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Midlands football journalist Josh Holland has talked up the quality of rumoured Wolves transfer target Edin Dzeko, saying he would be a ‘class signing’ at Molineux this summer.

The Lowdown: Dzeko linked with move

Bruno Lage is still looking to make attacking reinforcements to his squad this summer, following a season that saw them struggle in the final third in the Premier League, scoring just 38 times.

One player who Wolves have been linked with signing is Dzeko, who has enjoyed a glittering career with the likes of Manchester City, Roma and Inter Milan.

The Bosnian’s current Inter deal expires next summer and Wanderers could look to swoop as the Milan giants weigh up the risk of losing him for free.

The Latest: Journalist excited by claim

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Holland talked up the idea of Dzeko moving to Molineux, such is his quality, but also admitted it is unlikely:

“It would be a class signing, but a lot of the business Wolves do is more of a long-term idea, and would bringing Dzeko in for how much he’s going to want wages wise, would it be worth it on a business side? I doubt it.

“Football side, maybe, but I can’t see them spending that much money on someone like Dzeko when there are other positions that need improving.”

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The Verdict: Still a top player

At 36, Dzeko’s very best days are admittedly behind him but he remains a footballer of huge quality, having once been hailed as ‘extraordinary’ by ex-Roma manager Eusebio Di Francesco.

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His tally of 63 goals in 124 caps for Bosnia sums up his incredible pedigree, not to mention the fact that he already has 50 Premier League goals to his name from his City days.

Dzeko may not be able to start every week given his age but if Wolves managed to get a deal over the line it would lift the players and represent a high-profile piece of business. It is understandable why a deal may not work out, given the money involved, but it is exciting, nonetheless.

West Bromwich Albion could have the green light to launch a move to sign Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury this summer.

What’s the news?

Speaking to the Birmingham Mail, Leicester journalist Jordan Blackwell had this to say on the current situation regarding the midfielder and his immediate future at the King Power Stadium.

“Leicester would definitely be open to him leaving. As [Brendan] Rodgers put it quite bluntly not too long ago, they would prefer a sale, as there is no benefit to them to loan him out. Rodgers was of the opinion that he’s not going to make significant enough progress at a loan club that he would come back a much better player.

“If there is not enough interest in a club stumping up a fee for Choudhury, and a loan is the only option, Leicester would be open to that if the club were willing to pay a hefty chunk of his wages. He only has one year left on his contract at Leicester and so if he was to leave permanently, it would not take a huge fee to get him.”

Earlier this month, it was reported that the Baggies were looking to secure a deal for the Foxes midfielder this summer.

Now that it has been claimed by Blackwell that Leicester would be willing to allow the 24-year-old to leave in some capacity this summer, this could give the Hawthorns outfit the green light to launch a move for him.

Bruce would be thrilled

Taking into account how Steve Bruce was reportedly very keen to sign the player when he was still in charge of Newcastle United, the possibility of getting him this time around would surely be great news for the Baggies boss.

Since that prior interest, the midfielder has improved heavily, with more top-flight outings proving key in that. Indeed, should the Englishman find himself donning a West Brom shirt in the coming weeks, the his 53 Premier League appearances could make him a valuable asset for the Baggies in the dressing room and out on the pitch.

This is an Albion side who simply have to achieve promotion next term and sealing moves for proven players at a higher level, it will certainly help them achieve more compared to the dreadful 2021/22 season they had.

Praised for his “sensational” performances in the past for Leicester by his current manager, Choudhury could give Bruce’s side an extra boost in a vital area of the pitch.

The Leicester man’s ability to break up play and then lay off a pass isn’t too eye-catching but Bruce’s side must get the simple things right next term; Choudhury can help them do that.

In other news: Bruce can form “clinical” duo as West Brom eye swoop for “impressive” £5.4m-rated wiz

Nottingham Forest have been promoted to the Premier League and are wasting no time in getting a team together that can compete in the top flight with a new transfer target emerging.

What’s the latest?

According to journalist Alan Nixon, Nottingham Forest are plotting a record-breaking £20m bid for Morgan Gibbs-White this summer.

As per the report, Wolverhampton Wanderers are keen to keep hold of their player who has been impressing in the Championship this season on loan with Sheffield United, however, the midfielder desires consistent game time which is something Wolves haven’t been able to provide so far.

Cooper will love him

Gibbs-White is no stranger to Steve Cooper as the pair worked together at Swansea City and England U17s, so there is no doubt that the Forest manager would love to have him at the City Ground as he already knows his potential and strengths.

This season the 22-year-old has been impressive at Sheffield United in the centre of the pitch scoring 12 goals, contributing ten assists and creating 16 big chances for his team, playing a huge part in their Championship play-offs challenge.

Gibbs-White has been receiving high praise from his teammates too with David McGoldrick hailing his influence on the team this season.

McGoldrick claimed: “He’s got the world at his feet. You know, great kid, great player. He’s got all the ability in the world.”

With that being said, there is clearly potential there for the youngster to thrive in any team he is given the opportunity to play consistently for and if Bruno Lage cannot offer him that at Wolves next season, then it could be mutually advantageous for both the club to profit and Gibbs-White to move on somewhere else.

Nottingham Forest could be the perfect next step and a golden opportunity for the player to get more Premier League experience if Cooper offers him a key role in the team next season.

By adding his creativity and flair, Gibbs-White could form a formidable attacking partnership with Brennan Johnson to compete.

AND in other news: NFFC plotting bid to land 1st summer signing of £14k-p/w “king”, Cooper would love it

Manchester United have made contact with Borussia Monchengladbach over a move for midfielder Kouadio Kone.

The Lowdown: Kone profiled

Kone, described as an ‘interesting box-to-box’ midfielder, signed for Monchengladbach last year in a deal worth £8.1m. The 21-year-old is primarily a central midfielder who can also play in a defensive or attacking midfield role.

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He’s valued at a career-high £13.5m by Transfermarkt and was a regular in the Bundesliga last season, making 27 appearances.

The Latest: United links

Sports Witness relayed an update from L’Equipe on Friday regarding Kone. They claim that United are one of three top clubs who have made ‘initial contact’ over a move for Kone.

The report adds that Ralf Rangnick has been tracking Kone for several years.

The Verdict: De Jong alternative?

Erik ten Hag is keen to bolster his midfield ranks at Old Trafford, with Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong seemingly a top target.

Recent reports have suggested that the Red Devils reached an agreement with Barcelona for De Jong, however, the midfielder is thought to be unconvinced over a move to United and has snubbed a reunion with Ten Hag.

Should that be the case, then Kone could well emerge as an alternative midfield target, and you’d like to think a move for the Frenchman would be a lot cheaper, which could help the club in their attempts to sign striker Darwin Nunez from Benfica.

In other news: Reliable journalist leaks Man Utd talks as Ten Hag now eyes ‘terrific’ Englishman. 

Tottenham Hotspur have suffered an injury blow after Antonio Conte confirmed that Lucas Moura remains sidelined for this weekend’s Premier League game vs Leicester City.

The Lowdown: Moura’s calf injury

The Lilywhites were on the receiving end of a shock 2-0 defeat to Sporting in the Champions League during midweek so will be hoping to put things right when they host Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes on Saturday.

The 30-year-old Brazilian has been ruled out of action since the end of August with a calf injury sustained against Chelsea, and after a fresh update, it sounds as if supporters won’t be seeing him until after the international break.

The Latest: Conte’s fitness update

Speaking to SPURSPLAY after training on Thursday, Conte revealed that Moura, once again, will not be available for selection when his side take on Leicester.

As quoted by Tottenham’s official website, he said:

“Yes, only Lucas is out. The other players are all available for Leicester.”

The Verdict: Setback for Spurs

Whilst Moura has fallen down the pecking order following the arrivals of Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison, he is still a hugely effective player and it will be a blow for Conte to not have him at his disposal.

The Brazilian, dubbed a ‘ridiculous’ player by sports journalist Josh Bunting, netted eight goals and registered six assists in all competitions last season (Transfermarkt), showing the attacking contribution he can make in the final third.

Moura would have by no means been named in Spurs’ starting XI this weekend, but he would have still provided the boss with an excellent option from the bench which will no doubt be missed by the Italian.

For too long, he gave the impression that he didn’t care – the century against South Africa has given us a glimpse of a new and improved Rohit Sharma

Nagraj Gollapudi at The Oval08-Jun-2019Virat Kohli has admitted more than once that he can only dream of playing the shots Rohit Sharma does, and called the opener’s century against South Africa in Southampton “by far his best ODI innings”. Rohit must feel humbled by all of that. At the same time, he must feel the pressure of expectations, both from within the dressing room as well as what might be building up outside.Once upon a time, Rohit gave the impression that he didn’t care. He is an ODI legend – no one else has three double-centuries in the format; he averages close to 58 as an opener. But in the last few years, he has got one key thing he didn’t have earlier: “self-belief”. Despite all the numbers and the belief, though, a question has hovered over Rohit for a majority of his career: can he maintain that consistency in really big matches, in tournament play? He had never convincingly answered that until June 5, when he played, in his own words, one of his best ODI innings, scoring the match-winning century in India’s World Cup opener.It was not a “typical Rohit Sharma innings”, which usually starts slowly, then builds up steadily, and then climaxes with a gung-ho finish. It is a formula that has helped Rohit construct a series of memorable ODI knocks.Against South Africa, Rohit threw that routine in the bin, replacing it with a method few thought him capable of, characterised by perseverance and patience. Once he had survived – with a little bit of luck – a probing spell of fast bowling from Kagiso Rabada and Chris Morris in the first Powerplay, Rohit figured out it was best to meet the ball on the back foot; years of batting on a seamer-friendly Wankhede Stadium pitch in Mumbai had taught him exactly this – the risk in playing square of the wicket is less than forcing himself to play straight, something he prefers. So he curbed those natural instincts; 87 out of his 122 runs came in front of and behind square.More than the runs, though, the clincher for Rohit was that he was able to finish off the chase, something that comes naturally to his captain. In the past, Rohit had struggled to play till the end despite getting very healthy starts.If you thought, thinking back to the old Rohit, that he doesn’t care or that he do justice to his ability, well, he does care. If not now, then when will he showcase what he has promised all along, for nearly a decade.In January, facing a similar task, Rohit had made 133 in Sydney as India failed to chase down 288. In that chase, Rohit ran out of partners, but he was visibly angry at not taking his team past the line. Asked today if he enjoyed finishing the job, Rohit’s response brought out more than a few laughs among the media corps. “I have played more than 200-odd ODIs [207] now. If I don’t do it now, then when?”Rohit Sharma curbed his natural instincts to finish the job for India•Getty ImagesRohit said the Southampton century had brought him “immense pleasure” because not only did he get a start, he also stitched together partnerships, and accomplished the team goal of having a top-order batsman stay till the end. “You want to make sure that you start the innings and you finish off the innings, as well,” he said. “That gives you immense pleasure. And when I did that in the first game, the satisfaction you get finishing the job is something else, rather than scoring a hundred and not finishing off the game.”On Sunday, Rohit will be aware that Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, who he has not faced in the past several years in ODIs, will test his skills with 150kph bolts. His record at The Oval isn’t great – 142 runs in four matches, with two half-centuries – but his numbers against Australia are phenomenal. Rohit has 1980 runs against them at 61.87, the highest by any batsman against the defending world champions (with a filter of at least 500 runs). In terms of runs, he ranks fourth. On the list of batsmen with the most centuries against Australia, he is placed third with seven.In an interview recently to the , Rohit confessed that “nothing hurt more” than being left out of the 2011 World Cup squad. But, as a youngster, he wasn’t the dependable batsman he now is.One big reason for Rohit’s change in mindset, according to long-time friend and former Mumbai teammate Abhishek Nayar, has been his hugely successful captaincy stint at Mumbai Indians in the IPL. “The way he thinks and the way he approaches his batting has completely changed,” Nayar said. “Even in the last game, it was all about how he could get the team in a position from where India could win. For him it was all about playing those overs.”We have always seen the flamboyance in his cricket. But the maturity has come in terms of how he looks at the game and it is all because of his captaincy in the IPL. We are getting to see that side of Rohit who can be responsible and continue being flamboyant when he gets going.”Another thing that is not often associated with Rohit is discipline. But he has worked hard on that front too. He started opening in ODI cricket from the 2013 Champions Trophy in England. India winning the tournament gave him the confidence that he could play in the top order. He did not succeed consistently enough, he accepts, but experience has taught him to understand his role better.Unlike Kohli, who not only wears intensity but puts it out wherever he steps, Rohit is more casual in his approach, laidback in his demeanour, yet composed. Kohli wants to be a perfectionist and is not shy of showing it. Kohli’s aura is visible. Rohit’s is hidden behind his chest guard. “Self-belief is something that I guess has played a crucial part in these five to six years, because if I wouldn’t have believed that I can open and do well, I probably wouldn’t have been doing it so successfully,” he said. “So that is something that I kept telling myself all the time, whenever I got in a position to bat, that I can get the job done for the team.”Rohit plays shots that instantly enter the mind’s photo album and stays there. Shots that no one in world cricket plays the way he does. His “not typical” Southampton ton is already etched in memory. But can he remain consistent? Can he make this World Cup his, as his numbers suggest he can?

India thumped New Zealand by 186 runs to book a place in the tournament’s semis for the fourth time

Shiva Jayaraman15-Jul-2017186 Runs India won this match by – their biggest win when batting first in the Women’s World Cup. Overall, there have been only three other instances when India have won by a bigger margin when batting first in women’s ODIs. They had beaten Ireland by a 249-run margin in an ODI in May this year, which is their biggest margin of victory.5/15 Rajeshwari Gayakwad’s figures in this match – India’s best in the Women’s World Cup. Ekta Bisht had taken 5 for 18 at the same venue in an earlier match against Pakistan, which was the previous best. Click here for a list of the best match figures in women’s ODIs for India, and here for a list of the best hauls in the Women’s World Cup.7 Fifty-plus scores by Mithali Raj as India’s captain in the World Cup – the most by any captain in the tournament. She went past Suzie Bates’ and Belinda Clark’s tally of six with her 109 in this match. Overall, Raj’s tally of 11 fifty-plus scores in the World Cup is the joint second-highest by any batsman. New Zealand’s Debbie Hockley has made 12 such scores. England’s Charlotte Edwards is the other batsman with 11 such scores.155.55 Veda Krishnamurthy’s strike rate in her 45-ball 70 in this match – the second-highest for an India batsman in an innings of 50 or more runs in women’s ODIs. Rumeli Dhar’s 31-ball 50 against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final in 2008 is the only innings that ranks higher.1086 Runs Raj has made in the Women’s World Cup – the fifth-highest by any batsman. She is only the fifth batsman to make 1000 runs in the Women’s World Cup. Her average of 57.15 among the five to hit 1000-plus runs in the World Cup is the second highest after Belinda Clark, who made 1151 runs at 60.57.2 Hundreds by Raj in the World Cup – the joint-highest by a captain. Suzie Bates and Charlotte Edwards also have hit two hundreds each. Overall, this was Raj’s sixth hundred in ODIs. No other India batsman has made more than two.1 Number of times India had beaten New Zealand from 11 matches before this in the Women’s World Cup. The only previous win had come in the semi-finals of the 2005 World Cup. Overall, New Zealand have a 27-17 win-loss record against India in women’s ODIs.80 New Zealand’s previous lowest all-out total in the Women’s World Cup, which had also come against India, in 1982. New Zealand, however, had won that match.3 Player-of-the-match awards won by Raj as captain in the World Cup – the joint second-highest by any captain. Only Belinda Clark’s tally of four such awards is more than Raj’s. England’s Charlotte Edwards has also won three. Overall, Raj has won five such awards in the tournament, the joint second-highest.3 World Cup semi-finals played by India before this edition. They have made it to this stage every time the Women’s World Cup has had a round of semi-finals. Including this edition, India have made it to the top four in five of the last six World Cups. They had failed to make it to the Super-Six stage in 2013.

Australia are favourites to seal a fourth successive Women’s World T20 title, with their main competition likely to come from the team across the Tasman

Vithushan Ehantharajah14-Mar-2016Antipodean shootout?
It’s hard to look beyond Australia and New Zealand for the title. Australia, sniffing their fourth successive Women’s World T20 trophy, seem to be the frontrunners. The Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) can take some credit for that: the success of the competition in its first year has added plenty of sheen to Australia’s game. Despite Australia breaking new ground domestically, though, they have lost their last three T20I series, the most recent of which came against New Zealand earlier this month. Factor in the loss of Grace Harris – one of the most exciting talents – and you begin to look at the team and wonder who beyond Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry you would file in the “match-winner” category. Then again, you might say the same thing about New Zealand with Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine. The two teams square off in Nagpur on March 21 and it’s hard not to think back to the men’s 2015 World Cup, when New Zealand beat Australia in the group stages, before Australia exacted revenge in the final. England, sitting in Group B, will be the match-up they’d want to save for the final.The outside bets
What’s an international tournament without a dark horse? If there’s a side that has shown the best on-field return on investment in women’s cricket recently, it’s South Africa. October 2013 marked a key moment in their history, as they joined England, Australia, West Indies and Pakistan in offering central contracts to their players. The following year, they made the semi-final of the 2014 World T20, which in hindsight might have been a jump too far as they were blown away by England. But, two years on, they have notched their first T20I win over England, along with their first ever T20I series win over West Indies. Theirs is a team mixing youth, experience and the sort of on-field buzz that sees them capable of defending low scores. The issue with this particular call is that they share Group A with New Zealand and Australia. And while they lack depth beyond their first XI, this is the first time Mignon du Preez has been able to have such a well-rounded attack. It is spearheaded by Shabnim Ismail who, in her ninth year of international cricket, has developed a full set of skills to counter some of the best batsmen in the world.India’s Smriti Mandhana, all of 19, is a player to watch out for•Getty ImagesThe next generation
If you’re keen for a home favourite, then look no further than Smriti Mandhana, a 19-year-old left-hand batsman who can unfurl the sort of square drives that will have you falling in love all over again. Then there is her team-mate Deepti Sharma, an 18-year-old offspinner who had spent the last few weeks tying Sri Lanka in knots.South Africa’s Dane van Niekerk has been around since 2009, but it has only been in the last three years that she has enjoyed sustained success with both bat and ball. Australia’s Jess Jonassen is up there with Mandhana as the most watchable left-handers in the game, while compatriot Lauren Cheatle, just 17, is an exciting left-arm quick who took 18 WBBL wickets at 19.72. West Indies’ Hayley Matthews – also 17 – is another fascinating all-round prospect. Away from your usual suspects, Cath Dalton of Ireland is an interesting case. A former England academy player, Dalton switched allegiances to Ireland to further her international career. While she had looked to make her way as a fast bowling allrounder, it is her batting which has become her strongest suit.(A caveat to this is that, disappointingly, only 13 women’s matches will be broadcast: 10 out of the 20 group matches, the semi-finals and final. Still, this is an improvement on previous editions, when only the semis and final were televised.)Not pitch perfect
An issue that continues to blight women’s cricket. It feels like in the last year playing surfaces have come under more intense scrutiny; pitch curators have been sacked, tosses scrapped, soils imported and heated words exchanged over 22-yards of dirt track. We ask a lot of our groundsmen and women with the sheer volume of cricket in the calendar, but it’s hard not to look at the pitches produced in Nagpur last week for the men’s first round of games and worry what might be in store for the women, who often get the short shrift when it comes to pitch rotation. It’s a shame really: the lower bounce and tackier surface that is prepared – or rather, underprepared – for many women’s fixtures rob us and them of their recently developed skills, such as hitting big down the ground and fizzing one past the ears. Good pitches will give these players the confidence to show just how expansive they can be.More money, less parity
For the third competition in a row, the prize money on offer in the women’s competition has increased. The figure this time around is US $400,000 overall, an increase of 22% from 2014’s figure of $328,000. In 2009 and 2010, that collective sum was only $45,000 with a small increase to $60,000 for 2012. This year’s winners will pocket $70,000 of the kitty, with the runners-up netting $30,000. Losing semi-finalists walk away with $15,000, while a group win is sweetened by $2,500. These figures pale in comparison to what’s on offer in the men’s competition: a collective $5.6 million, split into $1,100,000 for the winners, $550,000 for runners-up, $275,000 for semi-finalists and $40,000 for a group win.

After another blunt display, James Anderson’s form at this World Cup is becoming a significant problem for England

George Dobell in Wellington01-Mar-2015It’s just as well the England bowlers have names on the back of their shirts: it has become pretty much the only way to tell them apart.All four of their seamers are right-arm, quite quick, quite tall and quite good. In conditions where the ball swings or seams, they are dangerous. In conditions where it doesn’t, they take on a homogenised appearance that provides the captain with no options and the batsmen with no surprises.In theory, they offer different weapons. James Anderson, for example, is meant to offer swing and Steven Finn is meant to offer pace.In practice, Anderson hasn’t swung a ball in this tournament and Finn hasn’t been a fast bowler since England remodelled his action a couple of years ago. Stuart Broad bowled one excellent over but appears to lack the strength to sustain the pace required to excel at this level – if he always bowled as he did in his Ashes clinching spell at Durham, he would have developed into a great – and Chris Woakes seems to have an allergy to the yorker.The previous day, the World Cup had seen two left-arm seamers claim 11 wickets between them in 19 overs. It had seen Mitchell Starc, in particular, succeed by delivering fast yorkers.But England had no such option. It would be disingenuous to suggest that Harry Gurney, the last left-arm seamer England utilised, would have made much difference. It would be disingenuous to suggest that Mark Footitt or Tymal Mills – England’s quickest left-arm bowlers – are ready for ODI cricket. It would be disingenuous to suggest there are quick-fix solutions to England’s problems.James Anderson has only two wickets in four matches at this World Cup•Getty ImagesIn retrospect, the inclusion of James Tredwell might have helped. But whether it would have turned this result is debatable. As is the choice over who would have made way for him.The days when Anderson could be excluded from such debates are gone. After four matches in this World Cup, he has taken just two wickets – both against Scotland – at a cost of 91 apiece and he is conceding his runs at a cost of 6.27 an over.It is a mediocre record. And for an England team that were relying on Anderson’s potency with the new ball, it is disastrous.Anderson’s World Cup record is a major stain on a fine international career. In his fourth World Cup, he has claimed 24 wickets in 23 games at a cost of 42.41. Which sounds pretty modest.But when you exclude his first three games – played in 2003 when he was 20 years old – from the statistics, his record is truly gruesome. He has taken 15 wickets in 20 matches at an average of 61.33 and an economy rate of 5.60. And even then, nine of his wickets have come against Bangladesh or Associate nations. He has not claimed a wicket in his last four World Cup games against Test-playing opposition. A young England side require far better from their senior players.It is the lack of swing that is Anderson’s greatest concern. He moved the new ball consistently in the tri-series, often striking early, and forcing the opposition to proceed with caution. Now, sans swing, Anderson – and England – appear toothless.Other bowlers are still managing to make these Kookaburra balls swing. This game took place at the same ground and on the same pitch on which Tim Southee destroyed England with swing a week ago. Even in this game, Angelo Mathews gained some movement off the seam on the way to bowling his first nine overs for just 30 runs. Starc and Trent Boult found swing in Auckland on Saturday.

England’s plan was to take pace off the ball by hitting the pitch hard and forcing the batsmen to generate power. But that mentality accepts that the bowlers are going to be hit

It will not do to blame the conditions. Not only is it disputed that atmospheric conditions make any difference to the movement of a cricket ball but, if it keeps happening, then the player has to look to their own game.It is not the first time in his career when Anderson has struggled to find swing. On the tour of New Zealand in early 2013 he was unable to gain the movement available to the home bowlers. And in India in 2012 – perhaps his finest Test series – he had to rely on excellent control and a tiny amount of assistance off the pitch.So there was a time when Anderson had the tools to compensate for days when the ball did not swing. There was a time when he had the pace or the seam movement or the yorker to keep batsmen honest.But here he maintained an average of 83.4mph, with a top speed of 88.2mph. About half his deliveries to the left-handers failed to reach 80 mph. On flat pitches, without horizontal movement, that is medium-pace.His length was intriguing, too. He attempted only one yorker – it turned into a full toss – and hardly another full delivery. Generally he aimed for a back-of-a-length method that minimised the opportunity to drive him. But bowlers like Anderson are meant to encourage the drive and look for the edge. If he does not have the confidence to pitch the ball up, it is hard to see his worth in the side. Only five out of the 48 deliveries he bowled would have hit the stumps.England’s plan – as much as there was one – was to take pace off the ball by hitting the pitch hard and forcing the batsmen to generate power. But the whole mentality of such a plan is poor. It accepts, for a start, that the bowlers are on the defensive and that they are going to be hit. It just tried to limit the extent of the damage.It is unthinkable that Australia or New Zealand would take such a defeatist and sophistic approach. Instead they would seek wickets. They would look for their swing bowlers to move the ball and their fast bowlers to either unsettle the batsmen with the short ball or defeat them with the full. England’s plans, as much as their skills, remain off the pace at this level. Either way, they do not reflect well on the bowling coach, David Saker. Has any bowler in his charge not deteriorated?Ravi Bopara’s inclusion might have made a difference. Not only did England miss another option – albeit another right-arm seamer – but they missed Bopara’s ability to work on the ball.Bopara has a reputation as a man who can “make the ball talk”. With him in the side, England and Essex have managed to gain extravagant movement. Just as telling, they have often struggled to replicate that movement when Bopara is absent.That is not to suggest that Bopara is doing anything untoward with the ball. With the number of cameras trained on international cricketers these days, it is hard to imagine any player could get away with ball tampering. But it does seem uncanny how much more the ball appears to move when he is in the side.Either way, if the ball does not swing, Anderson appears to have few weapons. And without his bite, England are not so much in the field as out at sea.

Vernon Philander stresses the importance of working on your skills, but he’s not a big fan of being called the new McGrath

Interview by Jack Wilson17-Aug-2013The start of your Test career was immense. You took 50 wickets in your first seven matches – the second-fastest ever. That’s some record, isn’t it?
It came down to the hard work prior to that. In the end the hard work pays off. You go through a lot in the years leading up to playing for your country. If you put it in, you get your rewards. Success isn’t guaranteed. Put in the hard yards and that’s what comes.Is that the secret – hard work?
Yes, hard work pays off. You have to spend time getting your skills up to standard. Hard work makes me appreciate things I achieve a lot more. The more and more I achieve the better it makes me feel. I want to keep making things happen, going forward too.Are you someone who’s into their stats?
I’m not into stats, no.So if I asked you how many Test wickets you’d taken, would you know?
I just take each game at a time. I play each time to try and take the team across the line – that’s what I’m worried about.What’s the strangest game you’ve ever played in?
We bowled New Zealand out for 45 on the first day of a Test, which was crazy, but my debut – the win over Australia – was the most bizarre. To bowl them out for 47 in the second innings and then knock off the runs was a good game to be a part of.Last year Allan Donald said the bowling attack – with you in it – was the best ever. How did that make you feel?
(Laughs) It was great to hear that, especially coming from him. As far as we’re concerned, as a bowling unit we just try and take 20 wickets a game. The more we do it, the more people may rave about us. Getting teams out is our job and we take pride in doing so.You’ve been dubbed “the new Glenn McGrath” by some. That’s high praise.

I’ve heard some people say that, but I’m not too concerned what people call me. I just focus on my game, and as long as I go out and produce the goods, I’m happy. Personally I don’t like it but it’s not a bad compliment.If you could go back in time and bowl at one batsman from the past, who would it be?
Jeez, that’s tough. I’d say my school mates. A few were highly rated at school level and for me it’s important to be humble and remember where you came from.Who’s the messiest player in the South Africa dressing room?
The boys are generally pretty good. The bowlers – me, Dale Steyn and Morne [Morkel] – tend to unpack all our kit. It’s not untidy, though. It’s all together.And the funniest?
Morne Morkel tells lots of old-time stories and jokes, I’ll give it to him.Who hits the ball the furthest?
There are a few strikers in that team, huh? I’d say, from the Test side, it’s AB [de Villiers]. He can hit it pretty clean and pretty far.If I gave you a ball and you had six balls to bowl at one stump, how many times would you hit?
Probably none! (Laughs) Seriously, well, it depends on the conditions. I’ve got to back myself. I’d say I’d hit it two out of six times.How do you spend your time away from cricket?
I’ll be on the golf course most of the time. That’s where I like to go. The golf course or a wildlife park.What’s your handicap?
I play off a horrible five.Where’s the best place to play cricket in the world?
There’s only one place, isn’t there? Cape Town. There’s no better setting than that. Although I enjoy it wherever I go. It’s always a different experience playing against different players and seeing people from different cultures. It’s special to travel the world.What’s the first piece of advice you’d give to a young fast bowler?
I’d say to the young guns out there: try and enhance your skills to a level in which you understand them. Once you understand your action and once you understand what you are trying to do with the ball, you can showcase it to the world. Go out there and put in the hard yards.Favourite shot?
Pull shot.Does cricket ever pop up in your dreams?
No, not really, although I had one prior to my debut.