European giants AC Milan have now reportedly made their move for a “quality” Liverpool player, with the individual in question not part of Arne Slot’s plans.
Liverpool head off to Asia without certain players
The Reds are continuing their preparations for the defence of their Premier League title, with the start of the new season now less than a month away, and the champions opening their account with a home clash against Bournemouth on August 15th.
Liverpool have now flown off to Asia for two pre-season friendlies over the next eight days, taking on AC Milan in Hong Kong on Saturday and then Yokohama FM in Japan on July 30th.
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While the usual suspects are all involved for the Reds, from Mohamed Salah to new signing Florian Wirtz – Hugo Ekitike will head to Asia once his move to Anfield is officially completed – some players haven’t made the cut.
One such figure is Federico Chiesa, with the 27-year-old enduring a tough first season at Liverpool and now not being a part of Slot’s plans moving forward with a move away expected. For that reason, a key update has now emerged regarding his future.
AC Milan in contact with Liverpool forward Chiesa
According to a fresh claim from Caught Offside, AC Milan have now initiated “indirect contact” with Liverpool attacker Chiesa over a summer move to the club.
It is noted that “the financial dimension could pose challenges”, though, while former club Juventus are also mentioned as potential suitors for the £13m-rated Italian. Atletico Madrid and Atalanta are said to be in the mix, too, and “his omission from the club’s Asia tour squad makes it increasingly clear” that an exit is expected.
Losing Chiesa would be a shame, considering what a popular figure he has been among the fanbase, mainly because of his strong team ethic and beaming smile, even when he isn’t featuring much.
It does appear as though Slot doesn’t consider him part of his plans moving forward, though, despite former Reds Under-23s manager Barry Lewtas heaping praise on him last year, in terms of the impact he made alongside young players.
“Obviously you can see from the quality of his career so far, this is why he’s at one of the best clubs in the world. His professionalism and his quality were really good. It obviously just gives our boys a little bit of a chance to play against someone of that quality [and] it’s a really good learning opportunity for them.”
Keeping Chiesa would be no bad thing, in terms of squad depth, but the brutal reality is that he didn’t do enough to impress Slot in his first year at Liverpool, so omitting him from the pre-season tour and looking to move him on does make sense as the Reds look to cash in.
Manchester City and Tottenham are reportedly interested in signing a rising Aberdeen star next summer.
Aberdeen player attracting interest
Scouts tracking teenager's progress
Tottenham and Man City linked
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According to TEAMtalk, City and Tottenham are keeping tabs on Aberdeen academy star Cooper Masson. The 16-year-old is currently out on loan at Scottish second-tier side Kelty Hearts, where he has impressed from the off.
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The report adds that speculation over a move to one of the Premier League sides is likely to grow next summer. The 16-year-old is enjoying his first loan spell in senior football and has made eight appearances in all competitions for Kelty to date.
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The young midfielder, who has played in central midfield, defensive midfield, and attacking midfield this season, was called up to Scotland's Under-19 squad for the Slovenia Nations Cup late last month.
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Masson, whose energy and passing range have reportedly caught the eye of the Premier League giants, could feature for Kelty on Saturday when they host Stenhousemuir in Scottish League One action.
Leeds United officially confirmed the signing of German central midfielder Anton Stach from Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim as their latest arrival on Tuesday.
The 6 foot 4 enforcer becomes the club’s sixth signing of the summer transfer window after Sean Longstaff, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Jaka Bijol, Lukas Nmecha, and Sebastiaan Bornauw.
Stach, 26, made 3.7 tackles and interceptions per game across 30 outings in the Bundesliga last season, but has joined to compete in a bloated midfield set-up, with Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev, Ao Tanaka, and Longstaff also at the club.
This means that he has not arrived as an essential signing, albeit he may well go on to be a huge success, and that is why the club’s interest in a new goalkeeper could be an even better signing.
Leeds in the race to sign new goalkeeper
It is no secret that Leeds need to improve their options between the sticks, after Illan Meslier was dropped towards the end of last season after he conceded 2.73 more goals than expected, based on xG, and made three errors that directly led to goals.
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According to Het Laatste Nieuws, as relayed by TEAMtalk, Leeds United are eyeing up a potential swoop to sign goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp this summer.
The report claims that the Championship champions have emerged as serious contenders to sign the 23-year-old shot-stopper to bolster Daniel Farke’s squad for next season.
Senne Lammens for Royal Antwerp.
However, it adds that Manchester United are also interested in the Belgian star, who is valued at a fee of up to £17m by his club, which means that there could be significant competition for his signature.
Why Senne Lammens would be a big signing for Leeds
Lammens would be an even better signing than Stach for Leeds because he would arrive as a huge upgrade in a position that the club are currently desperately lacking in quality.
The latest Whites signing is part of a healthy group of quality midfield options, which means that he is not guaranteed to be a regular starter, but the Belgian goalkeeper would come straight in as Farke’s best goalkeeper.
Lammens, who saved four of the eight penalties he faced in the Pro League last season, produced outstanding performances for Royal Antwerp in the 2024/25 campaign, and could be a phenomenal signing for the club.
24/25 season
Lammens (Pro League)
Meslier (Championship)
Appearances
40
39
Save percentage
77%
71%
Penalties saved
4/8
1/4
Goals prevented
+15.57
-2.73
Saves
173
65
Error led to goal
2
3
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Belgian goalkeeper would come in as an unbelievable upgrade on Meslier if he can carry his form over to English football, as he prevented a ridiculous 15.57 goals based on the xG against him.
These statistics suggest that Lammens, whose shot-stopping numbers were hailed as “remarkable” by Statman Dave, would be a huge positive between the sticks for Leeds, as a goalkeeper who can make game-changing saves to keep his team in matches.
Whereas, Meslier has let Leeds down too many times with his inconsistent shot-stopping, which has led to him conceding more than the average goalkeeper would be expected to based on the quality of shots against him.
Therefore, Lammens would be a huge upgrade on what the Whites currently have in goal, and he would arrive as a crucial signing for Farke ahead of their attempt to avoid an instant relegation from the Premier League.
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That is why the Royal Antwerp stopper would be an even better signing than Stach for the Whites this summer, because he would solve a problem position for the club, whilst the midfielder is competing in an area of the pitch that Farke has plenty of quality in.
Australian allrounder follows 63 not out with 4 for 11 in 82-run hammering at The Oval
ECB Media02-Aug-2024
Annabel Sutherland followed up her 63* with a 4 for 11 to give Northern Superchargers their first win of the season•ECB via Getty Images
Annabel Sutherland inspired Northern Superchargers to their first victory of the Hundred with a sterling all-round performance at The Kia Oval.The powerful Australian made 63 from 40 balls to take her team to an imposing total of 146 for 4, before taking 4 for 11 with the ball to wrap up the win. Her four wickets were all clean bowled, and came from the last six balls of the match to ensure it was a game very much defined by her abilities.After a loss and a tie, Sutherland’s heroics provided Hollie Armitage’s team with their first win of the campaign and further opened up the table in a year that has seeing every team lose at least once.”It is so nice to get a win on the board,” Sutherland. “I don’t think we were that far off last game with the tie. We’ve felt pretty good as a group. We’ve bowled very well, we just haven’t quite put it together with the bat, so it was nice to do it out there.”Needing a win, Davina Perrin set the tone for the Superchargers with two early boundaries – and though her stay was a short one, caught superbly by Amanda-Jade Wellington off the bowling of Rachel Slater, her aggression gave an indication of what was to come from the visitors.Phoebe Litchfield took on the mantle, backed up by England wicket-keeper Bess Heath, but it was Sutherland’s innings – featuring three long-levered sixes into the sun-drenched crowd – that stood out.Oval Invincibles’ 100 per cent record in the competition so far would have given them hope of chasing down Superchargers’ 146, and so too would the introduction of Chamari Athapaththu, the Sri Lankan skipper making her first appearance in this year’s competition after her country’s Asia Cup success.But Athapaththu wasn’t to last long, dismissed on the 20th ball of the innings, caught smartly by Kate Cross off the bowling off Linsey Smith. Two balls later, Invincibles were five down when Cross bowled Mady Villiers, the second of her two wickets having earlier trapped Winfield-Hill in front.Smith also accounted for Alice Capsey, with Marizanne Kapp undone by a run-out, and at 23 for 5 the contest was as good as done.Paige Scholfield and Wellington re-built for Invincibles, without ever threatening Superchargers’ total, and then Sutherland returned to take four in six and put Superchargers on the board.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is certainly not hanging about when it comes to improving his squad.
After a first trophyless season since 2016/17, the Spaniard has begun the summer transfer window with a bang.
Manchester City managerPepGuardiolabefore the match
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss looks to have completed a deal for Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan for a fee in the region of £46.3m, while Lyon’s Rayan Cherki is close to signing on a deal worth at least £25m.
Why Man City are signing Reijnders and Cherki
Reijnders could turn into a bargain given how impressive he was for Milan last season. Across 54 games for the Italian side, he scored 15 goals and grabbed five assists.
This came despite the club missing out on European competition after finishing eighth in Serie A last term.
AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders.
The Dutchman may prove to be an ideal replacement for Kevin De Bruyne, who leaves at the Etihad end of the month. In Cherki, Guardiola has also secured a player for a fee which may well turn out to be one of his finest deals.
The Frenchman shone for France in their Nations League defeat to Spain on Thursday evening. Making his debut when he came on with just 30 minutes left, the winger scored and provided an assist in the 5-4 defeat.
For a combined fee of just over £70m, it is certainly money well spent by the Spaniard as he looks ahead to the Club World Cup and next season.
There is a player at the club who is worth more than the pair put together, however, and he shone throughout 2024/25.
The Man City star who's worth more than Reijnders & Cherki
Brazilian winger, Savinho, made the move from Troyes to City last summer after impressing on loan at Girona.
Not many expected him to settle in as well as he did, as the youngster went on to register 14 goal involvements – two goals and 12 assists – in 45 games for the club.
Savinho’s PL stats for Man City last season
Goals
1
Assists
8
Big chances created
11
Successful dribbles
1.8
Shots per game
1.9
Key passes per game
1.6
Via Sofascore
Such was his impact at the start of last season, former Arsenal midfielder turned pundit, Paul Merson, claimed that the winger could turn into a “superstar” for City.
Indeed, when compared with his peers across the big five European leagues, Savinho ranks in the top 4% for progressive carries (6.61) and in the top 4% for successful take-ons (2.69) and touches in the attacking penalty area (7.57) over the previous 365 days.
These statistics are evidence of his stature among the best wide players on the continent, and he will only go from strength to strength next season.
According to the Football Observatory, Savinho is currently valued at €100.5m (£85m) after an excellent debut season in the Premier League.
Therefore, he is worth more than what look to be two of City’s newest arrivals, demonstrating how good he has been since the start of last season.
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Guardiola will be hoping that Reijnders and Cherki can make similar sorts of impacts at the club when the 2025/26 campaign begins in August. No doubt about that.
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Barry Ferguson has three more matches left to manage as the interim head coach of Glasgow Rangers before he moves on from Ibrox this summer.
The former Scotland international came in to replace Philippe Clement earlier this year and has only won four of his 12 games in charge of Rangers to date, drawing his most recent clash in the Old Firm derby.
Ferguson, therefore, has not done much to suggest that the new owners, when they complete their takeover, should be looking to hand him the role on a full-time basis moving forward.
In fact, TEAMtalk recently reported that the 49ers want to appoint a fresh face with no prior connection to Rangers, which immediately rules out Ferguson, who has now played for and managed the Light Blues.
The outlet added that Steven Gerrard is also out of the running, because of that stance, and will not be returning to Ibrox for a second stint in the dugout.
Whilst the 49ers will not be pursuing a move for the out-of-contract English tactician, they should be looking for a manager who can be their own version of the Liverpool legend.
Why the 49ers should want their own Steven Gerrard
Back in the summer of 2018, Rangers, who were aiming to put Celtic’s dominant run of league titles to a stop, confirmed the appointment of Gerrard on a four-year contract.
Nathan Patterson, Steven Gerrard
Prior to that summer, the Hoops had won seven Scottish Premiership titles in as many seasons and the Gers needed a manager who could wrestle back control of the league.
Gerrard was a risky appointment, as he had not managed a first-team game by that point, and it was not a move that instantly worked out for the Light Blues, because the English boss needed time to develop a style and to build a squad that was ready to win the title.
Rangers finished in second place, behind Celtic, in the manager’s first two seasons at Ibrox, before they went on to win the division in the 2020/21 campaign, going unbeaten in the process.
Matches
38
12
Wins
32
8
Draws
6
3
Defeats
0
1
Points
102
27
Points per game
2.68
2.25
League position
1st (Champions)
1st
As you can see in the table above, Gerrard’s side won 32 of their 38 matches that season to clinch the Premiership crown and to stop Celtic from winning ten in a row.
The Light Blues then won eight of their first 12 matches in the following season, taking them to the top of the table, before the manager decided to pursue an opportunity with Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Steven Gerrard
Unfortunately, Rangers have finished second in all four of their seasons without Gerrard at the helm, as Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale, Philippe Clement, and Barry Ferguson have all failed to deliver a title to the Ibrox faithful.
The 49ers should, therefore, want to find their own version of the English boss because they now face the same task that the club faced in 2018: stopping Celtic’s title dominance.
Why Rangers should target Frank Lampard
Back in October 2023, when Beale was relieved of his duties, Sky Sports reported that Frank Lampard had shown an interest in the available post at Ibrox.
Almost two years later, the 49ers must target the English manager to see if he would be interested in the job this time around, should Coventry fail to earn promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.
Frank Lampard in charge of Coventry City.
It seems unlikely that he would want to ditch the Sky Blues if they make their way to the top-flight in England, but Rangers must attempt to convince Lampard to make the move to Scotland if Coventry do not join Leeds United and Burnley in the top division.
The 46-year-old tactician, who typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 formation, joined the Sky Blues when they were 17th in the Championship and level on points with the bottom three and led them to a fifth-placed finish, to secure a place in the play-offs.
Speaking on talkSPORT recently, pundit Jermaine Jenas hailed Lampard’s ability to work through criticism and claimed that he has done a “pretty special” job at Coventry, which is hard to argue against when you look at the images above.
The former Chelsea midfielder, who played alongside Gerrard at international level for England in their playing days, has had mixed success throughout his managerial career, but is currently thriving at the CBS Arena.
24/25
Championship (Coventry)
29
1.79
5th
22/23
Premier League (Chelsea)
9
0.56
12th
22/23
Premier League (Everton)
20
0.75
19th
21/22
Premier League (Everton)
18
1.11
16th
20/21
Premier League (Chelsea)
19
1.53
9th
19/20
Premier League (Chelsea)
38
1.74
4th
18/19
Championship (Derby County)
46
1.61
6th
As you can see in the table above, Lampard enjoyed early success with sixth and fourth place finishes with Derby County and Chelsea, before being sacked by the Premier League giants and by Everton.
He then endured a dismal interim spell at Chelsea after Graham Potter’s dismissal at Stamford Bridge, earning just 0.56 points per game across nine matches, before taking the Coventry job earlier this season.
Whilst managing at the top of the Premier League may be a step too far for him at this moment in time, Lampard has finished in the play-off positions in both of his seasons in the Championship with Derby and Coventry, which shows that he can motivate and set up a team to win consistently.
Couple that with the respect that his playing career earns him, and there is a compelling argument to suggest that he could be the 49ers’ own version of Gerrard in the new era at Ibrox, as another manager on the up who has something to prove rather than someone who has been there and done it and may not have the same motivation.
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Like Gerrard, Lampard is yet to win a league title and the prospect of doing that at Ibrox could be an attractive and highly-motivating factor for him, which is why the 49ers could tempt him to leave Coventry if his side fails to win the play-offs.
The English tactician has shown promise at Championship level and has proven that he can galvanise a losing team and turn it into a winning one, which is, in essence, what Rangers are in need of.
Liverpool are now keen on signing a “brilliant” Premier League forward, with a deal likely to be possible for a fee of around £65m this summer, according to a report.
Reds set sights on new forward
Arne Slot could hardly have asked for a better debut season at Anfield, with his side surpassing all expectations to win the Premier League title, but there have been some claims the manager will need to make a number of changes this summer.
Jamie Carragher believes Slot should make five or six additions to his squad, saying back in March: “He needs a centre-back as back-up to the two that we have, he’ll need a right-back with Trent Alexander-Arnold likely to leave.
“I think he needs a centre midfielder to replace Endo, someone younger and that he trusts, a centre-forward to play and a left-winger.”
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With Trent recently confirming his intention to leave, signing a new right-back will be an important task for the recruitment team, but there is also a need to strengthen in attacking areas, given an overreliance on Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz.
That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Liverpool’s current dependence on Salah and Diaz could lead them to make a move for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, who they have been closely monitoring.
Brentford's BryanMbeumocelebrates after the match
The Reds are keen on signing Mbeumo, given his exploits for the Bees in the Premier League this season, but he is unlikely to come cheap, with his current club set to hold out for a fee in the region of £60m – £65m.
There may also be fierce competition for the Cameroonian’s signature, with Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United expressing an interest.
"Brilliant" Mbeumo enjoying incredible campaign
The Brentford star has been prolific in front of goal in the Premier League this season, finding the back of the net 18 times in 35 matches, while also providing seven assists, which is perhaps why he has been compared to a current Liverpool forward.
TalkSPORT’s Jason Cundy has lauded the 25-year-old as a “mini Salah”, while he has also received very high praise from football writer Samuel Luckhurst.
Much like the Egyptian, the France-born forward specialises at right-wing, but he has also featured as a centre-forward on a number of occasions this season, indicating he could also be able to replace Darwin Nunez, who could be shown the exit door.
Mbeumo is unlikely to displace Salah at right-wing anytime soon, but his goalscoring exploits and versatility indicate he could be a fantastic option for Slot at striker.
One of Celtic’s key figures could choose to leave the club in the summer, with former scout Mick Brown of the belief that he is “not entirely happy”.
Hoops' summer transfer plans taking shape
It has been another dominant season in the Scottish Premiership for the Hoops, who are on course to win the title for the fourth season on the spin, currently sitting 13 points clear of Rangers at the top of the table.
However, the reigning Scottish champions will be eager to maintain their grip on the title, which means some additional reinforcements may be needed this summer, and signing a new midfielder is deemed to be a priority.
Brendan Rodgers has identified FC Augsburg’s Elvis Rexhbecaj as a potential successor to Callum McGregor in the middle of the park, while there is also interest in Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, who has struggled for game time under Arne Slot.
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There may also be some departures in the summer window, with Greg Taylor now set to leave, while the Scottish side are also at risk of losing Daizen Maeda, who has been one of their star performers this season.
Losing Maeda could be a real blow for Celtic, and Mick Brown believes another key figure could seek to leave this summer, namely Rodgers, with the former scout indicating the Northern Irishman could be keen on a return to England.
“If Rodgers was offered a Premier League job, he would take it. He’d be interested in coming back to England and I think he’s not entirely happy at Celtic.
“At the moment, Celtic are dominant in Scotland, there’s nobody challenging them.
Celtic manager BrendanRodgersbefore the match
“But Rodgers wants more than that – he’s thinking about European football. Being dominant in Scotland is fine, but if they could strengthen enough to be competitive in Europe, then he would be happy to stay.
"Outstanding" Rodgers must stay at Parkhead
Of course, the 52-year-old has chosen to leave Celtic in the past, infamously moving to Leicester City, so it is not out of the question that he decides to move on again, with his contract set to expire in the summer.
However, the board should do everything they can to keep hold of the “outstanding” manager, as hailed by Ange Postecoglou, given that he is on course to win yet another treble this season.
Back in February, the Hoops boss confirmed he was “very happy” at Parkhead, but his contract situation will understandably raise concerns.
That said, Brown seems to suggest Rodgers could be tempted to stay if Celtic are willing to strengthen considerably in the summer, in order to make them more competitive in Europe, so that should be the aim when the season comes to a close.
How the cricketing world responded to India’s 336-run win against England in the second Test
ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jul-2025
Shubman Gill picks up a souvenir after the win•Getty Images
Shubman Gill, Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj stole the headlines as India won their first Test in Edgbaston with a 336-run victory — their biggest away victory by runs. Gill registered scores of 269 and 161, while Akash Deep became only the second Indian bowler to return a 10-wicket haul in England. Siraj also played his part, with figures of 6 for 70 in England’s first innings. Cricketers, both current and retired, took to social media to congratulate India on a famous triumph.
Great victory for India at Edgbaston. Fearless and kept pushing England to the wall. Brilliantly led by Shubhman with the bat and in the field and impactful performances from everyone. Special mention to Siraj and Akash for the way they bowled on this pitch. @ShubmanGill…
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) July 6, 2025
A lime innings from the of the moment! Congratulations, @ShubmanGill, on powering India to a brilliant Test victory! @RishabhPant17, @klrahul, and @imjadeja batted very well, especially in the 2nd innings.
India’s approach was to take England out of this… pic.twitter.com/4REiYoY9uf
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 6, 2025
Winning a Test in England is about showing heart when it gets tough! No @Jaspritbumrah93, away from home, backs to the wall and still the boys found a way! #AkashDeep was fearless and unplayable and @ShubmanGill showed maturity beyond his years! That’s the kind of win you…
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) July 6, 2025
Well done, Team India on an exceptional victory! It was amazing to see the team's fighting spirit and resilience. Congratulations Shubman on an outstanding match with the bat and for leading the team with such poise. A great start to your captaincy. Also great effort from Shiraj… pic.twitter.com/ieDfVITLBH
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) July 6, 2025
What a performance from shubman gill and his team.. with the bat and now with the ball..akasdeep and Siraj just brilliant .indian attack looking far superior than the English attack .. Akasdeep and Siraj are workhorses.india win without bumrah..Can’t be better result with the…
Outstanding win in Birmingham. While this should be remembered as the Shubman Gill Test match for his incredible 430 runs, but the efforts from Siraj in the first innings and Akash Deep in both innings on a surface which didn’t have much for the bowlers was an outstanding effort.… pic.twitter.com/qwrdnjMcHl
— Virrender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) July 6, 2025
What a historic Test win by Team India!
Brilliantly led by @ShubmanGill and a phenomenal 6-wicket haul by #AkashDeep in the second innings. And over 1000 runs in a single Test match, never been done before! Pure dominance #INDvsENG
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) July 6, 2025
INDIA REGISTERED THEIR BIGGEST EVER TEST WIN AWAY FROM HOME UNDER @ShubmanGill @BCCI WELL PLAYED TEAM INDIA WELL BOWLED #AkashDeep pic.twitter.com/ITp4L6Oiw0
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) July 6, 2025
First century against Australia in eight years was a remarkable display on a remarkable day
Vithushan Ehantharajah16-Jun-2023The clenched teeth and pumped fists barely lasted an instant, concealed in a split-second gap for privacy in front of thousands before Ollie Robinson invaded his personal space with a bear hug. A look to the heavens followed, cheeks puffed, before the helmet went back on. He wasn’t looking for anyone in particular up there, though of course he was grateful for any intervention from above. It was merely a chance to exhale all the stress into the atmosphere, and expel a few demons too.It feels like a contradiction to describe a seventh century in the space of 18 months, and a 30th across a celebrated career, as “necessary”. But Joe Root’s reactions after nudging his 145th delivery of the day into the leg side suggest that the man himself might have believed it to be true.An unwanted streak had been broken. A first three-figure score against Australia since Trent Bridge in 2015, finally closing a sequence of 12 half-centuries in 16 matches in the interim. As a heritage batter in an England Test team that had flunked all too often in that time, and as captain for most of those games too, perhaps Root himself had framed that period as a dereliction of duty. On the opening day of this series at Edgbaston, he went some way towards making amends.This was as much a reiteration of his brilliance – a fifth consecutive fifty-plus score, a feat he achieved on one previous occasion when he managed six in 2014 and 2015 – as a clear indicator of his top-rank among high-flying renegades.England’s innings jagged chaotically like an MC Escher painting. The stairs were leading somewhere, but not all were going up. A fair few fell off altogether in their rush.Joe Root reverse-scooped Pat Cummins for six in one of his most jaw-dropping moments•ECB/Getty ImagesNo dramas, of course. England’s set-up is all about ensuring mistakes are made in the right way. This was just falling with style. But when 175 for 3 became 176 for 5 as Ben Stokes blazed the best-looking edge through to the wicketkeeper you ever did see, it did feel a bit much. And when the England captain’s next act was to call an end to the innings on 393 for 8, it felt just fine.Root’s sensibilities became an even greater virtue. The process of rebuilding the innings was diligent, particularly in a stand with Jonny Bairstow which came to an end on 121 from 140. Moeen Ali button-bashed, Stuart Broad pressed the wrong button altogether, and Robinson, eventually, opted to stick around. By then, Root’s status as the only adult in the room had been established.Except, well, to describe this knock as “mature” might give you the wrong impression. Because while it was crafted by a seasoned hand, none of the pitfalls associated with maturity – limited creativity, suffocating responsibility – were on view. He was also charging up and down those upside-down stairs, albeit while remembering to keep one hand on the bannister.Joe Root’s hundreds in Ashes•ESPNcricinfo LtdThe reverse-lap-scoop-jaw-dropper sweep, now as reliable a club in his bag as that dab that accesses the same part of third man (albeit on the ground rather than over), got two airings – first off Scott Boland, then Pat Cummins. Both went for six.In the 50th over, as Nathan Lyon threatened to get into a groove, Root unfurled three successive reverse-sweeps. The first beat Josh Hazlewood’s attempt in the deep to stop it from going for four. The second was scuffed off his glove onto his pad, meaning the lbw decision given against him was overturned on review. And yep, the third – more ramp than scoop, but very much from the same family, under the same roof – was nailed as an act of uncharacteristically showy defiance.”It takes a lot of skill, a lot of endeavour and patience,” Bairstow said afterwards, and he knows a lot about defiance.”The way he manipulated the strike, the tempo of going up and down, sucking up pressure to then put pressure back on the opposition, is a trait of his that a lot of people would like to have.”We’ve always known that Root could be one of the boys if he wanted to, particularly given all this is very ODI Root. But it took time for the man himself to work out just how he wanted to fit in in his post-captaincy era. And having overcome a period of unnecessary introspection during the second half of 2022, this was the clearest indication yet that his decision to assume a more outlandish streak has enhanced previous strengths rather than drowned them out.Related
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This is especially evident when you delve into the minutiae of this overdue Australian century. Coming into this Test, Root had hit five sixes against Australia. Two of them came in the 2013 home series, three in 2015. As captain in Ashes series – 29 innings across 15 matches – he did hit none. Today, he struck four.The last, skipping down to Lyon and depositing him over his head, was the most manufactured of them all, after news of the impending declaration had been passed on covertly. That jaws were still slack with surprise at the move meant Root’s ovation from the crowd was muted. But after taking a break for a rub-down as Australia’s innings began, he returned for the field for the final over of the day to lead England off on one of its most storied days.There’s another important nugget here. England have not lost to Australia in matches where Root has scored centuries. Given the hosts’ decision to advance the game, that already feels like a statistical quirk with less relevance. The game is still the same, but how it is being approached makes cues from history harder to gauge.Not unlike Root. He remains very much the same, certainly in the eyes of his teammates.”You see the smile on his face, you see the cheeky little grin that he has and when his legs bop around and runs through and what have you,” Bairstow said, recalling the moment Root reached three figures. Somehow he was still reminiscing about previous days, even while discussing this one.The Root of the past was great. The Root to come could be greater.