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While they are still some way from being the finished article, Chelsea have built a squad full of incredible players over the last few years.

The likes of Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Marc Cucurella, and probably even Enzo Fernández would be able to get into most Premier League teams.

However, at the same time, West Londoners also have more than a few players who are arguably holding them back, with Tosin Adarabioyo perhaps the most obvious example over the last few weeks.

The former Fulham star has been at the centre of more than a few dire defensive performances for Chelsea, so it’s not all that surprising to see reports linking them to someone who’d be a dream upgrade.

Chelsea target Tosin upgrade

While talk of a title race might be a tad premature for Chelsea this season, they are most certainly in a race for the Champions League place.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

With that in mind, it’s unsurprising to see them linked with a plethora of talented players ahead of the transfer window reopening next month.

For example, the Blues are among several Premier League sides who have shown real interest in RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande and have also been linked with Juventus’ Kenan Yıldız.

However, while hugely talented, neither of those exciting wingers would help solve the West Londoners’ defensive problems, nor send Tosin packing, unlike Castello Lukeba.

Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Chelsea have maintained their intense interest in the French centre-back.

In fact, the report goes further, revealing that the Blues are now ready to submit a bid of up to £52m for the player in the coming weeks.

Interestingly, while the 22-year-old has a release clause worth around €80million in his contract, which is £70m, the report claims that Leipzig may be willing to cash in on the player for that £52m fee in January.

However, it might not be all that straightforward, as the story also states that Bayern Munich are keen to make a mid-season move for the highly rated defender.

In all, it could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Lukeba’s ability and potential, one Chelsea should be pursuing, especially as he could send Tosin packing.

How Lukeba compares to Tosin

Now, when it comes to midfielders, forwards and wingers, it can be relatively straightforward to compare players, as more often than not, their goals and assists are going to be what matters most.

However, when it comes to defenders, and centre-backs in particular, it can be a little trickier, and as a result, you have to go into more detail, you have to take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

Unfortunately for Tosin, doing so demonstrates just how far ahead of him Lukeba is.

For example, according to FBref, the Frenchman comes out on top in the vast majority of relevant metrics, including, but not limited to, blocks, interceptions, and ball recoveries, all per 90.

In other words, as analyst-turned-scout Ben Mattinson puts it, the Frenchman is a “defensively exceptional” centre-back.

However, his advantages over Tosin extend to more than just his ability off the ball.

For example, the “outstanding” titan, per Mattinson, also comes out on top in metrics like progressive passes and carries, shot and goal-creating actions, key passes, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Essentially, the Leipzig star is someone who can snuff out an opposition attack and then, either through his carrying ability or range of passing, kickstart one for his own side.

Ultimately, from every conceivable angle, it’s clear that Lukeba would be a massive upgrade on Tosin and, therefore, Chelsea should do all they can to sign him in January.

Gittens upgrade: BlueCo convinced they must sign £87m star for Chelsea

The sensational superstar in the making would be an incredible signing for Chelsea, but bad news for Gittens.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

4 days ago

Bayern Munich sensation Lennart Karl has been hailed as a once-in-a-lifetime talent by Dietmar Hamann, who claims the 17-year-old is currently outshining superstars Harry Kane and Michael Olise. The Liverpool legend believes Karl's explosion onto the scene is so significant that even Jamal Musiala faces a genuine fight to regain his starting spot in the side upon his return from injury.

• Hamann stunned by teenager's impact

  The hierarchy at the Allianz Arena likely expected this season to be defined by the continued brilliance of Kane or the flair of star winger Olise. Instead, the headlines in Bavaria are being monopolised by a 17-year-old academy graduate who has seemingly come from nowhere to seize control of the Bayern attack. Karl, a name known previously only to ardent followers of youth football, has exploded onto the senior stage in recent weeks, delivering record-breaking performances in the Champions League and excelling in the Bundesliga.

  Speaking on on , former Bayern and Liverpool midfielder Hamann expressed his disbelief at the immediate impact the teenager has made. Hamann, often a critical voice regarding Bayern's affairs, was effusive in his praise, suggesting that the youngster is currently performing at a level higher than the club's most expensive assets.

  "It is impressive that a 17-year-old with his technical skills and healthy self-confidence is putting stars like Harry Kane and Michael Olise in the shade," Hamann declared. "I have never seen anything like it, the influence he has on a top European team."

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  Musiala warned of new competition

  The emergence of Karl has occurred largely due to an opening in the squad created by the absence of Musiala. The established German international has been sidelined with a horrific injury since the summer, allowing Karl to step into the creative void. While most observers assumed Musiala would walk straight back into the starting XI once fit, Hamann believes the dynamic has fundamentally shifted.

  In a claim that underscores just how high Karl's stock has risen, the pundit warned that Musiala – widely considered the face of the club's future – can no longer take his position for granted. According to Hamann, the incumbent star now has a serious challenger who is currently playing the best football in the league.

  "When Jamal Musiala comes back, he first has to show that he can get past Lennart Karl," Hamann stated, throwing down the gauntlet to the returning playmaker.

• A wildcard for the World Cup?

  The implications of Karl's meteoric rise extend beyond the Bundesliga title race. With the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico looming on the horizon next summer, the conversation has inevitably turned to the German national team. Former Bayern CEO and goalkeeping legend Oliver Kahn joined Hamann on the panel and echoed the sentiment that Karl could be a secret weapon for Julian Nagelsmann, despite not having been called up to the senior team as of yet.

  "It simply makes you happy when such a young player plays without pressure in a shark tank like Munich," Kahn said. "Of course, you are carefree at that age, but you still have to do it like that first. You can see his qualities and he should just ride the wave as long as possible.

  "He has now played his way into the starting XI. And if he continues like this, he won't need any major teething troubles with the national team either. And even at a World Cup, there are moments where you can make good use of such a player and he can make a big difference."

  Hamann agreed, arguing that if the 17-year-old maintains this level of performance through the spring, he must be on the plane to North America. "If Karl continues to play even remotely like this, the national team cannot afford not to take him to the World Cup," he added.

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  A future headache for Kompany

  Vincent Kompany now faces the type of selection headache that managers dream of, yet dread. With Musiala nearing a return to full fitness, the Bayern coach must decide how to integrate his returning star without disrupting the momentum of his new prodigy.

The 2025 Major League Baseball All-Star starters were announced on Wednesday night. National League frontrunner for MVP, Shohei Ohtani, and American League MVP candidate Aaron Judge highlighted the lists for both leagues, securing their spots earlier this month as leading vote-getters.

Now we know which players will fill out the AL and NL starting lineups alongside them.

The 2025 Major League All-Star game is set for Tuesday, July 15 at 8 p.m. ET at Truist Park in Atlanta.

American League All-Star Starters

C: Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners

1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays

2B: Gleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers

SS: Jacob Wilson, Athletics

3B: Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians

OF: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

OF: Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers

OF: Javier Baez, Detroit Tigers

DH: Ryan O'Hearn, Baltimore Orioles

National League All-Stars

C: Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers

1B: Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers

2B: Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks

SS: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets

3B: Manny Machado, San Diego Padres

OF: Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves

OF: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs

OF: Kyle Tucker, Chicago Cubs

DH: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers

The red-hot Toronto Blue Jays surged into first place in the American League East by sweeping the New York Yankees in a four-game series last week. Their rivalry spilled over from the field and into the broadcast booths when Jamie Campbell, host of on SportsNet, took a shot at Yankees announcing legend Michael Kay.

"We have been asked about the broom relentlessly these last couple of days, so here it is because we just witnessed something that has not been done in the history of the Blue Jays," said Campbell. "Sweeping all four from the Yankees here in Toronto. First time. And I can think of a certain Yankee broadcaster in fact who is going to have to go on his show tomorrow and admit that the Blue Jays are a first-place team because the standings prove it."

This came on the heels of Kay saying the Blue Jays were "not a first-place team."

The conversation continued as Kay offered a response to Campbell's bit.

“Imagine if (YES Network studio analyst) Jack Curry was waving a broom on the Yankees postgame show,” Kay said. “He would probably be called into the office and shortly fired after that.

“Now, I love Toronto. It is a cosmopolitan city. It is one of the greatest cities in the world, for me. You’re waving a broom on a postgame show, you are turning it into Mayberry RFD. I just don’t get it. I don’t understand it. You should be proud of the fact you are in first place.

“And one final thing: You shouldn’t hang on the rim three minutes into the third quarter of a basketball game. Feel good about sweeping the Yankees. Feel good about winning all these games in a row. Feel good about being in first place. But to hang on the rim this early? Let’s hang on the rim in October. That’s when you hang on the rim.”

All good broadcasting beefs must come to an end, though. And it appears that détente has been reached as Campbell and Kay have now traded classy messages.

So things, finally, seem to be resolved for now. There's plenty of season left and it's looking like the Blue Jays and Yankees will be battling it out for the division. Might be worth keeping an eye on.

As fears begin to re-emerge that Bruno Fernandes could leave the club, one Manchester United insider has claimed that the Red Devils are already preparing an internal replacement.

Update on Fernandes' Man Utd future

Whilst Saudi Arabia did come calling and there was a brief moment that some believed Fernandes could be on his way out of Old Trafford, his heart ultimately lied at Man United. Their star man stayed put instead of sealing a transfer that could have been worth as much as £100m, but the saga may not be done there.

Fernandes’ reward for staying put has been a new role in Ruben Amorim’s side. Instead of playing in one of the two advanced roles as arguably one of the Premier League’s best creators, the United captain is being asked to play in a deeper role alongside either Manuel Ugarte or Casemiro and his output has taken a major hit as a result.

It seems unlikely that Fernandes will repeat last season’s 18 goal involvements without having a direct influence inside the area and if United aren’t getting the best out of their star man, questions will arrive about his future.

According to Football Insider, the Portugal international could be tempted to leave Old Trafford with clubs in the Saudi Pro League once again interested in a £100m deal.

Roy Keane names "big personality" he dreams will replace Amorim at Man Utd

The Old Trafford legend has had his say.

By
Tom Cunningham

Oct 10, 2025

It was difficult to see how the Red Devils would cope without Fernandes last season. Everything positive went through him. Now that he’s in a deeper role, however, INEOS may believe that it’s worth cashing in on the 31-year-old whilst they still can.

If that does prove to be the case, then one Man United insider believes that Amorim will turn towards an internal replacement.

Insider believes Mainoo could replace Fernandes

According to former Old Trafford scout Mick Brown, Man United are already preparing Kobbie Mainoo to replace Fernandes despite concerns that he could also leave the club amid a lack of game time.

It would certainly make sense. Mainoo is a talented player who should be part of Ruben Amorim’s plans this season and Fernandes’ deeper role may have opened the door for the Carrington graduate.

If the United captain departs, then Mainoo represents the perfect player to step into that new role as the likes of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo carry the creative mantle left behind.

For the sixth time this season, Aaron Boone was ejected from a New York Yankees game. This time, he wasn't the only one, as he was accompanied by relief pitcher Devin Williams, who was also ejected Wednesday night. Boone was irate with the umpires over the strike zone after Williams surrendered four runs on one hit and three walks in his unsuccessful outing against the Houston Astros,

Boone was livid, and he gave home plate umpire Brian Walsh an earful as he delivered a scathing review of his performance behind the dish. Cameras caught much of Boone's tirade, and he wasn't holding back as he shouted at Walsh in frustration.

Among the comments made by Boone caught on the broadcast was the Yankees manager shouting, "You f––ing stink!" at Walsh before making his way to the dugout.

Williams was the first to go, as he had some choice words for the umpires after he was relieved by Camilo Doval during the eighth inning. Boone then came to the defense of his reliever before joining him in banishment.

Boone has been ejected 45 times in his eight years as manager of the Yankees, and he's tied with Cardinals manager Oli Marmol for the MLB lead in the 2025 season with six ejections.

The Yankees lost Wednesday's game, 8–7.

Just a few years ago, Alek Manoah was a legitimate Cy Young candidate and an All-Star for the Blue Jays. Now, he's been out of the league for the better part of two years, and is officially parting ways with Toronto.

Manoah was designated for assignment on Tuesday, per a team announcement, in what could very well signal the end of his tenure with the organization. Having risen to prominence as a breakout rookie in 2021, Manoah looked like one of the best pitchers in the sport in 2022, when he made the All-Star Game and had a 6.0 WAR with a 2.24 ERA across 31 starts.

He failed to replicate that season in 2023, when he had a -1.1 WAR, a 5.87 ERA and 1.740 WHIP. He last pitched for the Blue Jays in May of 2024, after which he was shelved as he underwent Tommy John surgery. Manoah was finally reinstated from the IL on Sept. 11 and was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo, but now looks destined to exit the organization following his latest designation.

Manoah was hopeful of competing for a spot in Toronto's starting rotation in 2026, but will now have a chance to latch on with another organization instead.

The Blue Jays also announced they have activated Anthony Santander from the 60-day IL and placed Ty France on the 10-day IL.

And who was the first bowler to 100 ODI wickets?

Steven Lynch21-Jul-2020After the first match in Southampton, Shai Hope averaged 26.71 in Tests but 52.20 in ODIs – is that the biggest difference for anyone? asked Alexander Appleyard from England

Given a minimum of 20 innings in both formats, the only batsman with a bigger difference than Shai Hope’s 25.49 is the current Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq, who averages 53.84 in ODIs but only 25.52 in Tests, a difference of 28.32. He has had only 21 innings in Tests, though. This pair are both currently ahead of the most celebrated case, Australia’s Michael Bevan, who averaged 53.58 in ODIs but only 29.07 in Tests, a difference of 24.51.If you raise the bar to a minimum of 50 innings in both formats, then Hope is well clear of the next man, New Zealand’s Martin Guptill, who averages 42.50 in ODIs but 29.38 in Tests, a difference of 13.12. The most consistent performer is the West Indian opener Gordon Greenidge, who averaged 45.03 in ODIs and 44.72 in Tests, a difference of just 0.31.The biggest difference the other way is by another Australian, Greg Matthews, who averaged 41.08 in Tests but only 16.72 in ODIs.Sachin Tendulkar’s Test career lasted 24 years – are there any longer ones? asked Ricky Brathwaite from Barbados

The Test career of Sachin Tendulkar started on November 15, 1989, when he was 16, against Pakistan in Karachi – and finished 24 years (and one day) later, with the end of his 200th match, against West Indies in Mumbai in November 2013.Although 200 Tests is a record that might never be beaten, four players have enjoyed longer careers. The West Indian George Headley pipped Tendulkar by nine days, starting in 1930 and finishing in 1954. Three Englishmen head the list: Frank Woolley’s Test career lasted almost 25 years from 1909 to 1934, while Brian Close’s was just short of 27 years, between 1949 and 1976. But the Test career of Wilfred Rhodes lasted a record 30 years and 315 days, from his debut alongside WG Grace at Trent Bridge in June 1899 to his farewell appearance, against West Indies in Kingston in April 1930, when he was, at 52, the oldest man to play in a Test match. How many instances are there of a player scoring a duck and a century in the same Test match? asked John Baumfield from New Zealand

This is a surprisingly common achievement: it has now happened no fewer than 170 times in Test matches. The first to do it was the Australian captain Billy Murdoch, with 0 and 153 not out at The Oval in 1880, in the first Test ever played in England, while the most recent occurrence was by Azhar Ali, with 0 and 119 for Pakistan against Sri Lanka in Karachi in December 2019.Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Andrew Strauss did it three times, while 22 men managed it twice: Asif Iqbal, Azhar Ali, Don Bradman, Colin Cowdrey, Martin Crowe, Daryll Cullinan, Mike Gatting, Adam Gilchrist, Desmond Haynes, Imtiaz Ahmed, Mahela Jayawardene, Jacques Kallis, Usman Khawaja, Gary Kirsten, Vijay Manjrekar, Cheteshwar Pujara, Viv Richards, Virender Sehwag, Garry Sobers, Sachin Tendulkar, Michael Vaughan and BJ Watling.Seven batsmen have scored a double-century and a duck in the same Test.Wasim Akram was the first to 300, 400 and 500 ODI wickets, taking his 500th in the 2003 World Cup, against Netherlands•Getty ImagesWho was the first bowler to take 100 wickets in ODIs? And 200, etc? asked Kinjan Mehra from India

The first man to take 100 wickets in one-day internationals was the great Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee, who got there when he dismissed Grant Paterson of Zimbabwe during a World Cup match at Trent Bridge in 1983. Lillee finished with 103 wickets in ODIs.First to 200 was India’s Kapil Dev, in October 1991, but then Wasim Akram took up the baton for Pakistan. He was the first to 300 (October 1996), 400 (January 2000) and 500 (February 2003). Wasim finished with 502 wickets in ODIs, the record until Muttiah Muralitharan passed it in February 2009: he ended up with 534. Of players who have appeared in the last year, Lasith Malinga and Mashrafe Mortaza lead the way, with 338 and 270 wickets respectively. But both of them seem unlikely to play any further one-day internationals, which means a long gap between Shakib Al Hasan who’s next with 260 wickets and to Tim Southee (190 wickets) and Ravindra Jadeja (187).Is it true that the Indian tennis player Sania Mirza is related to several Test players? asked Geoff McCormack from Australia

Sania Mirza, who won six doubles titles at the four Grand Slam events (three in women’s doubles and three in the mixed), has several connections with cricket – and once said, “If I’d been a boy I’d have been a cricketer.”Mirza’s cousin, Nisar Ahmed, is the son of the former Indian offspinner Ghulam Ahmed, who played 22 Tests, mostly in the 1950s, captaining in three. A few years ago, Nisar explained the relationship to the Indian writer Gulu Ezekiel: “Our grandmothers are sisters – Sania’s father’s mother and my mother’s mother.” Ghulam Ahmed was also the uncle of the Pakistan Test captain Asif Iqbal.There’s a third Test captain in the mix: in April 2010, Sania Mirza married Shoaib Malik, who skippered Pakistan in three of his 35 Tests, 41 of his 287 ODIs, and 20 of his 113 T20Is. Their first child, Izhaan Mirza Malik, was born in October 2018.Use our
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Buttler in possession of gloves having scored 152 in previous Test innings but with Ben Foakes a formidable understudy

Alan Gardner09-Jan-2021In sport, as in life, we often talk about the “sliding doors moment”, as if such interventions create completely new timelines for the protagonists to inhabit. But outside of a movie script, the threads are often a lot more tangled. “What if Jonny Bairstow hadn’t hurt his ankle playing football in Sri Lanka, allowing Ben Foakes to win Man of the Match on debut and keep the gloves for the rest of his career all of five Tests before Bairstow returned, only to be dropped at the end of the summer for Jos Buttler…?”And here we are, back in Sri Lanka two-and-a-bit years on. Bairstow is champing at the bit for a Test recall, though this time as a batsman only. Foakes hasn’t played since the tour of West Indies in early 2019, despite being regarded by some as the best wicketkeeper in the world. And Buttler is in possession of the gloves, fresh from a summer that seemed to encapsulate all of the main arguments for and against his position in the Test side.Joe Root has already indicated that Buttler, who scored a career-best 152 in his last Test innings, is the default pick to keep in Galle next week – so maybe there’s no debate to be had. But with the selectors set to give Buttler time off during the India tour that follows, and Foakes primed for another rare opportunity, it’s worth having our arguments rehearsed.

Woakes out of isolation

England saw rain wipe out the second day of their scheduled intra-squad practice in Hambantota, and instead brought forward the drive to Galle, where the first Test begins on Thursday.

The squad was joined by Chris Woakes, who had been in isolation since Moeen Ali’s positive Covid-19 test after they were deemed close contacts. Woakes will take part in England’s next training session on Monday, while Ali, who has been moved separately to a different Galle hotel, is expected to return on Wednesday – subject to testing.

Since retaking gloves in New Zealand last winter, Buttler has scored 574 runs at 33.76. That mirrors almost exactly his overall Test average of 33.90 – a number which breaks down to 35.68 when playing as a specialist batsman, and 32.35 as keeper. So far so underwhelming, perhaps, at least for a player as exceedingly talented as Buttler, arguably England’s greatest one-day batsman of all. But what about the other side of the game? The skill which you don’t want to be noticed for.According to ESPNcricinfo’s data, in 11 Tests Buttler has taken 37 catches and been responsible for five drops. But while his catching success has been up at 94.6% off pace bowling, he has just two catches to go with three drops off spin. Dom Bess, England’s first-choice spinner over the last 12 months, will doubtless remember one of those misses: Shan Masood put down on 45 during his 156 at Old Trafford (Buttler also missed a stumping chance off Bess a few overs later).Related

• Buttler could miss at least two Tests against India

• 'I think my game's in the best place it's been' – Bairstow

• Root, Pope score warm-up fifties but batsmen have work to do

• Stuart Broad and James Anderson braced for bit-part roles in Asian campaign

• Bess 'can't wait' to renew spin partnership with Leach

However, that sliding doors moment came with Buttler in the foothills of his resurgence as a Test batsman – it was his escape-artist 75 from 101 balls in the fourth innings that won England the game. Similarly, although one of his pace-bowling drops was likely pivotal – Jermaine Blackwood put down early on the way to a match-sealing 95 at Southampton – England came back to claim the series against West Indies 2-1, with Buttler producing his first Test fifty for 14 innings.Buttler, to his credit, knows all about the vagaries of form and fortune. He made a golden duck in England’s intra-squad game on Friday, and will have precious little time to get match ready for the challenge of keeping wicket in Sri Lanka, where conditions demand every ounce of concentration behind the stumps. “As an allrounder you want everything firing,” he said before England departed from Hambantota on Saturday. “I know it’s going to be a great challenge for me with the bat and the gloves.”ESPNcricinfo LtdAmidst all the hours of preparation, the squatting and leaping and catching, he will have the memory of that second Test hundred in his back pocket, too. “It’s the start of a new year so it doesn’t count for much, except it gave me a lot of confidence and hopefully I can still ride off the back of that confidence, even though it’s a long time ago. It’s nice to be in the position where I finished the summer strongly.”Two years ago, after Foakes’ debut in Galle, Buttler described it as “a wake-up call [about] the level you need to get to” (as well as scoring a hundred, Foakes took two catches, effected a stumping, and didn’t concede a bye). In his short Test career, Foakes averages 41.50 and has only dropped one catch – an understudy in name only.”He is a fantastic player and was Man of the Series last time in Sri Lanka,” Buttler said. “Someone like Foakesy is a great person to push my game on. I’ve watched him practise and he’s impressive to watch, fantastic to see how good he is. Competition for places is healthy and can drive people on and give people hunger to improve and perform. In all departments on this tour, there is a lot of competition.”Buttler can also look back fondly on England’s 3-0 win in 2018-19, when his 250 runs as a specialist batsman came at an average of 41.66 and, more importantly, a strike rate of 72.04 – the highest on either side. Whether he can give England’s middle order the same attacking intent while balancing the demands of sweat-soaked hours on his haunches will be an intriguing subplot of the tour – though hardly definitive, with Foakes expected to come in against India regardless. Not so much sliding as revolving doors.”I really enjoyed the cricket here last time,” Buttler said. “It was fun. It was quite different for us as an England team, dominated by our spin bowlers and playing spin, a lot of men round the bat. I found that really enjoyable, quite different to what we’re used to. I enjoy playing spin and the challenges it presents, quite different to a lot of the cricket we play. I’m really looking forward to it”Every time you turn up, you have to work out the conditions and how you are going to play against the bowlers you’re up against. It is dangerous, I think, to go in with too many pre-conceived ideas.”Ahead of six Tests on the subcontinent, the same could be said for England’s wicketkeeper debate.

Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Mithun laid the platform an under-pressure Bangladesh needed against a fine bowling attack

Mohammad Isam23-Mar-2021Bangladesh would have left the Hagley Oval on Tuesday wondering what might have happened had they held their catches. Two easy catches were put down, which led to New Zealand gaining momentum and eventually going 2-0 up. That must have been particularly hard for the visitors to digest, given how diligently and effectively they’d gone about their job with the bat across the game’s first half.Bangladesh’s 271 for 6 was an impressive score given how they had batted in the previous match, the nature of the Hagley Oval pitch and the strength of the New Zealand bowling attack. Besides, another batting collapse would have added more sparks to an already toxic atmosphere back home. But captain Tamim Iqbal led by example, Mohammad Mithun chose this game to get back into form and, in contrast to how easily they folded in Dunedin, Bangladesh’s top-order applied themselves diligently in Christchurch.Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar added 81 for the second wicket to recover from the early loss of Liton Das. Three more sizable partnerships followed, particularly the fifth wicket stand between Mahmudullah and Mohammad Mithun that had 63 runs in just 6.5 overs. What also helped Bangladesh was the eight wickets they had in hand in the last 20 overs. Traditionally teams have targeted doubling their total from the 30-over mark: Bangladesh scored 138 in the last 20.In the first 30, there was hardly any risk-taking. Iqbal and Sarkar relied on rotating the strike more than looking for boundaries. Sarkar understandably batted with a lot of restraint after being under pressure following his duck in the first ODI. Meanwhile, every time the side took three or four runs early in the over, Iqbal would offer a pronounced dead bat for the final balls of the over. While this defensive approach might have irked a few, it must also be said it was very responsible of him under the circumstances.After the game, Iqbal said he wanted to be well set before taking any chances against the New Zealand bowlers, who got breakthroughs whenever Bangladesh had a partnership going.
“I was well set at the crease and only took calculated risks after reaching my fifty,” Iqbal said. “We kept losing wickets as soon as we got together a partnership. Mithun played really well against a top bowling attack in difficult conditions. I would take 271 on this pitch because it wasn’t a 300 pitch. We did all we could with the bat.”When Iqbal fell in the 31st over, Mushfiqur Rahim struggled to time the ball during his 34 off 59 balls, but Mahmudullah and Mithun changed gears quickly – just what Bangladesh needed at that point. Mithun batted especially confidently, at times playing shots that had looked beyond him in his stretched-out international career so far. He said later that he had only wanted to react to each ball, rather than premeditate shots.Related

• Jon Lewis: 'Mohammad Mithun played an exceptional innings in Christchurch'

• Tom Latham after match-turning knock: 'You dream about these things'

• Tom Latham's cool-headed century gives New Zealand series win

• Why Tamim Iqbal was given not out against Kyle Jamieson

• Tamim bemoans missed chances: 'We should have won this game'

“I am happy with the way I batted,” Mithun said. “I feel it helped my team. I just tried to stay in the present. I tried to play ball to ball. We all know New Zealand has tough conditions for us. We couldn’t get too bogged down here, which would have made it difficult to score for us. When I came to bat, I tried to play according to the ball and positively.”Iqbal praised Mithun for the innings, highlighting how he has been coming in and out of the squad depending on other players’ availability.”He played an outstanding innings but we are only talking about him because he played well. But the situation he finds himself in, it is never easy even for an established cricketer.”He played a couple of matches against Zimbabwe but then he had to make way for Shakib against West Indies. So it was pleasing to see him do well today, and I hope he can establish himself in the side.”Iqbal curbing his own style is not really a new role for the Bangladesh captain, who has spent the last seven years trying to bat with a touch more restraint. This has been mainly due to Bangladesh not finding a consistent opening partner for Iqbal, particularly after Imrul Kayes lost his regular place in the ODI side.To allow a middle order full of strokemakers like Rahim, Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan to play freely, Iqbal has been given the anchor’s role. Whenever he has pulled it off, it has meant batting till the 40th over at least, before unleashing the big-hitting in the last ten overs. Several of his innings in which he has faced more than 100 balls have been in these last six or seven years, often leading to Bangladesh either getting a big score or winning due to the big score.Mithun, for his part, is a vastly experienced domestic batsman. The team management has shown patience with his spot in the middle order, particularly in Shakib’s absence. His – free-flowing – batting today was mostly of a batsman bringing his experience to the fore. It all added up to positive things for Bangladesh, until those dropped catches turned the game.