All posts by h716a5.icu

Aston Villa have now submitted an opening bid for Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby, with the German club open to selling him for the right fee this summer, according to recent reports from France.

What's the latest Aston Villa transfer news?

Transfer insider Dean Jones has recently confirmed that Villa are interested in signing Juventus winger Federico Chiesa, with the Serie A club "willing to listen" to offers for the 25-year-old, who is also being targeted by Premier League rivals Newcastle United.

Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor has claimed the Villans could make a "genuine play" to sign the Juventus star, however he has some doubts about whether they will also be able to sign Nico Williams, stating the Spaniard could sign a new deal with Athletic Club.

Just a few days ago, it was reported that Unai Emery's side have now joined the race for Diaby, with the manager keen to add a wide player to his squad this summer, but there will be fierce competition for his signature, with Newcastle, Arsenal and Manchester United are also interested.

That has not deterred Villa from making their first move for the Frenchman, with reports from France now detailing they have submitted their opening bid, the first serious offer that Leverkusen have received so far this summer.

The size of the offer currently remains unclear, but the German side consider it to be a good starting point for further negotiations, and there is also an indication that there is some interest on the player's behalf.

Although the 24-year-old would prefer to play for a club in the Champions League, he knows that Villa are going from strength to strength, and he is well aware that he will need regular first-team football to stand a chance of making France's Euro 2024 squad next summer.

Leverkusen are willing to sanction the winger's departure if an acceptable proposal is made, with reports from elsewhere detailing they could hold out for a fee of at least £50m.

What positions can Moussa Diaby play?

The France international is capable of playing on both wings, predominantly featuring on the right throughout his career so far, although he has also played through the middle as an attacking midfielder, and as a striker on a handful of occasions.

Ever since arriving in the Bundesliga, the Paris-born attacker has been a first-team regular for Leverkusen, with his most prolific season coming in 2021-22, weighing in with a very impressive 13 goals and 12 assists in 32 league outings.

Former teammate Nils Petersen previously described the Leverkusen star as a "young whirlwind", with Kerem Demirbay saying: "He's not only a very quick but also very clever player and you don't see that very often in the Bundesliga."

Diaby is indeed one of the fastest players in Europe – the former Paris Saint-Germain ace recorded the highest speed in the entire Bundesliga last year, clocking in at 22.7mph.

Diaby could be a fantastic signing for Aston Villa, and it is very exciting news that an opening bid has now been made for the speedster.

Yasir Shah’s ninth Test five-for hastened West Indies’ second-innings collapse that gave Pakistan a seven-wicket win in Kingston

The Report by Danyal Rasool25-Apr-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsWest Indies fined for slow over rate

Match referee Chris Broad has fined West Indies for their slow over rate during the Jamaica Test against Pakistan. West Indies were ruled to be one over short of their target when time allowances were taken into consideration.
As per the ICC code of conduct, captain Jason Holder has been fined 20% of his match fee, while the rest of the West Indies players have been fined 10%. Holder will face a suspension if West Indies commits another minor over rate breach in a Test match within 12 months of this offence with Holder as captain.
Holder pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the fine, which meant there was no need for a formal hearing. On-field umpires Richard Illingworth and Richard Kettleborough, third umpire Bruce Oxenford and fourth umpire Gregory Brathwaite levelled the charge.

Pakistan took a giant stride towards winning their first-ever Test series in the Caribbean, after an efficient bowling performance helped ease to seven-wicket win in Kingston. After Yasir Shah’s six-for in the second innings left Pakistan chasing 32, Misbah-ul-Haq, who walked in at the fall of Younis Khan’s wicket with the side needing eight, hit two successive sixes to complete the formalities.Pakistan, emboldened by pushing West Indies to a tight corner last evening, spent the morning session closing in. They picked up six wickets for 59 as West Indies, resuming 93 for 4, were bowled out for 152.Misbah was in no mood to experiment, getting his two best bowlers – Mohammad Amir and Yasir Shah – into the attack straight away. At perhaps no stage of the Test did a wicket look as imminent as it did in the first 10 overs. Amir tormented nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo with an unwavering line outside off stump. Or perhaps it was the other way round, as Bishoo kept missing, somehow managing to keep his outside edge from making contact with the ball.Lesser bowlers – or indeed, Amir with lower levels of confidence – may have been frustrated, but Amir kept plugging away, and was duly rewarded. Vishaul Singh had just cut a rare poor Amir delivery away for four, but the bowler’s comeback was destructive. He went slightly wide of the crease to the left-hander, the ball shaping in sharply from the moment it pitched, destination: top of off. Singh, who had seen Amir move the ball the other way all morning, shouldered arms, and was every bit as much a spectator as everyone else when the off stump cartwheeled.Yasir Shah’s ninth five-for hastened West Indies’ collapse•AFPYasir was menacing from the other end, getting sharp turn off what was beginning to look like a standard day-five pitch, but it was Mohamamd Abbas who struck the next damaging blows with two wickets off three balls. Bishoo was the first to go, flashing at a short and wide delivery with Younis Khan pouching it in the slips. Two balls later, Shane Dowrich played across a straight ball that struck his pads in front of middle stump.Wahab, who has had a slightly disappointing Test with the ball, then got into the act, removing Jason Holder, West Indies’ highest scorer in the first innings. Yasir came in to clean up the lower order, just like he had the top order, removing Alzarri Joseph and Shannon Gabriel within four balls of each other to take six wickets this Test match, bolstering his ever-burgeoning credentials as a lethal second-innings bowler. This was the fifth time two Pakistan bowlers had taken six wickets in a Test innings of a Test, and the first since 2002.The chase of 32 was one perhaps not even Pakistan could stuff up, but they can’t be accused of not trying to make things interesting. Ahmed Shehzad tentatively pushed at the Gabriel delivery outside off stump for a simple catch to the wicketkeeper in the third over. Three balls later, Azhar Ali was making the walk back, having made a mess of trying to leave a ball from Joseph, only to somehow end up dragging it onto his stumps.After lunch, Younis fell trying to work Bishoo to the leg side with the side two boundaries away. But Misbah needed just three balls to put West Indies out of their misery. Thirty six for three may not look too clinical, but, as is so often the case, their bowlers had left the batsmen ample room for error.

Aston Villa have been linked with a summer move for Juventus winger Federico Chiesa, with the club reprotedly not put off by the asking price for him.

How many goals has Federico Chiesa scored?

The 25-year-old has arguably been one of Serie A's leading wide players in recent years, excelling with his pace, directness and end product for both club and country.

Chiesa has scored 22 goals and registered 20 assists in 94 appearances for Juve, while for Italy, he has netted five times in 42 caps, winning Euro 2020 after victory over Wembley in the final in 2021.

Last season was a frustrating one for him, however, as he only managed to find the net twice in the league, as injuries restricted his playing time and he struggled to find rhythm when he did play.

The Italian still has two years remaining on his current Juve deal, but it could be that the Serie A giants see now as the best time to move him on, before his price tag starts diminishing closer to the expiration of his contract – they are also in financial trouble, having been deducted points last season due to multiple FFP breaches.

This is where Villa come into play, as the club continue to be hugely ambitious in the summer transfer window, with a potential move for Chiesa looking seriously on the cards.

What's the latest on Chiesa to Villa?

According to Calciomercato [via Sport Witness], Juve's €60m (£51m) valuation of Chiesa "does not scare" Villa, and the same also applies with the player's wage demands, which are likely to be high.

The "ambitious" project going on at Villa Park is mentioned in the report, with Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres already coming from Leicester City and Villarreal this summer respectively, and other high-profile new faces also expected to come in.

There is a possible issue regarding the transfer, though, with Chiesa not necessarily wanting to join a "second-tier" Premier League side, which Villa are considered part of in the context of this report, considering they haven't qualified for the Champions League or the Europa League next season.

Chiesa could be a fantastic signing for Villa if they manage to entice him to the club this summer though, coming in as a genuine statement addition, considering his current standing in the game, having been hailed as a "world-class" player by former Italy international Alessandro Pierini in the past.

Granted, he has been dogged by injury problems in recent times, which could lead to some trepidation surrounding Villa signing him, but he is still relatively young and there is no reason why he can't shrug off the issues moving forward.

Chiesa's pedigree as a footballer is undeniable, given his aforementioned Euro 2020 triumph and the fact that he has scored 38 goals and also chipped in with 39 assists in Serie A, showing that he can be a reliable provider of end product in one of the toughest leagues in the world.

He could take Villa up a significant gear if the deal goes through, acting as an upgrade on even single wide option at the club currently, although whether he is happy to join a club not dining at Europe's top table remains to be seen.

The PCB had charged the former Pakistan opener with two violations of their Anti-Corruption Code, for obstructing and not cooperating with their investigation, in relation to allegations of corruption in PSL 2017

Umar Farooq14-Apr-20170:52

Completely ready to cooperate with the PCB – Jamshed

Nasir Jamshed is willing to cooperate with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) inquiry into the PSL corruption investigation. But he wants the board to wait until an ongoing investigation by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) emanating from the same case comes to an end. Earlier this week the PCB charged Jamshed with two violations of their Anti-Corruption Code, for obstructing and not cooperating with their investigation. Jamshed has been given 14 days to respond.Jamshed and another man were arrested by the NCA in February and were later released on bail. Those arrests were made in connection with offences as part of an investigation into spot-fixing. That arrest came on the same day that he was first provisionally suspended by the PCB.The PCB believes Jamshed to be a central figure in its investigations into attempts to corrupt the second edition of the PSL, in which several other Pakistani players have been charged. But charges were laid against him after the board claimed it had been unable to speak to Jamshed – a PCB official was in the UK recently but was unable to meet him.Jamshed, who is based in Birmingham, had informed the PCB through his lawyer about his inability to travel to Pakistan because his passport has been confiscated by the NCA. In a video message circulated in Pakistan, Jamshed said that once the NCA investigation ends, he will present himself as and when required by the PCB.”I have no control over what is being said in the media,” said Jamshed in Urdu from his England residence. “I have neither changed residences, nor am I hiding from anyone. I am completely ready to cooperate with the PCB. My only request is to let the NCA inquiry being conducted to reach its conclusion first.”This is something the PCB had stated itself, when they stopped an FIA inquiry. I believe that too. First the NCA inquiry should be completed. The PCB has stated itself that they are in regular contact with the NCA, and are fully aware of the inquiry. Once it ends, I will present myself as and when the PCB requires me to.”Parallel to the PCB’s investigation, Pakistan’s Federal Investigative Agency has also launched an inquiry against the players charged by the Pakistan board. The country’s interior minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, has placed the four players provisionally suspended by the PCB – Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Irfan and Shahzaib Hasan – on an exit control list, preventing them from leaving the country.The FIA began their own inquiry after the Pakistan board asked for the agency’s assistance in obtaining forensic evidence from mobile phones in connection to the investigation. And though the PCB initially distanced itself from the FIA investigation, Najam Sethi, chairman of the PSL, has sought to clarify that he was not against the FIA’s probe and had never asked agency to stop its investigation.”I want FIA, which has taken suo motu [notice] of the case, to continue with its probe in this matter and should go after bookies like British Crime Agency does,” Sethi said. “Since there has been no law to deal with the spot-fixing here in Pakistan, this matter comes under the domain of PCB’s discipline and conduct and the Board can award exemplary punishment to the guilty players. The FIA deals with the criminal side of this case and if any such findings come up during the PCB tribunal probe, the FIA will be asked to take action. However, the FIA should better go after bookies and let the PCB deal with the players’ wrongdoings.”

Whilst pre-season is a time to gain match fitness, and ensure that everything is tactically where it needs to be and at the level required, it is also a time for players to enjoy each other’s company and gel as a team.Of course, players can’t enjoy themselves too much, though we’re sure there are stories from the past of certain individuals doing exactly that on a pre-season tour, but it’s always nice noticing the relaxed mood of a squad before the intensity of a campaign gets underway.From an Arsenal perspective, summers don’t get much better. So far, they’ve welcomed Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber, whilst also extending the contract of William Saliba and Bukayo Saka, who all seem more than happy at the North London club.In recent footage of the players getting off the plane, Aaron Ramsdale and Saliba showed the feel-good mood around the Arsenal camp, hilariously imitating a salute to the pilot.

William Saliba and Aaron Ramsdale salute pilot

As you can see from the footage, the duo, in another life, may have made ideal Queen’s guards at Buckingham Palace, with Ramsdale saluting and Saliba standing tall and puffing out his chest.

For good measure, Ramsdale goes in for one salute as the pilot approaches, before adding one more as he walks past. The goalkeeper was certainly keen to get his point across.

As you can see from the footage, the Arsenal squad is certainly relaxed ahead of the season, which starts with the visit of Nottingham Forest on August 12.

First, though, the Gunners must navigate their way through a pre-season of fixtures, which includes games against Manchester United, Barcelona, and AS Monaco, before squaring off against Manchester City in the Community Shield.

What’s the latest Arsenal transfer news?

After welcoming Havertz, Timber and Rice this summer, Arsenal’s transfer window may be done for now when it comes to big-name arrivals. The key from here may well be parting ways with deadwood and selling other assets for good money.

The Gunners have already waved goodbye to Granit Xhaka, and, according to The Athletic, Rob Holding could yet be on the move this summer. Meanwhile, the future of Folarin Balogun remains in question.

The young striker had a standout season on loan at Reims in the last campaign, battling for the Ligue 1 Golden Boot with the likes of Kylian Mbappe. Scoring 21 league goals in total, the American could yet play a role under Mikel Arteta.

Back in the Champions League next season, the Gunners will need as much squad depth as possible to compete on all fronts. The last thing they’ll want to do is go out with a whimper on their return to the European stage.

After competing for the Premier League title last time out, too, Arsenal will undoubtedly want to go one better by securing the silverware in what could be a year to remember in North London.

They’ve certainly made statement signings so far this summer, and with such a relaxed and competitive squad, anything is possible.

In the meantime, fans have been loving Saliba and Ramsdale’s pre-season antics, you can see some of the best Tweets below:

The former wicketkeeper batsman talks of his switching ties to New Zealand, his Australian team-mates’ reactions to his decision, and his match-winning knock on Test debut

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jun-20174:50

Archive – ‘Moving was easy, not trying would’ve been a lot harder’

It was a “dream to play more international cricket” that made the newly-retired Luke Ronchi switch allegiances from Australia to New Zealand back in 2012.Steady performances since his first-class debut for Western Australia in 2002-03 – and an untimely injury to Brad Haddin – shoehorned Ronchi into Australia’s tour of the Caribbean in 2008. He showed promise with a 22-ball fifty in only his second ODI innings but then his numbers dipped. Eventually, he found himself out of favour.Ronchi returned to his country of birth – New Zealand – in a bid to restart his career. A first-class century on debut for Wellington in March 2012 might well have assured him to keep at it. “In the end, it wasn’t really a hard decision,” he told ESPNcricinfo last year. “I wanted to play international cricket and I wanted to play more. It wasn’t like I had retired or wasn’t playing or dropped and wasn’t getting picked. The thought of not trying in New Zealand would’ve been a lot harder for me.”Everyone was right behind me, even players from Western Australia and coaching staff. That was a nice feeling. You get a bit worried about what might happen, but everyone was fully behind me.”

Thanks for all the msgs, very humbling. Must say a big thank you to @BLACKCAPS for the opportunities to play as long as I did, loved it

— Luke Ronchi (@ronchi04) June 22, 2017

Also a thank you to @CricketAus and @WACA_Cricket for giving me the start all those yrs ago, wouldn't be here without it

— Luke Ronchi (@ronchi04) June 22, 2017

In 2014, Ronchi made his ODI and T20I debut for New Zealand. He fell for ducks in both those games but was persisted with until he smashed 170 not out off 99 balls against Sri Lanka. That innings remains the highest score by batsman at No. 7.Ronchi played his first Test in May 2015. Coming in with his side trailing England 0-1 in a two-match series, he struck 88 and 31 at Headingley, to help spearhead a memorable victory. “It was something I always dreamed of and wanted to do well in,” he said. “Leading up to the match, I thought I shouldn’t go in nervous, because if you go in nervous and muck it up, that might be the only time you ever get to play. So I sort of went out there, just being relaxed, and, just free off whatever happens. To get the win in the end was pretty cool. It was pretty cool to be one from one (win-match ratio).”As for career highlights, Ronchi said “you can’t get past the World Cup.” New Zealand, fuelled by passionate home support, earned their first ever final after beating South Africa in the semis – a game that went down in history as an ODI classic.”To be involved in semi-finals, to get into the finals, even thought that wasn’t our best game of the tournament… For the New Zealand team to get into a World Cup final and play in front of 90-odd thousand people, the whole six-eight weeks was a fantastic time to be playing cricket.”Having been on both sides of the Trans-Tasman production line, Ronchi, in 2016, believed “Australia has got a little more depth and more money to put into development and facilities.”But having said that New Zealand cricket has been doing fantastically well at the moment in all three forms,” he added. “So, depth doesn’t always make a big difference but if you want to stay consistent – like how Australia have – you need to have the depth to keep pushing guys and making guys perform and getting better. I think New Zealand’s getting there. We still have a little way to go, but we’re doing pretty well at the moment.”

Michael Lumb, the Nottinghamshire and England batsman, has been forced to retire with immediate effect because of an ankle injury.

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jul-2017Michael Lumb, the Nottinghamshire and England batsman, has been forced to retire with immediate effect because of an ankle injury.Lumb, who made a century on his ODI debut, against West Indies in Antigua in 2014, is one of only 11 England players to have won a global ICC trophy, following his vital role in the World T20 campaign in the Caribbean in 2010.Lumb’s opening partnership with Craig Kieswetter, who was also forced to retire early due to injury in 2014, provided the foundation of a triumphant campaign for Paul Collingwood’s squad, who beat Australia by seven wickets in the final in Barbados.Born in South Africa, Lumb began his career at Yorkshire, the county club of his father, Richard, and moved to Hampshire before relocating to Trent Bridge in 2012, where he helped Nottinghamshire to victory in the Yorkshire Bank 40 and Royal London One-Day Cup trophies in 2013 and 2017 respectively.Until his record was surpassed by his fellow opener, Alex Hales, in this year’s final at Lord’s, Lumb held the Nottinghamshire record score in List A cricket, 184 against Northamptonshire at Trent Bridge in 2016. His prowess as a hard-hitting opening batsman also earned him stints in the IPL with Rajasthan Royals and Deccan Chargers, and Australia’s Big Bash League with Sydney Sixers.”I have had the best time at Trent Bridge, in my view the most productive years of my career, and Nottinghamshire is the club I have most enjoyed playing for,” he said.”I’m extremely disappointed I’ve had to retire from cricket, particularly in the middle of the season, but I have to respect medical opinion.”I would like to thank all my team-mates, the coaching staff and everyone else at the club for making my stay at Nottinghamshire such a memorable one. Those sentiments also go to everybody at both Yorkshire and Hampshire, who have made my career so enjoyable.”Last, but by no means least, I couldn’t have achieved what I have without the total support of my wife Lizzie and all the rest of my family.”Nottinghamshire’s director of cricket, Mick Newell, said: “It’s very sad news for Michael. He’s a hugely talented batsman that has entertained cricket followers all over the world. He’s a great role model to others and a superb professional.””Michael is an immensely popular senior player in the dressing room and highly respected for what he has achieved during his career. We wish him every success and thank him for all he has contributed to the club.”In first-class cricket, Lumb amassed more than 11,000 runs in 210 matches, with his career-best 221 not out coming for Nottinghamshire against Derbyshire at Trent Bridge in 2013.Lumb’s domestic one-day career included more than 11,500 runs, including in excess of 6,500 in List A games and almost 5,000 in T20.His retirement is Nottinghamshire’s second significant injury setback in the space of a week, following the blow to the head that Luke Fletcher sustained while bowling in the T20 Blast at Edgbaston, which has resulted in him sitting out the rest of the season.

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has claimed that new Tottenham Hotspur player James Maddison is a better signing than Mason Mount, who recently joined Manchester United.

The former Leicester City midfielder made the move to North London this summer, after the Foxes suffered relegation to the Championship. Signing for a reported £40m, Maddison will hope to hit the ground running under Ange Postecoglou.

Meanwhile, Mount completed his move to Old Trafford for a reported £60m deal, in a transfer that saw over a decade at Chelsea come to a ruthless end.

Between the two England internationals, although he said it was close, Parlour believes Maddison just about edges it, and is a better signing this summer.

The former Gunner knows what he's talking about when it comes to quality, too, after a stellar career at Arsenal. Indeed, it was in North London that he won three Premier League titles, including as part of the famous 2004 Invincibles side, as well as four FA Cups and one League Cup.

So, his verdict on Maddison is certainly high praise.

What did Ray Parlour say?

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, in partnership with Genting Casino, Parlour said: “I'm interested to see how Maddison does…

"But Maddison, £40m, I’m thinking… well, if you keep Harry Kane, with Son [Heung-min], [Dejan] Kulusevski on the left. You know, they've got a decent strike force there.

“And I hope it all goes wrong, if I'm being honest, I hope he starts going out in London, I might try to get him on the debrief [drinking session] with me and Alan [Brazil].

“But that's a good signing for 40 million quid. You know, Mason Mount, £60m. Who would you rather have, Mount or Maddison?

"It’s a close one, isn’t it? I’d probably go towards Maddison a little bit more, with free kicks and all that sort of stuff.”

How did James Maddison and Mason Mount perform last season?

After the Arsenal legend's verdict, it's only right to take a look at how Mount and Maddison performed in the Premier League last season.

Both were part of seasons to forget for their respective sides, as Chelsea finished in the bottom half, and Leicester were relegated.

That's not to say they didn't perform on an individual level, however, especially Maddison.

The recent Spurs arrival scored a total of 10 league goals in a struggling Foxes side last season, whilst also assisting a further nine, tallying up to have an incredibly impressive 19 goal involvements.

Mount, meanwhile, struggled to have a hand in such a high number of goals, scoring just three times, and recording just two assists.

Last season's numbers certainly suggest that it was Spurs who got the better deal this summer, but only time will tell whether that rings true this time next year.

After splashing the cash on the respective players, both clubs will be hoping to see their summer business pay off next season, where they'll be hoping to secure Champions League football and challenge for silverware, at the very least.

For now, fans will be eagerly anticipating their official debuts come the start of the campaign in August.

West Ham United striking a deal for Southampton star James Ward-Prowse is "very possible", with a bid made and talks ongoing for the midfielder.

Who will West Ham sign?

The east Londoners are yet to confirm a single summer signing and manager David Moyes will surely be growing frustrated at West Ham's lack of activity.

The English-record sale of former star midfielder Declan Rice to Arsenal did take some time, though, with there being a belief the signing of crucial documents was delayed.

Eventually, both West Ham and Mikel Arteta's side managed to get the deal over the line with the London Stadium side now set to benefit from a £105 million (including £5m in add-ons) financial windfall.

However, with the new season starting fairly soon, West Ham must get to work on both replacing Rice and using their new cash to shore up other key positions in the squad.

In terms of the midfielders who could come in, there have been many linked in recent weeks, including Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria, Bayern Munich's Leon Goretzka, Man United's Scott McTominay, Chelsea ace Conor Gallagher and Ward-Prowse of Southampton.

The 28-year-old, who endured relegation to the Championship last season, stood out among their star players and it is believed West Ham are very keen on signing him.

According to a report by Football Insider, a deal to take Ward-Prowse to West Ham is now "very possible", as they continue talks to sign him.

The Englishman is keen on a return to the top flight, and while Southampton value him at around £45 million, the Hammers are believed to be in "pole position" for him.

It's added that West Ham have made an initial bid of around £35 million for Ward-Prowse, and while that appears to have not been accepted, talks have been ongoing to find middle ground.

Personal terms are also expected not to be an issue, so if the clubs can reach a compromise, Southampton's star could make the switch to London pretty quickly.

How good is James Ward-Prowse?

The midfielder was, by some distance, the Saints' star player over 2022/2023 – with Ward-Prowse averaging the highest match rating per 90 of any Southampton star (WhoScored).

He started every single top flight match for them last campaign, scoring nine goals and assisting four others to total an impressive 13 final third contributions (WhoScored).

Former Southampton manager Nathan Jones, before he was unceremoniously sacked mid-season, showered Ward-Prowse with praise as a "world class" player in his squad.

“He’s been outstanding since I came in, his attitude," said Jones.

“My first conversation with him was 10 minutes after he didn’t get picked for the England squad. Since that moment, he’s been absolutely world-class for me. The way he reacted and the performances you’re seeing now, it’s really motivated and driven.

“He’s vital, I like to get to know my captains and have a real relationship with them, a real personal relationship so they understand decisions we make."

Ward-Prowse is also known for his incredible abilities as a deal ball specialist, with the likes of Man City boss Pep Guardiola among those to have praised the player.

Middlesex’s heavy win propelled them from bottom to third in the table with one game remaining – although Essex, Kent and Surrey all have a game in hand.

ECB Reporters Network15-Aug-2017Steven Finn was in rampaging form•Getty ImagesSteve Finn, with a display of fast and aggressive bowling, led Middlesex to victory over Gloucestershire by 61 runs at Uxbridge on Tuesday evening to keep alive his side’s rather far-fetched hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the NatWest Blast.Finn had figures of 4 for 24, his best in the competition, and he was excellently supported by Tim Southee, who took 3 for 9 from three overs.Middlesex’s heavy win did wonders for their net run rate and propelled them from bottom to third in the table with one game remaining – although Essex, Kent and Surrey all have a game in hand.Eoin Morgan, Middlesex’s captain, said: “Our bowling performance today was the best of the tournament so far. And that was after we had shown a lot of skill and maturity with the bat. You don’t want to peak to early in this competition. We’ll take this confidence to Cardiff on Friday for a crucial match.”Gloucestershire, chasing a target of 162, lost their talisman when Southee had Michael Klinger caught at slip by Adam Voges with only the second ball of the innings.Then Finn, showing the pace and menace that has seen him make 126 appearances for England across all formats, struck with the first and final deliveries of his second over.First he bowled the dangerous looking Ian Cockbain with a devastating yorker and then Cameron Bancroft, attempting to keep the ball out of his stumps, played on.By the end of the next over, the fifth, Gloucestershire already looked out of it at 25 for 5. Tom Helm bowled Phil Mustard with a slower ball and then, with his next delivery, he had Kieran Noema-Barnett caught at mid-off by Southee, again with a slower ball.At 56 for five at the halfway stage of their innings Gloucestershire still looked well beaten. But then Benny Howell hit a vast six over mid-on as 13 came from Nathan Sowter’s over. And ten came from the next, bowled by Ryan Higgins, who was hit over midwicket for six by Jack Taylor.But then Finn, returning to bowl his last over, made two crucial breakthroughs. He had Taylor caught down the legside for 31 and then, two balls later, had Howell caught off a skier to the keeper.When Southee struck two blows with successive balls in the next over the contest really was over.Middlesex were heavily dependent on a fourth wicket stand of 66 in seven overs between Stevie Eskinazi and Voges for what remarkably was their first T20 win over Gloucestershire.Eskinazi took time to play himself in but then struck a 39-ball 47, with three fours and the first of only two sixes in the Middlesex innings, struck high over midwicket off Graeme van Burren in the 17th over.Voges made a classy looking 38 from 27 balls, with three fours. The batsmen were out in successive overs towards the end of the innings.They lost their first wicket in the fourth over when John Simpson sliced David Payne to Ian Cockbain at backward point. But that was also the over in which Paul Stirling really launched the Middlesex innings, pulling, driving and then sweeping Payne’s final three deliveries for fours.At 75 for 1 after ten overs Middlesex had the basis of a challenging total. But Stirling, who had hit six fours in his 31-ball 44, was caught on the deep midwicket boundary off Tom Smith off the first delivery of the 11th over.Smith struck again two balls later when he dismissed Eoin Morgan, reverse sweeping, for a duck before Eskinazi and Voges pulled the innings round.