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Kasuza had been cleared of concussion via scans on Tuesday, but the doctor has confirmed a delayed onset

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jan-2020

Kevin Kasuza hits one off the back foot•Associated Press

Zimbabwe’s debutant opener Kevin Kasuza has suffered a delayed concussion after sustaining a blow to the helmet at short leg on day three of the first Test in Harare. Although Kasuza had been cleared of concussion via scans on Tuesday, Zimbabwe’s team doctor has confirmed that concussion has set in on WednesdayThe hosts have now named a like-for-like concussion substitute under the ICC’s new rules, bringing in 24-year old opener Brian Mudzinganyama into the XI. Mudzinganyama has impressed in recent domestic matches, hitting 127 for Rangers in late December. The substitution means he will now be make a Test debut.Kasuza, who made 63 in the first innings, had not immediately felt the effects of the blow, when a full-blooded Kusal Mendis pull caught him flush on the helmet in the first session of day three. After a few seconds, however, he took his helmet off, and suddenly appeared groggy. He was able to continue standing, partly with the support of his teammates, and after the Zimbabwe team doctor came out to assess him, he left the field before another ball was bowled. Despite being cleared of an immediate concussion by scans, Kasuza did not return to the field of play .The recently introduced concussion substitution protocols dictate that the team’s medical representative – usually the physio – must run standardised tests and submit a report to the match referee. On this occasion, match referee Javagal Srinath has accepted that Kasuza is suffering from concussion. It seems likely that Kasuza will be unavailable for the second Test as well, which starts on Monday.

A "fabulous" Manchester United player is now in advanced talks over a new contract, following a fresh development in negotiations.

Man Utd contract updates

There is a new-found feeling of positivity at Old Trafford after Sunday's unforgettable 4-3 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup, with so many impressive youngsters at the club.

The likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund represent the future at Old Trafford, and there are so many talents who United will want to tie down to extension as soon as possible, with Amad Diallo perhaps added to that list now too.

In terms of the contract situation at the club currently, there are a few figures who will be able to leave on a free transfer this summer, including Jonny Evans and Antony Martial, both of whom appear unlikely to sign new deals. The former is now 36 years of age, so extending his stay wouldn't make a huge amount of sense, while the latter continues to be a hugely injury-prone figure.

In 2025, another smattering of players will be out of contract, too, with the likes of Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen all possibly bringing an end to their stay at the club, among others.

Now, a significant update has emerged over the future of one of the United players mentioned above – one that could go down extremely well with supporters.

"Fabulous" Man Utd ace in advanced talks over deal

According to a new development from Football Insider, Mainoo is now in advanced talks with Manchester United over a new "mega-money" contract at Old Trafford, having previously opened talks over an extension.

The report states that "negotiations are ongoing over a new agreement" to keep him at the club until the summer of 2027 with an option to extend it by a further 12 months.

Mainoo really does look like an incredible prospect, having enjoyed a breakthrough season that has seen him emerge as one of English football's brightest talents in years, so news of this likely extension is brilliant for anyone associated with the club.

At just 18 years of age, the Englishman is already such a mature player in the middle of the park, with his performance against Liverpool superb, as he won seven out of ten ground duels, made three interceptions and won two tackles, according to Sofascore.

Minutes played

80

Ground duels won

7/10

Interceptions

3

Tackles

2

Pass completion rate

82%

Successful dribbles

4/4

Key passes

1

Mainoo could even warrant a place in England's Euro 2024 squad this summer, and the fact that Gareth Southgate has had this to say about him can only bode well: "He's doing brilliantly. I'm not certain he's necessarily going to be a defensive midfielder, as such. He's quite a progressive player but he's had a fabulous start to his career and it will be good to monitor him as we go forward."

Man Utd want to sign one of the “top midfielders” in European league

He has recent Premier League experience.

ByHenry Jackson Mar 18, 2024

Retaining Mainoo's services for the rest of his career should be considered one of United's most pressing pieces of business, and nailing him down to a new long-term deal could be as important as any new signing that comes in.

Stumps A scintillating onslaught from the weather overnight proved yet again to be the definitive performance in the Rawalpindi Test, which did not see a single ball bowled on day four before play was called off at noon. Frigid showers have been in outstanding form right through this Test, and the force with which they imposed themselves on a hapless outfield ensured that the turf was too sodden for play.The covers also showed signs of having endured a battering, with vast pools of water laying atop them in the morning. The groundstaff cleared some of the water off them over the course of several hours, but this merely made an inevitable result look a little closer than it was. There was just no beating the weather in this mood.

Luke Shaw has been handed a shock start for England ahead of Kieran Trippier in their Euro 2024 final clash with Spain.

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Shaw makes Southgate's final lineupTrippier loses spot in defenceSouthgate wants more flexibility on left sideWHAT HAPPENED?

Shaw has been handed his first start for England in over a year when Gareth Southgate's side take on Spain in Sunday's European Championship final. The Manchester United left-back replaces Trippier in the starting XI at Berlin's Olympiastadion as the Three Lions seek to exorcise the demons of their showpiece defeat to Italy three years ago. Southgate has otherwise stuck with the same team that beat the Netherlands 2-1 in the semi-finals, with captain Harry Kane leading the line once again.

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Trippier started at left back in all six of England's previous games at the tournament, despite playing on the opposite side at club level for Newcastle. Southgate is said to be hopeful that Shaw will give his team 'more in-game flexibility' against Spain as a natural left footer, despite his lack of recent match action. The Man Utd man did feature off the bench in the knockout stage wins over Switzerland and the Netherlands, but has not started a game for club or country in 148 days, having been laid low with a hamstring injury back in February.

GOALWHAT SHAW SAID

Shaw opened the scoring early on for England at Wembley in 2021, before Italy mounted a comeback and eventually won the final on penalties. The 29-year-old is determined to go one better this time around, as he told reporters: “It would mean everything. I think the bond we have here is extremely special. It’s not one I’ve been a part of before. I think everyone is so together, everyone is really close and it feels like a big family and for all of us to win it together would be, of course, a very special feeling.”

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Shaw was also asked if he feels fit enough to play the full game against Spain, and potentially extra time. "It’s a case of taking it as it comes," he replied. "I said before the semis that I was ready to go – and we’ll just have to wait and see what happens."

Man Utd part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been among the celebrity figures to wish England luck for the final, but he also sent a hilarious warning to Shaw. The INEOS chairman said: "Luke, please don't pull your hamstring again!"

His new role will include monitoring and developing men’s, women’s and disability cricket, along with the talent pathways

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Sep-2019

Getty Images

Andrew Strauss, England’s former director of cricket, is set for a new role with the England and Wales Cricket Board [ECB] following his appointment as the chair of the board’s cricket committee.His new role will involve “monitoring and developing the delivery” of men’s and women’s professional cricket, as well as disability cricket, national counties, clubs and universities cricket and the talent pathway, the ECB said in a release.Strauss, who recently received a knighthood, had been England’s director of cricket between 2015 and 2018, his appointment to that role coming soon after England’s exit from the 2015 World Cup. Under his watch, England made significant strides in white-ball cricket, reaching the final of the 2016 World T20 and winning their first ODI World Cup earlier this year. The team’s Test fortunes, however, did not see as sharp an upturn as the limited-overs results.In October 2018, Strauss stepped down from the role in order to spend more time with his family as his wife, Ruth, underwent treatment for cancer. After her death in December, Strauss launched a foundation to help raise funds to research rare forms of lung cancer and to provide emotional and psychological support to patients and their families.”It is a real pleasure to return to ECB in this new capacity. ECB and the whole cricket family have been a vital source of support over an extremely difficult year and it’s really great to be back at Lord’s, a place that has become a second home to me,” Strauss said in a statement. “I’m extremely passionate about developing and growing cricket in England and Wales and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Cricket Committee to continually drive all aspects of the professional game, including women’s, men’s and disability cricket.”I’ve seen first-hand how this summer of cricket has inspired more people to fall in love with the sport and I can’t wait to help build on its success and support the roll-out of ECB’s strategy to grow the game, Inspiring Generations.”

A new target has emerged to replace Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager, with the "excellent" boss in question a serial winner who FSG could offer an eye-catching salary to.

Liverpool manager latest

It still seems scarcely believable that Klopp isn't going to be in charge at Anfield after this season, with the German one of the greatest figures in the history of the club. Sunday's EFL Cup final win over Chelsea was the latest display of his genius, as he masterminded a dramatic 1-0 win with a host of youngsters on the pitch.

Whoever comes in to replace the 56-year-old is going to have such a tough job on their hands, with Klopp potentially leaving one of the biggest voids a manager ever has in the English game.

Xabi Alonso continues to stand out as the favourite to take over from the German, with the former Liverpool midfielder working wonders at Bayer Leverkusen, not yet tasting defeat in the Bundesliga this season.

He is not the only potential target being looked at, however, and it appears as though the Reds are going down the route of looking at Europe's most exciting young bosses. Former Bayern Munich and current Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann is seen as an option, and the same applies to Sporting CP's highly-rated leader Ruben Amorim.

Now, another new name has been thrown into the hat, as Liverpool keep their options open in the hunt to find Klopp's successor.

Liverpool interested in Simone Inzaghi

According to Tuttosport on Tuesday [via Football Italia], Liverpool and FSG are interested in Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi, with Manchester United and Chelsea also keen on snapping him up.

The update from the latter states that the Italian currently "earns €5.5m (£4.7m) net per season plus add-ons, adding that "the Premier League offers could reach around €8m-€9m (£6.8m-£7.7m) per year, figures his Italian club are unlikely to match."

Inzaghi certainly represents an intriguing option for Liverpool, considering how much he has already achieved in the game, winning three Italian Cups – two with Inter and one with Lazio. He has also been hailed by former defender Lele Adani, who has said of him:

"Simone Inzaghi is an excellent coach who continues to evolve. I believe his team’s performances and results speak for him."

Simone Inzaghi's trophy wins as a manager

Year

Italian Cup (Inter Milan)

2023

Italian Cup (Inter Milan)

2022

Italian Cup (Lazio)

2019

Italian Super Cup (Inter Milan)

2024

Italian Super Cup (Inter Milan)

2023

Italian Super Cup (Inter Milan)

2022

Italian Super Cup (Lazio)

2020

Italian Super Cup (Lazio)

2018

The 47-year-old likes to adopt a 3-5-2 system that gets the best out of wing-backs, which could see the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Bradley and Andy Robertson shine at Liverpool, and the job he is doing at Inter currently speaks for itself, with the Nerazzurri top of Serie A by nine points with a game in hand.

Related Jurgen Klopp "pretty sure" Liverpool star will sign new long-term contract

This would go down so well with Reds supporters.

Posts ByHenry Jackson Feb 27, 2024

Plenty may feel as though Alonso is the best choice to replace Klopp, however, given his reputation as a special young coach, highlighted by his brilliance in charge at Leverkusen. His Liverpool past helps, too – but plenty of supporters could also see sense in Inzaghi being appointed, making this one to watch.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore unbeaten on 77 as hosts end opening day on 282 for 3

David Hopps at Headingley13-Jul-2019

Gary Ballance latches on to a pull•Getty Images

Yorkshire 282 for 3 (Ballance 111, Kohler-Cadmore 77*) v SomersetThe World’s Most Famous Umpire (retired) was holding audience once more at Headingley and one thing was firmly on his mind. “Forty-four years,” he said. “Forty-four years.” Cricket has seen a lot of changes since Dickie Bird stood in the first World Cup final, but what hasn’t changed is his love affair with Yorkshire cricket and all connected with it.Wherever he went, he was accosted by people asking him if he had ever witnessed a worse example of dissent than that seen from Jason Roy in the semi-final of the World Cup, 2019 vintage (at least one well-known Yorkshire and England cricketer was adamant that he should have been banned from Sunday’s final, a legitimate opinion that nevertheless might not entirely fit with the yearning of the nation) and whether he was about to put in a bid for Boston Hall which Geoffrey Boycott has just put on the market for a cool £2.85m.HD Bird indicated that he plans to keep his hand in his pocket which is pretty much what Roy seemed to be telling umpire Kumar Dharmasena.Beneath his gaze, Yorkshire’s batsmen were making Somerset labour, reaching 282 for 3 in the day with admirable discipline, and a sense throughout that they viewed it as a bridgehead for 450. Bird was elsewhere by the time Gary Ballance delivered his fifth Championship hundred of the season, but somewhere on the ground he would have been pushing Ballance’s claims for the Ashes. England’s selectors are unlikely to listen; Roy’s disdainful World Cup is more likely to excite the selectors.Ballance fell to the second new ball when Tim Groenewald came around the wicket and appeared to seam one away, the batsman’s drive pouched in his midriff at second slip by Jamie Overton. Somerset, who had opted to bowl, had got within 15 minutes of the close without finding much justification for the decision – and even that delivery appeared on the replay to have seamed out of a foothole.Ballance had played with great certainty nevertheless and his one chance came on 110 when James Hildreth put him down at first slip off Overton, only for him to fall in the following over. He was particularly severe through extra cover on Jack Brooks, who had received the warmest of welcomes from the crowd on his return but who in the circumstances probably didn’t want his “local knowledge” to be referenced by his coach, Jason Kerr, when it came to deciding whether to bat or bowl.England might be in a World Cup final, with the usual talk of inspiring a new generation, but with The Hundred only a year away, the dominant mood in county cricket is not of hope, but of foreboding. Witness the Somerset member who suggested at a recent forum that this would be the last Championship worth winning. The implication was, that being so, it would be best if Somerset finally did just that.Fifteen points clear of Essex, their only realistic challengers, with five matches remaining, Somerset remain well placed to win their first title, but shoving Yorkshire in on a decent batting surface – perhaps taking too much notice of what was overhead than what was down below – was not the best way to go about it.They lack two key bowlers here with Jack Leach and Lewis Gregory both on Lions duty and, although the attack remains strong, they bowled OK, no better than that. By mid-afternoon, the captain, Tom Abell, took on a bowling spell with the sort of brisk, stoutly-faced military march back to his mark that suggested things were not going awfully well.For the offspinner, Dom Bess, to bowl 23 overs on the opening day encapsulated that things had not gone to plan. Somerset are about to loan Bess to Yorkshire for the T20 Blast (he also spent a month with them in the Championship), so they will be doubly delighted that he got a good shift in, although such are the mental complexities of the loan system that they might have had strangely mixed feelings when Will Fraine christened the Emerald Stand, which was being used for the first time in a county match, by depositing him into the seats without a care in the world.Bird had earlier shivered at the mention of the new stand which he says like its predecessor still demands too many pairs of thermal underwear for a man born as far south as Barnsley. Bess asked the umpire to check the ball when it was thrown back to him – presumably because it was encased in ice.Yorkshire have understandable hopes that Fraine can become a regular opening partner alongside Adam Lyth, but in both cases batsman error contributed to Somerset’s picking up of two wickets late in the first session. When Lyth mistimed a cut against Bess to cover and Fraine succumbed to an uppish leg-side clip against Brooks, they were symptomatic of characteristic misjudgements.But Ballance and Tom Kohler-Cadmore did not waste the opportunity, playing with draining consistency in a stand of 199 in 62. “We needed to be disciplined after last week’s defeat at Essex and we were,” said Ballance. Nowhere was that change of approach more apparent than in Kohler-Cadmore, who played judiciously and picked the Overton twins off through the leg-side at regular intervals. He was unbeaten on 77 by the close.