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The Three Lions continue their World Cup campaign with a last-16 meeting with the African champions on Sunday, but their line up is far from clear

Gareth Southgate could not have asked for much more when England took on Wales on Tuesday.

The England manager was under pressure following a disappointing 0-0 draw with the United States, with many pointing the finger at his tactics and team selection.

So he needed a good performance and that’s exactly what he got, with England cruising to a 3-0 win which saw them top their group and set up a last-16 clash with Senegal on Sunday.

Southgate shuffled his pack slightly and his changes worked perfectly, with Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden – who were both handed their first starts of the tournament – sharing the goals between them.

But that leaves the England manager facing some difficult decisions when it comes to selecting his side to face Senegal.

GOAL, takes a look at some of the issues Southgate must decide on…

Getty/GOALRashford or Saka?

How can you leave Marcus Rashford out after his superb second half display against Wales?

It’s difficult to see Gareth Southgate doing that, especially when you consider the Manchester United attacker also scored in the win against Iran.

Rashford is clearly brimming with confidence, as you would expect from a man who already has three goals to his name during the tournament.

But then what do you do with Bukayo Saka?

Southgate is a big fan of the Arsenal forward, who it must be noted opened the World Cup with two goals of his own in the Iran victory.

The 21-year-old was given a rest against Wales with the knockout rounds in mind, so does Southgate now rip up his original plan and leave Saka on the bench against Senegal?

There is of course the option of playing both, as Rashford is more comfortable on the left. But that would mean leaving someone else out to accommodate both wingers.

It’s a difficult decision for Southgate, although it’s one every other manager involved in the tournament would love to have.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWhat to do with Foden?

Just like Rashford, Phil Foden seized his opportunity to impress when he was handed a start against Wales.

The Manchester City star started out on the right of the front three, but switched over to the left-hand side for the second half following a tactical tweak by Southgate.

And he looked far more comfortable over there, creating the first goal with an excellent driving run into a central position which resulted in the free-kick from which Rashford scored.

And he added the second himself, arriving late at the far post to turn in Harry Kane’s brilliant ball across the penalty area.

The clamour for Foden to start will be huge, but if he does, then Southgate will have to leave out one of his favourites.

Raheem Sterling started on the left against Iran in the opening game and performed well, scoring the third goal.

Southgate usually always starts with Sterling, who he trusts implicitly. So even with Foden’s performance on Tuesday, the England manager will be massively tempted to revert to type when it comes to Sunday’s knockout fixture.

He does of course have the option to move Foden into one of the central midfield positions, which would allow him to play the 22-year-old and a more natural winger. But that does not seem to be an option Southgate is considering.

Getty ImagesDoes Mount come back in?

Chelsea midfielder Mount was given the night off against Wales after starting both of England’s opening group-stage games.

Southgate went with the experienced Jordan Henderson on Tuesday, with Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice taking up the other two central midfield spots.

That did perhaps give England more control than they had against the United States, although that was more than likely a result of Wales’ inept display rather than Henderson’s involvement.

If Southgate sticks with the four at the back system he has utilised so far, then he will have a big call to make in the midfield.

He is a huge fan of Mount and what he offers, but bringing him back into the side could leave England a little short when it comes to protecting the back four.

It’s a choice between going with a slightly more attacking approach, or one that could give them a little bit more stability defensively. 

When it comes to Southgate, he usually prefers the latter option, especially when it comes to knockout football.

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(C)Getty ImagesStick or twist with the system?

Southgate has stuck with the same 4-3-3 system throughout the tournament so far, but the expectation has always been that at some point he would return to his favoured back-three when the opposition have more potent attackers.

The thought is that using three centre-backs would tighten things up defensively against the top teams, and it is of course a system that has served England well in the past.

It is not always popular amongst fans, however, who view it as too negative – with Southgate often coming in for criticism when he uses it, especially if it leads to a disappointing performance.

And as dangerous as Senegal are, they are not a Brazil or a France, and England supporters will expect their team to be on the front foot during Sunday’s contest.

So as tempting as it might be for Southgate to bring in an extra defender, he will have to weigh up what that would do to his attacking options and what forward-thinking player he would have to leave out as a result.

Wrexham owner Rob McElhenney was blown away by MK Dons' stadium but the Always Sunny star also aimed a cheeky jibe at their League Two rivals.

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Wrexham playing MK Dons in League Two McElhenney awed by Stadium MK Urged his troops to avenge their previous defeat at RacecourseGetty/GOALWHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Dragons made a trip to Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire for their league fixture against the Dons on Tuesday evening. And upon arrival, McElhenney was fascinated by Stadium MK which has got two tiers and a capacity of 30,500. The seats are all black and on one side of the arena, the club name is written in white along with the crest in the middle.

AdvertisementWHAT ROB MCELHENNEY SAID

McElhenney put out a tweet that read: "Wow. @MKDonsFC stadium is beautiful. Of course, we’d love to break your hearts in it. Kinda like the way you did to us in our house. 😂 💔 Come on you Reds! @Wrexham_AFC".

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McElhenney was referring to the 5-3 defeat that the Dons inflicted on Wrexham back in August at the Racecourse Ground. It was a dreadful night for Phil Parkinson's troops as they were trailing 4-1 at one stage, before finding two late goals, which proved too little too late.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Wrexham looked like a team with a mission to get the three points against MK Dons with James McClean handing them the lead in the 22nd minute. However, their joy was short-lived as Dan Kemp equalised just four minutes later.

After a barren run, Wrexham headed into this match on the back of two successive wins with McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds' troops pushing for an automatic promotion spot. They will continue their journey on the road as they are set to face Gillingham on Saturday in League Two.

Tottenham could face a points deduction after an investigation found rules were broken in the transfer that brought Jermain Defoe to the club.

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Defoe signed for Portsmouth in 2008Unlicensed agent used in transferFA could review deal and sanction SapursWHAT HAPPENED?

has revealed details of an investigation which shows Tottenham broke agent rules when Jermaine Defoe left the club for Portsmouth in 2008. An unlicensed agent, Mitchell Thomas, was a "central figure" in the deal which saw Defoe move from north London to the south coast. FA rules at the time banned the use of unlicensed agents and the case was heard by an independent arbitration panel but no action was taken at the time. However, the FA have now confirmed they are willing to review the case if more details become available.

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This is not the first time that such a case has emerged and clubs have previously been sanctioned. Luton Town were hit with a 10-point ban and a hefty fine for using agents who did not have a contract with the club back in 2008. Meanwhile, former Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino was fined and banned from football for a year for using an unlicensed agent in the transfer of Ross McCormack.

Any failure to comply with the rules regarding agents is viewed as an "extremely serious matter," independent experts have told . Clubs could be deducted points, relegated or even handed a transfer ban.

WHAT THE FA SAID

“The case was heard by an independent arbitration panel 15 years ago. The FA was not a party to the arbitration," a spokeswoman for the FA told . "It is unclear how much information was shared with the FA at the time, and no disciplinary action was taken. If there is new evidence which was not available at the time, and which suggests serious breaches of our rules took place, we will review it.”

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR TOTTENHAM?

It remains to be seen whether the FA will decide to review the case and if any action will be brought against Tottenham. Spurs have already seen Everton handed a 10-point deduction for breaking Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules this season, while Manchester City could also be sanctioned after being charged with breaching over 100 financial rules.

Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy, Andre Russell and Craig Kieswetter are the Ram Slam’s overseas signings for the 2014-15 season

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Oct-2014Ram Slam’s overseas signings for 2014-15

Kieron Pollard – Cape Cobras
Dwayne Bravo – Dolphins
Andre Russell – Knights
Chris Gayle – Lions
Darren Sammy – Titans
Craig Kieswetter – Warriors

For the third time in four seasons, Chris Gayle has been linked to South Africa’s domestic T20 competition but this time it seems he may actually play in the event. Gayle signed for the Dolphins for 2011-12 and 2013-14, but injury kept him out of the event. This time, he will be attached to Lions and will be one of six international signings for a competition that is searching for a higher-profile.Gayle is set to join Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy, Andre Russell and Craig Kieswetter as the headline players for the event. Each South African franchise has only managed to add one overseas player to the squad although there was speculation they would be more. Kumar Sangakkara was in talks to join Lions but had to withdraw to join Sri Lanka’s ODI outfit for their trip to India and Kevin Pietersen, who was in South Africa last week to play in a sixes tournament and was rumoured to be considering appearing in the twenty-over competition, does not seem to have been snapped up.Despite that, tournament director Graeme Smith, was pleased to see the level of interest in the South African event. “In my discussions with all the superstars, it has been satisfying to note their eagerness to play in here, as they regard South Africa as one of the best cricket leagues in the world,” Smith said.Doubtless if Gayle participates this time, it would underline that notion and all indications are that he will. “It looks very promising that Gayle will play for us. We have sent him the contract and we hope to finalise things in the next 24 hours,” Greg Fredericks, CEO of Lions, told ESPNcricinfo. “We know that if he is firing on all cylinders, he could be a game-changer.”Lions were aware of Gayle’s twin pull outs from Dolphins and have been meticulous in confirming Gayle’s availability for them. “We were obviously a bit concerned about what happened last time with the injuries and we made sure to check that he is fit and ready to play, and he is,” Fredericks said.Gayle will be available for the entire competition, like his West Indies team-mates, apart from Bravo, who will miss the first match. West Indies have no fixtures during the competition, which runs from November 2 to December 12. Their next international assignment is in South Africa – a three-Test, three-T20 and five-ODI tour which starts on December 17. The only possible clash for West Indies players in the twenty-over tournament will be if they are required to play in the tour match in South Africa, which is pencilled in for December 10-12, or be part of a pre-series camp.However, a cloud continues to hang over West Indies’ future because of the ongoing dispute between the players, the board and the players’ association over payment structures. Earlier this month, West Indies pulled out of their India tour and the falling-out has yet to be resolved.That means South Africa’s international summer remains uncertain. West Indies are the only team due to tour to the country and one insider said that after last season’s curtailed visit by India, if the calendar was affected again, it would be “a disaster” for the venues. As things stand, none of them have received any information on the status of the tour but, as a source said, all are “hopeful it will be sorted out and not affect the quality of the cricket that will be played this season”.

While Australia no longer have that air of invincibility around them, home advantage and strong ODI form could skew the odds in their favour

Brydon Coverdale09-Feb-2015SummaryTwenty-three years since the World Cup was last held on Australian shores, Michael Clarke’s men face the task of achieving what Allan Border’s side could not in 1992. Back then, Imran Khan lifted the trophy as Pakistan jogged around the boundary of the MCG on an evening in late March, England the vanquished opponents. Australia had not even made the semi-finals. When the last week of March comes this time, will the Melbourne crowd again be neutral or will it be a partisan audience out for Australian success?At the very least, Australia enter the tournament with a more realistic chance than they did in India in 2011, if for no other reason than the conditions are so familiar. The 2011 World Cup ended with defeat at the hands of India in a quarter-final, and Ricky Ponting stood down from the captaincy in the days that followed. Quite what his successor decides to do after this World Cup remains to be seen. Clarke’s participation in the tournament has been a subject of great debate – the selectors set him a deadline of the second match against Bangladesh on February 21 to have recovered from his hamstring surgery, and he looks a good chance of making it. But it would not be a surprise if Clarke eases out of one-day cricket after the World Cup.Clarke, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson are the only four players remaining from Australia’s 2007 World Cup glory and their chances in this tournament will largely rest in the hands of newer men. Neither Aaron Finch nor David Warner were picked for the 2011 World Cup but their work at the top of the order will be critical to Australia’s hopes in conditions where the ball will come on to the bat. Equally, Johnson and his fast-bowling colleagues must make a few opponents uncomfortable. James Faulkner is a key man with his ability to finish an innings, and the side strain he picked up in the tri-series final against England earlier this month is a concern.World Cup pedigreeNo team can match Australia’s World Cup history. Six times they have reached the final and their four titles included a hat-trick of triumphs in 1999, 2003 and 2007. There was also a run of 34 consecutive World Cup matches without a defeat from 1999 to 2011, a record that will almost certainly never be matched. But their early exit in 2011 signaled the end of their era of dominance, and although they will enter the 2015 tournament confident at home, long gone are the days when Australian victories could be assumed.X-FactorIt’s easy to lose track of how often Glenn Maxwell has been described as “the X-factor”. By coaches, by selectors, by team-mates. By himself. In other words, he’s that guy who might win it for you single-handedly in the space of a few overs, with 50 off 20 balls. Or with a breathtaking, athletic catch. He might bat anywhere in the order, bowl at any time or not be used at all. He may go three or four games without a contribution. But when he hits his straps Australia will probably win, and win fast.ESPNcricinfo LtdPlayers in focusMitchell JohnsonThe man who delivered the Ashes back into Australian hands might be a key to returning the World Cup to his country as well. It is a quirk of Johnson’s one-day career that some of his best work has been performed in Asian conditions, but on the quicker pitches at home and on the big stage of a World Cup, he can be expected to rattle batsmen from virtually every team. At times, his speed may translate to the ball flying just as quickly off the bat, but if he picks up plenty of wickets along the way his job will be done.Aaron FinchDuring their golden era of one-day cricket, Australia were well served by destructive opening batsmen like Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Mark Waugh. Aaron Finch is the latest to join that list. A muscular man with a good eye, Finch will be coming off a highly productive 2014 that included, among other achievements, an unbeaten 181 in the Lord’s bicentenary celebration match, when he batted with Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara. He likes the ball coming on to the bat and is a proven hundred-maker, with the potential to be Australia’s key batsman.George BaileyOne of the key players to have joined Australia’s one-day side since the previous World Cup, Bailey enters this tournament in a very strange situation. If Clarke is unfit for the first game against England, Bailey as his vice-captain will lead the side. But his lack of recent form – he averages 19.68 in the past year – means he will almost certainly be dropped when Clarke returns. In his first two years in Australia’s ODI team, Bailey scored 1647 runs at 53.12, a remarkable record that placed him way out in front on the Australian list over that period – Shane Watson was second with 949. His clean hitting can make him an effective finisher but he is versatile enough to have rebuilt Australia’s innings several times when the top order has stumbled. Unfortunately, he himself has stumbled at just the wrong time.Fact box

Previous World Cups
1975: Finalists
1979: Group stage
1983: Group stage
1987: Winners
1992: Group stage
1996: Finalists
1999: Winners
2003: Winners
2007: Winners
2011: Quarter-finals
Squad
Michael Clarke (capt), George Bailey, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson
Fixtures
Saturday, Feb 14 v England in Melbourne
Saturday, Feb 21 v Bangladesh in Brisbane
Saturday, Feb 28 v New Zealand in Auckland
Wednesday, March 4 v Afghanistan in Perth
Sunday, March 8 v Sri Lanka in Sydney
Saturday, March 14 v Scotland in Hobart

Game styleUnder coach Darren Lehmann, aggression has been the key word for Australia in all three formats. “There are no fielders in the car park,” Lehmann likes to say, which reflects the style he brought to his own batting game. That extends to attacking intent in the field and with the ball as well. Match-winning though such an approach can be, it can also lead to the occasional collapse.PredictionThey may no longer be unbeatable, but on their familiar pitches with pace and bounce, Australia should still be a handful for most teams. They will consider it a disaster if they do not at least reach the semi-finals and there is every chance they will be there for the decider at the MCG on March 29.World Cup stats Australia have lost only two of their past 36 World Cup matches – it just so happens that those two defeats were their two most recent games Ricky Ponting is the all-time record holder for most appearances in World Cup matches and will remain so after this tournament; no current player can reach his mark of 46 World Cup gamesIf they were an actorJack Nicholson: Swaggering multiple trophy winner – but best work in the past?Theme song”Don’t Dream It’s Over” – Crowded House

With top-flight clubs gearing up for another summer of spending, casting their net into the second tier could scoop up a few gems

Dozens of players have made the step up from the lower league in recent years to make a huge impact on the Premier League. Chris Wood, Alex Pritchard and Jeff Hendrick have all been impressive for their respective clubs this season after being signed from the Championship in the past few years. Who will be the next player to make the step up? Here are a few candidatesGetty ImagesTom Cairney | Fulham

Cairney has been linked to West Ham United and Newcastle in the past two transfer windows and for good reason.

The Fulham captain is one of the best midfielders in the Championship and it is no coincidence that Slavisa Jokanovic's side went on a 23-game unbeaten streak after he returned to full fitness.

Cairney would be capable of playing for any mid-table Premier League club due to his exceptional vision and dribbling abilities. He can also strike from range if needed as showcased by his goals against Wolves and Leeds United last season.

If Fulham don’t secure promotion via the play-offs don’t be surprised to see Cairney on the move this summer.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesAden Flint | Bristol City

Aden Flint has been on a lot of clubs’ radars since his Swindon Town days.

Standing at 6ft 5ins, the defender is a dominant figure in the air and he regularly features prominently on the scoring charts come the end of each season, hitting a career-high 15 in 2014-15 at Swindon.

Flint has been fantastic for Bristol City this season, particularly standing out in both legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester City.

Getty Images Abel Hernandez | Hull City

Abel Hernandez is a Premier League player stuck in the Championship.

The Uruguayan has missed most of this season through injury as Hull slipped down the table to flirt with relegation.

Hernandez scored eight goals in 10 Championship appearances this season and would be an asset to any Premier League side in need of a goalscorer.

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Getty ImagesAdama Traore | Middlesbrough

The former Barcelona winger is unstoppable when he is playing at his best.

Watch the highlights of his performance against Leeds United this season and you will see the Spaniard at the peak of his powers.

Traore has all the physical attributes that you would want from a winger, he is one of the fastest players in football and he runs with such power. If a coach could fine-tune Traore and improve his final ball he could be one of the most dangerous wingers in the Premier League.

Jesse Lingard is hoping to land a new contract in 2024, with the ex-Manchester United star promoting himself during solo training sessions in Dubai.

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Released by Nottingham Forest in 2023Ex-England star still without a clubWorking on fitness amid talk of U.S. moveWHAT HAPPENED?

The former England international was released by Nottingham Forest at the end of the 2022-23 campaign and has been without a club ever since. He has taken in trial spells at West Ham and Al-Ettifaq, but no offers have been put to him.

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Lingard is looking to stay in shape, ensuring that he is ready for any call, and has headed to the Middle East for some warm weather work during the English winter. He is putting in the hard yards, with videos posted on social media in a bid to catch the eye of potential suitors.

DID YOU KNOW?

Lingard took in 232 appearances for United during his time at Old Trafford, while earning 32 caps for England, but has found form and fitness hard to come by in recent times. He is, however, still only 31 years of age and believes that he has plenty left in the tank.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR LINGARD?

There has been talk of Lingard heading to the United States, where he would join Lionel Messi in MLS, but the 2024 campaign in America is not due to get underway until February so there is more work for him to do behind the scenes before any permanent deal is done. Everton are also said to be mulling over an approach, according to , which could deliver a shock return to the Premier League.

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has apologised to referee Anthony Taylor for his furious outburst after his side's 4-4 draw with Manchester City.

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Pochettino stormed onto the pitchWas fuming at Anthony TaylorAlso apologised to Pep GuardiolaWHAT HAPPENED?

Pochettino stormed onto the pitch after the final whistle of the 4-4 draw with City on Sunday. The Argentine manager has explained that he believed Raheem Sterling could score on the counter-attack but Taylor instead blew his whistle, prompting Pochettino to both snub a handshake from opposite number Pep Guardiola and take his complaints up with the officiating team. For his protests, he was shown a yellow card, and also needed to be restrained by his coaching staff.

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The game featured a variety of controversial calls, as both sides scored penalties, and Chelsea came from behind to draw level on three separate occasions. Their final equaliser came through former City star Cole Palmer, who scored a spot-kick in the 95th-minute.

WHAT THEY SAID

Pochettino apologised for his outburst after the game, saying: "I need to apologise to Anthony and the officials – in this moment, I felt Raheem could go through on goal.

"I deserve to be booked. I want to apologise to him also [Pep], I was focused on the action."

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GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The international break will give both sides a rest, but Chelsea will return to action with a trip to Newcastle, while City will host Liverpool.

Scotland’s defeat to Afghanistan means their hopes of progressing now depend on themselves and other results, as they face Zimbabwe in their second match on Thursday

The Preview by Firdose Moonda09-Mar-2016Match factsThursday, March 10, 2016
Start time 1500 local (0930GMT)Big PictureThe cruelty of the World T20 qualifying phase is that every game is crucial and Scotland’s key moment may already have come and gone. Their defeat to Afghanistan meant their hopes of progressing now depend on themselves and other results. So for them, there has to be a bigger picture. And there is. Scotland have played 19 matches in six global limited-overs tournaments but are yet to win a game.Zimbabwe will be pleased to hear that because they need another victory before facing the group’s strongest team, Afghanistan, in what they hope will be a showdown for a place in the main draw. Zimbabwe have already recorded one win but it was achieved in untidy fashion. Their batsmen squandered starts, their bowlers lost their lines and they were occasionally comical in the field. They did not look like the only Full Member in the group and would want to tighten up on the basics.Scotland have already faced Afghanistan and found that their bowlers struggled to contain aggressive batting but they were able to respond with runs themselves. They got off to a speedy start before the middle order collapsed and fizzled out, and given the nature of Zimbabwe’s attack that concentrates on a squeeze upfront rather than at the end, Scotland may eye an opportunity to record a first victory.Form guide(last five completed games most recent first)
Zimbabwe WWWLL
Scotland LWLWLIn the spotlightAlthough a team will take a win no matter how messy in a major tournament, Zimbabwe’s disciplines need to improve if they are to sustain hopes of playing in the main draw. The opening match saw three run-outs, three batsmen holing out, two dropped catches and several misfields. They got away with it once but will not want to risk slipping up as the qualifiers continue.Calum MacLeod was identified by Paul Collingwood as someone who has played a lot of high-pressure cricket, presumably at Warwickshire, and would know how to handle tough situations but his recent scores don’t suggest that. MacLeod has not got past 20 in his last 12 T20Is but has a century in the format at domestic level and will know he is due some runs.Team newsZimbabwe may want to add a more attacking spinner to their arsenal but with Graeme Cremer out injured, their only other option is Tendai Chisoro, who went wicketless in the warm-ups against West Indies and HPCA XI. If they are after a change in the batting line-up, they could make space for Peter Moor or Chamu Chibhabha but only by leaving someone like Sikandar Raza or Malcolm Waller out.Zimbabwe: (probable) 1 Hamilton Masakadza, 2 Vusi Sibanda, 3 Richmond Mutumbami (wk), 4 Sean Williams, 5 Sikandar Raza, 6 Malcolm Waller, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Donald Tiripano, 9 Wellington Masakadza, 10 Tinashe Panyangara, 11 Tendai ChataraScotland’s pace attack adjusted well to very their pace and slow Afghanistan briefly on Tuesday, and they may also think of bringing in another spinner considering the Nagpur pitch. Allrounder Con de Lange, who bowls left-arm spin, could complement the 19-year-old legspinner Mark Watt.Scotland: (probable) 1 George Munsey, 2 Kyle Coetzer, 3 Calum MacLeod, 4 Matt Machan, 5 Richie Berrington, 6 Preston Mommsen (capt), 7 Matthew Cross (wk), 8 Josh Davey, 9 Safyaan Sharif, 10 Mark Watt, 11 Alasdair EvansPitch and conditionsThe Nagpur surface proved difficult to score on freely on the first day and it is expected to continue challenging batsmen. Although it did not take much turn, taking pace off the ball was effective for the seamers and batsmen will have to spend time building an innings. The mercury is only headed in one direction – up – with temperatures expected hotter on Thursday compared to Tuesday. Both teams will hope the crowd numbers balloon like that too.Stats and trivia The margins of victory in both Zimbabwe and Scotland’s opening match was 14 runs. Zimbabwe beat Hong Kong but Scotland lost to Afghanistan. Zimbabwe lost the first four T20s they played this year but have won the last three.

The spectre of Saeed Ajmal loomed over Worcestershire’s return to Division One. Last year Essex coach Paul Grayson said that if umpires had been “brave” enough to call Ajmal for an illegal action Worcestershire would not have been promoted.

Tim Wigmore at Hove21-Apr-2015
ScorecardSachithra Senanayake helped set up a manageable target•Getty ImagesThe spectre of Saeed Ajmal loomed over Worcestershire’s return to Division One. Last year Essex coach Paul Grayson said that if umpires had been “brave” enough to call Ajmal for an illegal action Worcestershire would not have been promoted.When he returns, as Ajmal 2.0 after refining an action that extended to an average of 40 degrees, Worcestershire will dream of him evoking the destruction of his 63 wickets at 16.47 last season. But in the meantime they need to make sure that there is not too much for Ajmal to do. On the third day at Hove, Worcestershire looked to have uncovered a solution: two men combined to do what, last season, was the work of one Ajmal.The identity of the first name was not surprising. Sachithra Senanayake, another man to have remodelled his action following the ICC clampdown on throwing last year, was signed expressly to provide his best Ajmal impression. After beginning the match bowling too short, Senanayake located a fuller length, relentlessly probing outside off stump. He snared the last four wickets with a healthy dollop of bounce and turn on a pitch that might have got Monty Panesar longing for a return to the South Coast.But the identity of his offspin twin, who dismissed three of Sussex’s top five, was rather more surprising. Before today Alexei Kervezee had taken two first-class wicket – both for Netherlands – in 88 games. He was even listed as a medium-pace bowler.For the second time in the match, Ed Joyce and Matt Machan added a sparkling century stand for the second wicket after the early loss of Luke Wells. With a sumptuous day to enjoy, it provided the perfect backdrop for locals to enjoy the ground’s generous selection of gelatos; the pistachio comes particularly recommended.While less belligerent than during his 70-ball century in the first innings, Machan counter-punched pugnaciously after a dicey start – surviving a sharp slip chance off Charlie Morris on 4 – and it might have been with a little desperation that Daryl Mitchell asked Kervezee to bowl.”It was a surprise,” Kervezee admitted. But over his 15-over spell either side of lunch, the game was transformed. Machan was trapped lbw playing across the line to a quicker ball and Luke Wright was caught at short leg to a ball with extra bounce. And then, most significantly of all, a deliciously flighted ball tempted Ed Joyce, who had held Sussex together with his typical blend of serenity and panache, into slashing to slip.Despite some pyrotechnics from Ajmal Shazhad, including a slog sweep for six off Senanayake, Sussex were becalmed, and their last five wickets mustered only 57. It was a bowling performance of tenacity and skill from Worcestershire, and not all about spin, either: Morris moved the new ball with menace while Jack Shantry was typically wholehearted. At times only the grunt Shantry emitted in his delivery stride disturbed the tranquility at Hove; clean-bowling Ben Brown after a sprightly 44 was a wicket well earned.For Worcestershire to record their first victory in Division One since July 2012 – when Moeen Ali took 12 wickets at Old Trafford – the 14 overs they had to endure tonight shaped up as crucial. It was certainly enough time for Steve Magoffin, who has 207 first-class wickets for Sussex at 20 apiece, to ravage their top order.Not on this occasion. The rangy Magoffin began with a wide, and Richard Oliver and Daryl Mitchell both exuded calm at the crease, knocking off 47 of the 247 needed. With Tymal Mills very unlikely to bowl due to a back complaint, the onus falls more than ever on Magoffin. As well as their quicks, Sussex also have Ashar Zaidi’s left-arm darts and Luke Wells’ legspin, which claimed two wickets in the first innings, but Hove has become greedy for more venomous twirlymen.”Mushtaq Ahmed would be nice right now,” Luke Wright said after the close. In his absence, as Wright conceded, Worcestershire should be considered slight favourites to chase down an even 200 on the final day.