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Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring James Maddison to north London this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Paul O’Keefe, who revealed on Twitter that, despite a deal for the 25-year-old appearing dead in the water earlier this month, Fabio Paratici is now ‘seriously considering’ making a move for the Leicester City attacking midfielder in the coming weeks.

The Spurs insider went on to clarify his earlier statement that Tottenham were out of the running for the England international’s signing this summer, revealing that his previous information was incorrect and that Antonio Conte’s side are now moving towards the Foxes playmaker.

In response to a supporter asking for an update on Spurs’ attacking midfield targets this summer, O’Keefe said: “They are very seriously considering James Maddison.”

Supporters will be buzzing

Considering just how impressive Maddison has been for Leicester in recent years, O’Keefe’s claim that Spurs are hugely interested in pursuing a deal for the 25-year-old this summer is sure to have left the Tottenham Hotspur faithful buzzing.

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Indeed, over his 35 Premier League appearances in 2021/22, the £45m-rated talent was in magnificent form for Brendan Rodgers’ side. He scored 12 goals, registered eight assists and created 11 big chances for his team-mates, along with taking 2.1 shots (one on target), making 1.4 key passes and completing 0.9 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the one-cap England international average a hugely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.32, not only ranking him as the Foxes’ best performer in the league but also as the joint 13th-best player in the entire top flight.

The £110k-per-week midfielder also caught the eye in Europe last season, scoring one goal, providing two assists and averaging a quite astonishing SofaScore match rating of 7.68 over his five outings in the Europa League.

He also scored three goals, created one big chance and averaged a SofaScore match rating of 7.28 over his eight Europa Conference League outings, which saw him rank as Leicester’s best and second-best player in the respective competitions.

As such, it is clear to see that the versatile Maddison – who can operate from central and attacking midfield, and on either flank – would make a fantastic addition to Conte’s options in north London next term, even if his reported £60m price tag would be yet another hefty fee for Daniel Levy to cough up this summer.

AND in other news: Conte eyeing “very tempting” £7.1k-p/w Spurs target, he’s a “tactical evolution” dream

According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City defender Nathan Ake has agreed personal terms to join Premier League rivals Chelsea.

The Lowdown: Ongoing negotiations

The Dutchman still has three years remaining on his contract at the Etihad Stadium, but has been consistently linked with a move away after reportedly being told that he is free to leave and find a new club this summer.

Sky Sports first revealed last month that the 27-year-old had opened talks with the west London club over a potential move to Stamford Bridge, with the Evening Standard since suggesting that negotiations had become more advanced, and it now sounds like the player is ready to return to the capital.

The Latest: Ake agrees personal terms

Taking to Twitter, Romano stated that Ake has reached a verbal arrangement with Chelsea, although City are yet to have been approached with an offer.

The Italian wrote: “Chelsea have full agreement with Nathan Ake on personal terms. Man City are aware of the situation on the player side, but still waiting to receive the official bid.

“City want around £40/45m for Ake and plan is to replace him with a new centre back in case he leaves.”

The Verdict: Bit-part player

Raheem Sterling is already close to putting pen to paper at Chelsea, and it appears that Ake will soon be following the England international to west London.

The centre-back was a bit-part player under Guardiola last season, making just 14 appearances in the top flight, with only ten of those coming from the start (via WhoScored), trailing behind the likes of Ruben Dias and John Stones in the manager’s defensive pecking order.

Ake used to play for Chelsea in his younger days but ended up leaving the club in 2017 to join Bournemouth.

However, a return to his former stomping ground is now on the cards as Guardiola possibly looks elsewhere to bolster his defensive ranks once the Dutchman’s likely departure is announced.

An Italian report has now shared some interesting Tottenham Hotspur transfer news as Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio schedules a meeting over defender Denzel Dumfries.

The Lowdown: Conte plots major overhaul…

As reported by The Telegraph, Spurs head coach Antonio Conte is plotting a major overhaul with two new signings having already been confirmed.

Croatia footballing legend Ivan Perisic and Premier League goalkeeper Fraser Forster have arrived in north London on Bosman deals and it is reliably believed that Conte is chasing even more fresh faces.

The Italian reportedly wants one or two new wing-backs with La Gazzetta dello Sport now sharing a development on their links to Inter star Dumfries.

The Latest: Spurs meeting scheduled…

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According to the newspaper, Nerazzurri club chief Ausilio has travelled to London for various transfer meetings and has scheduled one with Tottenham hierarchy as they eye a move for Dumfries.

Conte and Co are allegedly keeping tabs on the Netherlands international, who is also wanted by Man United.

The Verdict: Make a move?

Dumfries, valued at around €40 million (£34m) by Inter, could be an astute purchase for the Lilywhites and Conte if the move for Djed Spence does not work out.

The 26-year-old is still fairly young and has attracted big praise in parts for his performances in Serie A over 2021/2022 – with Italian football expert and GIFN contributor Jerry Mancini calling him an ‘exciting player’ and ‘effective’ out wide (Twitter).

The Dutchman is also a regular at international level, amassing over 30 caps in an often star-studded Netherlands international side.

It’s hardly surprising Spurs hold an interest and it will be interesting to see the outcome of these talks.

In other news: ‘Big’ – Alasdair Gold says Tottenham are expected to make move for supremely underrated star! Find out more here.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has signed a new two-year extension to his contract which will take him to 2026.

What’s the word?

Klopp has pledged his long-term future to the Reds in a deal which will expire in 2026, a move that is sure to please Kopites everywhere.

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There were talks of him leaving Liverpool upon the end of his previous contract in 2024, with the German explaining as recently as March: “The plan at the moment is to get to 2024 then, ‘thank you very much’.”

Klopp set to continue the Liverpool dynasty

The 54-year-old has revolutionised Liverpool since taking over from Brendan Rodgers in October 2015. The club was arguably in freefall despite an encouraging start under the Northern Irishman and change was urgently needed.

What followed over the next six-and-a-half years has been nothing short of extraordinary. Klopp has built a team of winners, recruiting diligently over time to craft a team which can compete on three fronts to devastating effect.

The Champions League title was won in June 2019 before a maiden Premier League crown was added the following season, despite the attempts of a global pandemic to derail the inevitable.

With Club World Cup, European Super Cup and Carabao Cup trophies all added to the growing list, it is only the FA Cup which has eluded him and his side so far, although they are in the final of that competition this season.

The former Borussia Dortmund manager has plenty of time on his side to continue this excellent Liverpool dynasty and add further silverware to the already bulging Anfield trophy room.

An extra two years might not seem like much, but to the Liverpool faithful around the world it may feel like a lifetime, and now he has even greater scope to cement his place in the pantheon of managerial greats – if he hasn’t already.

Considering just how successful Klopp has been on Merseyside, and how much he is adored by the fan base at large, it is a masterclass from FSG to secure the German for another couple of years so that he can further add to his Anfield legend, while also creating even greater excitement among Kopites.

AND in other news, Liverpool can unearth their new Gerrard by plotting bid for “outrageous” £50m gem…

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has been told to ‘hold back’ by talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino after the Italian’s message on Eric Dier.

The Lowdown: Dier excelling…

The former Sporting Lisbon star has been shining as a member of Conte’s back three at Spurs, prompting England boss Gareth Southgate to grant him a recall to the national team squad.

Dier will travel with the Three Lions for their upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Italy and Germany with members of the media even saying that his inclusion is ‘long overdue’.

The 28-year-old is one of just three Spurs players who have featured for every single Premier League minute so far this term, with Dier putting in another brilliant display yesterday against Leicester City.

The Latest: Cascarino criticises Conte after Dier message…

While Cascarino said that Dier has been brilliant over the last two months, the talkSPORT pundit has moved quickly to refute Conte’s latest message on the player.

Spurs’ head coach drew comparisons with Italian footballing legend Leonardo Bonucci, claiming that the Englishman can ‘replicate’ the Juventus captain.

After Conte’s statement, Cascarino has told the ex-Inter Milan boss to ‘hold back’, saying:

“He’s had a decent start to the season but comparing him to Bonucci is a bit of a long one for me at the moment, I’d hold back on that one.

“I wouldn’t have that he’s as versatile as Bonucci, maybe he was a failed midfielder more than a midfielder, he didn’t pull up any trees.

“I think he’s not bad, I’m still reserved in my opinion over the course of a season on Dier.”

The Verdict: Too soon?

Dier has been fantastic for Spurs this season and deserves praise from both Conte and the media. That being said, the season is a long one, and before measuring the Englishman’s contribution overall, we must judge him based off a whole campaign.

However, the 28-year-old shone as part of Conte’s back three over 2021/22, making more clearances per 90 than any Spurs player whilst racking up the second-most blocks in that time (WhoScored).

In terms of likeness to Bonucci, it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that Dier could replicate the 35-year-old’s leadership qualities in the Lilywhites dressing room – especially given his experience of 328 appearances for the club and 45 caps for England.

He’s older, slower, and less explosive than he once was, but his T20I comeback showed what he still offers

Deivarayan Muthu in Pune11-Jan-20202:46

‘I’ve to perform well because I’ve got experience’ – Malinga

Sri Lanka have a tearaway in Lahiru Kumara. “He’s quick in our terms, he might be quick in Australian terms also,” was how bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake described him a year ago.But Kumara didn’t get the new ball in Pune. Instead, Lasith Malinga tossed it to Angelo Mathews, who was playing his first T20I since August 2018.Back in the day, Mathews ran through India in Colombo, but that was when Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid were still playing international cricket. He’s been a reluctant bowler of late, and when he took the match-turning wicket of Nicholas Pooran against West Indies during last year’s World Cup, he wasn’t just bowling his first ball of the match, but his first ball in eight months.When he does bowl now, it’s gentle medium-pace off a short run-up. But he can still make things happen. In his first over at the MCA Stadium, he ambled in and floated a 121kph ball into Shikhar Dhawan’s pads, and the left-hander flicked it airily to deep square leg, only for Dasun Shanaka to misdjudge the flight of the ball and parry it away to the boundary.Angelo Mathews bowled in a competitive match for the first time since the World Cup in July 2019•BCCIMathews remained as stoic as ever. He’s a bit like MS Dhoni – win or lose, he keeps his poker face on, and isolates himself from external noise. He returned to his mark, and finished the over with two gentle outswingers that KL Rahul dispatched for back-to-back boundaries. What might have been had Shanaka clung onto that chance? Could Mathews have bowled Sri Lanka to another incredible victory?As it happened, he finished with figures of 3-0-38-0. Not particularly flattering, but this was a day when India made 201. Mathews was bowling for the first time in a competitive match since that World Cup game against West Indies, and he put in a three-over shift in the injury-enforced absence of Isuru Udana.

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In pursuit of 202, Sri Lanka’s top order collapsed in a heap. At 15 for 2, Mathews bundled up three bats in his hands and swung at the air in the dug-out. He strode to the crease when 15 for 2 became 15 for 3. He’s no longer the finisher he was in 2014, but Mathews hinted that he isn’t finished yet in T20 cricket.He looks much fitter and slimmer he has been in years, and even stole singles from under the nose of the short cover fielder. He began quietly, playing out five successive dots from Jasprit Bumrah, before foraying down the track and biffing Shardul Thakur over midwicket. Mathews then targeted the non-turning offspin of Washington Sundar and clouted him for 22 off eight balls. But with the asking rate spiraling out of control, he had to keep taking risks, and eventually holed out off Washington, finishing with 31 off 20.Mathews put on 68 in 37 balls with Dhananjaya de Silva, giving Sri Lanka’s fans a brief spell of cheer. Then their team collapsed again, tumbling from 94 for 4 to 123 all out, ending up losing their fifth successive T20I.Angelo Mathews looks to roll his fingers over the ball•BCCIStill, Sri Lanka captain Malinga was pleased with Mathews’ return and improved fitness, and said the former captain’s vast experience would be crucial in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup later this year, where Sri Lanka will have to play a qualifying round to join the other big teams in the Super 12 stage.”Angie did not play [T20Is] in last one-and-a-half years, because he had some injuries. He has the experience of playing for the Sri Lanka team and franchise cricket,” Malinga said. “Going forward, for Sri Lankan cricket, he is a big asset for us. He is using his experience in bowling and batting and all the young players can share [his] knowledge. Apart from his talent, young players can get more than that.”Newly-appointed Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur is also on the same page with Malinga and hopes to tap into Mathews’ experience. Arthur said Sri Lanka had considered bringing Mathews in for the Indore T20I, but decided instead to “start off” from where the previous management had “left off”.Mathews’ T20 comeback eases the burden on Malinga, who is under immense pressure as captain. Since he returned to captaincy in January 2019, Sri Lanka have lost ten T20Is under him and have won just once.A bit of experience will do Sri Lanka’s cause no harm as they look to step out of that rut, and Mathews certainly brings that. They will hope he can keep himself fit, contribute with the ball, and rediscover his attacking enterprise with the bat.

They achieved the series victory, but having the final Test taken off them will hurt Faf du Plessis’ side for some time to come

Firdose Moonda at the Wanderers27-Jan-2018South Africa have themselves, not the pitch, to blame for losing the final Test against India. They have themselves, not the pitch, to blame for bowling too short and too wide on the third day and underestimating India’s batting resolve. They have themselves, not the pitch, to blame for losing the chance to take the No.1 ranking and though they will be pleased with a series win, they have themselves, not the pitch, to blame for giving India something in a tour where they wanted to leave them with nothing.Make no mistake: this loss is going to hurt. Maybe not as much as Dean Elgar’s head, Hashim Amla’s ribs or Vernon Philander’s fingers, but it will still sting. Those three men, along with Kagiso Rabada, kept South Africa in the game on a pitch that has been called everything from “dangerous” by Kepler Wessels to “sh**” by Michael Holding – a pitch South Africa asked for.Sure, Faf du Plessis didn’t specifically say, “please give us exaggerated bounce and seam movement for days,” but he is the first South African captain to brazenly confess to ordering pitches, to the point of wanting someone to oversee national groundsman so they can work on a common strategy. He is not the first to have home conditions backfire on him against India. Both previous times India have won in South Africa – Johannesburg 2006 and Durban 2010 – South Africa have prepared bowler-friendly surfaces to favour their own attacks. Both times, India’s bowlers outplayed them.Exactly the same thing happened here, as the India attack schooled South Africa’s on how to bowl in their own conditions. South Africa were particularly poor in the second session on the third day, when India scored 99 runs, and that ultimately proved the difference between the two sides.During that session, South Africa’s attack appeared to be relying on the pitch a little too much, and on their own skill too little. They bowled back of a length, rather than full, when the India bowlers had already shown the advantages of pitching it up, and they failed to attack the stumps, allowing India to leave enough times to take the pressure off. To their credit, South Africa have recognised that was where the problem lay. “We were a little bit short and wide, which gave them the opportunity to leave a lot more. The Indian bowlers made us play a lot more,” du Plessis said.Vernon Philander had his stumps shattered by Mohammed Shami•BCCISouth Africa were not helped by a self-confessed “sloppy” effort in the field. In the space of six balls, Elgar put down Bhuvneshwar Kumar at gully and Andile Phehlukwayo dropped Ajinkya Rahane at deep point. Bhuvneshwar was on 15 and went on to score 33; Rahane was on 38 and added 10 runs to his total. It doesn’t sound like a lot of runs but in a low-scoring game, it shifted momentum further India’s way.Also during that session talk of the suitability of this pitch was at its highest. By then, the host broadcaster’s commentary team had taken the collective view that the surface was questionable and there was a buzz around media circles that the match should be called off. South Africa may not have known the extent of the concerns at that stage, but they were in the middle, witness to what the pitch was doing. Even if they didn’t think the match was at risk of being called off, at the very least they would have been thinking about batting last on it. It would have been a distraction of some sort and by the end of the day, when India had set South Africa a target that would require them to score the highest total of the match to win, it was clear that the pitch was more of a sore spot for South Africa, than for India.While Virat Kohi has said more times than he has been asked that India have not complained about the pitches they are being presented with, du Plessis has had to admit that preparing bowler-friendly pitches has been as much of a disadvantage as a tactic to exploit home conditions.”We know that if you ask for a wicket that has got a lot of assistance on, you are bringing the Indian seam attack into it,” du Plessis said. “They are very skillful, they bowl a lot fuller, they are used to bowling on Indian wicket where you have to pitch the ball up to attack the stumps, and they move the ball around both ways. We were outplayed.”The only thing for South Africa to ask is why they were outplayed. They have already mulled over team selection and whether an extra batsman would have served them better than an allrounder, but they will also have to ask themselves whether there was a low-level of complacency that crept in with the series already won.South Africa invested their emotions in beating India at home, after they were beaten in India in 2015, and their robust celebrations after the Centurion win were interpreted as a great release. Ultimately, it was difficult to tighten up again. “I was trying to make sure we keep that same intensity. But I think our actions speak louder than the words we spoke this week,” du Plessis said.And louder than the pitch, too.

The latest from KP’s world, and incorrect usage of aeroplane emojis dominate our Twitter round-up

Alex Bowden06-Aug-20160:36

The Reverse Sweep: Dale’s super slippers, lifeguards at Edgbaston

After a short-lived experiment with juice…

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… KP’s back on the coffee.

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KP has been a godsend for this column in recent months. We aren’t sure what we’re going to do when he goes back to cricket and stops trying to make out he’s a fun-loving, hard-drinking party animal on Twitter.

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Or when he stops using hair gel as moisturiser.

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We’re also worried about a loss of material when Jimmy Neesham heads home and ceases to explore British culture.

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Sometimes they even work together, like the other day when they solved golf.

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Without them, what are we left with? Shane Warne’s texting thumbs are still struggling to come to terms with the next wave of technology.

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Rangana Herath’s extraordinary fitness is what allows him to keep things moving along.

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You will never know. Herath would never lower himself to a 2k time trial.Somewhere in the world there is always a cricketer complaining about air travel. Even if it’s a part-time cricketer.

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Umar Akmal’s Twitter account is essentially a prolonged paean to Umar Akmal. He is king of the selfie. To give you some idea, this is the kind of thing you can expect from him pretty much daily.

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However, he’s jumped the gun in attempting to become the latest to deliver an in-flight selfie for us.

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You’re not fooling anyone, Umar. That’s an airport, not a plane.Much the same mistake was made by Shoaib Malik.

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No point trying to distract us with that aeroplane emoji, Shoaib. That’s clearly a bus.However, for all those who say Umar never learns from his mistakes, think again.

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Great fun. Sitting in chair pointing a phone at oneself is pretty much the most fun a man can have.

Plays of the day from the match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore at Eden Gardens

Abhishek Purohit11-Apr-2015Starting stutters
Royal Challengers Bangalore were the eighth and last franchise to begin their 2015 campaign, and for the opening over, their fielding was all over the place. Robin Uthappa began the match with a quiet steer to third man, and no more than a single was on as Abu Nechim bent to make a regulation stop. However, the ball slipped through Nechim’s grasp to gift Uthappa a four. Two balls later, Harshal Patel slid awkwardly to his left at midwicket and failed to prevent a Gautam Gambhir clip from racing for four. Two balls later, Uthappa was gifted an overthrow to add to an easy single to mid-on.Look who dropped it
This one was remarkable not only for what happened but also for the reactions that followed. On 31, Gambhir pulled Nechim flat and straight to deep square leg for the most takrable of catches, even for someone without the reputation of the man stationed in the position: AB de Villiers. But the South African did the unthinkable: he grabbed at the ball a touch too much and it popped out of his grasp. The habitually intense captain Virat Kohli was stunned enough to smile in disbelief. The disbelief was greater in de Villiers’ long, hard stare into blank spaces.You or me?
Bursts of confusion continued to appear in Royal Challengers’ fielding performance. In the 19th over, Andre Russell top-edged a slog off Harshal over cover. Sean Abbott and Varun Aaron ran after it from the inner circle. It stayed up in the air long enough for the men to have ideally decided who was to go for it. Abbott started to pull away as it came down, implying that Aaron was to be the man. Only, Aaron was nowhere near the ball as it plopped into the ground. He was closer to it than Abbott, though, and had to sheepishly pick it up.Mystery strikes back
Knight Riders’ latest mystery spinner, KC Cariappa, had already taken some punishment from Chris Gayle when de Villiers went after him. Cariappa was bowling a bit too full to make the batsman think about which way it was going to turn, and de Villiers hit him for a couple of fours and a six in the space of five deliveries. De Villiers jumped out to the last ball of the over, but this one was much flatter and zipped past the batsman. Uthappa did not deny his fellow Coorgi and pulled off a sharp stumping.

England need to cross a statistical hurdle of stellar proportions if they are to win the third Ashes Test

Andy Zaltzman12-Dec-2013The WACA has seldom been a happy place for England’s Test team. Never, in the past 25 years. Six Tests, six defeats, a collective bowling average of 39 (their seventh worst out of the 29 Test venues where England have played at least three Tests since 1988), and a collective batting average of 19, making it England’s worst venue with the bat over the past quarter of a century – their worst on any ground in that time.In terms of venues at which to begin one of the greatest comebacks in the history of English sport, it is about as auspicious as a plump baby seal booking in for swimming lessons in a shark tank.If England are to avoid surrendering the Ashes in the third Test of five for the sixth time in their last seven tours to Australia, it will take a Herculean effort. They have the players to do it. Whether those players can find the runs and wickets to do it is, of course, an entirely different kettle of out-of-form fish. It would, obviously, help if they stop hitting the ball in the air to fielders on the leg side – a strategy with little historical success – and if Australia’s rampant destroyers with bat and ball can be reminded of the frailties that engulfed their game and their team relatively recently. Part A of that ought to be possible; part B might be.Confectionery Stall Prediction: Australia to win by six wickets, or 143 runs.Confectionery Stall Prediction Rate For This Series So Far: 0%.And now, in advance of England’s efforts to overcome historical precedent, a form book that contains some rude numbers and fruity language, and their own technical glitches with bat, ball and hands, a deluge of stats.(Warning: these numerical nuggets are unlikely to prompt proud English cricket fans to rush out for that St George’s Cross facial tattoo they have been vacillating over until the statistical time was right.)* In the five Tests since Australia were obliterated at Lord’s by a potent combination of England and themselves, their batsmen have collectively averaged 39.5 runs per wicket, and scored at 58 runs per 100 balls. England’s have averaged 25.5, with a strike rate of 44. No England bowler has kept his economy rate below 3.2.* Australia’s bowlers have struck on average every 36 balls in England’s two first innings in the series so far – currently the best first-innings strike rate any team has managed in a series against England since 1899.● Australia’s current economy rate of 2.59 is their best in an Ashes series since 1993, and their best in a home Ashes since 1978-79. England’s batting strike rate for the year of 45.0 is their lowest since 2001.* Matt Prior became the second wicketkeeper ever to bag five Test ducks in a year. Australia’s Wally Grout did so in 1961, heroically achieving the anti-milestone in just 13 innings (compared to Prior’s 22). Previously, no England keeper had ever scored four ducks in a year. In the process, the England gloveman equalled the record for most ducks by an England player in a year – nine players had done so previously (including Panesar and Anderson twice each). Prior’s anti-joy was short-lived however – four overs later, Anderson bagged his sixth quacker of 2013, setting a new England record.* England’s numbers 6 to 11 in this series collectively averaged 11.5 in the first two Tests – currently, albeit only after two matches, their third worst such figure in an Ashes series, behind only 1886-87 and 1956. Their average partnership for the fifth to tenth wickets of 13.6 is currently the second worst performance by an English middle and lower order in any series of more than one match, beaten only by the 1998 home series against South Africa.● From all three of those series, however, England emerged victorious. We know how exhaustive (and, perhaps, exhausting) England’s preparations are. Perhaps their tail-end subsidences are a statistical stratagem based on these three series wins that will inevitably bring glorious success come Sydney in January. Perhaps not.● By comparison, in England’s three recent Ashes series wins, their numbers 6 to 11 have averaged 24.8 in last summer’s victory, 29.1 in Australia three years ago, and 28.3 in 2009 – all in England’s top ten mid-to-low order Ashes series collective averages. Australia’s 6 to 11 are collectively averaging 50.7 after the first two Tests, which is currently their best ever in an Ashes series.* Alastair Cook in 13 first innings since his hundreds in Mumbai and Kolkata last year: average 21, strike rate 34, with two half-centuries, and a highest score of 62.* England have failed to score a hundred in the past three Tests. If no one posts three figures in Perth, it will be their first four-Test run without a hundred since 1999, when their batsmen failed to trouble the honours boards in six consecutive matches.* Brad Haddin, having scored 94, 53 and 118, has become the second wicketkeeper to pass 50 in his first three innings in an Ashes series. Gilchrist did so in his one innings in each of the first three Tests in 2001 (152, 90 and 54), which was also the only previous occasion on which a keeper had scored 90 or more in two innings in an Ashes series. Haddin’s current series is the 11th instance of a keeper hitting three 50-plus scores in an Ashes series.* England were bowled out for under 200 in their first three innings of an Ashes for the first time since Gregory and MacDonald blasted them away in 1921. Evidently, England have not learned as much about playing high-paced bowling in the intervening 92 years as they might have done. (They would have also been out for less than 200 in all four innings in the first two Tests of 1950-51 had they not plumped for a sticky-wicket-affected declaration at 68 for 7 in their first innings of the series.) (But let’s not harp on about that, it was ages ago.)● England have lost more Tests in Perth since 1990 than they have lost at Old Trafford or Trent Bridge, despite only playing there once every four years. If they lose for a seventh consecutive time, Perth will hop into joint second place on the list of grounds where England have lost most often since 1990, behind only Lord’s where they have played 42 Tests in that time (losing ten of them).● Cricketing gods, please have mercy.