تحدث كيليان مبابي لاعب ريال مدريد الإسباني ومنتخب فرنسا، بعد مساهمته في فوز منتخب بلاده على آيسلندا بتصفيات أوروبا المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026، وتخطيه لرقم تييري هنري نجم منتخب الديوك السابق.

وتغلبت فرنسا على آيسلندا بهدفين مقابل هدف، مساء الثلاثاء، ضمن تصفيات أوروبا المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026.

وقال مبابي في تصريحاته على قناة “TF1” الفرنسية: “هناك العديد من الدروس التي يجب تعلمها، هذه الدروس ليست دائمًا إيجابية، لكنها تسمح لنا بالعمل، لنرى ما ينقصنا، ونعرف مواطن التحسن”.

وأضاف: “هذه مباريات جيدة دائمًا للتحليل، ما زلنا في الصدارة، وتمكنا من حصد العديد من النقاط، من حيث النقاط، النتيجة مثالية، 6 نقاط من مباراتين، لا يوجد أفضل من ذلك”.

وأردف: “الآن، فيما يتعلق بأدائنا، هناك مجال للتحسين، وهناك أمور يجب تحسينها، هناك أشياء قمنا بها بشكل جيد، وهناك العديد من الدروس التي يمكن استخلاصها من هذه المباراة”.

وأشار: “كل فوز هو خطوة للأمام، علينا اتخاذ خطوات عديدة للتأهل، كل فوز يقربنا قليلًا من كأس العالم، نحن سعداء بالفوز على منافسينا المباشرين، علينا تكرار ذلك في أكتوبر، ستكون مباراة مختلفة لأننا لعبنا العديد من المباريات مع أنديتنا، لكننا مستعدون”.

وعن هدفه الثاني والخمسين، الذي سمح له بتجاوز تييري هنري مع منتخب فرنسا، استطرد مبابي: “أخبرتكم، كنت أعرف ذلك! كنت أعرف ذلك، إنه أمر رائع، أنا سعيد للغاية”.

وأتم: “سأتحدث عن هنري مجددًا لأنه لاعب استثنائي، إنه أسطورة حية، تجاوزه أمر رائع حقًا، لكن لا يزال هناك لاعب واحد يجب تجاوزه، على ما أعتقد (جيرو، برصيد 57 هدفًا)، لذا لن أحتفل كثيرًا (يضحك)، لا يزال هناك عمل يجب القيام به”.

The West Indian top three of Stafanie Taylor, Hayley Matthews and Shemaine Campbelle ensured a triumphant end to a challenging tour of Sri Lanka, as they anchored a six-wicket win in the third and final T20I in Hambantota to complete a come-from-behind 2-1 series win.Campbelle remained unbeaten at the end on a 30-ball 41 as West Indies chased down a target of 142 with just one ball to spare. The margin of victory however belies the control the visitors exuded in the chase.Taylor and Mathews put on a 60-run opening stand in just 48 deliveries, after which Matthews paired up with Campbelle for a 44-ball 51-run stand. When Matthews fell, trapped leg before attempting to swipe one from Kawya Kavindi across the line, the West Indies were on 111 for 2.With the requirement at roughly run-a-ball, Campbelle navigated the remainder of the chase expertly. The late wickets of Chedean Nation and Aaliyah Alleyne in the 18th and 19th overs conjured some late drama – both dismissed trying to hit out – but some smart running in the final over when just six runs were required ensured there were no further blips.Earlier, having put Sri Lanka in to bat, West Indies got off to the ideal start dismissing Vishmi Gunaratne off just the second ball of the innings, the aggressive 18-year-old top-edging an attempted pull of Chinelle Henry.Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama however responded well to the early setback with a partnership of 55 off 54, before Samarawickrama chipped one back to Afy Fletcher. This was followed by a 25-ball stand of 34 between Athapaththu and Kavisha Dilhari, but then Athapaththu would also fall, caught excellently in the deep by Shamilia Connell – making up for her drop of the same batter a short while earlier.Athapaththu’s wicket in the 14th over and Dilhari’s (26 off 22) in the 16th – caught brilliantly by a leaping Henry at mid-off – fell at inopportune moments for the hosts, just as they might have been looking to accelerate.Some late blows from Ama Kanchana and Nilakshi de Silva pushed the total to 141, but Player of the Series Matthews and co eventually made light work of what could have been a tricky chase.

Athapaththu, 34, has been coy about her future over the last several months

Andrew Fidel Fernando28-Jul-2024

Having hinted for several months that she may be close to an international retirement, Chamari Athapaththu confirmed following Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup victory in Dambulla, that she aims to be around for her national team until next year’s ODI World Cup at least.Athapaththu, 34, has been coy about her future over the last several months. She is Sri Lanka’s captain and almost indisputably their best player. However, she had posted on social media that a series in South Africa in April would be her “last duty” with the national team but subsequently refused to expand on that post.Related

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“Hopefully I’ll still play till the next 50-over World Cup,” Athapaththu told the host broadcaster when asked if she would promise her fans they’ll see her play for a long time in Sri Lanka colours. The dates for next year’s World Cup have not yet been confirmed, but India will host the tournament.This means that Athapaththu will be around for the next two global events – this year’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, set to be played in October, and the ODI version next year.Athapaththu was once again instrumental to her team’s success at the Asia Cup. Not only did she hit 61 off 43 in the final as Sri Lanka chased down 168, she was also by a huge distance the top run-scorer in the tournament, having hit 304 in five innings, at a strike rate of 147. The next-best was India’s Shafali Verma, with 200 runs at a strike rate of 141.

While Arsenal have sat idly by for much of the early stages of the transfer window, watching Manchester City and Liverpool strengthen significantly, Andrea Berta is now closing in on his first deal since arriving at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are frantically trying to agree a move for either Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres, but they have now tied up a move to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.

It’s one of football’s worst-kept secrets since January that the Spaniard is set to head to London with reports in January suggesting a deal was already being worked on.

Well, this week it was reported that a fee has now been agreed between the two clubs, one that will see Arsenal pay a fraction more than the midfielder’s £51m release clause, so they can manage their payments in instalments.

David Ornstein further revealed on Friday morning that Zubimendi is now in the English capital to meet Arsenal officials and complete the formalities of his move to the Premier League.

So, who’s next? Well, it could be a creative midfielder.

Arsenal move closer to signing another midfielder

Arsenal supporters are simply crying out for a striker to sign this summer, so it may come as a concern that deals for Sesko or Gyokeres don’t look like they’re no closer to completion.

That can’t be said of a move for Zubimendi, nor, according to reports, can it be said for a player who was plying his trade in the Premier League throughout 2024/25.

Back in May, it was reported that the Gunners had lodged a bid worth £30m to sign Leicester City’s creative marvel, Bilal El Khannouss.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Since then, there has not been much of an update on their pursuit of the Morocco international until now.

Indeed, Africa Foot report ahead of the weekend that Arsenal are now ‘close to agreeing a deal’, having already agreed personal terms with El Khannouss’ agents.

A fee is yet to be agreed between the north Londoners and Leicester, with the report concluding that Berta and Co must now meet the Foxes’ financial demands.

El Khannouss could be available for a cut-price fee considering his side were relegated from the top-flight only last month.

Why El Khannouss would be a good signing for Arsenal

Now, we know what you’re thinking. Why sign someone from one of the worst teams we’ve seen in the Premier League across recent years?

Well, if anyone wearing Leicester blue last season could come out of the campaign with their head held high, then it was the Moroccan who caught the eye with his passing ability from midfield.

El Khannouss was certainly one of Leicester’s players of the season – that isn’t hard of course – but he did play well, registering three goals and six assists in all competitions. Those are far from mindblowing numbers, but at the age of 21, there is a lot of potential to work with here.

Indeed, across the season, the attacking midfielder ranked among the top 14% of positionally similar players in the English top-flight for progressive passes and in the best 10% for passes into the final third, underlining his ability to play through the lines and pick out his teammates in promising positions.

That is no doubt his strong point. As outlined by data analyst Ben Mattinson, El Khannouss has a “killer final ball”, while he boasts an “elite weight of pass” and, importantly, “releases runners early.”

This should be music to the ears of the forward players at Arsenal, but particularly for any future striker that Arsenal sign, namely Sesko.

The Slovenian is a powerhouse striker and as the goal below showcases, he loves to get in behind.

Arsenal may well possess one of the best passers of a ball in the game in Martin Odegaard, but the addition of El Khannouss would no doubt help Sesko settle in even quicker should they both arrive at the Emirates.

At this stage of his career, you could well argue that the Leicester star is like a younger version of Odegaard, setting the tempo and feeding elite balls into the strikers.

Considering the lack of joy Leicester had in 2024/25, playing for a ball-dominant side like Arsenal would be a match made in heaven for the young creative star.

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1

By
Matt Dawson

Jun 19, 2025

أعلن حمزة الجمل، المدير الفني لنادي إنبي، تشكيل الفريق الرسمي، لمواجهة الأهلي، في المباراة المقرر بينهما اليوم الأحد، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

ويلاقي الأهلي نظيره إنبي، في إطار الجولة السادسة من عمر مباريات بطولة الدوري المصري، وذلك على ملعب استاد المقاولون العرب.

طالع | تشكيل الأهلي أمام إنبي في الدوري المصري.. عودة مروان عطية

ويحتل فريق إنبي، المركز التاسع في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 8 نقاط، حيث حقق الفوز في مباراتين والتعادل في مثلهما والخسارة في لقاء.

بينما يتواجد فريق النادي الأهلي في المركز السادس عشر، بترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 5 نقاط، من الفوز في مباراة والتعادل في مواجهتين والخسارة في لقاء. تشكيل إنبي أمام الأهلي في الدوري المصري

حراسة المرمي: عبد الرحمن سمير.

خط الدفاع: أحمد صبيحة وأحمد كالوشا ومحمد سمير ومروان داوود.

خط الوسط: أحمد العجوز ومودي ناصر ومحمد حمدي وأحمد كفتة.

خط الهجوم: محمد حتحوت وأحمد ذكي.

Everton manager David Moyes finally completed a deal to bring Thierno Barry to the club from Villarreal.

A fee of £27m was spent to sign the Frenchman, but given his eye for goal in La Liga last term, it could turn into a bargain.

Next up for Moyes is adding another midfielder or two to his squad in the coming weeks. John McGinn has been heavily linked with a move to Merseyside.

He isn’t the only midfield option that Everton have been linked with, however, as Moyes also has his eyes on two former Premier League stars.

Everton’s search for a midfielder

According to Paul Joyce of The Times, Everton are showing interest in bringing Douglas Luiz back to England this summer.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Expand Collapse

He has been discussed internally at Everton, alongside McGinn, while Moyes could be set to target an ambitious move for Joao Palhinha – with the Portuguese also named as one of those under consideration.

The Bayern Munich midfielder hasn’t settled in Bavaria, which could open the door for Moyes to make a swoop this summer.

This experience abroad will have enhanced Palhinha’s skills, no doubt about that. The question is, could he be a better signing than McGinn for the Toffees?

Why Everton must sign Joao Palhinha

McGinn would be a fine signing, for that there is no doubt. Across 203 Premier League appearances, the Scot has scored 17 goals and grabbed 25 assists for Villa.

He will turn 31 in October, however, and while McGinn certainly has a few years left at the very top of the game, Moyes would be best to make a move for Palhinha, who offers more from a defensive point of view.

The Toffees conceded 53 goals last season across 42 matches. Not the worst return, but there is room for improvement.

When compared to his positional peers during his final Premier League campaign for Fulham in 2023/24, Palhinha ranked in the top 1% for tackles (5.07) per 90, while also ranking in the top 8% for interceptions (1.53) and in the top 10% for blocks (1.9) that season.

He may have only started six Bundesliga games for Bayern last term, but the Portuguese midfielder still won 58% of his total duels contested, while losing possession just 3.4 times per match.

Joao Palhinha’s stats for Fulham in 2023/24 (Per 90 in the Premier League)

Accurate passes

33.2

Tackles

4.6

Interceptions

1.4

Total duels won

7.6

Possession lost

9.1

Balls recovered

5.9

Via Sofascore

Hailed by journalist Dom Smith as “world-class” in November 2023, it was always going to be difficult for Fulham to keep one of their star men.

After just a single season in Germany, it appears as though Palhinha could be available this summer.

McGinn would offer plenty in the final third, but with Barry arriving, plus at least another couple more attacking players, Moyes must add some solidity to the midfield, especially after losing Abdoulaye Doucoure.

As such, signing a player such as Palhinha could turn into a stroke of genius by the manager given his previous success in the English top flight.

Related The dream squad Everton can build: £88m quintet & "beast" sign after Barry

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Posts 1 ByJoe Nuttall Jul 10, 2025

Much will depend on the fee, but if it is within the club’s price range, Palhinha could be a fantastic signing, turning out to be even better than McGinn.

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Posts 2 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 11, 2025

Nottingham Forest have a huge season in 2025/26 ahead of them. After being in contention for a Champions League spot for much of the campaign, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side could only qualify for the UEFA Conference League, although that is still a fantastic achievement.

Their good performances have drawn interest in their players from other clubs in the Premier League. One of those sides is Newcastle United, who are targeting a move for Anthony Elanga.

The East Midlands outfit currently values the Sweden international at £50m, showing just how important he is to the club and their exciting project.

If Elanga does depart the City Ground this summer, they will need to sign a replacement. Reports suggest they may already have someone lined up.

Nottingham Forest's potential Elanga replacement

Sorting an Elanga replacement this summer is something Forest simply must get right. The Swedish forward is a versatile player, so if he does leave, Nuno must surely go and sign a player in a similar mould.

Well, perhaps the man who could replace Elanga is Juventus star Timothy Weah. According to a recent report from Gianluca Di Marzio, the City Ground side ‘are interested in’ signing Weah this summer. The report suggests that the ‘clubs have already started contact and the negotiations are in full swing’ to agree a deal.

At this stage, personal terms with the USA international do not seem to have been completed. However, a fee is becoming more clear, with the Italian giants seemingly wanting just £12m for Weah this summer, which seems like an excellent value for money deal.

Why Weah would be a good replacement for Elanga

It was a really impressive campaign on a personal level for Weah, in what proved to be a turbulent season at times for the Old Lady. He became an important player and helped Juve to qualify for the Champions League, finishing fourth.

Across all competitions in the 2024/25 season, Weah, who is the son of former Ballon d’Or winner George, played 43 games, including one in the ongoing Club World Cup. In that time, he scored six goals and assisted a further five, with eight of those goal involvements coming in Serie A.

One of the words that springs to mind when discussing Weah is versatility, with Dougie Critchley describing him as “one of the most versatile players in world football”. He is incredibly flexible, able to play as a winger on either side, a full-back on either side and as a centre-forward.

This offers his manager, who could well be Nuno next season, extreme tactical flexibility, both during a game, should he wish to make tweaks, or before a game. Having a player who can play in multiple positions is certainly useful for any manager.

Indeed, that can be said about Elanga, too. The 23-year-old can also play on either flank, operating on the right wing most often last season. Like Weah, he can feature as a centre-forward, too, doing so seven times in 2024/25.

Stepping up and replacing the Forest number 21 will not be easy for Weah, though. Last season in Garbaldi Red, Elanga scored six Premier League goals and assisted 11, playing all 38 games. That included a sensational strike against former side Manchester United.

The underlying numbers via FBref for both players stack up well against each other. For example, Weah averaged 3.08 progressive passes per 90 minutes for Juve, compared to Elanga’s 2.27 each game for Forest, rubberstamping their creative threat in the final third.

Stat (per 90)

Weah

Elanga

Goals per shot

0.24

0.14

Key passes

1.04

1.8

Progressive passes

3.08

2.27

Tackles and interceptions

2.75

0.9

Progressive carries

2.47

3.67

There is no doubt that losing Elanga would be a huge blow for Forest. However, signing Weah, an even more versatile attacker who still manages good output, would be a superb way to replace their talismanic attacker.

He would be cost-efficient and offer Nuno tactical flexibility and quality in the final third. This seems like an excellent move for Forest this summer.

Hudson-Odoi upgrade: Nottingham Forest ramp up move for "ruthless" star

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ByRoss Kilvington Jun 21, 2025

Arsenal’s transfer train shows no sign of stopping anytime soon.

Mikel Arteta’s side have burst into life in the last few weeks, and following the signings of Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga for a combined fee of £65m, they’ve announced the arrival of Christian Norgaard.

The Danish international has joined the Gunners from West London outfit Brentford for a fee of £15m including add-ons, and looks unlikely to be the only Scandinavian to move to the Emirates this summer, as talks for Viktor Gyokeres are said to be advanced.

However, while there is a lot to be excited about, some problems may also be brewing, with Arsenal closing in on a Premier League signing, which could be bad news for Ethan Nwaneri.

Arsenal target more Premier League stars

With the Gunners desperate to finally get over the line next season and win the Premier League, it makes sense for them to be targeting stars from the competition.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

One of the names most heavily touted for a move to the club is Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, who’s reportedly already been subject to a £45m bid from the Gunners.

It’s not hard to understand why Arteta and Co would be so keen to sign the England international, as he fired the Eagles to FA Cup glory last season and racked up a tally of 14 goals and 11 assists in 43 appearances.

However, while signing the former QPR star appears to be something of a fan-pleasing no-brainer, the same cannot necessarily be said about the deal for Noni Madueke.

Yes, according to a recent report from Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal are continuing in their quest to sign yet another Chelsea ace.

The reporter has revealed that a verbal agreement has been reached, and talks are proceeding according to plan between the two clubs. At the same time, the winger is awaiting an official agreement before undergoing his medical.

In terms of how much the 23-year-old is set to cost the Gunners, transfers expert Fabrizio Romano reported yesterday afternoon that they had made an official offer worth around £50m.

This is unlikely to be a popular deal among the Arsenal faithful, as while Madueke is a talented player, his arrival could be bad news for Nwaneri.

Why Madueke could be bad news for Nwaneri

While we can’t know exactly what is going on behind closed doors, much of the talk around Nwaneri over the last week or so has focused on the negotiations surrounding a new deal, which have supposedly not gone as well as Arsenal would have liked.

The reason given for this has more often than not been down to him asking for guarantees around game time, and this is the main reason Madueke’s arrival could be bad news for him.

For example, even though the Chelsea star is left-footed, he is first and foremost a right-winger and considering the offer the Gunners have already made for him, he’d likely become the first backup for Bukayo Saka.

Therefore, with just one signing, the Hale End prospect could see his minutes decimated, as while he can play in midfield, his most played position last season was right wing, and it wasn’t even close.

Finally, even though some fans may not be happy with the club signing yet another Chelsea player, there are elements to the Barnet-born winger’s game that could explain the Gunners’ interest and why he’d likely start ahead of the 18-year-old.

Progressive Carries

6.82

Top 1%

Carries into Penalty Area

4.12

Top 1%

GCA (Defensive Action)

0.04

Top 4%

Touches (Att Pen)

8.15

Top 4%

Non-Penalty xG

0.43

Top 6%

Shots Total

3.54

Top 7%

Progressive Carrying Distance

154.28

Top 7%

Shots on Target

1.33

Top 8%

For example, FBref ranked him in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries and carries into the penalty area, while also ranking him in the top 7% for total progressive carrying distance, all per 90.

These statistics help to demonstrate that the “fearless” phenom, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, is a carrying machine.

Add to that the fact he scored ten goals and provided five assists in 2305 minutes of action across the Premier League and Conference League proper last term, and it’s easy to see how he could be useful for Arteta and Co.

Ultimately, while large sections of the fan base might not be on board with this signing, Madueke would likely add more quality to the squad; however, his arrival could come at Nwaneri’s expense.

Saka's dream CAM: Arsenal submit bid for £45m superstar & it's not Madueke

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1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 10, 2025

LSG are keen on giving Zaheer a wider profile, involving him in the scouting and player-development programmes during the off season

Shashank Kishore21-Aug-2024

Zaheer Khan is in talks with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a mentorship role, with the franchise keen on bringing in a top former India player well-versed with T20 cricket to have a strong presence within their coaching setup following the departure of Gautam Gambhir.Two other franchises are understood to have been keen on bringing on board Zaheer, who was until recently head of global development at Mumbai Indians (MI) – prior to that, he was director of cricket for the franchise from 2018-2022.LSG have been without a mentor since Gambhir’s departure late last year. Gambhir, who was part of the support group that helped Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title in 2024, has since taken over as India head coach. Morne Morkel, the former South Africa pacer who was LSG’s bowling coach, has now joined Gambhir’s lineup in the India men’s team in the same role.Related

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Apart from the role of mentor, LSG are also keen on giving Zaheer a wider profile that will mean involvement with the scouting and player-development programmes during the off season.LSG’s backroom is currently led by Justin Langer, who replaced Andy Flower as head coach ahead of IPL 2024, with Lance Klusener and Adam Voges as his assistants. After securing playoff berths in their first two seasons, the KL Rahul-led side was pipped on net run-rate for a spot in the top four in 2024.Zaheer’s possible return to the IPL fold comes at a time when teams are preparing for a mega auction. The IPL is likely to announce the retention rules by early September.Zaheer was part of three franchises – MI, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils – during his playing career. In all, he featured in 100 games for the three teams across ten seasons, picking up 102 wickets at an economy of 7.59. He last featured in the tournament in 2017, when he led Daredevils, before retiring from all forms of cricket.Elsewhere, Punjab Kings are also on the lookout for an Indian head coach to replace Trevor Bayliss. They had reportedly been keen on bringing in VVS Laxman, but that is off the table with Laxman extending his term as head of the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy. They currently have Sanjay Bangar on their roster as head of cricket development.

Joe Root has scores of 42, 62 not out, 143, and 103 so far in this series. In general, he averages 67.55 against Sri Lanka, having hit 186 and a 228 in his last series against this opposition as well, those mammoth scores coming in Galle.He sweeps and reverse-sweeps well, tends to be proactive against the seamers, and on the occasions in which he chooses to defend, has one of the best techniques in the game.It is no surprise, that in the approach to the third Test, much of Sri Lanka’s team discussion has centred around this question: “How do we get Root out?”Related

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According to senior batter and former captain Dimuth Karunaratne, Sri Lanka have rifled through several plans to Root already, but have been forced to go back to square one by Root’s consistent excellence in this series. They are brainstorming again.”We’ve tried a few things against Joe but they were always unsuccessful,” Karunaratne said. “I think the turning points in the matches have been those Joe Root innings. Even when we’ve played at Galle, he’s hit big runs, but the batters around him haven’t scored as heavily. We really need to minimise the runs he’s scoring.”Homework for Sri Lanka’s bowlers is likely to have been dominated by watching replays of Root bat, with analysis of the likeliest strategies that will bring about his dismissal.”We need to look at his past performances more closely, see where he’s got out, and what kinds of things we can do on these pitches. We need to make a new plan based on that.”Counterintuitively, Karunaratne thinks perhaps this can come about by attacking him less.”Maybe sometimes we attack him too much and he takes advantage of that. Some players don’t like it when we ask them to be less aggressive. Sometimes boring batters out can also be a tactic.”Sri Lanka’s other major problem, however, has been the failure of their senior batters, who between them have produced six fifties in 16 combined innings. Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, and Dhananjaya de Silva – have all had a fifty-plus score, and yet have not made significant impressions.”The seniors have talked a lot about how to perform and ease the pressure on the juniors. The juniors have been doing well, especially Kamindu Mendis. Some people adapt very fast to conditions and some struggle. That’s the way the game is. Every game is quite tough.”For Karunaratne, the fact that Root has scored 153 more runs than the next-best England batter, is proof that batting has been difficult.”In England the conditions are tough for batters, and we saw that even their openers struggled, as well as their No. 3. Apart from Joe Root the others also struggled despite this being home conditions for them. We’re playing after a very long time here.”