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Newcastle United have now suffered a catalogue of away defeats across all competitions this season, and Eddie Howe needs to stop the rot if this is to be a successful season.

A Carabao Cup charge is on once more, and the Magpies are making progress on their return to the Champions League, but defeat at Manchester United on Boxing Day condemned the Tyneside club to more misery in the Premier League, further widening the gap to the European places.

When will the manager find the right formula? It’s anyone’s guess at the moment, with key personnel like Anthony Gordon unable to produce the goods and thus limiting the club’s attacking fluency.

Wasteful. That was how Newcastle performed at Old Trafford. Gordon simply hasn’t been good enough in front of goal this season, and something needs to give.

Anthony Gordon's Newcastle form

Gordon attracted Liverpool’s attention in 2024, and figures totalling £100m started floating around transfer narratives. However, the Three Lions man is a world away from that old valuation, having struggled for form for some time now.

Gordon might fancy himself a slippery customer for opponents, but his energy and pace fall flat when he is unable to produce the goods in the danger area. Indeed, only two of his seven goals in all competitions this season have been from open play.

One scout has even noted that he is entering “Gabriel Obertan territory”, naturally talented but without the end product to match.

Frustratingly, this spell does not sit as an outlier. Gordon has ebbed and flowed his way through his Tyneside chapter, and he’s struggled for sharpness in the final third since being crowned Newcastle’s Player of the Year at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

Anthony Gordon’s Premier League Career

Season

Apps

Goals + Assists

25/26 (NUFC)

13

2 + 1

24/25 (NUFC)

34

6 + 5

23/24 (NUFC)

35

11 + 10

22/23 (NUFC)

16

1 + 0

22/23 (EFC)

16

3 + 0

21/22 (EFC)

35

4 + 2

20/21 (EFC)

3

0 + 0

19/20 (EFC)

11

0 + 1

Data via Sofascore

While he’ll remain an important part of Howe’s brood for the foreseeable, prudence might be needed, finding an eventual successor in 2026.

Well, technical director Ross Wilson might have just the up-and-comer in his sights.

Why Newcastle must upgrade on Gordon

Newcastle may struggle to sign a ready-made Gordon upgrade in the current climate, especially with an emphasis set to be placed on reinforcing the defensive flanks and signing a top centre-midfielder too.

Before Christmas, TEAMtalk revealed that Newcastle are part of a pack of suitors who have identified Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga as one to sign, and as he continues to go from strength to strength in the Championship, Newcastle might want to strike while they can.

Hailed as a “generational talent” by journalist Graeme Bailey, Monga is only 16 years old but he has already established himself as a permanent matchday member, scoring once and assisting one more across 15 league fixtures this season, starting five times.

Fast and furious, Monga will cost upwards of £15m, potentially much more. He is a versatile and unpredictable winger, and he has already developed something of a keen eye for goal.

Given his youth, it’s not unreasonable to suggest that Gordon could end up being replaced by this rising star, who has already shown that he could play a part in Howe’s senior side.

Subscribe to the newsletter for Newcastle transfer insight Unlock deeper analysis by subscribing to our newsletter for focused coverage of Anthony Gordon, Newcastle’s attacking issues and potential transfer targets like Jeremy Monga – informed reporting and tactical context for engaged fans. Subscribe Subscribe to the newsletter for Newcastle transfer insight Unlock deeper analysis by subscribing to our newsletter for focused coverage of Anthony Gordon, Newcastle’s attacking issues and potential transfer targets like Jeremy Monga – informed reporting and tactical context for engaged fans.

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Could this be the man to take Gordon’s No. 10 shirt from him? Monga ranks among the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Championship this season for progressive carries and the top 2% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

There is so much to like. He is more robust in his usage of his pace and physicality, and he is only going to improve over the coming years.

Monga is a top talent, someone worth challenging the big guns for. He is already establishing himself on the senior stage and he might just have what it takes to swipe Gordon’s shirt from him down the line – perhaps not just for club but for country too.

Related Lost the ball 23x: Howe must never start Newcastle duo together again

Newcastle have fallen by the wayside at the end of 2025.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair

Match facts

Monday, January 4, 2016
Start time 1500 local (1100GMT)Hamilton Masakadza’s batting has appeared a level above the rest of his team-mates•Chris Whiteoak

Big picture

Zimbabwe were desperate for a performance that yielded a win to keep the series alive, but were well on their way to another disheartening defeat in the third ODI before two batsmen resorted to attrition and simple basics to provide them with a platform for a morale-boosting victory. Zimbabwe’s bowlers would have entered the bout ready to grind out a positive result, but were handed wickets on a platter through some amateurish strokes from Afghanistan’s batsmen. Through a host of wickets and impressive individual batting performances, one discernible pattern has stood out this series – the start of an innings sets the tone for the rest of the game.Zimbabwe, given their relative experience, will have to strive to improve in that aspect to dominate lower-ranked nations. Hamilton Masakadza displayed admirable patience amid an evolving ODI format, and the rest of the batsmen will do well to try and replicate his coup on surfaces demanding extra vigilance. Saturday also proved that the seamers possessed penetrative ability but were aided and abetted by a good start and Afghanistan’s questionable approach. Luke Jongwe persisted on good areas and was richly rewarded with a five-for. The bowling line-up, however, has come under severe pressure under a semblance of duress. In conditions where a shoddy period can define the game, can the Zimbabwe bowlers hold their own when the going gets tough?Afghanistan have had a lot to be proud about after a successful 2015, including a win at the World Cup, but they will have to reconsider their gung-ho attitude with the bat. Save an exceptional counterattacking innings from Mohammad Shahzad and Noor Ali Zadran’s stability, their batting has been fallacious. With plenty of time available, the middle order has to prepare themselves to build innings and scores of respectability. The bowling core, though, has enough variation, control and quality to trouble many an opposition. On paper, man for man, Afghanistan’s bowling has the edge over their counterparts but consistency will be imperative to their success.

Form guide

(Last five completed matches, most recent first)
Afghanistan LWWWW
Zimbabwe WLLLLL

In the spotlight

The Afghanistan openers – Mohammad Shahzad and Noor Ali – have each provided an innings of substance, directly affecting the result of the game. With a lack of confidence running through a fumbling middle order, a solid start could go a long way to ensuring the final game of the series is not a decider.Hamilton Masakadza has brought in an air of security to Zimbabwe’s batting order, with steady scores of 47 and 83, but has also importantly combined in strong stands that have perked up the final totals. His potential to build a score and play at two paces could also come to the fore, providing the rest of the batsmen with an example of adaptation.

Team news

Craig Ervine missed the third ODI with the flu, but expect him to slot right back in at No. 4 if he is fit, which could mean that Malcolm Waller, who has scores of 0, 0 and 8, makes way. There is likely to be no changes in the bowling attack that bowled Afghanistan out for 58.Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Peter Moor, Chamu Chibhabha, 3 Hamilton Masakadza, 4 Craig Ervine, 5 Elton Chigumbura (capt), 6 Sikandar Raza, 7 Richmond Mutumbami(wk), 8 Luke Jongwe, 9 Graeme Creamer, 10, Neville Madziva, 11 Tendai ChisoroAfghanistan chose to test some of the other members of their 21-man squad, but none of those inclusions made a substantial impact to the proceedings in the last match. The think-tank could juggle the set-up again in order to find the ideal balance.Afghanistan (probable) : 1 Noor Ali Zadran, 2 Mohammad Shahzad, 3 Mohammad Nabi, 4 Asghar Stanikzai, 5 Samiullah Shenwari, 6 Hashmatullah Shahidi, 7 Najibullah Zadran, 8 Mirwais Ashraf, 9 Dawlat Zadran, 10 Amir Hamza, 11 Rokhan Barakzai/Rashid Khan

Pitch and conditions

Expect the team winning the toss to bat first in conditions that have proved harder to bat as the game progresses. The low and slow pitches of Sharjah will continue to take plenty of turn, and provide just enough to keep the seamers interested under lights. Rain was predicted on the day before the game, but none on match day.

Stats and trivia

• Before the third ODI, Afghanistan had won five of the previous six ODIs against Zimbabwe
• The third ODI was the only time in ODI history that both innings had scores of 0 for 2

Giles Clarke, the Somerset chairman, was the driving force behind the board’s decision to sell TV rights to BSkyB © Cricinfo Ltd

The ECB has received nominations from two candidates to succeed David Morgan as ECB chairman when he becomes ICC president next year. Giles Clarke, the Somerset chairman, and Mike Soper, the ECB deputy chairman, will now contest a ballot of all first-class county chairmen and chairman of the MCC.The favourite is Soper, the former chairman of Surrey, who has been proposed and seconded by Sussex and Derbyshire. Clarke, Somerset’s often outspoken chairman, was the driving force behind the board’s decision to sell TV rights to BSkyB.On the face of it, Soper’s candidacy is surprising given his ongoing health problems. Diagnosed with bone cancer, Soper was given six months to live in 2001 but has battled through and now believes he has at least four years left. He optimistically says he’s been assured “that within that time a vaccine will come out”.”I’m trying out different drugs,” he told The Guardian. “Some work, some fail – they’ve put me on a steroid which means I have to go to the gym every day. But I will die of bone cancer, so you can see why I’ve become passionate. This is my final ambition but this would be only the start because there are so many things I want to do within the game.”Soper unsuccessfully challenged for the post in 1997 when he lost out to Lord MacLaurin, and there is no doubting his passion for the game and his initiatives while at Surrey were bold and, in the main, successful.”I still love the four- and five-day games but I believe you’ve got to get the youngsters to watch. I started watching when I was eight or nine with my dad. I wasn’t prepared to sit there for three days and kids today won’t either. I want to get young people in – even free of charge if necessary – because everyone remembers his first game. Then they come back.”There was talk that Bill Morris, the former union leader, had been asked to throw his hat into the ring but yesterday he ended speculation by announcing he was not standing.A decision on who will replace Morgan will be announced on August 28.

When push came to shove, Ricky Ponting’s side would stay on the field © Getty Images

Australia would never follow Pakistan’s lead and refuse to play out a Test match, according to the coach John Buchanan. “We have never done it in the past and I can’t see any reason why we would want to do it in the future,” he told .”We play the game pretty aggressively, but I think we always play it within the rules and the spirit of the game. So I don’t think that would be part of what we’d be wanting to do.”Inzamam-ul-Haq will appear at an ICC hearing to answer charges of bringing the game into disrepute and changing the condition of the ball during the fourth Test against England at The Oval on Sunday. Buchanan hoped the situation was sorted out swiftly as a drawn-out investigation would further damage the game. “I don’t think it would do cricket any good and it obviously needs to be resolved and a way forward be found, that’s certainly in their hands,” he said.Ricky Ponting said Inzamam might not be the man to blame. He believes the coach Bob Woolmer and the Pakistani team manager may have sparked the protest once the players returned to the pavilion after being docked the five-run penalty. “Who knows how I’d handle it and how the Australian cricket team would handle it in that situation,” he said, “but you’d like to think that we’d be able to do the right thing by the game and by everybody concerned.”Justin Langer said Sunday was a particularly sad day in Test cricket’s history. “As Donald Bradman said, we’re all custodians of the game and we want to leave it in better shape,” he said. “Games like that getting forfeited, we’re probably not leaving it in better shape than we first got into it.”

Sourav Ganguly: back for the Kanpur Test, along with Irfan Pathan© Getty Images

Sourav Ganguly and Irfan Pathan have been picked in India’s 14-mansquad to play South Africa in the first Test at Kanpur on November 20. Bothplayers missed the last two Tests against Australia, but regainedtheir fitness in time to play the BCCI Platinum Jubilee one-dayeragainst Pakistan at Kolkata today.Dheeraj Jadhav and SS Paul are the two men omitted. Jadhav and Paul were among four newcomers in the Mumbai Test squad: they sat out that game, butwill no doubt take satisfaction from knowing that they are next inline, and this queue does not stay still.The big question now is, who will Ganguly replace in the Test side?Mohammad Kaif is the obvious candidate, but his battling performancesagainst Australia might be enough for him to retain his place. GautamGambhir will, in that case, miss out, with either Kaif or DineshKarthik being promoted as a makeshift opener.Squad Sourav Ganguly (capt), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag,Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Kaif, DineshKarthik (wk), Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik, ZaheerKhan, Irfan Pathan, Ashish Nehra.

Durham players strip down for a good cause© Getty Images

Wasting water is just not cricket – as players from Durham County Cricket Club have proved. When asked to support World Environment Day on Saturday, they certainly weren’t stumped and have pledged to take showers instead of baths – each saving enough water a week to make 2,000 mugs of tea.”Durham County Cricket Club is always keen to help a good cause and what better than the environment around us,” said James Bailey, the club’s marketing manager. “We’ll be bowled over if people can do their bit for World Environment Day by making a small pledge.””We are fortunate to live in the north east where we have a plentiful supply of water, but it is still a precious resource that we should take care of,” added Lorraine Coulson, water efficiency manager for Northumbria Water. “A shower uses less than half the water needed to run a bath and if a family of four took showers instead of baths for a year they would save two road tankers full of water.”

As the Logan Cup resumed for the final three rounds, all four teams wereweakened by the unexpected appearance of Zimbabwe in the Sharjah final.Most had hoped they would return in time to play, although Matabeleland wereplanning to rest them from this match.It was a warm, cloudless autumn day in Kwekwe as Barney Rogers, stand-inMatabeleland captain, won the toss and decided to bat on what looked like angood batting pitch with the potential to take spin. There was some movementin the air and off the seam early on, but Midlands did not have the bowlerscapable of taking advantage of it.Charles Coventry is one of Zimbabwe’s most promising and confident youngbatsmen, and an outside possibility for the tour of England if he has a goodLogan Cup season. Opening the batting for his native Matabeleland, he racedto 24 off 21 balls before being caught off David Mutendera, who is stillstruggling to recover from his appalling bowling form of earlier in theseason. Basically a one-day player, Coventry still has to develop into agenuine batsman in first-class cricket.There followed a sound partnership between Mark Vermeulen, back after hishead injury in the World Cup, and Ryan King, back in the Matabeleland sideafter a prolonged period of poor form. King was doing well until beinggiven out under controversial circumstances. Vermeulen pushed a single toreach his fifty, and after completing the run King thoughtlessly startedback the pitch to congratulate his partner, only to find wicketkeeperAlester Maregwede removing the bails and appealing along with Don Campbell.Umpire Ahmed Esat raised his finger in accordance with the laws of the game,but many felt this dismissal was not in the spirit of the game. Mr Esatlater described King’s indiscretion as `silly’ and said there was no mercyto be expected in the first-class game, but did say he queried with theMidlands team whether they really wished to claim his wicket in this way.They insisted they did, but Midlands chief executive Ken Connelly was nothappy about it, and neither were the spectators. King did earn himself somecredit, as he walked off quietly without histrionics or unduly harsh wordseither on the field or in the dressing room.Campbell himself, a former wicketkeeper, had a bad day in the slips, and atleast three chances went down in that region, which was no encouragement forthe long-suffering bowlers on a sound but rather slow pitch. Vermeulen forthe most part seemed to set his stall out for a major score to enhance hisEngland chances, playing few flamboyant strokes but accumulating steadily.However, he ran himself out just before lunch in a mix-up with his partner,turning for a third to find Barney Rogers uninterested, and the throw fromthe boundary just found him adjudged short of his crease. Unlike King, heflung his bat twenty metres on being given out and swore audibly. Bothrun-out incidents this morning showed the need for a match referee; althoughhe would not have overturned the King decision, he could at least have giventhe players some insights into the spirit of the game. Legal it undoubtedlywas, but it does the game no good when certain methods of dismissal causeoutrage among opposing players and spectators.The Matabeleland middle order made Midlands suffer in the sun during theafternoon session, as a big partnership between Andre Hoffman (79 not out)and Gavin Ewing (65 not out) flourished, taking the total to 342 for four atthe tea interval.Rogers moved smoothly to his fifty soon after lunch, but was then dismissedfor 52, trying to shoulder arms to medium-pacer Vusi Sibanda but onlymanaging to nick the ball to the keeper.Andre Hoffman, after a slow start, suddenly decided he liked the look ofDirk Viljoen’s left-arm spin and hit him for two successive sixes, overlong-off and long-on. He continued his enterprise beyond his fifty, whileGavin Ewing was just as aggressive and when Mutendera returned to bowl hisfirst over went for 21 runs. A couple of difficult chances were missed, butthe weak and inaccurate bowling suffered severely and there was no respitefor the home side.The partnership realized 192 before Hoffman, having just reached hiscentury, fell for 102. It was the first delivery with the second new ball,bowled by Vusi Sibanda – debutant Anthony Ireland took the other end – afterthe dismal failure of Mutendera and Sherezad Shah with the first. The extrapace and bounce apparently took Hoffman by surprise and, going for the cut,sliced a catch to Viljoen at slip. Matabeleland were now 382 for five.Shortly afterwards Ewing reached his century with a bold straight six offIreland. Keith Dabengwa, whose batting at first-class level has rarelymatched his ability, enjoyed the experience of playing a tired, weak bowlingline-up on a lifeless pitch and played some good-looking drives, while Ewingshowed no signs of laxity. They saw Matabeleland through to the close, whenthe team was an imposing 498 for six wickets, Ewing on 154 and Dabengwa 33.

Tim Lamb, chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, has extinguished Australian hopes of returning home with the real Ashes.Australian captain Steve Waugh, speaking after the tourists had wrapped up the series with their Test win at Trent Bridge, said that his “personal point of view” was that: “We have won 3-0. We have won the series, and I think we should get the Ashes — the original. You are playing for the trophy, so why not get it?”It is the ultimate prize in cricket, they say. But you cannot get near it. It is not much of a prize really if you cannot see it or cannot touch it."And England chairman of selectors David Graveney sympathised by admitting: “I can understand where he’s coming from."However, Lamb has pointed out that the logistics of transporting such a valuable trophy half way round the globe makes it impossible for Australia to take home the treasured urn.He said: “There is absolutely no question of the original Ashes urn leaving Lord’s – it belongs at Lord’s.”There have been a number of replicas which have been used over the years – but the MCC would never let the original out. It is in the museum at Lord’s and it stays there.”The Australian Cricket Board realise that if anything happened to it then it would be gone forever."The winners of the Ashes instead receive a Waterford Crystal replica of the Ashes urn, which will be presented to Waugh after the Fifth Ashes Test at the Oval. Lamb pointed out that the production of the crystal replica as a “perpetual trophy” in 1998 had been supported by the ACB.Lamb admitted that, “It’s something completely different — but at least there is a trophy for one of the teams to keep. It will be presented to Australia – and we hope to be bringing it back in 18 months’ time."The Ashes may seem to be in the perpetual possession of Australia at the moment, but for the foreseeable future the urn itself will stay at Lord’s.

West Bromwich Albion manager Ryan Mason had some of the pressure taken off him after his side claimed a 2-0 win over Sheffield United in the Championship at the weekend.

Prior to that clash, Football Insider reported that the club’s away form has caused serious concern behind the scenes and that the manager’s future will be evaluated if they get dragged into a relegation battle.

The report added that the board, with owner Shilen Patel, remain in support of the former Tottenham Hotspur coach, but that the situation could change if they fall down the table.

Why West Brom should sack Ryan Mason

Despite a 2-0 win over the Blades last time out, Patel should ruthlessly part ways with Mason because the Baggies have regressed under his watch in comparison to last season.

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Whilst it must be noted that Tom Fellows left to join Southampton, the English head coach was given new signing Aune Heggebo, who has scored eight goals in 17 league starts, per Sofascore.

Despite that impressive addition, whilst also having the likes of Isaac Price, Mikey Johnston, Karlan Grant, and Josh Maja at his disposal, Mason has been unable to improve the team’s attacking play.

West Brom’s regression under Mason

Stat

24/25 (rank)

25/26 (rank)

Points per game

1.39 (9th)

1.31 (15th)

xG

58.7 (9th)

25.3 (14th)

xA

47.1 (4th)

24.4 (7th)

xGD

+11.6 (6th)

+0.9 (12th)

League position

9th

15th

Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, West Brom are worse defensively, offensively, and overall as a team since the English tactician took the job in the summer, which is why the club should make a decision on his future.

If the Baggies do decide to part ways with Mason, Gary O’Neil is one out-of-work manager who could come in as an upgrade in the dugout, having been touted for the role in the summer.

Why West Brom should appoint Gary O'Neil

In what would be a controversial move, given his time at Wolves, the English boss could come in and provide West Brom with a boost to lift them up the Championship table.

Prior to Mason’s appointment, EFL pundit Joe Jacobson tipped the club to appoint O’Neil, saying: “At Wolves, it was tough but I think he is a very, very good manager and that’s exactly what West Brom need right now, a freshness, someone with some fresh ideas, someone who’s obviously very motivated and wants to prove himself again.”

The former Wolves and Bournemouth boss was viewed as somone who could come in with ‘fresh ideas’ and motivation to push West Brom forward, and that is still what they need six months later, as they have regressed under Mason.

O’Neil, as shown in the clip above, has shown that he can motivate a group of players to achieve success, having guided Bournemouth and Wolves to safety in the Premier League in his first two seasons as a manager.

O’Neil’s first 2 Premier League seasons

Championship

22/23

23/24

Games managed

34

38

Wins

10

13

Draws

6

7

Losses

18

18

Points

36

46

League finish

15th

14th

Stats via Transfermarkt

The 42-year-old tactician showed that he has the capabilities as a coach to deliver decent enough performances at that level, even if his second season at Wolves, losing 11 of 16 league games, was a disappointment.

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He has been out of a job since December of last year, which means that he has had plenty of time off to reflect and learn from his experiences so far, and could come in with real motivation to succeed, as Jacobson said.

O’Neil could be an upgrade on Mason because he has shown promising signs, with his first two seasons at the level, as a manager in the Premier League, whilst the Baggies boss has seemingly made a Championship side worse in his first senior posting.

That is why Patel should seriously consider sacking the former Spurs coach in favour of bringing O’Neil in to lead the club forward in the coming months and, hopefully, seasons.

Related He'd revive Price: West Brom could hire "insanely talented" Mason upgrade

West Bromwich Albion could soon replace an under-fire Ryan Mason with this fresh manager, who might get even more out of Isaac Price.

Posts 1 ByKelan Sarson

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has declared day-night Test cricket “here to stay” after the conclusion of the inaugural floodlit match at Adelaide Oval, a popular success despite its meagre three-day running time.A crowd of 123,736 poured into the ground across those three days, and similarly strong television audiences made it a spectacle to delight broadcasters and administrators alike. But the verdict of the players was always going to be critical to the future of the concept, and in the glowing words of McCullum and his opposite number Steven Smith there was ample evidence that the game’s elite practitioners will be comfortable with doing this kind of thing more often.The only reservation raised by both McCullum and Smith was the amount of grass left on the Adelaide Oval pitch, which they agreed was the major factor in the game’s short time span. But they were equally adamant that players would be able to adapt with greater experience, with the added incentive now of having played a Test match in front of such a celebratory and voluminous gathering.”It’s a great concept,” McCullum said. “As pink ball cricket evolves as I am sure it will grow into a global game and I think we will see the pitches probably won’t have quite as much grass on it. The thing about day-night Test cricket is it is meant to allow Test match cricket to be played at night time, it is not meant to be to change how Test cricket should play.”There was a fraction too much grass on it, I think we saw under lights that the pink ball probably responded a little bit much, but I would say that because I am a batter. Overall it was a roaring success and 120,000 people over three days, people are voting with their feet and I think it’s here to stay, which is great.”In general, spectators would want see results in games. And will want to see captains start to try and force results. Sitting in changing room after hard fought Test win that’s what’s most memorable as a cricketer. Sometimes fighting draws are great and I think we’ll find captains will try and push home some advantage to get Test victories.”Smith was naturally relieved after seeing out a series victory over a fast-finishing New Zealand, and he had little hesitation in describing the contest as a “great” one. “The whole Test match was a great innovation, it was a great spectacle,” he said. “To get 120,000 people through the gates in three days is absolutely amazing. I thought it was a great spectacle and a great Test match.”It was a game that was dominated by the bowlers. New Zealand’s bowlers bowled just as well as ours. But it was one of those games – if you got yourself in you could still score runs, it just wasn’t to be this game for a lot of the batters, we got starts and couldn’t go on with it. I think the contest is there if you’re willing to have a game plan and bat some time you can certainly score runs.”Like McCullum, Smith noted the thick grass coverage presented for the pink ball, but was happy enough to live with that after finishing the match as a narrow winner. “I think the wicket here compared to the two Shield games that have been played on it and particularly the pink ball shield game we played, it looked like the grass was a bit more lively,” he said. “I think it was the same height as the grass in the Shield game but it was probably just a tad greener.”That created a little bit more movement for the bowlers and kept the ball together and swinging for a long period. But I think it was great to see something different, the first two Test matches were dominated by the bat, so it’s great to see something different and see the bowlers coming into their own.”