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Despite a couple of setbacks in the last week or so, Arsenal have started to move through the gears this season, and just like last year, they once again find themselves in the midst of a Premier League title race, only this time, it looks like Liverpool are set to challenge as well.

The Gunners are currently just a point off of the Reds in first place and three clear of Manchester City in fourth spot, and following their draw away to PSV on Tuesday, they can look forward to the knockout stages of the Champions League in the new year.

Mikel Arteta's team haven't been quite as free-flowing as they were this time last year, but a steely grit and determination have seen them create the joint-best defence in the league.

Arsenal could sign "one of the best centre backs in the world" to partner Saliba

The 24-year-old could make Arsenal’s defence even better.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 14, 2023

That backline could be about to get even more robust, with the latest star linked with the club having abilities not too dissimilar from summer signing Jurriën Timber – Jules Kounde.

Arsenal transfer news – Jules Kounde

According to reports from Spain, Arsenal are "very interested" in the Barcelona defender and are willing to offer the Catalan side €40m – about £34m – to secure the player's signature.

The Frenchman joined the La Liga giants in the summer of 2022 for a fee in the region of £47m, despite heavy interest from Chelsea at the time.

The then 23-year-old also had an enormous £840m release clause inserted into his five-year contract, which is evidently more than the £34m price tag he has now, but considering he has made just 57 appearances across all competitions since joining and was said to be disgruntled in the summer due to being played at right-back, this isn't too surprising.

However, just because he hasn't lit the world alight in Spain doesn't mean that Arsenal should avoid signing the 25-year-old "warrior", as described by former French international Frank Leboeuf on ESPN FC – especially as his versatility could make him the next Timber.

Jules Kounde could be Jurriën Timber 2.0

Now, it might seem crazy to discuss the 'next Timber' before the current one has even had a run of games at Arsenal due to his unfortunate injury against Nottingham Forest.

However, there are some noticeable similarities between the two players, and if Arteta can get his hands on Kounde, there is no reason why the two promising defenders couldn't play together at the Emirates.

The first and most apparent similarity is just how versatile the pair are. The Barcelona man made 18 appearances at right-back last season and 11 at centre-back, while the former Ajax star has played at centre-back, right-back, left-back and defensive midfield so far in his career.

The pair also share some mightily impressive passing statistics, especially regarding progressive passing, and while Timber slightly edges it in a lot of the creative metrics, Kounde is still producing elite numbers.

Kounde

Timber

0.15

0.17

6.85

8.61

2.14

2.37

75.0 (87.7%)

81.5 (91.6%)

1.52

1.72

0.56

0.56

0.89

0.68

2.26

1.99

0.85

1.01

1.59

1.34

The "tenacious" Frenchman, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, does come out on top regarding the game's defensive side, suggesting that the two players could form a brilliant partnership in N5.

Ultimately, for £34m, Kounde looks to be a genuine bargain. His statistical and positional similarities to Timber should excite fans and prove that he could flourish in the red and white of Arsenal.

Despite reports to the contrary elsewhere, Andy Flower, Martyn Moxon and Tom Moody have all informed ESPNcricinfo they are not pursuing an interest in the role

George Dobell07-Dec-2018Ashley Giles remains a strong favourite to replace Andrew Strauss as director of England men’s cricket after the field of candidates thinned out considerably.Despite reports to the contrary elsewhere, Andy Flower, Martyn Moxon and Tom Moody have all informed ESPNcricinfo they are not pursuing an interest in the role. Clare Connor ruled herself out in the early stages, while Wasim Khan has instead accepted an offer to move to Lahore as MD of the Pakistan Cricket Board.That leaves a field that includes Giles, currently director of sport at Warwickshire; Mick Newell, the Nottinghamshire director of cricket; Mark Nicholas, the writer, broadcaster and former captain of Hampshire, and Ronnie Irani, the former England all-rounder.While Giles and Irani are understood to have been offered interviews by the ECB – one has taken place; the other is next week – Nicholas is understood to be mulling over an approach from a headhunter and has yet to fully commit to the process. Candidates have been required to put together a presentation to the ECB before the interview.Strauss decided to step down after his wife was diagnosed with cancer. Flower has filled the role in an interim capacity.If Giles is appointed it would complete a remarkable comeback. He was sacked by Paul Downton, the England team director at the time, as England’s limited-overs coach at the start of 2014 – barely six months after leading England to the brink of their first global ODI trophy – but has subsequently lead Lancashire and Warwickshire to trophies (The T20 Blast at Lancashire in 2015 and the Division Two title at Warwickshire in 2018) and served on several ECB working parties. He has also worked as an England selector, is an Ashes winner and led Warwickshire to the Championship title as coach in 2012.Irani offers strong competition, though. As chairman of Essex’s cricket committee, he was in a large part responsible for the clubembracing a home-grown policy that helped them win the Championship in 2017 and helped the club sustain their excellent reputation for developing players. He also has a business background which will be deemed important for an ECB that is keen to cut costs across the board and at Loughborough in particular.The ECB hope to have someone in place before England head to the Caribbean in January, though an announcement next week is more than possible.

أعلن ميكيل أرتيتا، المدير الفني لفريق كرة القدم الأول بنادي آرسنال، عن تشكيل اللاعبين لمواجهة باير ليفركوزن، وديًا استعدادًا للموسم المقبل.

تشكيل آرسنال أمام ليفركوزن يقوده البرازيلي جابرييل جيسوس ويرافقه البلجيكي لياندرو تروسارد، مع جلوس ساكا ورايس على مقاعد البدلاء بعد العودة لمعسكر الجانرز.

طالع أيضًا.. آرسنال يقتحم الصراع على ضم مهاجم مانشستر سيتي

ويحرس مرمى آرسنال دافيد رايا، بينما لم يتواجد ريكاردو كالافيوري الصفقة الجديدة ضمن قائمة الفريق لمواجهة بطل الدوري الألماني. تشكيل آرسنال أمام باير ليفركوزن وديًا

حراسة المرمى: دافيد رايا.

خط الدفاع: بن وايت، جابرييل ماجالايس، ويليام ساليبا، أولكسندر زينتشينكو.

وسط الملعب: جورجينيو، أوديجارد، فييرا.

الهجوم: تروسارد، هافيرتز، جيسوس.

الاحتياط: رامسديل، سيتفورد، هيفين، لويس ليكلي، نيشولز، توماس بارتي، ديكلان رايس، نيلسون، نوانيري، بوكايو ساكا، جابرييل مارتينيلي، نيكيتياه.

Atletico Madrid and France star Antoine Griezmann has hit out at podcast presenters after he was branded a 'luxury player'.

Article continues below

Article continues below

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• Griezmann hits back at pundits
• Had been called 'luxury player' on podcast
• 'They know nothing about football!'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Griezmann was the subject of a debate during a podcast by Australian broadcaster Optus Sport featuring former footballers Jay Bothroyd and Mark Schwarzer and journalists Julien Laurens and Phil Kitromilides. One-time England international Bothroyd said Griezmann could not be considered world class as he had a disappointing spell at Barcelona, calling him a "luxury player" and claiming he "floats into positions". He even compared him to Dimitar Berbatov.

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• WHAT GRIEZMANN SAID

  Replying to Optus Sport's video on X, Griezmann wrote: "They know nothing about football!", accompanied by a pizza emoji.

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Griezmann had a hugely disappointing two-year spell with Barcelona after signing from Atletico for €120m (£103m/$130m) in 2019. He scored just 35 goals in 102 matches for the Blaugrana and only won the Copa del Rey. He returned to Atletico two years later for just €20m (£17m) and has revitalised his career, becoming the club's all-time top scorer and also having a tremendous 2022 World Cup campaign with France.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Griezmann has scored 176 goals and set up a further 83 for Atletico. He is France's fourth top scorer of all-time on 44 goals, 12 behind record holder Olivier Giroud, and he may well have his sights set on breaking that record.

Everton have a knack for allowing their homegrown talents to flourish within the first-team set-up at Goodison Park when given a chance, past players such as Leon Osman, Wayne Rooney and Ross Barkley were impressive for the Toffees when transitioning into the men's team.

Osman, in particular, goes down as a hall-of-famer for those with Everton connections – sticking it out with the Toffees throughout his lengthy career, scoring 62 goals from an astonishing 454 matches over 16 years.

But, as was the case with Rooney and Barkley, often a top talent decides to up and leave their hometown team in the pursuit of success elsewhere and more prestige.

Sold by Frank Lampard last year – the player in question handing in a transfer request to speed up his exit from Merseyside – Anthony Gordon joined Newcastle United for a substantial transfer fee and has performed reasonably well for the Magpies under boss Eddie Howe so far.

How much did Newcastle United sign Anthony Gordon for?

Newcastle would break the bank to bring the 22-year-old winger to St James Park, signing the Liverpool-born midfielder for £45m back in January.

This transfer fee meant Gordon was Newcastle's second most expensive buy ever at the time, now in the bronze medal position to Sandro Tonali and Alexander Isak as the Magpies continue to openly flex their muscles in the transfer market.

The excessive transfer fee to bring Gordon to Tyneside was justified arguably, the youngster in flashes at Goodison Park showed the potential he possessed to become a future top talent.

He would score seven goals from 78 appearances when transitioning from the youth teams at Everton to the first team fold in the Premier League, netting four goals in his final full campaign for the club before Newcastle swooped in and purchased the young attacker.

How has Anthony Gordon performed since leaving Everton?

It hasn't been all smooth sailing for Gordon since joining Newcastle, the young midfielder no longer a bright spark in a team fighting against relegation.

Now, he was part of the new-look Newcastle United who were aiming for top-four football instead of surviving year after year by the skin of their teeth.

He would only score once during his first 16 games with the Magpies, netting on the final day of last season away at Stamford Bridge in a 1-1 draw versus Chelsea.

But, this campaign so far, he has started to come into his own featuring for Howe's men.

Not only are his goals and assists on the up – netting two goals and assisting a further two in the Premier League from just seven outings – but his commitment and work ethic all around for the Tynesiders has improved too.

The 22-year-old is in the top 98% of wingers in Europe for tackles this season, completing 2.66 per 90 minutes according to FBRef. That aggression and determination has further seen Gordon block a remarkable amount of shots in Newcastle's favour, completing 1.53 per match.

He's not just an electric winger who can provide a goal or assist, but he's also transforming into a midfielder who is more than happy to pick up the dirty work for his side even if it does come to his detriment at times. Indeed, Gordon was suspended for Newcastle's visit to West Ham United, his discipline coming under scrutiny.

But, this aggression and determination means that Gordon has cemented himself as a regular under Howe this campaign and has left Everton wondering whether they should have kicked up more of a fuss to keep their homegrown talent.

So good have his performances been that he's outperformed every Toffees man so far this season with his goals and assist output, current Everton winger Dwight McNeil only has one assist so far this campaign but from two matches less than Newcastle's number ten. When it comes to outright contributions, meanwhile, only Abdoulaye Doucoure can match him.

Still, Gordon is now showing why Newcastle paid £45m for his services – and at only 22 years of age still – he should only improve for the Champions League side in the years to come.

One Saudi Pro League club have made contact with the agent of a Manchester City superstar, according to a new report.

Man City transfer news…

The Sky Blues were once again busy in the summer transfer market, despite a historic treble winning campaign last time out. Pep Guardiola’s side brought in the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Jeremy Doku, Mateus Nunes and Josko Gvardiol from Chelsea, Rennes, Wolves and RB Leipzig respectively, however, there were also a number of players who left the club.

Man City summer exits

New club

Cole Palmer

Chelsea

Riyad Mahrez

Al Ahli

Aymeric Laporte

Al Nassr

Ilkay Gundogan

Barcelona

Joao Cancelo

Barcelona (loan)

James McAtee

Sheffield United (loan)

On the pitch, City have made a solid start to the new season, although back-to-back defeats to Wolves and Arsenal prior to the international break have left them behind Tottenham at the top of the Premier League table after nine rounds of fixtures. One player who City have been without recently is influential midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, and it looks as if the Belgium international is a wanted man if a new report is to be believed.

Journalist Rudy Galetti provided a Kevin de Bruyne transfer update in the last 48 hours, revealing that Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, who signed Aymeric Laporte in the summer, have made contact with the player’s agent to set up a meeting where they plan to discuss a potential transfer.

“Al Nassr contacted De Bruyne’s agent to set up a meeting with the player soon. The aim of the club is to explain in details its long-term project to the Belgian, whose contract with MCFC will expire in 2025: evolving situation.”

Is Kevin de Bruyne injured?

De Bruyne started the opening game of the season against Burnley, however, the attacking midfielder suffered an injury setback just 20 minutes into the game back in August and hasn’t featured since. A recent De Bruyne injury update has suggested that the 32-year-old is no closer to returning, with Guardiola saying:

"No problems, except Kevin. No, I don't know. [When Kevin will be back]."

Guardiola is a huge fan of De Bruyne as well, previously labelling the player as the “best in the world”.

“He’s so important. He is the best in the world in this kind of running and transition. He can run and break the space for the opponent. It’s devastating. He is really, really good. Everyone knows it – this isn’t the first season he’s played in the Premier League.”

Therefore, it could be a huge blow if City were to lose their star man to the Saudi Pro League in the future, however, the club’s current priority will be getting him back to full fitness once more, with City looking to defend their Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup titles.

It has been suggested that an in-form Tottenham Hotspur starter actually isn't good enough to take Ange Postecoglou's side forward.

Latest Spurs news

The north Londoners continued their fine form with a controversial 2-1 win over Liverpool on Saturday, with strikes from Son Heung-min and an own goal from Joel Matip doing enough to cancel out Cody Gakpo's brilliantly-taken equaliser. The crucial win also maintains Tottenham's unbeaten start to the Premier League season, where they have tasted victory in five out of their opening seven league games.

Speaking after their latest win over Jurgen Klopp's side, Postecoglou hailed his team's spirit and resilience; going on to say the result will continue to build Spurs' character.

"It wasn’t an easy game for us, we knew it wouldn’t be, and even in the circumstances, we had some unique challenges," explained the Australian.

"For some of these guys, this will be the first time they’ve faced that type of scenario, and for the most part, we handled it okay. Again, getting that late winner helps build the belief and spirit in the group. The thing about Liverpool, even with 10 men, they are equally as dangerous because the game plan is the same, they play on mistakes, they have world-class players up front who can hurt you. I thought the second half was better because we stayed a bit calmer, maintained our pressure in the wide areas and got our reward.”

Next up, Spurs will take on struggling Luton Town on Saturday, and a win there will undoubtedly put them in even better mood heading into another international break before the winter.

Tottenham player ratings

There are many Spurs players to pluck out as star men so far this term, namely Son, Dejan Kulusevski, Yves Bissouma, James Maddison, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven. The likes of Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro have also impressed on either flank as Postecoglou's inverted full-back options; providing both pace and and attacking intensity out wide.

Perhaps the most surprising success story, though, has been young midfielder Pape Matar Sarr – who's started six out of Tottenham's seven league matches so far. The 21-year-old could barely get a look-in under Antonio Conte last term, despite reportedly holding him high esteem, but Sarr has since come into his own for Postecoglou.

According to WhoScored, the Senegalese ranks among Spurs' best-performers per 90; already notching both a goal and assist in the top flight as he forms a brilliant midfield partnership with Bissouma. However, according to pundit Keith Tracey, speaking to Off The Ball this week, Sarr still isn't good enough to help bridge the gap between them and the league's elite sides.

He said: “Pape Sarr, he’s somebody who I don’t think is going to bridge that gap between Spurs and Man City or Spurs and Arsenal, so there are question marks there, but they have gotten an awful lot stronger this year."

Sourav Ganguly was present at the unveiling of the stamp, which features Goswami’s mugshot in India colours next to an image of Kolkata’s iconic Victoria Memorial

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Apr-2018Jhulan Goswami’s illustrious career – which includes the distinction of being the leading wicket-taker in women’s ODIs – has now found acknowledgment in the form of a commemorative stamp.Featuring Goswami’s mugshot in India colours next to an image of Kolkata’s iconic Victoria Memorial, it has been issued in honour of her claiming a record 200 wickets in women’s ODIs.The unveiling of the stamp took place on Friday at the Calcutta Sports Journalists’ Club, in the presence of former India men’s captain Sourav Ganguly.Former Australia cricketer Lisa Sthalekar was among the first who took to Twitter to commend Goswami’s most recent feat.

How good is this!!! To commemorate the fact that Jhulan Goswami became the 1st player to reach 200 ODI wickets. #womenscricket @BCCIWomen pic.twitter.com/Pjo5y4VPP8

— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) April 21, 2018

Adjudged the ICC Women’s Player of Year award in 2007, Goswami, 35, recently became the first female player to pick up 200 ODI wickets when she had Laura Wolvaardt caught behind in the third ODI during India’s tour of South Africa in February.In May 2017, Goswami found her 181st ODI wicket in South Africa’s Raisibe Ntozakhe, during the Quadrangular series, and surpassed Australia’s Cathryn Fitzpatrick as the leading wicket-taker in the format. During the same tour, Goswami pipped Charlotte Edwards and Lydia Greenway to the honour of the most catches by a non-wicketkeeper in women’s ODIs.

Some will nod their heads in satisfaction; few will wax lyrical about Newcastle United's performance on their return to Champions League football.

Having travelled to the San Siro for a much-anticipated tie to kickstart the Magpies' European campaign, Eddie Howe's side dug in deep to rebuff an AC Milan onslaught, thanks to a Nick Pope masterclass between the sticks – hailed as the "great wall of San Siro" by the Chronicle's Lee Ryder – and finishing with a goalless draw.

While a point away from home is not a bad way to start a Champions League group phase consisting of Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund alongside I Rossoneri, it's "still not clicking on the whole", as journalist Craig Hope would put it.

Indeed, Newcastle started the Premier League season with aplomb after finishing fourth last term, dismantling Aston Villa 5-1 at St. James' Park, but then swallowed three successive defeats against Manchester City, Liverpool, Brighton & Hove Albion, before securing a slender victory over Brentford last time out.

Against Milan, the Magpies can take solace in their resilience and workrate against a Serie A side who threatened throughout but failed to dominate in their historic home stadium, despite taking 25 shots to Newcastle's six.

The contest marked the return to his Italian homeland for playmaking midfielder Sandro Tonali, who joined Newcastle in a £55m transfer from, as fate would have it, AC Milan in July.

How did Tonali play against AC Milan?

The midfielder hasn't quite hit the ground running despite bagging on his debut against the Villans, and against his former outfit, he was culpable of a meek display, completing just seven of his ten passes and winning only one of his six duels.

Withdrawn after 72 minutes, Hope also noted that the 23-year-old was "struggling to impact" upon his return to his old stomping ground, having also failed to make a key pass and squandered possession nine times, despite having just 20 touches of the football.

While Tonali did struggle, it was striker Alexander Isak who cut the bleakest figure on a miserable night for the Swedish striker, having failed to make an impact or even affect the game with any shred of positivity.

How did Alexander Isak perform vs AC Milan?

Isak, also aged 23, did not enjoy his most fruitful fortunes for Howe's side up front, with presenter Kev Lawson remarking that the ace looked "knackered" and needed "hooking" during the game. Such a statement is a worry considering he didn't even play last weekend.

Isak did enjoy more of the ball than his Italian teammate, taking 34 touches and actually completing 18 of his 20 passes at a completion rate of 90%.

He failed to do much with it though, succeeding with just one of his five dribble attempts and failing to unleash a single shot on Mike Maignan's goal, ineffective and seeing his threat negated – in isolation, adrift from his peers.

Ryder was particularly scathing in his post-match player ratings, branding Isak with a lowly 6/10 and writing: 'A spectator at times and lost the ball cheaply. Didn't manage a shot.'

Capping off his post-match thoughts, Howe mused that "it could be a vital point, who knows?", having avoided defeat on their return to the big time.

Perhaps. And there were certainly encouraging signs for the Tyneside club, but their star signings in Isak and Tonali will need to click into gear with a bit more inspiration if they are to advance from the 'group of death' of this year's edition of Europe's pre-eminent club competition.

Ahead of his 50th Test, Vernon Philander admitted it could be tough being part of a four-pronged pace pack that is packed with star quality, but only if he thought just about himself

Firdose Moonda in Johannesburg22-Jan-2018

GianluigiI Guercia/AFP/Getty

Exactly two weeks ago, Vernon Philander was the toast of the South African attack after he completed a career-best 6 for 42 in the series-opening win over India. But two days after that, Philander’s performance was all but forgotten as Kagiso Rabada become the world’s top-ranked Test bowler. And in the last few days, both Philander and Rabada have taken a back seat after Lungi Ngidi announced himself with 6 for 39 on debut and won hearts and minds with his heartwarming backstory.If Philander was younger and less experienced, he might have been affected by how quickly attention can be lavished on a player and how quickly it can be taken away, but, as he approaches his 50th Test, Philander has become used to sharing the spotlight. Asked whether it was tough being part of a four-pronged pace pack, all of whom are stars in their own right, Philander admitted it could be, but only if he thought only about himself.”No, I think if you can put the ego aside. We all want to be that hero at the end of the day, to put up our hand and be the Man of the Match, but not every surface is going to allow it. So it’s about being mature enough to know that your end might not be the end to strike from, and to play accordingly to make sure the other guys get the best out of their end to strike,” Philander said, ahead of the Wanderers Test.Newlands, for example, is the ground on which Philander seems to perform best. Not only is it his home venue and, so, the place where he has played most of his cricket, but it also facilitates subtle seam movement and thus suits Philander’s style of bowling best. In places like the Highveld, where the pitches tend to have more bounce, Philander has accepted he may have to play more of a supporting role.”Your role always differs on different surfaces. I’ve played this game long enough to understand my role in the side. In the last game I knew that I had to keep it tight from the one side and let the others strike,” he said, referring to the Centurion Test, where he only took one wicket. “It’s just to understand the role that you play. We’re four seamers and we obviously want to keep it as tight as possible and bowl them out as cheaply as possible in every cricket game. It’s about finding your role in that four-pronged attack and making sure you deliver.”Philander even went as far as to praise the man who took all the accolades, Ngidi, who has quickly become South Africa’s newest darling. “He is an absolutely phenomenal talent. Lungi has pace and bounce, and to see the way he went about his business, the manner he stayed calm in was great,” Philander said. “Lungi asked a lot of questions to me and Morne and KG [Rabada] at mid-off or mid-on.”Ultimately, Philander understands how crucial depth is to South African cricket, especially since he was part of recent seasons in which the talent pool appeared severely shallow amid a spate of injuries. Since 2015, South Africa’s senior seamers, Dale Steyn, Philander himself and Morne Morkel, have all spent significant time on the sidelines and in that time, Chris Morris, who has scant Test experience but is a white-ball regular, was also out of action.Vernon Philander is pumped up after sealing South Africa’s win•BCCI

In that time, South Africa rotated through several options including one-Test wonder Hardus Viljoen, Duanne Olivier, went back to Wayne Parnell and used Andile Phehlukwayo as they sought to plug the gap but none of those stuck. It was only Rabada who emerged as ever-reliable but the arrival of Ngidi bodes well for the future, and Philander knows it. “I think it’s wonderful to see we have so many bowlers in the pipeline, pumping as well. Long may it continue.”Philander would not be drawn into whether South Africa may be tempted to play five quicks and leave out Keshav Maharaj on what should be a fire and brimstone Bullring strip, but acknowledged the spinner’s contributions to South Africa’s success. “Keshav has done a massive job – not just in this series but in past series as well. He keeps it tight and allows us to strike from the other end,” Philander said. “Look, when you come to the Wanderers, it’s generally a ground where the seamers are the attackers. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to answer your questions about playing without a spinner.”South Africa are likely to leave their selection decision late, especially after SuperSport Park turned out to be the opposite of what they expected. But even if the Wanderers throws up a surprise, it is still going to be tough for batsmen and that makes Philander’s role in the side ever-more important. He bats at No. 7 these days and has contributed scores in the 20s in this series, but expects more from himself as he grows into the role.”I think I can do better. Conditions obviously haven’t been conducive for batting but it’s a challenge we all face up to,” he said. “You’re always going to put pressure on yourself because you always want to perform. There’s a sense of pride in what you do. When you bat at seven, you take on a greater responsibility. It’s a challenge I enjoy and hopefully I can score a lot more runs at No. 7.”