Leeds United have been linked with West Bromwich Albion star Grady Diangana and he would be an 'unbelievable' capture at Elland Road, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Is Grady Diangana going to Leeds United this summer?

In conversation with West Brom News, former Baggies frontman Kevin Campbell has backed his old side to net a decent fee for Diangana this summer, stating: “I could see him leaving and I think there’s an opportunity for him to leave. He’s a good player, but he could be leaving.

So obviously, Corberan, who’s a good manager may be going in a different direction and there’s going to be a deal and with a good fee that can be negotiated. I’m not sure what he’ll be, but, he’s a good player. There’ll be a good fee but the amount I have no idea."

These comments come in light of interest in Diangana's services from Leeds United, Southampton and Leicester City; however, West Brom won't sell the Lumbumbashi-born winger unless they receive a considerable outlay for his services, according to the Express and Star.

Sunday Mirror journalist Darren Witcoop has also confirmed that Diangana has eyes on his situation, stating on Twitter: "Cardiff City chasing a loan deal for West Brom forward Karlan Grant. Albion looking to shift players to save money this summer. Interest elsewhere for Grady Diangana and Darnell Furlong. Cedric Kipre’s future also up in the air."

Last term, Diangana made 35 appearances in all competitions for West Brom, registering four goals and three assists in total, as per Transfermarkt.

Contractually, the 25-year-old is tied to his current employers on a deal that runs until June 2025 and is said to pocket £20,385 per week at the Hawthorns Stadium, as per Capology.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Jones thinks that Diangana is an 'unbelievable' player that would make 'defenders dizzy' at Elland Road.

Jones stated: "The potential availability is there given West Brom's situation. He would be such a good player for whoever can get him. He makes defenders dizzy and some of the things he's capable of doing in tight spaces are unbelievable. If Gnonto does end up leaving Leeds, this would be someone new that can dazzle and excite. It'll be interesting, though, to see if they have the capacity to actually get a sale going."

Who else are Leeds United keen on bringing in this summer?

Leeds United are closing in on their first signing of the summer in the form of Chelsea defender Ethan Ampadu according to The Athletic's Phil Hay, who referenced the Evening Standard's initial report of a £12 million bid for the Wales international on Twitter, stating: First signing close for Leeds United (as reported by Nizaar Kinsella) – centre-back Ethan Ampadu lined up to join on a permanent deal from Chelsea. Terms still to be finalised but well advanced."

Football Insider claim that Leeds United have been given a shot in the arm regarding their attempts to sign Nottingham Forest striker Emmanuel Dennis, who has been given the green light to leave the City Ground to find a new club.

The Athletic cite that Swansea City frontman Joel Piroe has emerged as another target to bolster Daniel Farke's forward line as they prepare for life in the Sky Bet Championship.

In the next few weeks, Leeds United will likely firm up interest in key targets as they aim to get into the best shape possible before their first game in the English second tier against Cardiff City on August 6th, as per Sky Sports.

Joe Denly demonstrated immense powers of concentration in the sweltering heat with a career-best double century to steer Kent into a position of strength on day three of the Specsavers County Championship clash with Worcestershire at New Road

ECB Reporters Network21-Jun-2017
ScorecardJoe Denly’s double hundred transformed the match•Getty ImagesJoe Denly demonstrated immense powers of concentration in the sweltering heat with a career-best double century to steer Kent into a position of strength on day three of the Specsavers County Championship clash with Worcestershire at New Road.The 31-year-old batsman resumed on his overnight 69 and batted for a total of nearly eight hours in scoring 227 out of 474 all out to leave Worcestershire a 399 target. His marathon knock surpassed his 206 not out against Northampton at Wantage Road last season.It rescued Kent from the real possibility of losing inside three days, after they had lost their sixth wicket shortly before lunch when their overall lead was only 129.Now they will have high hopes of pushing for victory tomorrow with Pakistan wrist spinner Yasir Shah the ace up their sleeve on what is still a good wicket for batting.It was a cruel turnaround for Worcestershire who had strong hopes of a win that would revive their promotion challenge against the side in second place.On the longest day of the year, Denly’s superb knock must also have felt never-ending for the wilting Worcestershire attack which stuck gamely to its task but was gradually worn down in the soaring temperatures.It was his second century in three Championship matches and has giiven Kent a strong platform to test the resolution of the home side in the top three promotion battle.He was given excellent support by keeper Adam Rouse (68) in a stand of 149 in 39 overs – a Kent seventh wicket record in matches against Worcestershire.Denly had batted for a total of 468 minutes, had faced 320 balls and struck 24 fours and five sixes when he finally holed out to Ed Barnard at long off against Joe Leach.It had been a different scenario at the start of the day after Worcestershire skipper Joe Leach had bowled an impressive opening spell which yielded two wickets.Joe Weatherley had not added to his overnight score when he was caught at second slip by Daryl Mitchell and then Darren Stevens shouldered arms and was trapped lbw.Denly went to three figures in the grand manner with a six over long on off Moeen Ali.When Will Gidman drove at John Hastings and nicked through to Ross Whiteley at first slip, Kent were in a position of some discomfort at 205 for 6.But then Rouse proved a willing ally for Denly and the pair flourished with the former reaching a determined half century off 105 balls.A wicket did not fall in the afternoon session until the last ball before tea when Rouse popped a Moeen delivery up to short leg.There was no respite after the resumption for Worcestershire as Matt Coles clubbed 39 and Yasir Shah 27 in stands of 54 and 41.Denly’s double ton came up off 299 balls with 23 fours and three sixes and a two off Josh Tongue brought him his new career best.Worcestershire openers Daryl Mitchell and Brett D’Oliveira negotiated five overs in reaching 16 for 0 by the close.

Tensions can boil over for several parties when a player decided to call it quits at a club in the summer transfer window. Usually, it's the fans who take aim at the departing player, with a chorus of boos the next time they witness that departing player take to the field.

Usually, though, those within the club or associated with the club of the departing player get it more. They've experienced enough football to know that players leaving is simply just part of the game. Players arrive, and players move on every summer. Or at the very least, they have the wisdom to hold their peace.

One man who didn't seem to get that memo, however, was Bayern Munich legend Mehmet Scholl, who replied to Lucas Hernandez's farewell post in brutal fashion.

The defender has completed a move from the Bundesliga champions to Paris Saint-Germain, signing a contract until 2028.

What did Mehmet Scholl say?

Hernandez took to Instagram to post his farewell message, asking fans to "respect" his decision.

In full, when translated it said (via Reddit): "Dear FC Bayern Munich fans, It is with a heavy heart that I announce my departure from the club today. After careful consideration, I have decided to take on new challenges.

"I would like to thank you for your unwavering support during my time here. The moments shared will forever remain in my memory, as will the trophies won, especially the Champions League I always dreamed of.

"I would like to sincerely thank my teammates, coaching staff, entire club staff, executives and coaches of FC Bayern Munich for their trust and unconditional support at all times. This club has allowed me to grow as a player and as a person, and I am proud to have worn the jersey of one of the most prestigious clubs in the world.

"Lastly, I ask you to respect my decision, even though goodbyes are always difficult. "With best regards, Lucas Hernandez"

Clearly not touched by the message, though, Scholl replied by ruthlessly commenting: "I don't believe a word of it. Bye-bye."

It's fair to say that the move did not go down well with the Bayern legend. And he clearly doesn't feel as though Hernandez has shown enough respect for the club with this transfer departure.

What is Theo Hernandez's transfer value?

Completing a move to PSG for a reported €50m (£42.86m), Hernandez left Bayern for more than his market value, as per Transfermark, which has the defender priced at €45m (£38.58m).

It has not taken the Bavarians long to find a replacement, however – reportedly triggering the release clause of Napoli star Kim-Min jae. The centre-back arrives off the back of an excellent season in Serie A, picking up the Scudetto.

Hernandez, meanwhile, departs having won every trophy there is to win in club football, with the highlight being the Champions League win back in 2020. The victory ironically came against his new club PSG.

Now in the French capital, the defender will be desperate to secure European glory once again, ending PSG's long wait for Champions League victory, in the process.

Despite a certain Bayern Munich legend being far from pleased with his move away, the transfer to the Ligue 1 champions represents an opportunity for Hernandez to add to his ever-growing list of trophy wins.

Arsenal could look at signing a new right-sided attacker and another central midfielder this summer, according to Sky Sports.

How much have Arsenal spent this summer?

The Gunners and Mikel Arteta have been busy in the transfer window so far ahead of the 2023/24 season, looking to go one step further in the Premier League.

The club have brought in Kai Havertz from Chelsea in a deal worth £65m, whereas Jurrien Timber has made the move to north London from Ajax for £38m.

Those two deals take Arsenal’s summer spend to £103m, and that will double with a move for Declan Rice. West Ham have confirmed that the England international has left the club and is poised to join Arsenal in a deal worth a guaranteed £100m plus £5m in add-ons.

There could still be more to come at the Emirates, though, with a transfer update emerging in the last 48 hours. Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth provided transfer news on Arsenal, claiming that the focus will now be on departures due to the money they have spent in recent weeks.

However, the reliable reporter did claim that a new right-sided attacker and another central midfielder could be deals to potentially keep an eye on before the window closes.

“The focus will be on departures simply because they have probably spent close to £200m once the Rice and the Timber deals go through.

“And maybe on the central midfielder area as well. I know that Declan Rice is on the verge of coming in but Granit Xhaka has left. But if Thomas Partey was to potentially leave, because we know that there is a lot of interest. It is just at an interest stage at the moment but if that was to develop then maybe Arsenal would potentially look into recruiting there as well.”

Who else could Arsenal sign?

With more than £200m spent so far this summer, Arsenal, as Sheth mentions, could be looking at moving payers on before bringing anyone else in. However, there have been players linked with moves to join Arteta’s side, including Gremio central midfielder Bitello.

Arsenal are “actually moving seriously” for Bitello, and reports have suggested that the club even have officials in Brazil to “analyse and send an offer” for the 23-year-old.

In attack, a player who has been linked with the Gunners is Barcelona’s Ferran Torres. It is believed that Arsenal would be willing to sign the forward on loan, and the La Liga champions would approve any temporary deal for him. Arteta previously worked with Torres at Manchester City, so moves for the Spaniard alongside Bitello could well be ones to keep an eye on over the coming weeks. Some players may need to be moved on first, though, so it may still be a busy few weeks in the market for Edu and co.

Celtic’s move for Maik Nawrocki is on the verge of being completed, according to an update from reliable reporter Mark Hendry, sharing an update on Saturday morning.

Who have Celtic signed in 2023?

The Hoops have enjoyed a fairly productive summer transfer window so far, with Norwegian prospect Odin Thiago Holm, exciting attacker Hyun-jun Yang, Aussie star Marco Tilio and midfield enforcer Tomoki Iwata all arriving through the doors at Parkhead to work under new boss Brendan Rodgers.

There is still plenty of work to be done to tailor the squad to the returning manager’s liking though, especially after Ange Postecoglou’s star man, Jota, left to join Al Ittihad in a record departure worth close to €30m (£26m).

A centre-back looks to be next up on the agenda, with reports emerging late last week that the Bhoys board have lined up a move for Nawrocki, a promising 22 year-old Poland youth international who currently plies his trade for Ekstraklasa club Legia Warsaw.

Reports in the player’s homeland broke the news that Celtic had “entered the game” for the youngster and would compete with Turkish Super Lig club Galatasaray for his signature, and it appears the Parkhead outfit have now won the race.

Taking to Twitter from Japan on Saturday, where the Hoops were in action against Gamba Osaka, Football Scotland’s Hendry said: “Nawrocki is in the UK to do medical tests and sort out his contract details with fine tooth comb. Expect real (deal*) to be completed soon.”

Is Maik Nawrocki good?

Celtic fans can be forgiven for not knowing much about their imminent new arrival, but the 6 foot 2 ace certainly looks like a player with real potential. He's been in the Polish top flight since he was 19, starting with Warta Poznan before moving to Warsaw.

His first season in the capital didn’t exactly go to plan, as one of the country’s biggest clubs slumped to 10th in the final league standings, but he did manage 18 starts in the top flight, forcing his way in as a regular feature in the first XI.

His second campaign with the club – this season just finished – Nawrocki started 23 games in the league as they shot up to a second place finish, and he actually proved to be a consistent source of end product from set pieces too, scoring four times and providing one assist to boot, averaging a direct goal contribution one out of every five lots of 90 minutes, an impressive rate for a centre-back.

The youngster has yet to make his mark on the senior national team setup. He has been able to break into the fold for their Under-21 side though, making his debut for them in 2021 having already featured at various youth levels for the Under-15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 sides, so one would have to assume it’s only a matter of time before that progression leads him into the senior set-up.

What probably appeals most to Rodgers is the defender’s versatility, as not only is he equally comfortable on either side at centre-back, but he can also function as a full-back or even further ahead in defensive midfield, which likely reminds the boss of another towering player he had at his disposal during his last stay in Glasgow, Brentford’s Kristoffer Ajer.

Liverpool's interest in Southampton ace Romeo Lavia has hardly been inconspicuous this summer, and the precocious defensive midfielder remains firmly at the forefront of Jurgen Klopp's transfer consideration.

What's the latest on Romeo Lavia to Liverpool?

That's according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who has taken to Twitter to state that Liverpool are "still in contact" with the Belgian's agents, though Premier League rivals Chelsea are also keeping an eye on the situation.

This is corroborated by Football Insider, who have also recently stated that the Reds are confident of warding off competition for Lavia's signature and hope to reach an agreement by the end of the month.

The 19-year-old anchor was Southampton's shining light in a dismal campaign that ended in relegation from the top-flight, and due to the calibre of his performances, the Saints hierarchy believes that their starlet is worth £50m, though Liverpool are reluctant to venture past the £40m mark.

What position is Romeo Lavia?

A product of the long time of superlative talent stemming from Manchester City's esteemed youth academy, Lavia signed for the south coast club one year ago in a deal that could rise to £14m.

While Southampton did suffer the plummet into the second tier, Lavia was exceptional throughout a tough term and belied his tender age and inexperience at the heart of his outfit, earning praise as an "absolute monster" from reporter Benjy Nurick for one particular performance.

As per Sofascore, the one-cap international recorded an average rating of 6.8 in the Premier League, notably completing 88% of his passes and averaging 2.1 tackles per game as he held the shoddy Saints system together.

The ace also ranks among the top 4% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for blocks per 90, as per FBref, which illustrates his aptitude as a defensive whiz in the centre.

A recent report from The Analyst also displayed his prowess in ball retention, with only 15 midfielders who played over 800 minutes in the English top-flight last term winning possession more than he did per 90 (7.5), with the report also offering a graphic illustrating the ubiquitous, all-encompassing nature of his ball-winning skills.

He could be the perfect replacement for Reds captain Jordan Henderson, who has all but completed an initial £12m transfer to Saudi Arabian outfit Al Ettifaq after receiving a lucrative offer.

While Henderson plies his trade slightly further up the pitch, he has been described as the heartbeat and energy of Liverpool's midfield over the past several years, paramount to the illustrious success under Klopp's tutelage.

He can also feature competently as a defensive midfielder, which would have most likely been a role he assumed over the next year had he decided to remain on Merseyside, with Fabinho also attracting interest from Saudi side Al Ittihad, who are hoping to sign the Brazilian star for £40m.

Previously called "exquisite" by The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell, Lavia has been the centrepiece of Southampton's midfield at a tumultuous time and there is every possibility that he could transcend his own exploits with a move to Anfield, growing into one of the most destructive forces in the game.

West Ham United will not be making a third bid for Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha, according to ExWHUEmployee.

The 28-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the London Stadium throughout the summer.

Will Joao Palhinha join West Ham this summer?

It seems now that the Portuguese midfielder won't be making the switch to West Ham this summer.

All window long the defensive midfielder has been linked with a move to the Conference League champions as their Declan Rice replacement as the England international joined Arsenal for a record fee of £105m.

Palhinha impressed many last season in his debut campaign for Fulham following his £20m move. The 28-year-old led the league in tackles made quite comfortably with 147. That was ahead of second-placed Moises Caicedo who could only manage 100. The midfielder was ranked as the sixth-best defensive midfielder in the Premier League last season with an average rating of 6.93 according to WhoScored.

After the Cottagers reportedly valued the former Sporting CP midfielder at £90m, negotiations continued until the Hammers submitted their first offer for Palhinha of £45m which was turned down by Fulham. A week later the Hammers returned to the table and submitted an increased offer of £50m that was also rejected by the Cottagers with the club desperate to keep their Player of the Season from last season.

Two days ago, Palhinha suffered an injury in a pre-season clash against Brentford, forced to come off injured in the first half with what looked like a dislocated shoulder, which has put any potential move this summer at risk of collapse, should the scans reveal the worst.

Speaking on The West Ham Way Podcast on Patreon, ExWHUEmployee stated that West Ham have communicated to Fulham that following the second rejection they will not be making any more offers for the 28-year-old: "Palhinha was subjected to a second verbal offer from West Ham, that offer was supposed to be at the £50m price tag. I’m not sure if that was a flat price or if it contained clauses but £50m in total which Fulham turned down and we have now said that we won’t be making any offers, which coincided with him going off injured in a pre-season friendly for Fulham with a suspected dislocated shoulder"

Who will West Ham buy instead?

West Ham do have a number of other players who they might target after moving on from Palhinha.

One such player is Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez. The Mexican was reportedly close to joining Borussia Dortmund earlier this window however that move collapsed due to the German side not wanting to pay the asking price, which is reportedly between £35-40m. Alvarez is an incredible all-around option, with his passing numbers of 83.91 passes attempted and 88.7% passes completed being comparable to some of the best in the world, whilst his defensive numbers are consistently strong according to FBref.

Manchester United's Scott McTominay is another option being considered by the Hammers according to reports. The midfielder has struggled for starts under Erik ten Hag and is free to depart this summer should the Red Devils receive a "very big offer". The United youth product is a versatile and experienced option, having made over 200 career appearances across central midfield, central defence and centre forward.

Denis Zakaria is also a reported option, however, according to ExWHUEmployee that deal is stalled due to the two clubs being unable to agree on a payment structure. The Hammers want a loan move or an installments move based on appearances made in order to account for the Swiss international's injury problems, whilst Juventus want a straight fee for the player who spent last season on loan at Chelsea.

All footballers have been left with no choice but to get in a running race with an opposition player who would likely lap you in a long-distance run. But that's just Sunday League football, where the players are usually fueled by a can of Red Bull prior to kick-off.

It's Champions League defenders that we feel sorry for, who have to come up against some of the quickest athletes in the world of sport. Made worse, too, by the fact that the humiliating race – if you can even call it that – is documented for all to see.

Poor Marc Bartra never stood a chance when Gareth Bale left him for dead to score what is now known as one of the greatest Copa del Rey and El Clasico goals.

Something tells us that the former Barcelona defender would want to avoid last season's fastest Champions League players last season, too, with a list now revealed by UEFA (via Reddit).

The order goes from Dominik Szoboszlai (10th), Moussa Diaby (ninth), Karim Adeyemi (eighth), Nuno Tavares (seventh), and Federico Valverde (sixth).

With that said, we've taken a closer look at the top five.

5

Gabriel Veron: 36.4 KM/H

Clocking an impressive speed of 36.3 kilometres per hour, Gabriel Veron makes the top five in the Champions League's fastest players last season.

Porto initially impressed on the European stage in the last campaign, topping Group B above Club Brugge, Bayer Leverkusen, and Atletico Madrid, before suffering a 1-0 defeat to eventual finalists Inter Milan in the Round of 16.

4

Rafael Leao: 36.5 KM/H

This one comes as little surprise, given the bundles of pace that Rafael Leao possesses. That, combined with his dribbling ability makes him one of the best wingers in the world.

Hitting a speed of 36.5 KM/H last season, the AC Milan man comes in as last season's fourth-fastest player in the Champions League, as his side suffered semi-final heartbreak against rivals Inter.

3

Ousmane Dembele: 36.6 KM/H

Even though he's had consistent injury issues throughout his career, Ousmane Dembele's speed has never left him, and it remains one of his greatest traits, as shown again last season.

As Barcelona were shockingly dumped out of the Champions League at the group stage, losing out to Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, Dembele managed to clock a pace of 36.6 KM/H, making him last season's third-quickest player in the competition.

2

Mykhailo Mudryk: 36.6 KM/H

This one has surprised us, given what we've seen of Mykhailo Mudryk in the Premier League. But, as it turns out, when at his best, Chelsea can expect one of the fastest players among Europe's elite.

Playing in the group stages for Shahktar Donetsk, before joining Chelsea in January and featuring against Real Madrid in the last eight, it's unknown when Mudryk clocked his top speed.

Nonetheless, hitting 36.6 KM/H, the winger was the second-quickest player in the Champions League last season.

1

Alphonso Davies: 37.1 KM/H

If you were to ask us to blindly rank who we believe would top this list, then Alphonso Davies would be the name we'd guess. The Bayern Munich left-back's pace is no secret, with Barcelona experiencing it first-hand back in their humiliating 8-2 defeat against the Bavarians in 2020.

Last season, as the fastest player in the Champions League, Davies hit an incredible speed of 37.1 KM/H.

Alex Hales smashed the highest score in a one-day final at Lord’s as Nottinghamshire successfully hunted down a target of 298 to leave Surrey defeated at the last for the third successive year in the Royal London Cup

Alan Gardner at Lord's01-Jul-2017
ScorecardAlex Hales’ 187 not out was the highest-ever List A score at Lord’s•Getty ImagesAlex Hales smashed the highest score in a one-day final at Lord’s as Nottinghamshire successfully hunted down a target of 298 to leave Surrey defeated at the last for the third successive year in the Royal London Cup. Hales’ extraordinary innings of 187 not out accounted for 63% of his side’s runs, eclipsing an accomplished, unbeaten 144 from Surrey’s Mark Stoneman earlier in the day, as well as Geoffrey Boycott’s previous mark of 146, made during the 1965 Gillette Cup final.Boycott’s innings for Yorkshire came in a 60-over innings, just two years after the advent of one-day county cricket. While he might bridle at the suggestion it should have been surpassed before now, Boycott would surely approve of his record being taken by a player of Hales’ calibre in limited-overs cricket, a man already in possession of the highest ODI and T20 scores for his country.”Incredible, one of the best days I’ve had in cricket,” Hales said. “The game went from one side to the other, they were on top to start with, we fought back really well with the ball, they took wickets early on and then we fought back as well, so it’s a great feeling to win the trophy.”As remarkable as the scale of Hales’ contribution was the ease with which he – and Stoneman – batted on a surface that was never quite as true as it appeared. Chris Read’s bustling 58 was the third-highest score in the match, as the Nottinghamshire captain, who retires at the end of the season, kept Hales company in a stand of 137 that lifted them from a troubled 150 for 5 to the brink of comparatively comfortable victory in the afternoon sunshine.Hales finished with the highest List A score ever made at Lord’s and the highest for Notts as the county claimed their second limited-overs title in four years. Read, who lifted YB40 trophy here in 2013, will play in an exhibition match at Lord’s for MCC against Afghanistan next week but could not have wished for a better finish on his last visit with Notts.Surrey’s 297 for 9 was the most substantial score in a one-day final since Durham made 312 for 5 ten years ago, but the fact it did not feel out of reach was reflective of the new realities of the game in England. Having chased 371 to beat Essex in their semi-final – after scoring 429 for 9 at Taunton a few days earlier – Notts were unlikely to be intimidated. Only Warwickshire, who hauled in a target of 322 over the course of 60 overs in 1993, had successfully chased more in the final of a one-day cup.Hales certainly wasn’t backwards in coming forwards during a majestic innings of controlled aggression, replete with crunching drives and scything pulls. He was dropped on 9, a rasping shot off Sam Curran that burst through the hands of Ollie Pope at cover, but quickly progressed to a 35-ball fifty – by which time he had lost opening partner Michael Lumb and Riki Wessels lbw for single-figure scores – and then his century from 83.He had amassed 82 out of Notts’ first 100 and 144 out of 200 and was still contributing two-thirds of the total by the time Read provided a belated support act. Hales peppered the boundary with 20 fours and four sixes – no other batsman managed to clear the ropes – and when he raised his 150, from 120 balls, Surrey could sense the game had gone for the third year running. Such was the power of his mojo, had it come a week earlier, Hales might have ended the day headlining the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.”I definitely wanted to attack the Powerplay, I thought they batted really well in it, looked like you got good value for decent cricket shots on a quick outfield,” he said. “That was my plan, obviously losing a few wickets meant you had to alter that a little bit but the way Ready played – we had our backs against the wall, to come out and score at a run a ball, when they had their tails up in the field and with the ball was a great effort. So, a special win.Told he had passed Boycott for the record in a final, he dissolved into giggles: “In a one-day game? That’s surprising… I didn’t know that but any chance you get to set a record is amazing.”While Hales motored smoothly, the throttle coughed and spluttered at the other end. Samit Patel, in such purple form going into the game, hooked Ravi Rampaul wastefully to fine leg before Jade Dernbach had Brendan Taylor caught behind. Hales just needed someone to hang around but Steven Mullaney, who had earlier delivered a pivotal spell of 9-0-50-2, became the fifth wicket to fall when Sam Curran won another lbw decision.This was the first Royal London final to be played in July, although the slightly grey start to the day and a middling crowd initially made it seem much like the faded September showpiece of recent seasons. Despite a firm surface and a magnificent effort from Stoneman, who had to rein himself in as wickets fell around him, Surrey were still somehow undone by a combination of spin and medium-pace nibble in the fashion of so many sides batting first at Lord’s on slow, late-summer pitches.Stoneman, overlooked by England when the Test squad was announced in the morning, was like Hales given a life when, on 32, an uppish drive presented Mullaney with a simple catch in the covers, only for the ball to squirm free. Notts had already seen Jason Roy dropped off the first ball of the match, a shocker from Wessels at slip, and Surrey, having chosen to bat after Gareth Batty again won the toss, must have hoped their luck in Lord’s finals had turned. Notts’ fielding remained somewhat ragged throughout, though it was Pope who would have most cause to regret his lapse.After an opening stand of 83 in 11 overs had given Surrey an excellent platform, Patel struck with his first delivery; Mullaney this time accepted the opportunity with alacrity, Roy getting a leading edge to cover as the ball gripped a little.That brought in Kumar Sangakkara, author of two Royal London hundreds this season (plus six more in the Championship). “If Sanga doesn’t come off, we’re stuffed,” opined one Surrey supporter on the way down Wellington Road before the game. Successive defeats in the final of this competition in 2015 and 2016 had clearly taken a psychological toll.Sangakkara began with his usual coiled intensity, walking into crisp forward defensives and nurdling singles before striking his first shot in anger from his 25th ball – a stroll down to flay Stuart Broad over mid-off’s outstretched arm for four. Two more boundaries followed in Broad’s next over, flicked to fine leg and then glided to third man with watch-maker’s precision, but then came the minor misjudgement that precipitated a major crisis for Surrey.Mullaney, who played a part in each of the first five wickets to fall, claimed the one every county bowler wants this season when he induced a thin nick to the keeper. Sangakkara’s 30 would turn out to be the second-highest contribution for Surrey, as they lost 4 for 39, Mullaney and Patel combining for an old-school knackering of a gleaming middle-order, full of young talent but unable to provide Stoneman with any substantial support. For Surrey, it was deja vu all over again.

Former South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman Nic Pothas has been appointed Sri Lanka’s interim coach days after Graham Ford quit the job, following the team’s group-stage exit at the Champions Trophy this month. Pothas, who has served as Sri Lanka’s fielding coach since August last year, will oversee the team until the end of the India tour, SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala said.Pothas’ role as interim coach will begin at home with the five-match ODI series against Zimbabwe, which starts on June 30, followed by one Test. Before taking over as Sri Lanka’s fielding coach, Pothas was the academy director at Leicestershire County and has also served as the director of cricket at Guernsey.Pothas played three ODIs for South Africa in 2000 but did not manage to find a regular spot in the team, with Mark Boucher holding the incumbent post. A long-time Hampshire player, Pothas scored over 11,000 runs and effected 659 dismissals in 218 first-class games.”We have a strategic plan to engage the next coach and Nic Pothas is also a good contender for it,” Sumathipala said. “There are professional coaches who are currently engaged and shown a lot of interest and we are confident we will have one at the end of the Indian tour. We will not have to look too far to find somebody who will be competent to take this team till the 2019 World Cup.”Sumathipala also said that there were also Sri Lanka Cricket coaches who have shown interest in the job but added, “we will have to first discuss with our cricket committee and our support team the plan and structure – what kind of coach that we are looking at. When we looked at Dav Whatmore he was a developing coach, he could develop an ordinary team to a world-class side. There are coaches very good at looking after professional advanced ongoing teams. We have to make an assessment on the situation and deploy the right person with the right spirit.”