Norwegian record-breaker instead found the net on 36 occasions from an expected goals of just 28.66.

The two are miles apart when it comes to being clinical, but the inclusion of someone else so insanely creative will aid in bridging this gap.

It is also worth mentioning how Olise's work rate will factor into added goals for the Gunners, as he could spearhead a press on his own, forging chances without even being credited with an assist. When compared to other wingers across Europe, he ranks in the top 5% for tackles per 90, the top 3% for interceptions per 90, and the top 1% for blocks per 90, via FBref.

Whilst Saka and Odegaard are two creative leaders for the Premier League, supplementing their Brazilian marksman with one more can't hurt. Palace's creative genius could provide the spark that takes Jesus to those lofty goalscoring heights.

Matthew Wade’s return home to Tasmania has been officially confirmed after he was named in the state’s list of contracted players for 2017-18

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Aug-2017Matthew Wade’s return home to Tasmania has been officially confirmed after he was named in the state’s list of contracted players for 2017-18.Wade, who has captained Victoria for the past four seasons, grew up in Tasmania and played a single game for the Tigers before moving to Melbourne at the age of 19 for greater opportunities. But Wade, who now has a young daughter, was keen to return to his home state for extra family support.How much he turns out for Tasmania will depend on whether Wade remains Australia’s preferred gloveman in all formats throughout the summer. He and fast bowler Jackson Bird are the only two Cricket Australia-contracted players in a squad that will hope for significant improvement under new coach Adam Griffith after finishing last on the Sheffield Shield table in the past two seasons.Other additions to the list of full contracts include Nick Buchanan, Charlie Wakim and Tom Rogers, while Gabe Bell has been upgraded from a rookie deal. New rookies for this summer are Aaron Summers and Liam Devlin.Tasmania squad George Bailey (captain), Gabe Bell, Jackson Bird (Cricket Australia contract), Cameron Boyce, Nick Buchanan, Alex Doolan, Jake Doran, Ben Dunk, James Faulkner, Andrew Fekete, Jake Hancock, Ben McDermott, Simon Milenko, Tim Paine, Andrew Perrin, Sam Rainbird, Tom Rogers, Jordan Silk, Matthew Wade (CA), Charlie Wakim, Beau Webster, Cameron Stevenson. Rookies Caleb Jewell, Riley Meredith, Corey Murfet, Mac Wright, Aaron Summers, Liam Devlin.

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed to sell defender Davinson Sanchez to Spartak Moscow after accepting their bid, but they're waiting on his green-light.

Who will leave Spurs this summer?

As new manager Ange Postecoglou slowly but surely reshapes the team in his own image, bringing in three major signings since his appointment, certain Spurs squad members could be shown the door.

Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, playmaker James Maddison and winger Manor Solomon have all joined the club for a combined fee of over £60 million.

That's not even counting the fees to sign Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski on permanent deals after their loans, which would take Tottenham's total summer outlay to around £117 million.

The Lilywhites aren't done there, either, as reliable media sources claim they're chasing two senior centre-back signings this summer.

Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven, Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen, Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo, Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet, Galatasary's Victor Nelsson and Juventus star Gleison Bremer have all been linked with moves to Spurs recently.

To fund these swoops, it's imperative Tottenham offload more fringe players after Harry Winks, who left to join Leicester City around the same time Spurs signed Maddison.

Of the players who could make way, Hugo Lloris, Ivan Perisic Ryan Sessegnon, Eric Dier, Ben Davies, Giovani Lo Celso, Sergio Reguilon and Tanguy Ndombele have all been previously mentioned as candidates – depending on pre-season (The Telegraph).

Meanwhile, Denmark international Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is reliably believed to be nearing the exit door after agreeing personal terms with La Liga giants Atletico Madrid (The Times).

There have been claims this week that Sanchez, who is attracting serious interest from Spartak Moscow in Russia, is also "very close" to departing.

This is echoed by The Athletic and journalist Charlie Eccleshare, who say that Tottenham have indeed accepted Spartak's £12.9 million bid for the Colombian.

As Postecoglou's side agree to sell Sanchez, the issue isn't club-to-club, but rather the player himself – who is still yet to agree personal terms and hasn't yet decided whether he will make the move.

The 27-year-old apparently holds reservations over a move to the Russian Premier League, so there is currently scepticism as to whether he will join Spartak.

If Sanchez does give the green-light, it is believed that two other defenders could follow him out the door – namely Japhet Tanganga and Wales international Joe Rodon.

The latter duo have been made available for either a loan or permanent sale as Postecoglou continues to orchestrate an overhaul.

How good is Davinson Sanchez?

The former Ajax star came under fierce criticism from sections of the fanbase last season and hasn't quite lived up to his £40 million price tag.

That being said, he's had his bright moments, with former Spurs manager Antonio Conte even praising his reliability and attitude at one point over 2022/2023.

Conte claimed he is a "reliable player" to have in the Tottenham squad, namely because of his attitude and application despite not being selected regularly.

“I want also to tell Sanchez. He played his last game in the starting 11 two months ago. He worked very hard and very well. To see him tonight to have this performance, makes me and my staff very happy,” Conte said.

“When we have players like Sanchez and Joe Rodon. A reliable player who doesn’t play but works very hard, the staff are very happy.”

The BCCI has said it is getting closer to narrowing down its list of difficulties in implementing the Lodha Committee’s reforms to “three or four”

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jul-2017The BCCI has said it is getting closer to narrowing down its list of difficulties in implementing the Lodha Committee’s reforms to “three or four”. The seven-member panel set up by the BCCI to study their implementation met on Saturday, and achieved a “huge amount of unanimity”, according to its convener, the BCCI’s acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary.The panel is set to meet again on July 7, when it will look to finalise a report that it will present before a Special General Meeting (SGM) that the BCCI will have to conduct before July 14, when the Supreme Court will next hear the case. Following the SGM, the BCCI will hand over its final list of difficulties to the Committee of Administrators, the court-appointed panel tasked with running the BCCI until fresh elections under the Lodha guidelines.”I can tell you that there was a huge amount of unanimity among all members including [Cricket Association of Bengal president] Sourav Ganguly, who was present through Skype,” Choudhary said on Saturday.He added that the members had agreed unanimously on “six or seven” points, but did not want to reveal what they were until they had been narrowed down to a final “three or four”. He indicated that the unanimously agreed-upon areas of difficulty were ones the BCCI had already spoken about in the past.The board is understood to be inclined to incorporate most of the Lodha committee’s recommendations, except for policies such as the age cap of 70 years for office bearers, the tenure cap of nine years with cooling-off periods in between, the one-state-one-vote policy, and the trimming down of the number of selectors from five to three.”I could well do that [reveal the six or seven areas of difficulty], but I think all of you know it,” Choudhary said. “We are trying to reduce the gamut of difficulties to three or four, and in that exercise we have succeeded very substantially today. The small bits which are left we will finish them [on July 7].”[By then,] instead of talking about 5-6-7 points, I’m certain that I will be talking about three or four only. The other three will unnecessarily get attention [otherwise].”Choudhary was confident the BCCI would be able to conduct a Special General Meeting (SGM) before July 14.”I’m sure you’ll have a copy of that one-page document which states clearly, delineates, that the honourable Supreme Court of India’s next date on the subject is the 14th of July,” Choudhary said. “It also says that we have to dispose this matter expeditiously, and it’s a matter of urgent nature. We exhausted the dictionary, so to say, and we are acting upon it.”On the question of Niranjan Shah’s presence in the BCCI’s committee, Choudhary clarified that the former Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) president was only part of it as a “special invitee” rather than one of the seven full members. Shah is at present disqualified from holding office either in the BCCI or any of its state associations since he is over the stipulated age limit of 70. Choudhary dismissed any confusion over Shah’s role in the panel as an issue of “semantics”.”He’s a special invitee,” Choudhary said. “You are getting into semantics. By trying to distinguish between the technical status of a person who’s attending the meeting… I have answered your question, whether he is a member or an invitee. I said he’s an invitee.”

Manchester United seem set to continue their summer spending, highlighting a new key position that will bolster Erik ten Hag's squad massively.

Is Sofyan Amrabat joining Manchester United?

The latest on the fresh pursuit comes via Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, who took to Twitter to suggest that the Red Devils have made a huge step towards tempting Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina.

He would write:

"MU have made an initial verbal offer to Sofyan Amrabat's agent. Al-Ahli have also made an offer (€15M). But for now, he is not interested and is still dreaming of Liga. He prefers to stay at Fiorentina if he doesn't get a good club. Many big clubs are monitoring his situation."

Fabrizio Romano had detailed a reported price tag of around €40m (£35m) back at the start of the month, suggesting that this could end up being another lucrative deal for a side seeking to make the necessary additions to truly turn them into Premier League title challengers.

How good is Sofyan Amrabat?

Whilst the Moroccan midfield general shot to fame due to his stellar World Cup performances, the 26-year-old has actually been a consistent performer for his club during the 2022/23 campaign too, further emphasising his preparedness for a step-up such as this.

In the Serie A, his 90% pass accuracy showcases his ability to dictate the play, whilst his 1.3 tackles per game help outline his defensive security, via Sofascore. He is combative, relentless and impressively clever in the engine room, only throwing himself into tackles at the perfect moment and otherwise simply blocking the space.

With this, plus his hulking figure and unbridled physicality, it is hard not to immediately draw comparisons with Ten Hag's current enforcer, Casemiro.

Signed just last summer, the 31-year-old had an instant impact at Old Trafford, adding the necessary steel into midfield to finally allow them to take ahold of games.

In the Premier League, the Brazilian maintained a 7.21 average rating, buoyed by his 79% pass accuracy, 3.2 tackles and 2.1 clearances per game, via Sofascore. His solidity was exactly what was needed to allow Ten Hag's philosophy to shine.

Whilst he is not getting any younger, the similarities between these figures and Amrabat's World Cup campaign should make for pleasant viewing, given he could now be chosen as his successor.

Across seven games in their historic run to the semi-final, his 6.83 average rating perhaps belied his importance. He would record an 85% pass accuracy but saw his tackles rise to 2.3 per game, and his clearances to 1.4 per game, via Sofascore.

Such displays even led journalist Carlo Garganese to claim: "Amrabat the best centre midfielder in the tournament. MONSTER."

Should he choose to move to Manchester now, he could enjoy a few solid years under the tutelage of such a legendary midfielder, before eventually taking his place as the former Real Madrid stopper moves on.

Especially considering One-Versus-One helps to draw further comparisons between the two, as they rank similarly for fouls per 90 (1.85 v 2.33), passes into final third per 90 (8.69 v 9.71) and challenges won per 90 (37.81 v 38.23). He could easily slip in as the disruptive, progressive and defensive hero that is needed within such a system.

Casemiro could then leave safe in the knowledge that his presence helped underpin Ten Hag's regime and offered the necessary platform for their return to the Champions League and subsequent successes.

If Amrabat enjoys half as successful a career as the one the ageing general has had, then this will prove to be an extremely fruitful signing for Manchester United.

All players of category A-plus in the Bangladesh Premier League – including the local talent – have been given the right to choose the franchises they will play for in the upcoming season

Mohammad Isam18-Jul-2017All players of category A-plus in the Bangladesh Premier League – including the local talent – have been given the right to choose the franchises they will play for in the upcoming season. The decision was announced by the league’s secretary Ismail Haider Mallick, ending speculation among many cricketers wondering about whom they would play for in 2017.The seven teams have been asked to submit the players they want to retain by the next week with the BPL governing council building towards the draft on September 16.”We have asked the franchises for their list of retained players,” Mallick said. “They can retain any four of their players, which could include their A-plus category player from last season. But it has to be done with consultation with those players, who have a choice of whether to leave or stay in the franchise. July 24 is not a deadline, but we expect the franchises to give us their retention list.”Khulna Titans have already announced Mahmudullah, their captain and A-plus category player from last season, as one of their retained players this season. The 2017 season may also see the introduction of an eighth franchise. Early indications are that the team will be based in Sylhet.The BPL governing council will also have to decide whether to allow five foreign players in a playing XI or let it remain at four. In 2012 and 2013 – the first two editions of the tournament – franchises could field five overseas players, but the rule was changed for the 2015 and 2016 editions. It is learnt the call came from one of the franchises, and the matter will be up for discussion soon.”If it will be four or five [overseas players in the playing XI], we will ask the opinion of the franchises,” Mallick said. “Then we will decide on it.”

Australian international players may populate South Africa’s new Twenty20 competition and even play exhibition or charity matches among themselves in the event of an extended pay dispute between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association

Daniel Brettig20-Jun-2017Australian international players may populate South Africa’s new Twenty20 competition and even play exhibition or charity matches among themselves in the event of an extended pay dispute between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association.With ten days remaining until the expiry of the current MoU, the sort of chaos to result from an lengthy period without an agreement between the board and the players is becoming clearer, following the launch of the new CSA competition that will clash with the start of the Australian season in a similar fashion to the way the IPL impinges on England’s.More than 400 players have registered their interest in the new tournament and its privately-owned teams, including numerous Australians. ESPNcricinfo has learned that these include some recent ODI representatives, though the group is not believed to include any players in contention for the home Ashes series. CA would need to provide No Objection Certificates in order for these players to take part, though their rights over the players may be legally tested in a post-MOU environment.The new tournament represents a challenge for CA even without the fact of the concurrent pay dispute, as for the first time there will be competition for Australian players who would otherwise be playing domestically in the Matador Cup and the Sheffield Shield leading into the home Test season. In that sense it leaves the board with a level of complication familiar to other countries who have been less able to firewall their own home season in the manner CA have become used to.Before the Ashes takes place, an Australia A tour of South Africa, a two-Test visit to Bangladesh and a limited-overs tour of India are all under threat due to the dispute. The abandonment of a tour to India would be hugely damaging to CA’s relationship with the BCCI, while the Bangladesh tour is significant given the current jostling for votes ahead of ICC meetings set to decide on a new constitution that CA supports.While CA has stated that it will press state players currently on multi-year deals to honour their contracts and continue to train and play in official competitions, it is expected that a lack of progress in pay talks would mean every contracted player is unavailable for selection. This would be both in solidarity with those out of contract but also on the premise that all contracts were signed to sit under a working MOU.A report in the has also indicated that some of the game’s top players have discussed the possibility of playing unofficial matches outside those usually organised by CA. The players, according to the report, “have discussed the possibility of putting on exhibition or charity games among themselves if the saga drags on, in what they believe would serve as a powerful message that they can continue to play outside the umbrella of CA.”Such a move would mirror events during the 2011 NBA lockout, when numerous players took part in exhibition tournaments, including one staged in Las Vegas that was composed exclusively of elite NBA players and dubbed “the lockout league”. Equally, numerous NBA players took up the option of playing overseas during this time, signing contracts that allowed them to return to the league whenever the dispute concluded.Exhibition matches would present a further challenge to CA’s authority, in line with the ACA’s recent establishment of The Cricketers Brand to manage the players’ intellectual property rights in the event of a new MOU not being finalised. At the launch of the new company late last month, the ACA’s chief executive Alistair Nicholson said the association had not yet contemplated the staging of matches.”That’s not something we’re looking at, at the moment it’s how do we support the players, we put in some commercial structures around the game post June 30,” he said. “What happens in regard to a cricket game, that’s not something that we’re necessarily planning for, but we’ll wait and see once we get past where negotiations are at.”This is around getting the commercial structures around [IP]. I’m not saying necessarily that the commercial demand for that will come right away, it’s about getting the right structure in regard to that. The key thing is if there are opportunities out there in regard to players’ intellectual property, we’ve got something there to support that.”The ACA have staged cricket matches over the past nine years under the banner of the “ACA Masters”, a travelling troupe of past and present players who have made annual tours to country regions in all states. They have also hosted events to create awareness of the program in capital cities, played matches against state representative teams, development programs and special squads, and established relationships with a host of country and suburban clubs.The parlous state of pay negotiations between the board and the ACA was further highlighted on Tuesday when the AFL (Australian Football League) announced a new six-year collective bargaining agreement with its players, for the first time linking their wages to the league’s revenue after the fashion of Australian cricket’s existing MOU. “This is a great outcome for our industry,” the AFL chairman Richard Goyder said, “delivering certainty and stability, respecting our players, and allowing the AFL to invest in the future.”We are very proud to work in partnership with our players to protect and grow the game, and I thank the [players’] Association for their strong advocacy on behalf of their members, and their commitment to the whole game.”A CA spokesperson said the AFL agreement was different to the cricket’s current model. “First, it only contemplates a share of revenue above budget forecast, rather than a fixed percentage of defined revenue streams. Second, it takes the costs of generating that revenue into account, whereas the current cricket model does not and is simply a gross share. So this model is very different to cricket’s and in important respects is much closer to the modified model that CA has proposed.”Talks between CA and the ACA are continuing.

Tottenham Hotspur have certainly started their new reign under Ange Postecoglou with a bang, having already cemented five permanent additions this summer already.

The Australian coach will be far from finished too, and there feels like a renewed sense of belief has flooded over this part of north London, which seemed dead and buried as last season slumped to its miserable conclusion.

Many will hope that the former Celtic boss can emulate and even elevate beyond the levels set by Mauricio Pochettino, and create a new longstanding and sustainable dynasty for years to come.

However, to do that he will need to make more signings than he already has done. He could even take a few notes from the way in which the Argentine began his tenure at White Hart Lane, especially with regard to bolstering his backline.

Last season Spurs shipped 63 goals in the Premier League, making them the sixth-worst defence in the division.

They are crying out for a truly dominant centre-back to solve these frailties, and in Aymeric Laporte, they could have the answer to these prayers.

With strong links persisting throughout this window already, and a startlingly low reported price tag of €30m (£26m), Manchester City might be set to do Spurs the ultimate favour to truly get things underway for Postecoglou.

Is Aymeric Laporte a good player?

Having moved to the Etihad in 2018, the Spain international has largely been a mainstay for Pep Guardiola throughout his tenure. However, just last season saw his influence wane somewhat, as the system shifted and left him with just 11 starts in the league.

That is not to suggest that his quality has declined at all though, as the 2021/22 season saw him enjoy some of his best football since joining the Premier League.

During that campaign, the 29-year-old maintained a 7.12 average rating in the league, which was buoyed by his 95% pass accuracy, one tackle and 1.8 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

Journalist Duncan Castles even lauded him as "one of Manchester City’s few aerially powerful players" back in 2019 too, with fellow writer Bill DiFilippo also branding him a "warrior".

Boasting incredible technical proficiency to pair well with his 6 foot 2 frame, Laporte has all the qualities needed to perhaps emulate the success Jan Vertonghen enjoyed across his eight-year spell in north London.

Joining in 2012, it felt like his career only really kickstarted once Pochettino arrived. However, the former Ajax man – who was once hailed as "dominant" by journalist Henry Winter – would then become one of the division's most outstanding central defenders, silencing strikers and creating from deep.

As a left-footed titan who also stood at 6 foot 2, he would muster 315 appearances for the Lilywhites, the pinnacle of which likely came during the 2016/17 year. There he would record a 7.31 average match rating, with his 85% pass accuracy, 1.3 tackles and seven clearances per game reaffirming his dominance, via Sofascore.

Laporte may be far older than the Belgian was when he first joined, but he could still have that same calming presence with which a solid defensive foundation could be built.

Not to mention his insane winning experience – having claimed the treble last term – which would hopefully aid Postecoglou's mission to shift the mentality and finally bring some long-lasting success to a club that has been starved of it in recent years.

Newcastle United have been strongly linked with a move for Harvey Barnes this summer and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the club's pursuit of the player.

What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Harvey Barnes?

According to Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Newcastle are "planning" their move for the Leicester City winger.

Romano revealed on Twitter:

"Newcastle are planning to advance on Harvey Barnes deal next week. Talks are already underway but negotiations will continue in the next days to get it done.

"Barnes already accepted Newcastle as destination, deal depends on clubs and #NUFC outgoings."

How good is Harvey Barnes?

Eddie Howe will be thrilled with the rapid progress his current squad at St James' Park have made over the last 18 months and the club's long-awaited return to the Champions League next season presents a brand-new chapter and challenge for the manager.

Whilst it is likely that most of the first team will remain at the club for the upcoming campaign and opportunities will be sought to bring in Champions League experienced players, Howe will want to continue to make his mark on the team when it comes to identifying players who suit his philosophy.

The former Bournemouth boss is renowned for his eye for English talent and developing them into valuable assets, with Joe Willock the latest homegrown prodigy to thrive under Howe's guidance.

The former Arsenal ace has played an integral part in Newcastle's success since his arrival, delivering six assists, three goals and a whopping 12 big chances over his 35 league appearances last season, with only right-back Kieran Trippier tallying up more assists (7) than his young compatriot.

As a result, Howe could now repeat his Willock masterclass by snapping up the services of Barnes this summer, another English talent who could reach his full potential on Tyneside next season.

Only Callum Wilson scored more goals (18) in all competitions last season, with Barnes hitting the back of the net 13 times for the Foxes, proving that despite Leicester's plight, the 25-year-old has been a consistent and reliable performer in the final third.

Beyond his goal-scoring escapades in the Premier League, there is definitely room for improvement in Barnes' game with the winger – hailed a "livewire" by pundit Alan Hutton – ranking in the bottom 25% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for pass completion, shot-creating actions, progressive passes and successful take-ons, as per FBref.

This demonstrates a struggle to keep hold of the ball and play killer passes into the box, something that Howe will likely look to improve should Barnes make the move to the North East this summer and whilst it comes with the risk that the forward may not be able to prove those key attributes, his goal threat is undeniable and would likely be valuable in rotation with his position competitors.

With that being said, the signing of Barnes – who has a £35m price tag – would be a great piece of business for Newcastle if they are looking to boost their goal contributions, but his arrival at St James' will likely require patience as he develops to the playing style and quality around him in the squad.

In days of yore, the sight of two spinners bowling in tandem, scuttling through their overs like squirrels scurrying up a tree, was commonplace on the county circuit

Tim Wigmore at Kia Oval16-Apr-2017
ScorecardIn days of yore, the sight of two spinners bowling in tandem, scuttling through their overs like squirrels scurrying up a tree, was commonplace on the county circuit. No longer. As surfaces offering prodigious turn have become rarer and ever-more matches shunted to the margins of the season, most counties have come to regard one specialist spinner as ample, and often got by without even that.But on a chilly April afternoon at The Oval, Stephen Parry and Simon Kerrigan provided a throwback to this bygone age. In an age of indolent over rates, bustling though overs can flummox batsmen, as Somerset found out in their title push last summer. Parry and Kerrigan, Lancashire’s two left-arm spinners, combined with a wall of close-in fielders to render Surrey’s batsmen comatose and confused; they conceded just four runs in 14 overs after lunch while two wickets fell.There was no prodigious turn, but the pair bowled an unrelenting line, varied their pace and bounce subtly and obtained just enough spin to provide a persistent menace. It made for beguiling cricket, and the six wickets shared by Parry and Kerrigan in the day put Lancashire in a position from which they could secure an unlikely victory.This was just Parry’s 12th first-class game since making his debut a full decade ago. He has won acclaim for his left-arm darts in limited-overs cricket, which have earned seven England caps and a Big Bash stint, yet has steadfastly rejected the temptation to specialise in T20 cricket.At the start of the summer it had been almost three years since Parry’s last first-class match. Selected ahead of Kerrigan as Lancashire’s frontline spinner at Chelmsford last week, he vindicated the decision by taking 5 for 80 from 48.2 overs in the match, even if he could not quite bowl Lancashire to victory on the final day.No one who saw Parry here, his precision rewarded by Kumar Sangakkara flicking nonchalantly to mid-on, Gareth Batty lofting the ball to mid-off in pursuit of the two Surrey needed to save the follow on, and then Mark Footitt trapped on the crease next delivery, would have marked him out as a white-ball specialist.Kerrigan will not have fond memories of The Oval: it was here, four years ago, that he was eviscerated by Australia, in what remains his only eight overs in Test cricket.Yet he gave a hint of what had led England to select him. Kerrigan would have particularly cherished the wicket of Zafar Ansari. He twice cut Ansari open, the ball spinning through a gap between bat and pad and agonisingly over the unprotected stumps. Soon, these pyrrhic victories translated into something altogether more tangible: Ansari’s leg stump demolished by a ball that turned deliciously between his groping bat and pad while he appeared confused over whether to play forward or back.Kerrigan sunk to his knees in joy: seldom does a left-arm spinner enjoy a moment of such perfection. Earlier, Ben Foakes had been yorked by a quicker delivery.And, just before the close, Kerrigan produced another fine delivery, turning just enough to invite Rory Burns’ edge. It left Lancashire to revel in how they had turned a position of 122 for 6 on the first afternoon into one from which they had enforced the follow on and could yet press for victory on the final day. The pitch is far from malign, but there are small pockets of footmarks against Surrey’s left-handers and two spinners with the confidence to exploit them.Parry and Kerrigan emphatically outbowled Surrey’s own spin twins, both of whom played Test cricket last winter. The wicket of Dominic Sibley, run-out after a funereal 86-ball 10, spoke of how such unrelenting spin bowler can frazzle batsmen’s minds.There had been no hint of what was to come as Burns and Sangakkara marked a bright morning with some sumptuous shot-making. Burns, as is his wont, favoured three shots – the drive, often square of the wicket; the cut; and the leg-side flick – while some of Sangakkara’s extra cover driving was so sweet it deserved to be wrapped inside an Easter egg.All was serene, as the two added 99 at almost four runs an over, until, incongruously, Burns nibbled at a delivery from Kyle Jarvis. His slow trudge off, first looking to the skies and then solemnly at his feet as he climbed the stairs to return to the dressing room, spoke of his huge frustration: Burns had played terrifically for 91, yet his work was unfinished.It was in keeping with an infuriating trend. Burns is respected throughout the circuit, as a first-class average in excess of 40 demands, but if he is to win the international acclaim that Surrey believe he is deserving of, he must dispel his propensity not to convert half-centuries. Since the start of 2016, Burns has passed 50 11 times in Division One Championship cricket but only made two centuries; an outstanding return for most, but not quite persuasive enough for the England selectors. That might change soon, just not tomorrow.