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A win was the last thing on the minds of captain Sourav Ganguly andcoach John Wright ahead of India’s first Test against Zimbabwestarting in Bulawayo on Thursday with the duo emphasising that it wasthe performance of the team that mattered more than the result.”We are not looking at the 2-0 scoreline. We want to win sessions (ofplaying days) and if we play good cricket, the results will take careof themselves,” Ganguly told reporters after the team’s practicesession on Wednesday.”We are looking to play 10 days of good cricket. We don’t want to lookthat far ahead (at the result). It is like a batsman walking out (tothe crease) – he is not looking at a hundred straightaway,” he said.Wright was more clear. “Personally, I don’t like talking aboutwinning. What’s really important is that we play the first two hourswell, then the next two hours and the then the next two hours.”But that they were not totally oblivious of the ultimate objective ofwinning the first series win outside the sub-continent in 15 years wasevident when Ganguly said, “We have to set our records straight inthis series otherwise all our previous records will boil down tozero.”And he underlined it with “the bottom line is: play good cricket towin Test matches”.Ganguly refused to accept that India’s poor performance on foreignsoil was because of the fast and bouncy pitches. “I don’t think thewicket has got much to do with our performance abroad. If you gothrough the record of our top batsman – probably Das is playing forthe first time and Ramesh – but the rest of us nearly average 50 perinnings abroad. Sachin (Tendulkar), Rahul (Dravid) and I average morethan 50 abroad, more than what we have managed at home. So I don’tthink the wicket has been an issue,” he said.”I have been involved with touring Indian sides for five years now andI would not say we were never in a position to win abroad. We cameclose to doing it in the West Indies, in Wellington, in South Africa.Indeed the Barbados defeat was the saddest since we couldn’t get 120runs in the last innings. But this team looks to have it in them.”Then he went on to outline why he believed India would do well in thisseries. “We are now a unit. We have got together as a team which hasprobably been our strength in the last six months. I also think wehave the bowling strength to get sides out twice. We have struggledfor a third seamer on previous tours, and I think we probably have thesolution here. The team probably looks more solid than it has everbeen before. I don’t believe in harping on the past but the way I wefought in the Australia series and the way we came out of difficultsituations, I think, that has given me more confidence than thevictory (against the Aussies) itself. I think that’s going to help usand stand for us in tough situations.””I am also very confident about Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh). I think heis match-winner on any surface. But then he has to prove it,” Gangulysaid.What he probably left unsaid was that India have one of the bestbatting line-ups in the world despite some doubts over the performanceof openers Shiv Sunder Das and Sadagopan Ramesh.Wright was ready to give the duo a clean chit though. “I am happy withthe way they have shaped up. We would have liked them to play reallybetter in the first game. Opening is a critical position. We want togo through the first two hours and the first three batsmen are veryimportant.”The coach too was happy with India’s pace bowling options. “Obviouslythings are more optimistic now. We have the players who can get fourfive wickets. It is good because conditions here are different thanIndia. So seam bowling and catching will be important areas.”Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak was banking on his battery of young pacebowlers to exploit the Indians’ perceived discomfort against fastbowling on fast and bouncy tracks. Andy Blignaut and Baton Watamba areZimbabwe’s newest finds who along with Travis Friend and the skipperhimself form a potent attack.”They are young and don’t have much experience but they have gotgenuine ability. Only, they have to remember where they should bebowling to specific players… not to be overawed by names andreputations and who they are bowling at.”Streak chose Friend, who would be making his debut tomorrow, forspecial mention. “He has good pace and bounce and has the ability totake wickets on any kind of surface at any time. I think he would be agood prospect for us. It is a huge game for us, a huge series. We hada very tough one when we played in India but quite a few positivethings have come out of that. Obviously, playing at home we know theconditions a little better and we can give them a run for theirmoney.”Coming to the danger man, Harbhajan Singh, Streak said: “We watched alot of him playing in the Australian series. Obviously the wicketsthere were more conducive to spin. Each person has thought out his ownway (to tackle Harbhajan), and we have got some feedback on him andhow he has bowled in the two warm up games at Mutare and Harare. Not alot of guys have faced him, but hopefully, we have discussed how toplay him.”

West Ham United have reportedly offered former Liverpool and Southampton centre-back Dejan Lovren a two-year contract with David Moyes keen to add to his defence this summer.

What’s the story?

According to Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb, the Hammers are reportedly ready to save the current Zenit St.Petersburg defender from any serious complications following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

It’s even thought that the Irons have offered him a two-year deal to come back to the Premier League.

FIFA have opened a one-month transfer window to sign players from Ukraine and Russia which closes on 7 April, although it is believed that the Premier League could block any attempted transfers in order to maintain sporting integrity.

The East London club are currently light on options at the back and will certainly need to add to their defensive arsenal this summer.

Angelo Ogbonna was ruled out for the season in November with an ACL injury whilst Issa Diop has been unreliable at times, making Kurt Zouma and Craig Dawson the current first-choice pairing.

West Ham must avoid signing Lovren

The 32-year-old Croatian would undoubtedly add experience to the West Ham ranks, however, based on his spell at Liverpool the defender may not be the answer to the Hammers’ predicament at the back.

Lovren was subject to criticism on numerous occasions whilst at Anfield, notably from NBC Sports pundit Kyle Martino in 2017, who labelled the defender as “a serious liability.”

Former Liverpool centre-back Jamie Carragher also had strong words to say on the Croatian, highlighting him as the Reds’ weak point during a Merseyside derby against Everton, stating: “He’s too emotional, that’s always been his problem. He always feels he has to win a fight, has to win a challenge.

“I used to play that position as a centre-back and at times you have to accept someone may be stronger and quicker. You have to get yourself in positions and try and hold them up.

“I said before they were too often they were putting the ball right down Virgil van Dijk’s throat but as soon as Lovren’s come on they’ve been hitting that channel and that is the channel to hit.”

Lovren left Liverpool for Zenit in August 2020 for a fee believed to be around £10.9m and you would’ve been forgiven if you thought that would be the last time the Premier League would see the defender.

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West Ham will undoubtedly need to add to their current options at the back, however, having been linked with the likes of Sven Botman and Duje Caleta-Car, the prospect of signing a player who was certainly unpopular at Liverpool will underwhelm Hammers supporters.

With Diop, the Irons already have a defender who has been subject to criticism, particularly after his performance in the FA Cup against non-league Kidderminster Harriers, and therefore don’t want to add another calamity at the back.

Moreover, at 32 the Croatian wouldn’t be a long-term solution, with Moyes keen to build a project at the London Stadium. It would be wise for the East London club to look elsewhere.

In other news: West Ham must swoop for £75k-p/w monster who Moyes will love, he’s “the new Vidic”

	Stuart Clark will try to keep things calm and force West Indian errors during the three-Test series © Getty Images

Glenn McGrath finished playing for Australia a year ago but he remains in the mind of Stuart Clark, who has looked at vision of his former team-mate to prepare for the West Indies series. Clark operates in a similar way to McGrath and he believes his predecessor “found the key” to success in the Caribbean.In ten Tests in the West Indies McGrath captured 50 wickets at 20.70 and he finished his career by winning the Player of the Tournament award at the World Cup. His 26 victims in 11 games were crucial to Australia claiming the trophy for the third consecutive time.”He obviously found the key over here,” Clark, who is preparing for his 16th Test, told AAP. “From the footage and the vision we have looked at, he was successful by keeping it pretty simple and being consistent and patient on these wickets.”Clark also plans to tie down the West Indian batsmen, who are led by Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and expects them to be a tough proposition at home. “They like to score runs quickly,” he said. “So I suppose I have to try and go against that and try to keep it nice and calm and force them to make the errors.”Australia’s only warm-up for next Thursday’s first Test starts on Friday against a Jamaica XI and Clark will be one of a number of players looking to adjust to the conditions. Balls leapt at the batsmen during a net session at Sabina Park on Wednesday, including one from Brett Lee to Ricky Ponting, who was struck on the glove.Ponting was unhurt, but the Australians will be happy to return to the safer conditions in the middle. Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, is with the tour party and will decide whether Simon Katich and Ashley Noffke get a chance to impress in the practice game as the team management considers its options in case Michael Clarke, who stayed at home due to a family death, doesn’t arrive in time for the first Test.

Bermuda cricket is embroiled in another row after a clash in the Premier Division match between Southampton Rangers and St. George’s Cricket Club.In The Royal Gazette, Randy Raynor, the Southampton Rangers vice president, accused Anthony Fubler, one of the umpires, of “provoking” two of his team’s most senior players prior to the start.Raynor claimed that Fubler told some of the Southampton players that he was going to bag “a couple of wickets”, and that when he subsequently gave two lbw decisions against Kwame Tucker and Janeiro Tucker their reactions were partly caused by the earlier remarks.Both were reported by Fubler and are due to appear before the board’s disciplinary committee.”[Fubler] came into the dressing room and said to the players that he got six or so wickets the day before and that he was going to get a couple more today,” Raynor told the newspaper. “Janeiro told him to go away and that he shouldn’t be talking like that to players before a match. But Fubler told Janeiro that he wasn’t afraid of any World Cup players and that he was going to get them. No umpire has the right to do that.”He shouldn’t be doing things like that … it was as though his actions were premeditated and to think he was the one who gave these two players out really makes you wonder. And I think this is what led to the players’ reactions. It was wrong and unjust to say that to my players.”I don’t condone the players’ actions, but I think this all started when the umpire came into the dressing room before the match and said what he said.”

Corey Collymore: “If you need fast bowlers in the West Indies team, you need proper wickets to bowl on” © Getty Images

Corey Collymore, the West Indies fast bowler, has joined his captain Brian Lara and others in calling for faster pitches in the Caribbean. Collymore lamented the docile nature of the surface at Warner Park Stadium where the third Test was played and likened it to that of the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia, the venue of the second Test.He pointed out that there must be more encouragement for young fast bowlers such as the Barbadian pair of Fidel Edwards and Tino Best and Jamaican Jermaine Lawson, all of whom bowl in excess of 90 miles an hour. “It is not an easy surface to bowl on,” the 28-year-old Collymore said. “There is not much difference to this wicket than the last wicket we played on (in St Lucia). I think it is something that we need to look at around the Caribbean if you have young fast bowlers.”You have Fidel who has just been injured, you have Tino, Jermaine Lawson and these guys, and if you need fast bowlers in the West Indies team, you need proper wickets to bowl on.”Edwards sustained a hamstring injury in the first Test and is unlikely to play for the rest of the series, while Best and Lawson are yet to make an appearance despite a strong call from Lara after the second Test for at least one of them to be included.This was Collymore’s first Test series after he was sidelined because of knee surgery during the 2005 tour to Australia, where he bowled impressively. “It has been going okay. I think my pace is still a bit down and it’s something I need to work on and get myself strong again, but so far I have been enjoying my cricket and enjoying myself.”There were fairly decent crowds on the first, third and fourth days but the turnout was quite disappointing compared to the virtual sell-out on May 23 when the first ever one-day international was played here, also featuring India.”Quite honestly, probably the crowd could be a bit disappointing but for me personally, it is not a matter,” Collymore said. “Crowd support is good obviously but for me personally, the crowd is not a problem. I am here to play cricket and cricket plays in the middle and not in the stands.”

Shoaib Akhtar: ‘It is disappointing to be sitting in Lahore while the team is in India’© Getty Images

Shoaib Akhtar, who pulled out of the Test series against India due to a hamstring injury, is hoping to recover in time for the one-day internationals beginning on April 2 at Kochi. Akhtar has set a target of three weeks to fully recover from the injury.”It is so disappointing to be sitting in Lahore while the team is preparing for the Test series in India. But there is nothing much I can do about the injury except try to regain my fitness as soon as possible,” Shoaib said in an interview to . “I have been training regularly with the board’s South African trainer Grant Compton and he says I should be fit in two-and-a-half weeks’ time. As soon as I am fit I will play in a match to test out my fitness before making myself available for the one-dayers.”Wasim Bari, the chief selector, had asked Akhtar to participate in a match to prove his fitness before being considered for selection for the six one-dayers. Pakistan’s bowling line-up has been weakened with the absence of Shoaib and the pace attack largely dependent on Mohammad Sami and Naved-ul-Hasan.Akhtar, whose commitment towards Pakistan cricket was questioned, said he’d give the series his best if selected for the ODIs. “If I can make it for the one-dayers in India I can assure you I will give more than 100% for the team. Playing against India and their batsmen is always a big challenge and I love to do well against them.”Akhtar holds an impressive record against India with 15 wickets in 4 matches at 27.66. His most renowned spell came in Kolkata in the Asian Test Championship in 1999, when he bowled Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar with consecutive late-swinging yorkers. He claimed eight wickets and Pakistan won by 46 runs.

David Terbrugge has been recalled to the South African Test squad after an absence of 17 months, as cover for Shaun Pollock who has sustained a groin injury.Terbrugge, 27, took 5 for 46 in his most recent match, against Bangladesh at East London in October 2002, and has played six Tests and four ODIs. “I am naturally over the moon," he said. "It has come as a surprise and it is wonderful to win a recall to the senior side.”Terbrugge took 2 for 31 for Highveld Strikers in their Standard Bank Cup final win over Easterns at Johannesburg on Sunday, and will fly out to join the South African squad in New Zealand at 5pm on Tuesday."He will serve as an extra bowler who will provide depth,” said Omar Henry, the convenor of the National Selection panel. “There will be a tremendous workload on the bowlers, since three back-to-back Test matches will be played.”The first Test begins at Hamilton on March 10.

Man-of-the-Match Paul Collingwood is hoping to have clinched his place in England’s World Cup squad after his maiden one-day international century carried England to their second successive win over Sri Lanka.The Durham all-rounder rescued England from the perilous position of 122 for six to ensure a total of 258, which proved more than enough for victory.”It’s been a good day,” Collingwood said afterwards. “I came in at a difficult situation and managed to get ones and twos and (Craig) White played a great innings as well.”We just knew we had to bat the overs out and we were trying to get out to 46to 47 overs and then a slog, but we were pleased because we managed to getthree, four, five an over throughout that period,” he told Sky Sports.Asked whether he believed his World Cup place for February and March is secure, Collingwood replied: “Let’s hope so. Obviously I got dropped for the first two games and that was disappointing, but I went in the nets and thankfully it’s gone well since then.”Meanwhile Nasser Hussain described Collingwood’s performance as “exceptional”, and believes England can take heart from another win ahead of the fourth Test, which starts in Melbourne on Boxing Day.”We were a little bit clumsy early on,” said the England captain. “We should have got used to the bounce quicker than we did especially since we’d already played a Test here. But we played our way of trouble, and I think that we should give them credit for that.””It was an exceptional performance (by Collingwood). He has looked very good since he got into the team and was very good today in very difficult circumstances. Luckily our last recognised batsman Craig White was able to stay with him.”Hussain, who had some sharp words for his side after two dropped catches during the Sri Lankan innings, also drew encouragement from further impressive bowling displays from youngsters James Anderson and Steve Harmison.”They’ve got things that you need at this level. For example Anderson’s slower ball gives us something that we haven’t had before, as well as Harmison’s pace and bounce.”But I wouldn’t get too excited. After taking such a drubbing in the tour every game against Sri Lanka has become like a semi-final, and I just think I needed to let them know that we need to play well all the time and take our chances. It’s nicer to go into the Christmas period with two wins under our belts.”Sri Lanka’s captain skipper Sanath Jayasuriya pointed to dropped catches as the key reason for his team’s defeat.”I think we bowled well but the fielding was not up to the standard. We dropped so many catches and you can’t afford to do that. We dropped their important batters and paid the price.”I think 260 was still gettable but we lost a wicket early on again. When wewere here before in 1998 we won a few matches but we need to be more positive.”

Essex captain Ronnie Irani shouldered the responsibility of bowling the lastover of the match just as Hampshire’s last-wicket pair of Lawrie Prittipauland Chris Tremlett threatened an unlikely victory – and was rewarded withPrittipaul’s wicket with his first delivery giving Essex a win of their ownby eight runs.Essex looked home and dry when Hampshire slumped to 169 for nine in reply to their 216 for seven. But then promising youngsters Prittipaul and Tremlett began chipping away at the deficit so that only eight were required from the final over. Prittipaul was duly bowled aiming an extravagant drive.A crowd of around 2,500 (the biggest yet at the Rose Bowl) saw Essex build a decent total around Stuart Law’s 45 and a breezy 47 not out from young wicket-keeper James Foster in a partnership of 83 for the sixth wicket with Ashley Cowan.Neil Johnson led a bright Hampshire reply with a six and six fours in his 48 and then Prittipaul and Dimitri Mascarenhas put on 54 for the sixth leaving Hampshire needing 51 off the final ten overs.Wickets fell steadily, notably to the accurate Mark Ilott, and it seemed all over as a contest until the final resistence which so nearly swung the match Hampshire’s way.

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson has hailed Spurs forward Dejan Kulusevski after Saturday’s loss to Manchester United, making a claim over a potential permanent move for the Sweden international.

The Lowdown: Great start

The 21-year-old joined Spurs in January on an 18-month loan deal which will see him at Hotspur Way until the end of the 2022/23 season.

Whilst Juventus confirmed that Fabio Paratici paid a €10m (£8.4m) loan fee for the winger, more recently transfer insider Fabrizio Romano revealed that Spurs have a €40m (£33m) purchase clause which could potentially become mandatory.

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Having scored twice and produced three assists in his opening seven Premier League games, quickly becoming a favourite of manager Antonio Conte, Lilywhites fans will surely be happy to see such a moderate fee for a highly talented youngster.

Despite his tender age, Kulusevski made 74 appearances for the Juventus first team and a further 55 appearances for Atalanta before arriving in north London, so this could signify just how great a deal Tottenham were able to negotiate.

The Latest: Robinson’s comments…

Robinson, who regularly features as a pundit for Sky Sports, has claimed that a £33m deal could prove to be “a real bargain” for Spurs.

Speaking with Football Insider about Kulusevski, the 42-year-old said: “Oh, he’s certainly hit the ground running.

“He looks a real player. He fit the system Conte plays perfectly. Coming in off the right-hand side onto his left foot, he’s such a threat. He has an ability to pick a pass.

“It looks like he is going to be a real bargain for them. I think it was an initial loan deal because he was untried at the top level. He hadn’t played a great amount of regular football before he came to Spurs.

“He has taken his chance with both hands though. When you look at [Heung-min] Son, [Harry] Kane and Lucas Moura. Kulusevski has overtaken Moura the way he is playing.”

The Verdict: Fantastic coup

It seems clear now that Paratici is looking to the future with the signing of Kulusevski.

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Given Harry Kane’s transfer saga last summer, which saw him push for a move to Manchester City, it would not be surprising to see the England skipper leave N17 in the near future.

As a result, it is wise of the Spurs transfer chief to start planning for the exit of the England captain – something the Lilywhites should have done when they sold Gareth Bale for a then world-record £85m fee in 2013.

Either way, Kulusevski has already proven to be a fantastic signing for Tottenham, with Garth Crooks hailing him as “pure class”. Considering his age, we could hopefully see him perform in a Spurs shirt for the next decade.

In other news: Tottenham Hotspur: Alasdair Gold drops Conte and Levy claim