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According to recent reports, Newcastle United’s reported interest in Leicester City playmaker James Maddison could see goalkeeper Martin Dubravka head in the other direction.

What’s the word?

As per the Daily Mail, the Slovakia international could potentially be used as part of a swap deal to land the Foxes midfielder, with Brendan Rodgers’ side believed to have ‘shown an interest’ in the 33-year-old this summer.

The report outlines how the Magpies had seen a bid in the region of £40m rejected for the England international, with further reports outlining that a subsequent £50m offer has also been rebuffed, with the Midlands side holding out for around £60m for the 25-year-old.

Dubravka’s inclusion could then prove crucial in reaching an agreement between the two clubs – amid Financial Fair Play restrictions for the northeast side – with Leicester seemingly eyeing a replacement for Kasper Schmeichel, following the Dane’s surprise switch to Ligue 1 side Nice.

Howe can rid himself of Dubravka

The use of the Newcastle stopper in the deal could well then be of great use to both parties, with Rodgers and co getting a Premier League-ready solution to help fill their goalkeeping void, while the Tynesiders will be able to rid themselves of a player who could well be surplus to requirements this summer.

The St James’ Park outfit have acted to bring in former Burnley colossus Nick Pope so far this summer, with the indication being that the 30-year-old will be manager Eddie Howe’s first-choice option this season.

With Karl Darlow and Mark Gillespie also in reserve, the former Bournemouth boss already has plenty of depth in his goalkeeping ranks, with it set to be no real setback if Dubravka is to be moved on before the September deadline.

While the former Sparta Prague man – who arrived in England on an initial loan deal four and a half years ago – did make 26 top-flight appearances last term, the £44k-per-week dud came in for criticism for his performances on occasion, with pundit Tim Sherwood labelling him “poor” following a mistake against Brighton last season.

His exit will also prove no real loss if it does lead to the arrival of the aforementioned Maddison, with the former Norwich City star undoubtedly set to be a major acquisition for the ambitious club if a deal can be struck.

Once labelled “world-class” by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate for his set-piece quality, the £45m-rated ace has proven himself to be a hugely influential attacking force at the King Power Stadium in recent times, notably enjoying a particularly profitable 2021/22 campaign.

That stellar season on a personal note saw the one-cap gem net 12 goals and provide eight assists in 35 games across all competitions, while further showcasing his creative prowess by averaging 1.4 key passes per game.

That stunning form unsurprisingly saw the Coventry-born superstar record a hugely impressive average match rating of 7.32, as per SofaScore, with that figure higher than every member of the Newcastle squad last season bar Kieran Tripper – albeit with the latter man making just six top-flight appearances due to injury.

That illustrates just what vital figure Maddison can be for Howe’s side for the forthcoming season, with there unlikely to be few tears shed if Dubravka is to be used to get the deal over the line.

Celtic need to replace another midfielder between now and the end of the summer transfer window, according to former Hoops striker Frank McAvennie.

The Lowdown: Mooy in, Johnston out?

The Scottish Premiership champions continued their productive summer on Tuesday, securing the services of Australia international Aaron Mooy.

The 31-year-old joins Celtic on a two-year deal and brings him with vast experience at a high level – he has 53 caps and eight goals for his country – as he looks to fill the void left by Tom Rogic.

Mooy’s arrival certainly boosts the Hoops’ squad depth but it could still be that more transfer business is conducted at Parkhead in the coming weeks, with McAvennie believing Mikey Johnston is next up for the chopping block.

The Latest: McAvennie wants holding midfielder

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie said he would like to see a holding midfielder arrive instead:

“I still think they need a holding midfield player. Get somebody in and get Mikey [Johnston] off the wage bill. [Ismaila] Soro has gone, [Tom] Rogic has gone, [Nir] Bitton has gone, so there’s places there.

“There’s nothing like having a big squad and having a good squad.”

The Verdict: Is it needed?

The arrival of Mooy has made a big difference to Celtic’s midfield options and the Australian is capable of playing in a deep-lying role, which could suit McAvennie’s demands.

Whether or not another central midfielder is needed this summer is up for debate, but if Ange Postecoglou follows the former Hoops striker’s advice and clears Johnston out, then a new face will indeed be required.

However, perhaps the top focus should be on signing a prolific striker who guarantees regular goals – Giorgos Giakoumakis topped the Bhoys’ Premiership charts last term with just 13.

Everton are among the clubs interested in signing Clermont Foot striker Mohamed Bayo, according to a report from French outlet Foot Mercato. 

The lowdown: Wanted man

A product of the youth system at Clermont, Bayo has flourished in France and has amassed 48 direct goal involvements in 79 appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit.

The 24-year-old Guinea international had previously been a reported target for West Ham but any move failed to materialise and now several clubs have taken notice of the powerful frontman.

As Blues boss Frank Lampard looks to replace Richarlison following the Brazilian’s switch to Tottenham last week, Bayo could be among the candidates to fill the void at Goodison Park…

The latest: Everton interested

As per Foot Mercato, Everton, Valencia, Hertha Berlin and Tottenham themselves all ‘follow’ the 11-cap Guinea international.

It’s claimed that Eintracht Frankfurt and Marseille also hold an interest in Bayo – who was lauded for his ‘clinical finishing’ by football writer Antonio Mango in April 2021 having fired Clermont to promotion to the French top flight.

The report also cites admiration from Lille and states that it would take offers of around €10-11million (£8.5-9million) in order to prize the star away this summer.

The verdict: Make it happen

Albeit still relatively inexperienced at the highest level, Bayo has already shown a ruthless streak in front of goal in his short career to date that would be of huge benefit to Lampard’s ranks, particularly following the exit of Richarlison which leaves just Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Salomon Rondon as the only two remaining senior centre-forward options.

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Last season, the France-born Guinean sensation scored 14 times and provided five assists whilst earning an impressive 6.94 Sofascore rating comprising of 2.1 shots, one key pass and 2.8 successful duels on average per game in Ligue 1.

Sharing similar stylistic traits with familiar names such as Tammy Abraham, Che Adams and Arkadiusz Milik (Fbref), signing Bayo for the mooted asking price would be a worthwhile venture for the Toffees and Director of Football Kevin Thelwell.

West Ham United are believed to be eyeing a deal for Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen, although face a battle for his signature amid significant rival interest.

What’s the word?

According to Football.London, the Hammers are said to be one of nine clubs who have ‘made contact’ with the player’s representatives regarding a possible move this summer, with the 30-year-old set to be available on a free transfer following his departure from Brentford.

The 115-cap international had spent the last six months with the Bees after signing a temporary contract back in January, with Thomas Frank’s side offering the playmaker a route back into the game after having been absent since suffering a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 last summer.

A longer-term stay in west London has been mooted, while both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have also been heavily linked with a move. The report does suggest that David Moyes and co are keen on a deal, having sent scouts to watch both Eriksen and international colleague Joakim Maehle in action against Austria recently.

Moyes’ own Kroos

The sheer number of clubs chasing the £18m-rated man’s signature is not only a marker of his talent, but also a credit to his courage and bravery, having managed to return to the elite level just over six months on from his horror, near-death experience last year.

In what proved an impressive stint as part of Frank’s side, the “unbelievable” talent – as described by former Spurs teammate Dele Alli – managed to chip in with one goal and four assists in 11 games for the club, serving as a reminder of just how much damage he can inflict with the ball at his feet.

A sheer master in possession with that knack for producing outrageous moments of quality, the £228k-per-week ace can seemingly add much-needed quality and depth to a Hammers squad in desperate need of reinforcements.

Comfortable in an attacking midfield role or as a deep-lying playmaker, Eriksen has the quality to provide both pinpoint passes and a lethal threat from dead-ball situations, with it understandable as to why there is such a frenzy to try and secure him on a free.

Such talent is also reminiscent of a certain Toni Kroos, the Real Madrid man having recently been vital to yet another European triumph for Los Blancos, once again orchestrating play from his central midfield berth.

The Germany international had reportedly come close to signing for Moyes during his time at Manchester United, only for the Scotsman’s swift sacking to put paid to any hopes of a deal going through, with the former Bayern Munich man eventually moving to the Bernabeu in 2014.

Although securing the services of the 32-year-old in the present day appears highly unlikely for the Hammers boss, he could well have a perfect alternative in the form of Eriksen – a player who has been likened to Kroos, according to Football Transfers.

The statistics also seemingly corroborate that likeness, with the Madrid man ranking in the top 1% for progressive passes and the top 15% for progressive carries among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, while Eriksen is not too far behind as he ranks in the top 7% and the top 21% for the same two metrics, respectively.

The Irons will no doubt have a battle on their hands to get any deal over the line, although it would no doubt be worth it to try and secure such a quality asset.

IN other news, Moyes plotting move for “special” £45m “baller”, he’d be a “superstar” for West Ham

Liverpool are interested in signing Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, according to a report from The Mirror. 

The lowdown: Phillips a wanted man

Currently a one-club man, Phillips came through the ranks in Yorkshire and has amassed 234 appearances for his boyhood club so far.

Many of those outings came in the Championship before Leeds returned to the Premier League in 2020, and since then the 26-year-old has proven his worth in the top flight and become a regular England international.

Such strong performances have sparked an increased level of transfer interest as Manchester United, Manchester City and West Ham all reporetdly take admiring glances at the combative midfielder.

The latest: Liverpool in the mix for Phillips

As per The Mirror, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is now ‘ready to rival’ Pep Guardiola for the signing of the 19-cap England ace.

It is claimed that the German is ‘understood to admire’ Phillips, with Leeds ‘bracing themselves for interest’ this summer after narrowly avoiding relegation last month.

The report added that it will cost around £60m to sign the midfielder, who was hailed as ‘superb’ at Euro 2020 by Oliver Kay after starting all seven games for Gareth Southgate’s side at the finals.

The verdict: Worthwhile target

Seemingly set to miss out on Aurelien Tchouameni, with Real Madrid the hot favourites to land the AS Monaco sensation, it’s no surprise that Klopp and Julian Ward would be seeking an alternative option for the upcoming transfer window.

During an injury-hit 2021/22 campaign, Phillips earned a 6.84 Sofascore rating whilst winning an impressive 4.8 duels, making 1.2 interceptions and completing 38.9 accurate passes per game.

Aside from the battling qualities that the first of those metrics indicates, the 26-year-old displayed impressive versatility in the process when operating as a central defender, and as a more natural defensive midfielder.

Despite the lofty asking price, signing the Englishman as an understudy to Fabinho and to supplement Jordan Henderson would be a smart move by Liverpool, given his proven Premier League experience, age profile and positive impact on the all-important homegrown quota within the squad.

In other news: A fresh rumour has emerged over a possible Sadio Mane successor

Celtic underwent a significant overhaul during the previous summer transfer window.

This has since turned out to be very beneficial for the Hoops as they recently ended the 2021/22 SPFL season as league champions, bringing their Old Firm rivals’ time as top dogs to an end.

Now that Ange Postecoglou’s debut season in charge of the Bhoys has come to a successful end, the focus at Lennoxtown can now turn to the next window and what sort of business the club will look to do.

With that in mind, it seems as though a clue has emerged that should excite a lot of supporters at Parkhead.

What’s the talk?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist and transfer insider Pete O’Rourke had this to say about the possibility of Celtic dipping into the French transfer market this summer and potentially signing SM Caen striker Alexandre Mendy.

He said: “It’s been a successful market for Celtic in the past, them raiding the French market, and maybe they’ll be hoping they could have more success if they do decide to pursue a move for Mendy as well.

“He looks like a talented player, and Postecoglou is planning ahead and looking to strengthen his squad with their Champions League football in mind next season.”

Great news

The Hoops were linked with a move for the striker last month and reportedly had an offer for him turned down.

With 64 appearances to his name for his current club, the 28-year-old has scored 21 goals and provided three assists along the way.

One player that comes to mind when thinking about players Celtic have signed from France in the past is Odsonne Edouard.

After initially arriving on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, the striker signed permanently a year later for a club-record fee of £9m.

The Frenchman then joined Crystal Palace last summer for £14m after scoring 86 times in 179 appearances across all competitions.

This backs up what O’Rourke had to say about the Hoops being successful when it comes to signing players from France in the past.

Thus, if Postecoglou can pull off another successful summer of transfer business, starting by adding Mendy to their ranks, it would surely be great for the club, particularly if they end up winning more silverware next season.

In other news: Ange can land his next Rogic as Celtic eye 19 y/o star who “generates a lot of threat”

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been backed to plot a move for Brentford striker Ivan Toney in this summer’s transfer window…

What’s the word?

That is according to Journalist Pete O’Rourke who spoke to GIVEMESPORT: “Wolves are very much in the market for a new striker this summer. It’s a key position for Bruno Lage, and if he wants to sign someone like Toney – he’s ready-made for the Premier League.”

O’Rourke added: “He knows what it’s all about, it wouldn’t be a gamble for him. And I think Ivan Toney’s really proved himself to be a good enough player to play in the Premier League, when a lot of people maybe doubted that when he was signed by Brentford in the first place from Peterborough.”

Previous reports suggest he could cost around £30m.

Jimenez upgrade

Toney has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water. The 26-year-old’s four assists are evidence of this, with his threat up-top proving crucial in Brentford’s ambitions of staying up.

With his 12 goals from 30 matches, he has doubled Raul Jimenez’s tally, with the Mexico international playing the same amount of games.

Though it’s Toney’s clinical nature that would make him a real asset to Wolves, with the Englishman missing just five big chances this season compared to Jimenez’s eight.

This is a stat that looks worse when you bear in mind both Brentford’s and Wolves’ number of big chances created, with the Old Gold creating just 35 big chances this season – meaning that Jimenez’s eight misses weighed more on the team than Toney’s five missed chances for Brentford.

Although there is the caveat that Toney has spent the majority of his career in the lower leagues, the 26-year-old has accumulated 124 in 394 games.

The Englishman who has “the mindset of a lion” according to Thomas Frank would be a huge upgrade on Jimenez in a creative sense too, with his match average of 2.52 progressive passes bettering the Mexican’s average of 1.61.

With Wolves struggling to score this season, Toney could prove to be a big upgrade on Jimenez.

In other news: Wolves want to sign £2.7m-rated “immense” gem, he’s better than Boly…

He was West Indies’ best bowler in the second T20I against India, but the best ball he bowled wasn’t a wicket-taking one

Deivarayan Muthu09-Dec-20191:42

CPL put me on the map – Hayden Walsh

In March 2012, Hayden Walsh Jr. made his first-class debut for Windward Islands. The opportunities were few and far between there, and he also had to juggle cricket with his day job as a physical education teacher at an Antigua school. Walsh Jr. then switched allegiances to USA in 2018 and after a bumper CPL 2019, which he won with Barbados Tridents, he has broken into West Indies limited-overs sides.After doing fairly well while bowling defensively in the T20I series opener against India in Hyderabad, the 27-year-old legspinner assumed a more attacking role in the second match in Thiruvananthapuram, and showcased his variations – probably to IPL talent scouts as well.ALSO READ: Walsh Jr.’s moment of truth at 36,000 feetWalsh Jr. picked up the wickets of the big-hitting Shivam Dube and Shreyas Iyer, but his best ball of the night was one that didn’t fetch a wicket. It was one that left India captain Virat Kohli overbalanced. In the 13th over, Walsh Jr. drifted a perfectly-pitched ball in towards off stump, tricked Kohli into playing for the in-drift, but then found enough turn to nearly scratch the outside edge.In Hyderabad, too, Walsh Jr. came within touching distance of claiming Kohli’s wicket. He unleashed a slider and rushed Kohli for pace, but the batsman just about avoided dragging the ball back onto the stumps.In Thiruvananthapuram, Walsh Jr. was brought into the attack when India were 93 for 2 in ten overs, with Dube accounting for 50 of those runs in a mere 27 balls. Walsh Jr. immediately dangled a wrong ‘un that broke further away from Dube’s reach. He dared the batsman to hit against the turn and clear the long leg-side boundary. Dube didn’t hold himself back, but could only drag the ball to long-on, where Kieron Pollard lost the ball in the lights.The next ball was a wrong ‘un again, but this skidded under the swing of Dube. Walsh Jr.’s third ball was a wrong ‘un again, and Dube took the bait again, splicing a catch to extra-cover. The plans to Rishabh Pant and Iyer as well were simple: just take the ball away from their swinging arcs.Hayden Walsh completes his action•BCCI”No, no [I wasn’t intimidated bowling to Dube]. I practice a lot bowling to left-handers,” Walsh Jr. said at the post-match press conference on Sunday. “When we were in Mumbai [before the start of the series for a camp], I practiced bowling to Evin [Lewis] and Nicholas [Pooran]. I just bowled googlies that I bowled to Dube. So, I was pretty confident coming to bowl at him.”While Pant did read two of Walsh Jr’s wrong ‘uns and cracked them with the turn over extra-cover for boundaries, Iyer spooned a tossed-up legbreak to point while aiming to slog against the turn. Walsh Jr. came away with 2 for 28 in his four overs, helping West Indies pin down India to 170 for 7.”It’s been like a rollercoaster for me,” Walsh Jr. said. “As you can see, I’ve been working hard on my way to the top of international cricket. And just to be here to perform in a game is… I’m over the moon.”It was the CPL stint that propelled him back into West Indies’ radar. After Sandeep Lamichanne left Tridents and returned to the Nepal side for international duty, Walsh Jr. dashed out of the bench and scooped up 22 wickets in nine games at an average of 12.68 and an economy of 8.28, despite playing just nine games. He was also electric in the field, particularly at backward point, and it was his rocket throw that ran Pollard out in the second qualifier and denied Trinbago Knight Riders another tilt at a CPL trophy.Then, after making his international debut for West Indies against Afghanistan in India, Walsh Jr. jetted to the UAE to play in the T10 league. Having shown sparks of brilliance in his short international career, Walsh Jr. is among the 971 names to have registered for the IPL 2020 auction. He, however, downplayed his aspirations of making the IPL and said that his immediate focus was to extend his form and help West Indies win the decider in Mumbai.”Well, yeah [the auction is at the back of the mind]. But the main thing is to win this series,” he said. “The whole goal and everything for me right now is just winning this series and to help the team do their best.”Walsh Jr. also conceded that people often mistakenly think he is related to the great Courtney Walsh and joked that during his Global T20 Canada outing with Vancouver Knights earlier this year, some even referred to him as Courtney Walsh.The ultra-short boundaries at the Wankhede Stadium can spook bowlers, but if Walsh Jr. spins West Indies to a series-clinching victory, he can carve out his own identity.

South Africa pull one back finally, and our correspondent is there to watch – while practising a bit of yoga on the side

Firdose Moonda19-Jul-2017July 2

What should be a straightforward short commute from London to Leicester turns into a three-hour trip via Bedford because they are working on the train lines and there is a replacement bus to take us most of the journey. It means I arrive late in Leicester. So late that I miss seeing South Africa bowl West Indies out for 48 and arrive in time to watch them knock off the runs inside seven overs. It’s not really a day to talk to a batsman but I take the chance to interview Laura Wolvaardt, the young opener in her final year of school, who is deciding between a career in cricket and a medical degree. That she even has that choice is a victory for the women’s game.July 3

Back to the men in London, where Russell Domingo has returned to the team camp and confirms he has reapplied for the coach job. The team are in good spirits and many of them have their families with them. Faf du Plessis is at home with his and news comes through that mother and baby are doing well. After interviews, I walk through (you guessed it) Hyde Park, where Morne Morkel, his wife Roz and son Ari are enjoying an evening picnic. Ari has a bat and ball with him and is keen to face some fast bowling, but because his dad is managing his workload, I take the ball. After a loosener, I find my length and with my second delivery, I beat the bat to dismiss an international cricketer’s son. He has not yet turned two, but I’m claiming it.July 4

The trip just keeps getting better for me because today I get a raise. In the form of a plastic step. After almost a decade working in cricket, I will finally be tall enough to see eye to eye with my interviewees, and taller than some of my colleagues.I take a walking tour of London in the evening, exploring the history of European immigration in Soho. The French were particularly prevalent in the area and Charles de Gaulle formed the Free French Front at a pub on Dean Street. They were also waves of Dutch, Hungarian and German residents – including Karl Marx.Is that fair play in a height contest?•Firdose Moonda/ESPNcricinfoJuly 5

Dean Elgar becomes the 12th South African since readmission to deliver a captain’s pre-match press conference and he is awfully nervous about the whole thing. Far from the bullish opener we have come to know over the last five or so years, Elgar is softer-spoken today. His father, one of his high-school teachers, and his best friend will all be in attendance at the match: all of them had promised him they would make a special effort to get to Lord’s if he ever played a Test there, so this is as big an occasion for them as it is for him. He doesn’t reveal too much else, except that he probably won’t bowl himself.July 6

And at first it seems he may not need to. South Africa enjoy a good morning session even though they drop two catches. Elgar seems to have things under control – until Joe Root takes it away from him. I have the chance to chat to Vince van der Bijl about a charity project he has involved the MCC in, in Masiphumelele, a township outside Cape Town. Van der Bijl is passionate about doing good and contributing to making a meaningful change to South Africa, especially as a member of the privileged class.July 7

England get far ahead of South Africa. Temba Bavuma and Theunis de Bruyn are given a chance to bowl, neither with any success. And then the new opening pair also fail. South Africa knew it would be tough, but this tough… perhaps not.July 8

The final Test in the series between the All Blacks and the British and Irish Lions, who are locked at one-all, is being played this morning. I saw pubs packed early in the morning for the previous two, and I decide to try and get to one for the third match. The one I try, closest to my guesthouse and the tube station, is so full, I can’t even squeeze in, so I go to Lord’s instead. I join a throng of people huddled around a small screen in one of the shops. We see a Lions penalty that makes it 15-all and that’s the way it stays. “What happens now?” one bewildered fan asks. “Does it just stay a draw?” I tell him it does. “What an anti-climax.” I agree. See, it’s not just cricket where things happen for days only for there not to be a winner.Soho: a magnet for European immigration over the decades•Firdose Moonda/ESPNcricinfoJuly 9

At Lord’s, there will definitely be a winner. England make a mess of South Africa as returning captain du Plessis looks on. He joins Elgar for the post-match press conference and Elgar jokingly returns an imaginary armband to him.In more sombre news, Domingo has had to leave the tour again. His mother, who had recovered from a car accident she was in two weeks ago, enough to be discharged from hospital before the first Test, has suffered a setback, been put on life support, and passes away later that night. Suddenly the South African camp really is about life and death. Just a week ago, du Plessis welcomed a daughter into the world; now Domingo will bury his mother.July 10

What should have been the fifth day is now a day spent analysing the defeat. I decide to do my work at the Monocle Café in Chiltern Street, a creative hub I really enjoy. Back home, I am an avid listener to Monocle Radio and in this café, they even play it in the toilet. In the evening, there’s time for a stroll through Marylebone, which is a good way to say goodbye to London for now.July 11

Nottingham is a new stop for me and I am excited to head there. was the first play I performed in when I was at school. I was in second grade and I don’t remember my character, but I’m fairly sure it wasn’t Maid Marian. I’ve been told this is a city of students but also a good way to experience some old England, and my first look around does not disappoint. Cobbled streets and gorgeous churches greet me. So does the rain.Soaking in some of old England in Nottingham•Firdose Moonda/ESPNcricinfoJuly 12

Gunn & Moore have invited Quinton de Kock, Vernon Philander, Duanne Olivier, Aiden Markram and some media to their factory to see how bats are made. It’s a fascinating and intricate process that involves pressing the blade and shaping it to individual preferences. Some of the staff at the factory have worked there for decades – one, Kevin Stimpson, for 43 years – and are well versed in what several international players want. Olivier meanders along somewhat aimlessly and admits he doesn’t have all that much use for bats, while Markram muses about when he might go home. I suspect it will be fairly soon, but it will also not be long before he plays Test cricket.July 13

“I wouldn’t say I was the best manager in the world but I was in the top one,” Brain Clough, the former Nottingham Forest coach once said. His was a story of triumph over adversity, much like South Africa’s will have to be if they are to square the series. A statue of Clough looms over the city’s main square, about a mile from the Trent River.July 14

On a cloudy morning, at a venue where England bowled Australia out for 60 in a Test, du Plessis chooses to bat first. At best, it seems brave. South Africa were skittled for 119 the last time they faced this attack, remember? But moving de Kock to No. 4 works a charm and South Africa are much more convincing. I sense the makings of an epic comeback.July 15

Qamar Ahmed, who will turn 80 later this year and is covering his 427th Test, has invited a bunch of us to Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, which claims to be the oldest inn in England. It opened its doors in 1178. Qamar assures us he was not there on opening night, but regales us with tales of India in the 1940s, London in the 1970s, and everything in between. I’ve seen a lot of Qamar on the road and I always enjoy spending time with him. He promises to take me to Curry Mile in Manchester and I’m going to hold him to it.Brian Clough – an inspiration for the touring South Africans?•Firdose Moonda/ESPNcricinfoJuly 16

I have picked up a second yoga student. The ‘s Jonathan Liew joins my morning class before play, which has now evolved into a full 45-minute session. I put the boys through sun salutations, lunges, and some basic back bends. I try to keep it slow and gentle, much like South Africa’s batting. Hashim Amla and Elgar tick over and South Africa build a big lead, big enough to stick England in just before the close.July 17

A third yogi joins the group. This time, it’s Nick Hoult. Like me, he is a runner, so we have a lot of the same aches and pains – but not as many as England. Far from putting up the fight South Africa are expecting, England collapse. South Africa dedicate the win to Domingo, who should be back in a week’s time, ahead of the third Test. The squad will have a few days off but I will go to Bristol, where the South African women’s team are playing England in the semi-final. By the time I see the men again, du Plessis hopes he can pick up a few tips on how to win knockout matches from Dane van Niekerk, and there will be a decision on the coaching position. There are some big things happening for South African cricket in the next three weeks.

James Anderson’s status as a great fast bowler may be a matter for endless debate, but there’s no question of the beauty of his very best performances

Jarrod Kimber at Headingley21-May-2016Bowlers fight for everything they get. At first they have to fight the odds that they will make it to the top level. Then they have to fight to get a professional game at all. Then a game for their country. Then they fight the batsmen that is trying to end their spell, their day, their Test, their career. But you get that first wicket if you are lucky, or that 50th. A few even get 100, or 300, or, even for those at the top of the game, their 400th. It doesn’t stop there.It isn’t just the batsmen – it’s the media, injuries, bad coaches, terrible administration, silly selections, unhelpful groundsmen, your team-mates, that next bright young thing. That is all in your way, in your head, trying to stop you from becoming the best you can be. To be what you have always wanted to be.Great.But the best just keep going. They bowl until their body, or minds, can’t bowl anymore. They bowl with injury, with pain, through break-ups, through tragedies, through poor form, through personal issues, on roads and highways, against ever-increasing bats and batsmen, in a sport that seems to have been invented just to remind them they are second-class citizens.After all that, the ones who make it, who survive, who thrive, then have to beat the villainy that is our group-fan subjective mind. We can’t just enjoy them, we have to work out how good they are, where they fit. Sure, he is good, and he’s done this for ten years, and bowled more balls and taken more wickets than anyone in his country before him. But is he a great? An all-time great? One of the best of all time?While we do this, he creates something special.Jimmy Anderson has bowled cricket balls that tattoo themselves on your memory. That Anderson curve is something you will always know. It is part of your experience as a cricket fan. You may not like him, you may think he isn’t as good as others, is an over-rated presence in cricket because of his Big Three pedigree, or that his average (currently 28.62, his lowest mark since 2003) just isn’t good enough for you to consider him to be a great. But that curve, you like that. Everyone likes it, unless they are playing against it, or hoping their team can survive it.Can he do it all the time, on all surfaces, against all batsmen, in all countries? No, but when he does it, that doesn’t make it any less amazing. Swing bowling is art, and Jimmy paints.James Anderson was too much for Dasun Shanaka to handle in both innings•Getty ImagesForget the grumpiness, forget the English media pushing him, forget the fact he can never be Dale Steyn (and nor can most other players), and just watch that swing. That ball is making shapes that HR Giger or Zaha Hadid would kill for. His bowling trajectories should be hanging in some modern art museum or spray-painted on walls. At his most dramatic, the ball has a mind, and mood, of its own. At his most skilful he has it on a string and points it in one direction before telling it to go another.It is beautiful.At Headingley, you would expect even more than that. But it’s not how it has gone for him before.Headingley swings. It swings more than a hot brass band playing at a swingers’ party. If you are a swing bowler, it is the place you dream of taking the new ball, the place you get the new ball, and usually the place to destroy with the new ball. Over the last few years, the great, good and ordinary of world cricket have all done well here. People who ended up in jail, people who had lost their nip and people who were practically unknown, have all done well, and far better than Anderson.Worse than that, two years ago it was the pitch that made him cry, when he failed to last the distance with the bat.He hated Headingley. “Hated it”. Not the words of a tabloid hack slamming his keyboard in ambitious glee but the words of the greatest wicket-taker England have ever had, about the swing-bowling paradise that was all but designed in wait for his presence.Finally, after nine years of his hate, it happened. That curve, and the wickets that followed. That ball to Dasun Shanaka, that seemed to follow an exponential swing graph. Others were so hypnotising that the bats seemed naturally drawn to them, despite the fact it would surely end in death. Batsmen missed straight ones while still worrying about the squiggly line ones they had missed moments earlier.The Sri Lankan batsmen became so faceless during this onslaught that the scoreboard started putting up pictures of the wrong players. Their role, which they played to perfection, was to edge the ball, miss the ball, and participate in the Jimmy Anderson hat-trick of wicket maidens.At the end of this game there were no tears, just a small smile.You can, and will, argue about whether he is great or not. You can say he was in his home conditions, against (as Colin Graves might accidentally call them) a “mediocre” batting line-up, but when the ball came out of his hand in this match, it was a tremendous thing to watch.This Test won’t change anyone’s mind as to whether he is an all-time great or not. This Test was just Anderson bowling at somewhere near his best – and whatever your opinion of his status – it was pretty damn good. Not for the first time in his career, and hopefully not for the last.Greatness is subjective. Art is subjective. Ten for 45 is objective, and in this match, it produced great art.