Newcastle Must Avoid Move For £51m Serie A "Wizard"

Newcastle United are actively looking for new additions who can improve their already impressive squad this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Federico Chiesa?

According to Italian newspaper Gazzetta Dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are competing with Liverpool for the signature of Juventus winger, Federico Chiesa.

As per the report, both Premier League clubs are monitoring the player's situation with the Serie A giants, as it is claimed that Chiesa is one of the assets that could be moved on to bolster funds and invest in Max Allegri's tactical philosophy – a 3-5-2 set-up that is ill-suited for the forward.

How good is Federico Chiesa?

There is no doubt that Chiesa is a talented forward who could be a revelation at St James' Park if he could emulate his impressive output in the Premier League, however, his injury record casts a dark cloud over his undeniable ability.

During the 2022/23 campaign alone, the Italy international – hailed a "wizard" by Liverpool insider DaveOCKOP – has had seven separate injury and fitness issues amounting to 75 days in recovery which left him unavailable for selection in 14 fixtures for the Old Lady, which follows almost an entire year out of action due to an ACL injury sustained in January 2022.

As a result, Howe could be heading for an absolute howler if Chiesa is brought in as a replacement for Allan Saint-Maximin, as the Frenchman has a similar problem with injuries and has been an unreliable option in the forward line when needed.

Saint-Maximin – who has been recently speculated for an exit from Newcastle this summer – had four spells on the sidelines over last season; tallying up 81 days out of action and missing 13 fixtures for the North East club, demonstrating a similar recent injury record to Chiesa.

federico-chiesa-premier-league-newcastle-transfers

The signing of Chiesa would indeed pose risk on his availability and Howe will need to look at their options when considering whether the Italian's impressive output, versatility and experience in the Champions League will be a valuable asset that outweighs his troubling fitness record.

Over 287 club appearances so far, the 25-year-old Euro 2020 winner has scored 67 goals and registered 49 assists, with a goal contribution every 174 minutes.

Not only that, Chiesa ranks in the top 25% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for shots on goal, assists, progressive carries, successful take-ons, tackles and blocks, proving that he is one of the top all-action wingers in Europe over the last 12 month, as per FBref.

The Magpies are also extremely conscious of their Financial Fair Play constraints and with Chiesa commanding a reported fee of €60m (£51m) this summer, it would be a substantial investment for the club to commit to, that would see them edge closer to reaching their financial limits at present.

With that being said, there is no doubt that Chiesa would bring huge quality to the Tynesiders, but when considering his price tag and availability there may be other options worth investing in this summer.

'Devastated' Thiago Silva apologises to Chelsea fans in emotional message after awful error gifts Newcastle goal in 4-1 defeat

A "devastated" Thiago Silva apologised to Chelsea fans in an emotional message after an awful error gifted Newcastle a goal in a 4-1 defeat.

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Silva issues apology after silly errorChelsea convincingly beaten by NewcastleBlues drop to 10th spotWHAT HAPPENED?

The defender was at fault after a critical error led to Joelinton's goal that helped the Magpies to further extend their lead. Silva's sloppy pass was cut off by his compatriot and Joelinton made no mistake to score past a helpless Robert Sanchez between the sticks.

AdvertisementWHAT THIAGO SILVA SAID

Silva posted an emotional message after the defeat which read: "I'm devastated. It wasn't a good day for us. I would like to apologise to everyone for the defeat, especially to my teammates who believe in me and support me every day. I take full responsibility. Let's gather strength and come back stronger."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

After coming out second-best to an injury-ravaged Newcastle, Mauricio Pochettino was naturally left "upset". Alexander Isak scored the opener but Raheem Sterlingensured that they were back on level terms soon after scoring a brilliant free kick. However, after the break, the Magpies upped the ante and Jamaal Lascelles made the most of the inspired start and put his team back in the lead. After Silva's howler, things went further south for Chelsea as Reece James was handed his marching orders. Ten minutes later, Anthony Gordon scored the fourth of the match for Newcastle to seal a memorable evening for the fans at St. James' Park.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR THIAGO SILVA?

Silva is one of the leaders in the dressing room and became the oldest player to ever feature for the Blues at 39 years and 64 days when he was named in the starting XI against Newcastle. The centre-back will look to put this disappointment on the back burner and move ahead as Chelsea are set to host Brighton next on December 3.

Hamidullah Qadri becomes county cricket's first 21st century boy

ScorecardHamidullah Qadri. Remember the name•DerbyshireCCC

Derbyshire’s Hamidullah Qadri made history on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship clash with Glamorgan.Qadri, 16, became the first player born in the year 2000 to play in county cricket as Derbyshire were bowled out for 288 in the Division Two day-night fixture.No 11 Qadri came out to bat under the lights and survived being bowled off a no ball as he made an unbeaten 11, aiding a Derbyshire recovery that saw 131 runs added for the last three wickets.Derbyshire lost their first wicket in the fourth over when Luis Reece was lbw to Timm van der Gugten but Wayne Madsen (70) and Billy Godleman (34) added 98 for the second wicket.Van der Gugten broke the partnership when Madsen (70) edged one to the wicketkeeper and Godleman followed when a rare attempt at an expansive shot resulted in another catch for Chris Cooke behind the stumps.Marchant de Lange had Gary Wilson caught behind before Graham Wagg claimed two wickets in successive overs when Alex Hughes was lbw and Jeevan Mendis was caught low down at second slip by Nick Selman.With the penultimate ball before the second break, Derbyshire lost their seventh wicket when Tom Taylor became Van der Gugten’s third victim and Cooke’s fourth when he was caught behind.Derbyshire recovered in the evening session, with Daryn Smit and Tom Milnes adding 66 for the eighth wicket before Smit picked out gully off De Lange.Milnes reached his half-century before edging behind to Cooke off Michael Hogan, who ended the innings by having Tony Palladino caught at mid-off, but Derbyshire would have been pleased by their recovery.

Ange Postecoglou Urging Tottenham To Sign £90m "Beast"

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is urging chairman Daniel Levy to make a move for Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha, according to a report.

Is Joao Palhinha leaving Fulham this summer?

Back in June, Palhinha appeared to indicate that a move is off the table this summer, stating that he is "very happy" at Fulham and wants to stay, however, that has not stopped a number of top clubs from making their interest clear.

The Daily Mail report that the Cottagers would be willing to let the Portugal international leave during this window, but only if their £90m asking price is paid in full, amid interest from Barcelona, who have identified him as a target to replace Sergio Busquets.

In recent weeks, the likes of West Ham United and Liverpool have been linked with a move for the 27-year-old, and Postecoglou is now eager for Spurs to make their first move, in light of the growing interest from elsewhere.

According to a report from The Sun (via TEAMtalk), the Tottenham boss is urging Levy to make a concrete move for the Fulham star, however, any deal is likely to set Tottenham back a new club-record fee.

Despite paying just £20m for the midfielder a year ago, Fulham now value him at £90m, and Spurs are mulling over a deal which is well in excess of their club-record of the £60m paid for Richarlison.

Postecoglou hopes to convince Levy to launch a bid, and the Lilywhites could look to finance the deal by selling the likes of Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele.

Is Palhinha signing for Tottenham?

Tottenham are yet to make any firm moves for the Portuguese maestro, so a deal is still some way off, but he could be an excellent addition to Postecoglou's squad, should the interest become more concrete.

The former Sporting CP man made a whopping 147 tackles in the Premier League last season, 47 more than any other player in the top flight, showcasing his phenomenal defensive ability, and he also ranks in the 92nd percentile for aerials won per 90 in the past year.

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes in action with Fulham'sJoaoPalhinha.

Hailed as a "beast" by members of the media, there is every indication the central midfielder is entering his prime with a career-high Transfermarkt valuation, however, there are still question marks about whether he should be targeted by Spurs.

Palhinha turns 28 later this month, so it may not be financially prudent to spend £90m on a player who is approaching the latter stages of his career, especially considering he has only proven himself in the Premier League over the course of one season.

England women complete warm-up with big win over New Zealand

A round-up of the Women’s World Cup warm-up matches played on June 21, 2017

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jun-2017England women 132 for 3 (Beaumont 51*) beat New Zealand women 130 (Martin 36, Marsh 3-7) by seven wickets
ScorecardTammy Beaumont struck an unbeaten 51 off 76 balls•Getty ImagesEngland Women finalised their preparation for the ICC Women’s World Cup with a seven-wicket victory over New Zealand at Derby, the venue for Saturday’s opener against India.A disciplined and collective bowling performance saw New Zealand dismissed for 130 and laid the foundations for an encouraging victory, secured with Tammy Beaumont not out on 51.With Heather Knight, Sarah Taylor and Katherine Brunt rested, England picked a team of 12 (11 of whom could bat and 11 who could bowl) with offspinner Danielle Hazell once again stepping in to take the reins.She oversaw a fielding performance in which the wickets were shared around, the stand-out figures belonging to Laura Marsh who finished with 4-1-7-3.Mithali Raj scored 85 off 89 balls•Getty Images
ScorecardHalf-centuries from Punam Raut and Mithali Raj, followed by a four-wicket haul from Rajeshwari Gayakwad, led India women to a 109-run win against Sri Lanka in Chesterfield. Raut added 92 for the first wicket with Smriti Mandhana and 49 with the second with Raj as the top three set up a daunting total of 275 for 8.Four of Sri Lanka’s top five got past 20, but none of them managed a half-century, with Dilani Manodara’s 49 the top score of the lot. At 135 for 3, the chase still held some hope, only for Sri Lanka to collapse to Gayakwad’s left-arm spin, the last seven wickets falling for 31 runs.

Casemiro Throws His Name Into Man United Captaincy Debate

Manchester United have had some legendary captains throughout their illustrious history. We're talking Sir Bobby Charlton, Nemanja Vidic, Gary Neville and Roy Keane. Unfortunately, Harry Maguire is far from becoming a member of that list of icons, with his spell as captain going in somewhat of the opposite direction.

As the designated leader, it helps when you're on the pitch. You're meant to be one of the first names on the team sheet. And Maguire is simply not that at Old Trafford. The £80m defender has lost his place under Erik ten Hag, and looks closer and closer to the exit door with every passing moment.

According to The Sun, Newcastle United and Aston Villa have shown interest in Maguire, but United do not want to loan the central defender.

Following the departure of the experienced David de Gea, too, the question comes to the fore as to who will step into the leadership roles at Manchester United on the pitch. It could be time for Ten Hag to pick a new player to take charge.

As per The Sun also, with reports linking Maguire with a move away, Ten Hag will likely have to pick a new captain.

With that in mind, Casemiro certainly believes he has the leadership qualities to fulfil that role and it appears he's thrown his name in the ring.

What did Casemiro say?

Speaking to Placar when asked about the leadership role, Casemiro said, via Goal: "I like having this role, yes, to be honest. Being a leader, caring, being like a father, going after things, I like to set an example, be the first to arrive, I like to play this role.

"The captain’s [armband] is nothing more than a symbol, but the players have the responsibility to talk to the referee, to the players – I like to be that example player."

The midfielder's experience likely plays a large role in that leadership, given the amount of major silverware he picked up during his time at Real Madrid, winning the Champions League in three consecutive seasons at one stage.

How much did Casemiro cost?

Soccer Football – Europa League – Group E – Manchester United v Real Sociedad – Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain – September 8, 2022 Manchester United's Casemiro reacts REUTERS/Craig Brough

Even though many Manchester United fans will be quick to point out just how priceless a player of Casemiro's quality and experience is, the 31-year-old cost the Red Devils a reported £70m last summer.

The Brazilian has more than paid that price tag back, though, getting United back into the Premier League's top four, and helping them win their first trophy under Ten Hag – the Carabao Cup.

Next season could be even better, too. Those at Old Trafford are gearing up to go one step better than a top-four place next season, with a place in the Champions League handing them the chance to cause a few shocks on the European stage.

Meanwhile, sneaking their way into the Premier League title race wouldn't exactly go amiss. It will be difficult, given Arsenal's summer arrivals so far, and Manchester City's treble-winning squad. But, if the Red Devils can get their own summer plans right, then they could cause an upset come August.

Between now and then, however, Ten Hag may find himself choosing a new captain, should Maguire depart.

Afghanistan A replace Australia A in tri-series

Afghanistan A will join South Africa A and India A to play a seven-match, 50-over tri-series starting on July 26 in Pretoria.Cricket South Africa (CSA) had extended an invitation to the Afghanistan Cricket Board after they were informed that Australia A, who were originally scheduled to participate in the tri-series, pulled out over a long-standing pay dispute with their board.

A team series schedule

  • Jul 26 – Afghanistan A v India A

  • Jul 28 – South Africa A v India A

  • Jul 30 – South Africa A v Afghanistan A

  • Aug 1 – Afghanistan A v India A

  • Aug 3 – South Africa A v India A

  • Aug 5 – South Africa A v Afghanistan A

  • Aug 8 – TBA v TBA

  • Aug 12-15 – South Africa A v India A

  • Aug 19-22 – South Africa A v India A

“We are very pleased to accept Cricket South Africa’s invitation to participate in the upcoming triangular series,” Afghanistan Cricket Board’s chief executive Shafiqullah Stanikzai said. “This will be our first-ever visit to South Africa and I am certain that this will give Afghanistan A team very good exposure to competitive cricket.”This came on the back of Afghanistan securing Test status at the culmination of the ICC board meetings in June and CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat congratulated them on their rapid rise. Afghanistan also made their debut at Lord’s last week against MCC, but persistent rain led to play being called off midway.”Afghanistan were deservedly granted Full Member status at the ICC annual conference last month after showing impressive growth in recent years,” Lorgat saidThe ACB tweeted their squad for the tour and it features 11 men who have already played international cricket including the likes of openers Usman Ghani and Javed Ahmadi, middle-order batsman Najibullah Zadran and wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai.Ihsan Janat, Younas Ahmadzai, Nawaz Khan, Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai are the only uncapped players in the 15-member squad.Afghanistan A: Usman Ghani, , Javed Ahmadi, Rahmat Shah, Younas Ahmadzai, Nasir Jamal, Najibullah Zadran, Shafiqullah, Afsar Zazai (wk), Karim Janat, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Yamin Ahmadzai, Fareed Ahmad, Ihsan Janat, Younas Ahmadzai, Nawaz Khan, Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai

Fit Philander aiming to provide missing edge

Vernon Philander has recovered from the illness that affected him during the third Test and hopes to bring his ability with bat and ball to bear on leveling the series in Manchester

Firdose Moonda02-Aug-2017If Vernon Philander could do The Oval Test all over again, he would. And he would do it feeling the way he does now because that is infinitely better than the way he felt last week.Philander spent most of the third Test in the toilet, “losing quite a lot of fluids, top and bottom”. The same could be said of South Africa’s performance.The top order was guilty of not posting enough runs, especially in the first innings, and the bowling lacked the discipline required to contain England. Philander’s all-round ability was missed and he knew it. “In any bowling line-up, if there’s a link missing, you feel it and I’m quite an important part in that line-up,” Philander said. “I could feel my intensity was missed.”Don’t read that as a man talking himself up, read it as an international sportsperson speaking from a place of professionalism. Philander was picked to play – and the merits of including someone who was obviously ill have already been discussed on these pages – so that is what he wanted to do.He fronted up on the first morning and took the new ball even though South Africa’s initial hope was that they would bat first and he would have some extra time to recover. That day, Philander bowled 12 overs; in the innings, he bowled 17; and in the match, 32, which amounted to 17.4% of the total overs South Africa sent down. It cannot be a coincidence that at Lord’s, where Philander was coming back from an ankle injury sustained in a county stint and where South Africa also lost, he only bowled 13% of the total overs whereas at Trent Bridge, where Philander was Man of the Match, he delivered 23.9%, almost a quarter.Perhaps the more telling impact of Philander’s absence was that the most he could provide in a single spell at The Oval was five overs. While he could create pressure early on, he was unable to sustain it and neither was anyone else in the attack despite tailor-made conditions. Under thick cloud and in humidity, Morne Morkel turned in one of his best performances for little reward but Kagiso Rabada struggled for rhythm and Chris Morris with inconsistency. All Philander wanted to do was get better enough to get in on the action. “It was frustrating not to be out there or to bowl longer spells,” he said.It was even more frustrating watching the chance to win the series slip past South Africa, especially as Philander knows what victory in England tastes like. He is one of only three members of the current squad who played in the 2012 matches and took the Test mace off England at Lord’s. Philander had one of the most important hands in that victory after scoring fifty and taking a five-for. Then, a South Africa side that shone with superstars like Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn may not have realised how much they relied on Philander. Now, they know exactly how much they do. It is more than they should be comfortable with because, as demonstrated last week, if Philander is unavailable, South Africa need to have other options.It may be something that comes up in their team talks, which Philander explained involved severe self-reflection. “We’ve had a few hard chats,” he said. “We have an honesty policy and we all admitted it wasn’t our best Test match. We let ourselves down with the bat in the first innings and that’s something we would like to correct.”Philander will have a role to play in that regard because he has been promoted to No. 7 and, now that he is healthier, he can show why he has long wanted to bat higher up. “I think No. 7 is ideal for me. I enjoy having to bat longer periods,” he said. But his main role will remain with the ball in hand.With heavy cloud hanging over Manchester, rain in the week prior to the team’s arrival in the city hampering pitch preparation and drizzle expected throughout the final Test, Philander may get the chance to do at Old Trafford what he would have done at The Oval. And this time, he thinks, “there’s everything to play for”.

Explained: Why the BBC are in dispute with Premier League over Match of the Day TV rights deal

BBC are currently in a dispute with the Premier League over hosting rights as they are looking to reduce the £60million-a-year fee they currently pay.

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BBC in dispute with Premier LeagueLooking to reduce the yearly fee of £60mThere will be fewer games in their slotGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

According to a report from The Daily Mail last month, the iconic 'BBC Match of the Day' show was set to remain the broadcaster for another four years from 2025. The likes of Channel 4, Channel 5 and ITV decided against bidding for the rights to Match of the Day as they did not find it commercially viable. However, a new report from The Daily Mail now suggests that there is an ongoing conversation between the BBC and Premier League to reduce the yearly fee that is charged.

AdvertisementTHE EXPLANATION

There could only be three Saturday afternoon kickoffs since the Premier League is planning to broadcast up to 270 live games a season, the majority of which will take place on Sundays. While the BBC airs Match of the Day 2 on Sunday nights as well, its flagship Saturday show, hosted by Gary Lineker, garners higher viewership. The BBC places special emphasis on the 3 pm kickoffs because of the extensive coverage that live broadcast games receive elsewhere on the other platforms.

DID YOU KNOW?

There is an ongoing petition to get rid of the blackout of the Premier League games between 2:15 pm and 5:15 pm. Since before the Premier League was established, broadcasters have only been permitted to air the early and late matches on national television in the UK due to the blackout with the majority of the games not broadcast on television. However, American investors are looking to get rid of the blackout as a means of increasing the broadcast revenue from the games.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR THE BROADCAST RIGHTS?

It is still expected that the broadcast rights will remain with BBC as their competitors have also raised the same concerns regarding the extremely high yearly fees for hosting the famous slot of Premier League games.

Westley trusts the game he knows to work in Tests

England’s new No. 3 has not looked out of his depth early in his Test career and is determined to maintain a relaxed approach to the pressure

Alan Gardner23-Aug-20172:21

‘I just desperately want to score runs for England’ – Westley

Almost three years ago, Tom Westley was standing round the back of the pavilion at Chelmsford, wiping the sweat from his brow after Essex had completed their final match of the season and talking softly, almost hesitantly, about his “ultimate goal” of playing for England. Westley had been selected – for the first time at the age of 25 – for the England Performance Programme, on the back of his impressive white-ball form that summer.That winter, he went to Sri Lanka, playing a few games for the Bloomfield club in Colombo while also working on his spin bowling; the following summer saw his best first-class return, 926 runs at 44.09, followed by an even more prolific season in 2016, when he averaged more than 50 and broke the 1000-run barrier for the first time. Now, at 28, he is England’s incumbent at No. 3 in the Test side.All of which is to say that Westley has worked long and hard to get to where he wants to be – he made his first-class debut for Essex more than a decade ago – and is intent on enjoying the experience. Called up for the Oval Test against South Africa, after Gary Ballance suffered a broken finger, he became only the second England debutant to score a fifty batting at No. 3 this century and, despite failing to match that contribution since, has so far featured in three consecutive Test victories.Westley is already getting used to the extra attention that comes with being an England cricketer – at least from the media, if not the general public, as a trip into Birmingham last week with Alastair Cook brought home. When an England fan stopped and asked for a selfie with Cook, Westley was not required. “The guy was like ‘no, no, it’s just his mate’. So I was just stood there.”Opposition analysts, you can be certain, will not make the same oversight, focusing on his strong leg-side game and a habit of occasionally letting his bottom hand take over, closing the bat face when he drives down the ground. Having spent many years forging a technique he trusts to bring him runs, Westley is not about to start making changes now and his conversations with those who know his batting best – including the gnomic Gnome of Essex cricket, and former England captain, Keith Fletcher – have centred on sticking to what works.”I score consistently through the leg side so that’s not something I’m too concerned about,” Westley says. “That’s the way I play. But I just thinking making that step up, and Cooky and Rooty showed it in the last game, that’s when you get in you have to make it count. I’ve got a start in a few of my innings and that’s the difference between county cricket, where you can get to 30 or 60 and hope a score comes along, but in Test cricket the scrutiny is on you because you have to go on there and then.”It’s my role to score hundreds. That’s what I’m there to do at three and make match-winning contributions but I’m confident in my ability and my game plan. It’s worked for me for a number of years at Essex and hopefully I can implement it at Test level.”I spoke to Fletch yesterday. I speak to him a lot. It’s the same advice. Keep it simple. Try to implement what you’ve done at Essex. I spoke to him briefly yesterday about a few things I try to tick off. I’ve done it from a young age. For instance a big thing for me is my balance so I was disappointed to be lbw in the last game because the leg side is a massive strength of mine and it was disappointing to get out that way. I may get out lb several times a year but generally I score a large volume of runs through the leg side. Everybody has their check list before a Test and a big thing for me is my balance. Then everything takes care of itself.”Westley’s dismissal at Edgbaston, trapped in front for 8 by Miguel Cummins, saw his opportunity extinguished before the pink ball had lost its first blush – and such was the scale of their dominance, England did not need to bat again. While he could have been forgiven for stewing in the dressing room while Cook and Joe Root each proceeded serenely to three figures during a stand of 248, Westley has been around long enough not to let such frustrations bite too deeply.”Some would say I missed the boat, but I just looked at it as them laying a platform for England to win which is the most important thing,” he says. “Maybe when you’re a bit younger, 19 or 20, you look sideways at what other people are doing and you wish you are scoring those runs, but I’m a bit older than that, although I don’t look it, and I just enjoy other people’s success.Tom Westley focuses during training•Getty Images

“I’ve seen it first hand with other people at Essex and with Cooky, there is not point competing with him, he is the leading run-scorer for England of all time, so it was more important that they laid a platform for England to win and that is what happened. If I play this next game and get a good start and kick on then my time will come as it will for other players in the changing room. That is my philosophy.”England will hope that he does kick on at some point over the next two Tests, with an Ashes series looming and questions hovering over the make-up of the top three. Having shown an impressive temperament in coming through his first test, against South Africa, Westley knows that a big innings is required to prove his belongs – never mind the quality of the opposition.”As far as I’m concerned runs are runs regardless of who they’re against. I know that the West Indies didn’t cover themselves in glory in the last Test but they are a very talented side. They’ve got some good bowlers, I know Shannon Gabriel didn’t play the last game, but they’ve got Kemar Roach and bowlers who have performed consistently in Test cricket.”For me, I just want to score runs for whoever I play for and for England against whoever. I think there is nothing else I can do. These are the Tests that are here in England at the moment so if I can score runs in them then it is only going to help.”So level-headed and thoughtful is Westley, that it is a surprise to hear that he recently made his mum cry. But then it is also a bit of surprise to hear university-educated Westley talk about his builder dad: “very vocal, covered in tattoos, very different to me.”. Should Tom ensure himself a place in England’s party for Australia, it will be a source of great pride for the whole family (he also has two sisters).”I spoke to my mum on the phone last night about hopefully getting selected for the third Test of this series at Lord’s and she just started crying, she couldn’t speak back to me. Growing up that’s what she envisaged for me as her son: playing at Lord’s. I can’t even bring up the Ashes to her. I was actually shocked on the phone because she couldn’t speak back to me, and I was like ‘signal gone?'”It was surprising to hear her well up. We were talking about tickets for Lord’s if I was selected and she couldn’t get a word in. I think getting selected on the Ashes would be times that by 10.”Before Australia, before Lord’s, even, comes the Headingley Test and the next stage on Westley’s journey. If he does well, he won’t be doing his interviews round the back of the pavilion; if he doesn’t, it seems fair to assume he will mop his brow and get his head down once again.”I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself because there is pressure as you’d expect playing for England,” he says. “I play cricket because I love playing cricket and the team, management and changing room has been unbelievable these last three games. I know there is a pressure to score runs but fundamentally I want to enjoy playing cricket for England, which I have, and hopefully in time the runs will follow.”Investec is the title sponsor of Test match cricket in England. For Out of the Ordinary thinking visit investec.com/cricket

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