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The Tamil Nadu bowling coach expressed his concerns at the frequent ball changes seen in Nagpur. Within the first two sessions of the first day’s play, the SG Test ball was replaced three times

Arun Venugopal in Rajkot01-Jan-2017

Tamil Nadu bowling coach L Balaji has expressed surprise at the frequency with which the ball was changed on the first day of their semi-final against Mumbai. It was replaced three times inside the first two sessions, and Balaji said it disrupted the momentum of both batsmen and bowlers. Mumbai coach Chandrakant Pandit concurred with Balaji’s remarks and said it was an issue that needed to be taken seriously.”During the game, [teams] batting or bowling can lose the grip because of a sudden change [of the ball]. I think most of the coaches had discussed that in the last coaches and captains [conclave],” Pandit said.There have been previous instances of the SG Test ball, which is used in the Ranji Trophy, being replaced after losing its shape, but Balaji said he had never seen a ball being changed so often within a short period. He also felt the constant changing played on the minds of Tamil Nadu’s batsmen. “When the ball keeps changing, it is like you have to adapt to different balls,” Balaji said. “The ball makes a big difference in bowlers’ skills because in the recent past a lot of [ball-related] controversies have been going on.”I am sure the ball has some kind of ability to change the course of the game; I believe in that because softer balls are sometimes helpful on some wickets and heavier balls are sometimes helpful on different wickets. I have not seen anything like three-four balls being changed in the first session. I don’t know [if it is] because of the conditions or because of the balls’ quality. That is not in our control. That’s up to the match officials.”On his team’s batting, Balaji admitted the loss of four wickets inside 15 overs either side of tea altered the script. He was, however, hopeful that Vijay Shankar, batting on 41, and the tail could rally the team towards a competitive total on the second day. “We have a couple of tailenders who have bailed us out many times – Aswin Crist can bat, K Vignesh can bat and Aushik Srinivas can definitely bat,” he said.”We have a decent total now but there is no reason why we cannot push this total further. Even in the England game [first Test against India in Rajkot], the lower order contributed a huge amount as they reached 500-odd runs [537] with [Zafar] Ansari and Ben Stokes and other guys.”Balaji, however, conceded the surface posed little challenge for the batsmen. “It is pretty much like the bowlers have to bend their back and take all the chances and half-chances,” he said. “That is very crucial. Our bowling has been one of the strengths this season, so let’s see.”Shardul Thakur, who picked for two wickets for Mumbai, felt his team was in a good position despite some patchy bowling. “Sometimes it’s difficult to control the ball, so just taking the idea like how much it’s swinging, whether it’s swinging out or coming in more [is important],” he said. “It’s important how you come back, keep bowling in the channel and trouble the batsman.”Mumbai’s seamers – Thakur, Abhishek Nayar and Balwinder Sandhu – accounted for five of the six wickets to fall. Thakur said they had looked to exploit the reverse swing that was on offer in the afternoon. “A lot of times, batsmen tend to go hard at the bowlers on such pitches, so it is important to just keep in the channel and keep moving the ball in or out, whatever you are comfortable with,” he said.”My inswing is good, so I was bowling that. I was mixing it up later on. We knew that one wicket would get us back in the game. It was then all about bowling in the channel and trying to get the new batsman out.”

Manchester United are believed to be in the race for Fiorentina sensation, Sofyan Amrabat, as manager Erik ten Hag looks to bolster his midfield ranks this summer.

What's the latest on Amrabat to Man United?

According to Spanish outlet, Sport, the Red Devils are seemingly ready to rival La Liga giants Barcelona for the signing of the Moroccan international, with the two clubs said to be among 'several' suitors who are interested in the 26-year-old.

The report suggests that United are showing 'serious' interest in the 6 foot 1 gem ahead of next season and have already made 'contact' regarding a potential summer swoop, with the Netherlands-born maestro seemingly up for grabs with just a year left to run on his existing deal.

Amid that expiring contract, recent reports have claimed that the 48-cap warrior – who joined his current side from Club Brugge back in 2020 – could be available for as little as €25m (£22m).

Should Man United sign Amrabat?

The one-time Utrecht and Feyenoord ace has certainly warranted that hefty interest from the Old Trafford hierarchy amid his standout form for both club and country of late, having notably impressed during Morocco's surge to the World Cup semi-final during the winter.

Hailed as a "monster" and the "best centre midfielder in the tournament" by journalist Carlo Garganese, Amrabat was an immense presence for the Atlas Lions amid that remarkable run to the last four, having notably racked up 2.3 tackles per game from his seven outings in Qatar as a marker of his ball-winning prowess.

Also described as "extraordinary" by ex-Spain boss, Luis Enrique, the £32k-per-week asset has also enjoyed a strong campaign in Florence to date, having helped the Italian side to the Europa Conference League final after averaging 1.6 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game from his 12 outings in the competition.

Not just a ball-winning machine in front of the back four, Amrabat also offers real quality in possession as he ranks in the top 8% among his European peers for progressive passes, as well as in the top 5% for pass completion.

That all-round quality is seemingly shared by another of Ten Hag's reported targets in the form of Mason Mount, with the Chelsea playmaker – who could well be on his way to Manchester this summer – also able to make an impact both in and out of possession.

While typically operating in a more advanced role than the Serie A star, Mount also offers a real creative threat on the ball as he ranks in the top 7% among those in his position for progressive passes.

Equally, like Amrabat, the Englishman is also effective at breaking up play as he ranks in the top 12% for tackles made, with the 24-year-old previously described by former Blues teammate Antonio Rudiger as a "master" at putting in the hard yards defensively.

As such, for United to potentially have two figures who can both dictate play and win back possession effectively would be a real bonus, hence the potential excitement at seeing Amrabat lining up alongside Mount in the centre of the park next season.

Arsenal are now in pole position to sign Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo, and they are expected to reignite their interest in the summer, according to a report from Football Insider.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

The Arsenal board will hand Mikel Arteta a summer transfer budget of £150m, according to The Independent, and the manager's main priority will be bringing in a new midfielder, with West Ham United's Declan Rice emerging as the main target.

Given that West Ham are expected to demand £100m for Rice, the England international is affordable, however signing him would deplete a large chunk of the transfer budget, leaving Arteta with limited funds to strengthen elsewhere.

As such, the manager could look at bringing in a lower-cost alternative, with Southampton's Romeo Lavia "on the radar", according to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs, while Caicedo is another potential option.

At the start of May, it was reported that the Gunners were set to make an offer for the Ecuadorian, and they seemingly have a good chance of landing him, with Football Insider now reporting they are in pole position for his signature.

Despite Chelsea also sharing a long-term interest in the Brighton star, it is the north London club that are currently leading the race, and they are expected to reignite their interest in the upcoming window.

The Seagulls are now resigned to losing the 21-year-old, who is valued at £70m – £80m, and they have already found a replacement in Bourssia Dortmund's Mahmoud Dahoud.

Should Arsenal sign Rice or Caicedo?

Caicedo could be as much as £30m cheaper than Rice, and there are indications he could be better than the Englishman, at least in a defensive sense, having made far more tackles in the Premier League this season.

The starlet has made the second-highest number of tackles in the entire top flight, while he has also recorded a superior pass-completion rate over the past year, averaging 88.4% per 90, compared to 86.3% from Rice.

That said, the Ecuador international does have very limited attacking attributes, recording just one goal and one assist in all competitions this season, with the West Ham star amassing nine goal contributions.

As such, while Rice is likely to cost far more money, he is a more well-rounded player, and he is far more proven in the Premier League, having made over 200 appearances in the competition, while Caicedo has made just 42.

India captain MS Dhoni said he had guessed correctly that the final delivery from Dwayne Bravo would be a slower ball but his execution of the shot let him down. With two runs needed off one ball, Dhoni was caught at short third man and West Indies won the first T20 international by the narrowest of margins.Dhoni said his team should be commended for their valiant chase in the highest-scoring T20 game ever. “I feel there were plenty of positives in this game because the way we chased down 245 runs, apart from the last ball,” he said after the match. “I felt we were totally in the game. Even the last ball, the thinking was right, the execution was wrong.”A cat-and-mouse game that had been developing over the course of the final six balls reached a new level as Bravo engaged in several discussions, stalling for several minutes ahead of the last ball, with two required by Dhoni to secure what would have been a record chase. Even though Dhoni said he knew what was going to be sent down, he praised Bravo’s skills in such a pressure moment.”When it comes to Bravo, I feel in the current scenario he’s among the best when it comes to the death bowling,” Dhoni said. “The amount of experience that he has really counts so you always know if he’s bowling it’s tough. What then becomes important is how we’re executing.”You have to really guess what he’s looking to bowl and according to that you play your shots. So if you guess the bowler well and execute well, you’ll end up winning. Rather than thinking who is bowling, what’s important is to think what his strength is and where he’ll look to pitch the next delivery.”Despite India conceding the third highest total in a T20I, Dhoni praised his bowlers for their effort to reel West Indies back in after Johnson Charles and Evin Lewis added 126 for the first wicket in 9.3 overs. By the end of the 11th over – a 32-run sequence in which Lewis struck the first five legal deliveries from Stuart Binny for six before mis-hitting a full toss – West Indies were 164 for 1.Dhoni said he thought West Indies were on track for 270 or more before R Ashwin started to shift momentum with a four-run 12th over, bowling with the breeze at his back.The wind from the pavilion end helped the spinners throughout the rest of the innings, and Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja conceded just 18 runs in the 12th, 14th and 16th overs. India’s pace bowlers also began nailing their yorkers and the result was just 40 runs off the final four overs to keep West Indies to 245.MS Dhoni said his bowlers did well to pull West Indies back to 245, after they had looked like getting 270•BCCI

“I felt the way the boys performed overall was very good,” Dhoni said. “I was very happy how we brought the opposition down when it came to the last eight overs. That really matters because that is something where we have struggled quite consistently but it was a good exposure to our bowlers and they finished up well to restrict them to 245.”Dhoni also praised the batting efforts of KL Rahul, who struck his maiden T20I century in just his fourth match. Rahul ended 110 not out off 51 balls, having missed the fastest T20I ton by two deliveries, taking 46 balls to reach three figures.”He has been very consistent,” Dhoni said. “I feel that is a strength of Rahul also, compact player but at the same time unorthodox shots. He plays all over the ground, over covers, mid off, mid on. So a complete cricketer. Of course there’s a long way to go for him but the way he has played in the last six months, it’s very encouraging to see him bat.”As for the experience of playing in Florida in front of a heavily partisan Indian diaspora, Dhoni joked that “even if we’re playing in Bermuda Triangle, they’ll be there”. He also praised the efforts put in by the groundstaff at the Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill.”The facility is as good as anywhere else,” Dhoni said. “The ground itself is up to international standard. You can’t score 500 runs on a bad wicket, so fantastic wicket. The practice wickets were fantastic. When it comes to the stadium, it’s not a big stadium. The moment I say stadium I mean the number of fans it can house. I think it’s close to 15,000. So overall looking at everything as a complete package, I think it was fantastic. We had fun.”When it comes to the Indian fans, it’s a pleasure playing in front of them. They follow us everywhere wherever we are playing. So it’s a first time we are playing in the USA but not to forget we have a big Indian community out here so thanks to them for coming and watching the game.”

As the search for a new permanent manager continues at Tottenham Hotspur, supporters will likely be fearful of seeing a repeat of the protracted quest to find a replacement for Jose Mourinho back in 2021, with chairman Daniel Levy having missed out on a string of potential targets before settling on Nuno Espirito Santo.

The fear will be that history may be repeating itself, with the Lilywhites having already seen a possible candidate in the form of former boss Mauricio Pochettino opt to join rivals Chelsea, while German visionary, Julian Nagelsmann – who appeared to be a favourite for the role – is also now out of the running.

With the end of the season rapidly approaching, Levy will surely have to settle on a new full-time appointment sooner rather than later, with the Englishman also likely to be sweating over the future of talisman, Harry Kane, with the England skipper being linked with a move to Manchester United amid his expiring contract.

According to Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor, however, the north Londoners could well ease those fears over the 29-year-old's potential exit by turning to Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso as the long-term successor to Antonio Conte, with the 41-year-old's arrival at N17 possibly set to be enough to tempt Kane into staying put.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT about the future of the prolific striker, the respected insider stated: "It depends really. Obviously, he wants to win trophies, but at the same time, you could also launch a counter-argument for that as he's had Conte, he's had José Mourinho, he’s had Mauricio Pochettino and still not won a trophy.

"So it depends on what he wants to do, if he's happy to stay, I think someone like Xabi Alonso might actually excite him. I think it's clear Alonso is a forward-thinking manager with fresh ideas, and he's well respected in the game.”

This comes amid a recent report from Sky Sports that named Alonso as a target – in the wake of the shock Nagelsmann blow – with the piece revealing that senior figures at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are admirers of the Spaniard.

Would Xabi Alonso be a good appointment for Spurs?

As per Taylor, the capture of the former Real Madrid and Liverpool midfielder may prove enough to sway Kane's thinking this summer, with 3-4-3-based Alonso having made a promising start to life as a manager at senior level.

Having taken the reins at Leverkusen back in October after previously spending over three years with Real Sociedad's B team, the up-and-coming coach has quickly caught the eye due to his fine work, having turned the Bundesliga side from relegation contenders to European hopefuls in such a short space of time.

With the German outift having been languishing in 17th with just one win from their opening eight matches of the season at the time of his arrival, the one-time Bayern Munich maestro has since guided his new side up to seventh in the table, as well as taking them to the semi-finals of the Europa League.

Currently trailing 1-0 following the first-leg meeting with Jose Mourinho's Roma side in that competition, Alonso has received notable praise from the former Spurs boss in recent times, with the Portuguese ace stating that he "has all the conditions to be a very good coach.”

The Tolosa-born gem has also received a glowing assessment from Leverkusen starlet Jeremie Frimpong who hailed him as a "great coach", with the hope being that Alonso can replicate such a turnaround in fortunes were he to move to north London.

On the evidence of his early work in Germany, it is easy to see why Kane – and his teammates – could be excited by the potential appointment of the World Cup winner.

West Ham United are expected to part ways with manager David Moyes this summer, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

What's the latest on Moyes' future?

The Irons boss’ contract at the London Stadium isn’t set to expire until 2024 but there has already been plenty of uncertainty and speculation surrounding his position given the team’s poor run of form this season and the dangerous position they find themselves in the Premier League.

The E20 outfit have lost 14 of their 26 matches this term, drawing six and winning the same number meaning they are currently in the relegation zone and at risk of dropping down to the second-tier, not to mention that they still have the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool to play during the run-in.

The Daily Mail have recently reported that the Scotsman and his coaching staff are concerned that they will be relieved of their duties should they suffer defeat this weekend to Southampton, but regardless of the outcome of that game, it sounds like the hierarchy may have already come to a decision on his future.

Now, according to 90min, West Ham are “likely” to part ways with Moyes at the end of the season no matter whether they still have their top-flight status or not. The Irons’ current backing is “highly unlikely” to exist ahead of the new term and it’s stated that the 59-year-old will therefore be “replaced”. Failure to climb the table and improve on their sixth and seventh-place finishes over the past two seasons has “caused extreme concern” among the hierarchy, especially considering the number of new big-money signings that have been made.

Should West Ham sack Moyes?

Moyes has undoubtedly been a fantastic servant to West Ham having taken charge of 191 games, not forgetting that he has just helped to book their place in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals, but letting him go would be 100% the right decision. The Glasgow-born coach has won just one of his last six league games and is averaging 1.48 points per match which isn’t high enough for a team that’s trying to avoid the drop.

Football Insider have reported that Lucas Paqueta is ready to quit should the Irons go down with Gianluca Scamacca also likely to depart despite the duo only arriving in the capital last summer which highlights even further that the boss doesn’t even have the backing or confidence of some of his most trusted players.

Many at Leeds United are ‘dubious’ about whether Javi Gracia is the right man at Elland Road, The i’s Mark Douglas reports.

The Lowdown: Gracia’s first three games

Gracia arrived in Yorkshire on a flexible contract two weeks after the club parted ways with Jesse Marsch. Since then, the Spaniard has taken charge of three games, winning the first against Southampton.

His side have scored just once and conceded three times, though, with an FA Cup exit to Fulham last week and a defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.

The Latest: Update from sources

Douglas shared a story for The i in the last 48 hours regarding ongoings at Elland Road.

He said that the ‘feeling among recruitment sources’ is that Leeds have bought well but haven’t had the right man to lead the side. The report adds that ‘many are dubious’ about whether Gracia is the right man to get the ‘best out of a squad assembled to play high-octane, front foot, pressing football’.

The Verdict: Worry

Gracia has only been in the door for just over a fortnight, so knowing there are already doubts emerging from inside Elland Road inside is a worry.  Leeds are once again involved in a Premier League relegation battle, with a lack of goals since the World Cup a cause for concern.

The club have netted just seven times in their last 11 top-flight games, so Gracia may need to get the best out of record signing Georginio Rutter relatively quickly if Leeds are to pull clear of the bottom three, with Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo struggling through injury over the course of the campaign.

Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi could miss the League Cup final, but pundit Frank McAvennie is not worried, as Rangers ‘don’t know how to handle’ Oh Hyeon-gyu, who could start instead.

The Lowdown: Furuhashi injury concern

As reported by the Sun, Furuhashi has missed training due to a shoulder injury and is set to undergo further tests, with the striker hoping to return for the League Cup final against Rangers at the end of the month.

The Japan international is feeling positive about a swift return, but he is set to miss the game at Celtic Park against Aberdeen this weekend, which could give £2.5m January signing Oh the chance to impress if a full recovery does not come in time.

The Latest: McAvennie reacts

McAvennie does not have any major concerns about Furuhashi’s absence, telling Football Insider that the unknown quantity of Oh may actually be an advantage for Celtic.

The pundit said: “I won’t be too disappointed because I think he (Oh) would give [Ben] Davies and [Connor] Goldson a bit of a game. But I hope that Kyogo is fit.

“If he does not play for the next two weeks or so he might be ok and we could get a half out of him.

“Rangers do not know much about Oh so they do not know how to handle him. They know how to handle Kyogo so that could go in our favour.“

The Verdict: Showing good signs

The South Korean has already opened his account for the Hoops, scoring after appearing as a substitute in the 5-1 victory against St Mirren last time out, and he has now been given the perfect opportunity to show what he can do as a starter this weekend.

That said, it will still be very disappointing for Celtic if Kyogo is unable to return for such an important game, as despite Rangers being more aware of his qualities, they’ve been unable to stop him previously, as he netted a late equaliser in the 2-2 draw at Ibrox last month.

If Oh does get the nod on February 26th, he will have the opportunity to become an instant cult-hero, and his previous goal record indicates he could be up to the task, scoring an impressive 14 goals for Suwon Samsung Bluewings last term.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Barcelona forward Ansu Fati this summer, according to reports from Spain.

The Lowdown: Fati struggling for game-time

Fati has been handed just seven starts by his manager Xavi this season, with the 20-year-old struggling to dislodge the likes of Gavi and Raphinha in the starting XI.

The youngster has committed his long-term future to Barcelona, where he is currently contracted until 2027, and the club have an option to extend his deal by an extra two years.

However, his lack of game-time received has led to him to be linked with a move away from Camp Nou this summer…

The Latest: Tottenham interested in Fati

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness), Tottenham are one of the clubs taking an interest in Fati, with his current position in the Barcelona squad not going unnoticed by some elite clubs across Europe.

Both Spurs and Arsenal are said to be keeping an eye on the attacker, should his situation not improve in the coming months, while Bayern Munich and Manchester United are also named as potential suitors.

The Verdict: Would he get his game?

The La Masia academy graduate has not managed a goal or assist in his last nine La Liga games prior to Sunday’s clash against Sevilla, but it is difficult to be too critical when four of these appearances were off the bench, only featuring for ten minutes in the recent 2-1 win at Real Betis.

It has not been the productive season that the seven-cap Spain international would have hoped for, but his talent is undeniable, having already scored 25 goals in 88 senior appearances for Barcelona at his tender age, featuring predominantly as a left-winger in the last 50 games he’s played.

Hailed as a ‘difference-maker’ by football scout Jacek Kulig, the youngster is at the stage of his career where he needs consistent game-time if he is to develop into a top player.

However, given that Antonio Conte already has Son Heung-min – who was the Premier League’s joint-top scorer last season – at his disposal on the left of the front three, Fati may not get the minutes that he requires, and Tottenham should instead focus on strengthening other areas of their squad.

Newcastle United have reportedly been ‘making inquiries’ over PSG midfielder Edouard Michut, currently on loan at North East rivals Sunderland.

The Lowdown: Another prospect

Newcastle already signed young Australian talent Garang Kuol, who they have loaned out to Hearts in the Scottish Premiership, and are reportedly looking at adding 18-year-old Brazilian prospect Matheus Franca to their growing pool of exciting youth at St. James’ Park.

At just 19 years of age and coming from PSG’s academy, where he has scored twice in ten games at U19 level and has featured eight times for the senior team, bagging one assist (Transfermarkt), Michut is another hot property the Tynesiders could look to add to their ranks.

The Latest: Inquiries made

Taking to Twitter, Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas has revealed that both Eddie Howe’s side, as well as RB Leipzig from the Bundesliga, have been ‘making inquiries’ over Michut’s progress on loan at Sunderland ahead of a potential move in the summer:

“#Newcastle and #RBLeipzig have been making inquiries about Edouard Michut’s progress and both clubs intend to watch him during second half of season on loan at #Sunderland from #PSG. A talent who has struggled with injuries but recently impressed.”

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The Verdict: Building something special

In addition to the signing of Kuol and potential arrivals of Franca and Michut, the Magpies look to be building something special in terms of young players who could grow into superstars over the next few years.

Hailed as an ‘immense talent’ by Black Cats manager Tony Mowbray, Michut has played injuries.

Nonetheless, he was named as one of the 50 best wonderkids in 2022 in GOAL’s annual NXGN list, which labelled him as ‘the new Marco Verratti’ by some inside the PSG academy, while his passing ability has been described as ‘among the best in Europe for players his age’.

Michut is clearly a very talented player, and if he can overcome his injury problems, he would be an astute signing for the Toon in the summer.