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The 39-year old record-breaking left-arm spinner also said he considers his future before every series he plays

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Galle 11-Mar-2017Rangana Herath conceded 400 career wickets would be “nice to have”, while reiterating that at 39, he considers his future in the game after every series. Having taken 6 for 59 in Sri Lanka’s victory in Galle, Herath is now the most successful left-arm spinner in Tests, surpassing Daniel Vettori’s career tally of 362. This was also his 29th five-wicket haul – only Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, Richard Hadlee and Anil Kumble have achieved more.”If you can get to a target like that it would be terrific, because very few people have taken 400 Test wickets,” Herath said. “I’d love to get there, but I can’t guarantee that I’ll be in this form forever. But I’ll keep playing and contributing as I can for the team and for the country, and hope that the wickets keep coming.”That Herath is now among the most successful bowlers in the game is all the more extraordinary, given he did not have a long run in the team until he was 31. Before 2009, when he became a fixture in Sri Lanka’s Test XI, Herath had played only 14 Tests at sporadic intervals.”I have no regrets about starting late,” he said. “I have already played 79 Tests and I am happy with what ever I have achieved so far.”Herath needs 34 more Test wickets to get 400, and if matches are played per-schedule, Sri Lanka play six further home Tests this year before they are due to go overseas for a bilateral tour. In those matches, Herath may find himself sharing the spin duties with two other slow bowlers, however – Sri Lanka now having fielded three specialist spinners in each of their last four Tests on the island. Unusually, in this match, they also played two seamers, bringing the number of frontline bowlers to five. As acting captain, Herath said having so many bowlers at his command provided him with a wealth of possible strategies.”We talked a lot about playing six batsmen and five bowlers, and ultimately it was the selectors who made that decision,” Herath said. “I look at it the positive way. I have loads of options when you have three spinners. When we bowl long spells bowlers will get tired, so in that situation having five bowlers is a clear advantage.”As you saw today, playing against three spinners with such a large score to get is difficult for the opposition. The pitch wasn’t turning as much as usual, but we had the bowlers who did well – Dilruwan Perera and Lakshan Sandakan gave a lot of support.”Though Sri Lanka were rarely pushed in this match, they did drop three catches in the first innings. Catches had been liberally spilled in recent tours of South Africa and Australia as well. 

”After a game we look at the weak points in all three departments, and we have to be more cautious when it comes to fielding, as we missed a few chances,” Herath said. “But we are learning. We will work hard and come good.”

Arsenal seem set to continue their free-spending summer, having set their sights on a new target…

What's the latest on Benjamin Henrichs to Arsenal?

That comes from German writer Florian Plettenberg, who details Mikel Arteta's interest in German international Benjamin Henrichs.

The RB Leipzig star is described as a merely backup option for the Gunners, but remains a fine asset who would certainly bolster a squad searching for more squad depth.

Writing on Twitter, the Sky Sports man noted: "Talks between Arsenal and the player's management took place. Gunners considering Benjamin Henrichs as a backup target. Arteta, with a very good opinion about the German national. Contract at Leipzig until 2025; important player for coach Rose."

The 26-year-old still has two years left on his £63k-per-week deal.

Who is Benjamin Henrichs?

Having spent time in both his homeland and France in various stints, the defender has now settled as an important cog for a strong Leipzig outfit.

Although once regarded as a top attacking full-back as a youngster, he has swiftly grown into a mature, solid asset, who can often be relied upon.

As such, when compared to others in his position across Europe, he ranks in the top 16% for interceptions, 8% for tackles and 2% for blocks per 90, via FBref.

Such imperious defensive work could even be said to surpass Ben White's, who made a big impact last term whilst deputising on the flank.

In those three aforementioned attributes, he instead sits at the lower end of the spectrum, having made 0.68 interceptions, 1.77 tackles and 1.36 blocks per 90. The latter is supposedly his most impressive statistic, and yet he only ranks in the top 29% for it, via FBref.

However, that is not to suggest that Henrichs does not offer some potent attacking threat too.

Although a staunch stalwart, he does have the facilities to push on, which Arteta would likely develop even further to help him realise the potential he once had. Back in 2017, journalist Stefan Bienkowski even wrote: "Benjamin Henrichs is every young, talented, attacking full-back you've ever seen."

After all, just last season in the Bundesliga he would maintain a 61% dribble success rate, 78% pass accuracy and 0.7 key passes per game, via Sofascore. Whilst not outstanding figures, they paint the picture of a consistent performer who will seldom let his side down.

The all-around nature of his game would make him a fine asset to balance Oleksandr Zinchenko on the opposite flank and allow their system to continue flourishing.

The Ukraine international excelled stepping into midfield as the north London outfit pushed for the Premier League title, with his 88% pass accuracy, 80.3 touches and 0.7 key passes per game (via Sofascore) given the platform to succeed from White's defending.

He would maintain the joint third-highest pass completion rate of anyone within his squad too, to emphasise his importance in dictating the play.

Given Henrichs outperforms the England international in these defensive situations, plus has some creativity to push forward should a low-block be frustrating Arteta, he would mark an instant upgrade to allow even more freedom for his potential new 26-year-old teammate.

Kolkata Knight Riders have taken on New Zealand allrounder Colin de Grandhomme, who has a strike-rate of 171 from 91 innings in all T20 cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Apr-20174:33

‘Very happy with the players we’ve got’ – Gambhir

Kolkata Knight Riders have bought New Zealand allrounder Colin de Grandhomme as a replacement for Andre Russell, who is currently serving out a one-year ban for a doping-code violation.De Grandhomme, a medium-pace bowler and a lower-order batsman, made his debut for New Zealand in February 2012. In seamer-friendly conditions, he is capable of generating enough lateral movement to trouble the batsman despite his leisurely pace of 120 kph. He took 6 for 41 in his first Test against Pakistan in November last year. Making him a value addition is his batting strike-rate in all T20 cricket – a whopping 171 after 91 innings.Considering a relaid Eden Gardens pitch afforded surprising assistance to the fast bowlers in its first international match, Knight Riders appear to be stocking up on pace bowling options. They already have Trent Boult and Nathan Coulter-Nile, both known for generating swing and seam.Despite the reinforcement, Knight Riders would feel Russell’s absence. He was an important part of their title-winning run in 2014 and was Man of the Tournament in 2015.”We are not on the back foot,” the allrounder Yusuf Pathan said. “Russell was an important cog in our wheel not only on-field, but in the dressing room also. He is a great character to have. There are situations when players miss out. He will be missed in the dressing room. But we have to look ahead and work with what we have.”Captain Gautam Gambhir echoed similar sentiments. “Either we can see Russell’s absence as a challenge or look at it as an opportunity in bold letters,” he told . “I as an individual, and KKR as a group, are looking it as an opportunity.”Knight Riders begin their IPL campaign on April 7 against Gujarat Lions in Rajkot

Sophie Devine and Leigh Kasperek, who had suffered injuries at the start of the year, have both regained fitness and have been picked in the squad

ESPNcricinfo staff16-May-2017Sixteen-year-old legspinner Amelia Kerr is set to become the youngest New Zealand women’s player at a World Cup, after being picked in the 15-member squad for the tournament which starts in England from June 24.New Zealand squad for Women’s World Cup

Suzie Bates (capt), Erin Bermingham, Sophie Devine, Maddy Green, Holly Huddleston, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Katey Martin, Thamsyn Newton, Katie Perkins, Anna Peterson, Rachel Priest, Hannah Rowe, Amy Satterthwaite (vice-capt), Lea Tahuhu

Sophie Devine, who missed the ODI and T20I series against Australia women due to a thumb injury, returned to the squad, while seamer Hannah Rowe earned a recall, having last played for New Zealand in November 2016. Offspinner Leigh Kasperek, who underwent surgery in February after suffering multiple fractures to her finger, has also returned to the squad. Allrounder Anna Peterson and seamer Holly Huddleston have also been selected for their first 50-over World Cup.Twelve of the 15 members in the World Cup squad had played the World T20 in India last year.Kerr has impressed since her international debut in the home series against Pakistan last year. In seven ODIs, she has taken 10 wickets, including two four-fors, at an average of 22.9 and an economy rate of 3.89″We’ve had a lot of players put their hands up domestically, internationally and during our two recent camps – so the last few spots were particularly fiercely contested,” New Zealand coach Haidee Tiffin said. “I’m really happy with the balance of the squad. I think it’s a strong team who are certainly capable of bringing that cup home.”It’s really exciting to have Amelia in the squad and she’s proved herself more than ready for the big stage. With the likes of Suzie Bates, Amy Satterthwaite, Katey Martin and Sophie Devine – we’re not short on leaders in the group.”There’s been a real focus on our team-first mentality and everyone’s bought into that – which means we’ll turn up in England as a tight, motivated unit.”New Zealand will have a pre-tournament camp in Hampshire from June 11 and will play their opening match against Sri Lanka in Bristol on June 24. New Zealand have won the tournament once – in 2000 – and have been runners-up three times, in 1993, 1997 and 2009.

Last summer, Glasgow Rangers swooped to sign Millwall starlet Zak Lovelace as Giovanni van Bronckhorst looked like he was focusing on youth talent in order to fill out the academy squads and ensuring the Ibrox side had a plethora of teen gems ready to be plucked from the B side when ready over the coming years.

Lovelace made his Millwall debut aged just 15, becoming the second-youngest player to represent the club in their history during a substitute appearance against Coventry City in December 2021 and made another four appearances for the club, which prompted the Gers to make their move once the season finished.

It was a successful 2022/23 season for the 17-year-old, with the added pressure of trying to make an impression in the B team, he scored 18 goals in all competitions while grabbing another ten assists and was even given his first team bow against Queen of the South in August during a League Cup tie.

His performances obviously impressed Michael Beale, as he was given a two minute cameo against Celtic during their excellent 3-0 win in May and the future looks bright for the England U17 international.

With Beale clearly trying to lower the age of the Rangers side, releasing players such as Scott Arfield (34), Allan McGregor (41) and Filip Helander (30) upon the expiration of their contracts, a focus on youth could pay dividends over the next few years.

With this in mind, the Light Blues have been linked with a move for former West Ham United starlet Divine Mukasa according to the Secret Scout, who claims that the youngster has “visited Rangers and Newcastle United” after he left the London side recently.

He confirmed via Instagram he was departing and posted a heartfelt message, saying: “Thank you to all the players and staff at West Ham that have helped to develop me into both the player and person that I am today.

“This club has been my home for the past 10 years and for it to come to an end is bittersweet, but it’s time to move on to the next chapter of my career.”

Who is Divine Mukasa?

The 15-year-old midfielder would be hoping to follow in the same trajectory as Lovelace by moving to Rangers at such a young age, yet he does have pedigree at U16 level, especially for his country.

He has made nine appearances for the England U16 side, scoring three goals, and grabbing one assist during those matches, netting against Scotland, and he certainly showcased his attacking abilities by being deployed just behind the striker.

It’s evident he has a keen eye for goal, and he even managed to register two goal contributions during the U18 Premier League last term, playing against players two years older and this maturity has could entice Beale into luring him to Rangers.

The Ibrox side are trying to add some of the finest talents from South of the border to their academy and by convincing Mukasa that a move to Scotland would be the best for his development, Beale could repeat Rangers’ Lovelace masterclass from 2022.

Newcastle United have begun preparations for next season but have only made one new signing so far this summer, and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia?

According to Saudi news outlet WinWinSport via Corriere Dello Sport, Newcastle have submitted a €95m (£82m) offer to sign Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

As per the report, after signing Sandro Tonali the Magpies are exploring targets in the Serie A and have presented a huge offer to sign Napoli's star player this summer.

How good is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia?

It is no secret that Eddie Howe is looking to strengthen the wider-forward positions of his impressive squad ahead of next season, and the Newcastle boss spoke out following the pre-season friendly with Gateshead to confirm that he is still in the market for new additions this summer:

"There have been difficult days, because obviously you want the end result, you want the best squad you can get. We were very pleased to get Sandro through but we know we need more."

As a result, the signing of Kvaratskhelia could be a huge opportunity for Howe to add more talent to the attacking threat ahead of their highly-anticipated Champions League return, and would be a much better alternative to strongly-linked Leicester City winger, Harvey Barnes – who has been valued at around £40m.

The 22-year-old talent has been a revelation for Napoli of late, ranking first for shot-creating actions, assists, progressive carries and goal-creating actions in the entire Serie A last season, as per FBref, having registered 31 goal involvements in all competitions in his debut season at the club – a far greater return than Barnes enjoyed (16 goals and assists across all fronts).

Not only that, Kvaratskhelia ranks in the top 10% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for shots on goal, assists, progressive carries, successful take-ons and touches, proving that he is one of the hottest attacking prospects in Europe.

The goal-hungry winger also boasts much-needed experience in European competition with 11 appearances, two goals and four assists tallied up, something that could be incredibly valuable to Howe next season.

When comparing the Georgia international's output with Barnes' last season, Kvaratskhelia comfortably outperformed his Leicester counterpart in a number of key attributes in the league, including goal contributions (22 v 14), pass completion (79.2% v 69.8%), shot-creating actions per 90 (4.86 v 2.09), goal-creating actions (0.86 v 0.46), successful take-ons (37.7% v 29.7%) and aerial duels won (38.1% v 33.7%).

The 6 foot ace has been the recipient of high praise over his career so far, with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hailing Kvaratskhelia's impact on the pitch:

“He’s a good player. But he is really good, the boy, and really quick and you have to defend him together in these moments. When he has the advantage of the first movement, then he is already gone."

"You have to try to be there in the moment when the ball arrives, but if you cannot do that then you need to be protected because he has speed, he is cheeky, he goes inside, he can go outside, that makes it always really difficult."

With that being said, if Newcastle could seal a deal for Kvaratskhelia he would be worth every penny and would, without a doubt, prove a far more impressive, albeit far more expensive coup than the signing of Barnes.

Both captains stressed on one thing in the lead-up to a virtual knockout game – the importance of composure

Nagraj Gollapudi10-Jun-2017One lesson India would have taken from the defeat against Sri Lanka is to not get overexcited. India captain Virat Kohli had stressed that the 321-run target set against Sri Lanka was good enough and Sri Lanka had done well to chase it down. That might have surprised Kohli.Faced with a do-or-die encounter against South Africa on Sunday, at the same ground, on the same pitch, Kohli said if India have to win they need to be “composed”.”You need to have a good balance of being competitive and being passionate about the game, but at the same time, not getting overexcited,” Kohli said on Saturday. “The team that treats the game as normal as possible is the team that’s in a better position to get the right result.”Kohli doesn’t believe this is the biggest match of his short career as captain. Such matches raise the tempo and the spirit of the team, he said, and it is something he “craves” for. Kohli’s message to his players was to make sure they did not overstress themselves.”A lot of times, teams come in and they want to do something special and end up messing up the game in important situations. The team that can have most composure, I would say, to sum it up, will have a better chance of winning the game tomorrow. That’s what I’ve experienced in the past. You tend to get overexcited, and then you commit errors that can cost the team important runs, or you fail to grab all the chances because you’re overexcited and that can cost the team as well. I think composure will be the biggest word for tomorrow.”One other man at The Oval agreed with Kohli – AB de Villiers, the South Africa captain. That both men think the same should not come across as strange, only because they cannot afford to let their teams get carried away.De Villiers, more than Kohli, understands what works and what doesn’t in knockout contests. No other team has experienced the full range of emotions in do-or-die matches like South Africa has.”It is really important to stay calm,” de Villiers said. “Not get overexcited. The tendency will be there, because we all live for these kinds of moments.”Retaining the focus and the energy at key moments can be the difference between winning and losing, de Villiers said.”I’m expecting the same kind of intensity and hunger out there tomorrow but with a relaxed kind of mindset. I think that’s really important to remember we are playing a game of cricket, something that we love doing, and to get that smile on our faces out there when we’re playing. It’s going to be really important and I’ll try and lead that from the front.”

Celtic have been linked with Brazilian winger Tete this summer and he is a player who would 'definitely raise the bar' of quality at Parkhead, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Is Tete going to Celtic?

According to Sport Novyny via 67 Hail Hail, Celtic are among the favourites to sign Tete this summer as he looks to depart Shakhtar Donetsk this summer due to fears for his safety owing to the ongoing conflict across Ukraine.

Nevertheless, the Hoops aren't alone in their admiration of the Brazilian £21k-a-week earner, who is also said to be on a three-man shortlist at Fenerbahce alongside Leeds United's Daniel James and Bologna ace Riccardo Orsolini, as per SPOR via The Scottish Sun.

Links between Celtic and Fenerbahce don't stop there, as the Turkish giants are also reportedly eyeing a swoop for Israel international Liel Abada, who would cost a fee 'in excess' of £10 million, as per The Daily Mail.

Last season, Tete enjoyed a decent campaign combining his loan stints at Lyon and Leicester City, notching seven goals and five assists in 33 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano spoke to GIVEMESPORT regarding Celtic's interest in Tete and revealed that Brendan Rodgers' men have been 'discussing' signing the 23-year-old 'internally' this off-season.

Speaking to Football Fancast, journalist Jones thinks that Tete could make a big 'difference' to the Hoops next season, especially in the Champions League.

Jones told FFC: "I mean, there's certainly lots of hype around this right now and he would definitely raise the bar and give them a level of quality that they lack without Jota. To be quite frank, the Champions League has to be a consideration for next season and a player like Tete can make a difference on that stage."

Who else is Brendan Rodgers keen to bring to Celtic this window?

Rodgers has presided over an unusually quiet window at Celtic so far. However, Odin Thiago Holm and Marco Tilio have joined the Scottish champions from Valerenga and Melbourne City, respectively.

Celtic also look set to confirm the addition of Gangwon FC winger Yang Hyun-Jun, who has travelled to London to complete his medical ahead of being officially unveiled, as per The Scottish Sun. Busan IPark defensive midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu is close to joining Celtic in a deal worth around £1 million, according to The Daily Mail.

Football Scotland have revealed that Celtic are 'closing in' on Legia Warsaw central defender Maik Nawrocki amid 'fierce competition' from Galatasaray to sign the German-born Polish youth international.

The report states that Celtic are willing to spend significant money to land Nawrocki's services and manager Rodgers feels that he can challenge both Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers for their slot at the heart of the backline.

Mailplus claim that Volendam defender Xavier Mbuyamba is another name that Celtic are keen on and he is said to be high on a list of potential targets at Parkhead.

90min have mentioned Manchester United outcast Donny van de Beek as a potential option for Celtic to secure a marquee midfield signing; nevertheless, Football Scotland journalist Mark Hendry has ruled out any possibility of the Netherlands international moving to Parkhead.

Andrew Leipus has stepped down from his job as physiotherapist at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Bangalore, according to a report in the

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jul-2017Andrew Leipus has stepped down from his job as physiotherapist at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Bangalore, according to a report in the . Leipus, the newspaper said, had submitted his resignation letter to the BCCI due to the ambiguity surrounding his dual roles at the NCA and IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, and any possible conflict of interest that may amount to. Leipus reportedly had written to BCCI officials several times, asking for clarity on the matter but got no response, forcing him to take this decision.Leipus, who had worked with the Indian team between 1999 and 2004 and was pivotal in raising fitness levels in the national squad, took up the post in the NCA in October 2015. He already had the job with KKR then, but given the recent buzz around the Lodha recommendations regarding conflict of interest, he was doubtful about keeping both roles. According to the Indian Express, due to family commitments he did not want to have a situation in which he was left with neither job, and so he had first written to the BCCI a month ago asking for direction. When no response came, he resigned from the NCA role.A similar issue cropped up for Rahul Dravid, who worked as mentor with Delhi Daredevils and coached India’s Under-19 and A teams. He too had written to the board, asking for clarity on his roles. Not long after, the board confirmed that Dravid will continue in his role as the coach of India A and Under-19 teams for the next two years. This time though, conforming to the recommendations of the Lodha Committee, Dravid’s new contract will run for 12 months each year as opposed to the 10-month contract he had previously – which allowed him to work in the IPL for two months a year.The matter of such conflict of interest was precipitated by a stinging resignation letter from Ramachandra Guha, who gave up his position in the CoA because of what he perceived as inaction from his colleagues against conflicts of interest in Indian cricket. While Guha didn’t directly name Dravid, he contended that it was “contrary to the spirit of the Lodha Committee” for coaches or support staff of India’s senior and junior teams, or staff at the NCA, to have IPL contracts.

Brendan Rodgers returned to Parkhead for a second spell last month to replace Ange Postecoglou as Celtic manager and has been backed by the board during the summer transfer window.

Who have Celtic signed this summer?

The Hoops officially confirmed the signing of Polish central defender Maik Nawrocki on a five-year deal from Legia Warsaw on Wednesday, which has made him the fifth arrival so far.

Australia international Marco Tilio, Norwegian midfielder Odin Thiago Holm, and South Korean duo Hyun-jun Yang and Kyeok-kyu Kwon have also joined the Scottish giants ahead of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign.

However, that may not be the end of their business as Rodgers may look to strengthen his side further before the deadline passes, which is in over a month's time.

One ambitious target the Bhoys have been linked with a possible swoop for is Manchester United central midfielder Donny van de Beek, who is also being eyed up by the likes of Milan, Sevilla, and Crystal Palace, among others.

How good is Donny van de Beek?

The Netherlands international has struggled during his time in England with the Red Devils but his Ajax form indicates that the quality is there for him to be a terrific signing for the Hoops to partner Liel Abada in attack.

Van de Beek has only started 11 Premier League matches in three years since his move to Old Trafford in 2020, which included a loan spell with Everton at the start of 2022.

Prior to that, the 26-year-old whiz, who former Scotland defender Alan Hutton recently claimed would be an "outstanding" signing for Celtic, produced 41 goals and 34 assists in 175 first-team outings for Ajax from a central or attacking midfield position.

The Dutch gem could be a brilliant fit for the number ten role in Rodgers' 4-2-3-1 system, which would see Abada line up alongside him as part of the trident of midfielders behind Kyogo Furuhashi.

Celtic's Israel international was one of the team's top performers last season.

He plundered ten goals in 13 Premiership starts, alongside 21 appearances as a substitute, and ended the campaign as the club's third-top scorer – only behind Jota (11) and Kyogo (27).

Abada also created ten 'big chances' for his teammates and was only rewarded with five assists, which suggests that the other attackers within the squad failed to make the most of his creativity.

Van de Beek, however, could come in and provide the 21-year-old wizard with a reliable scorer alongside him in the attacking midfield positions to finish off the opportunities that he creates.

The former Ajax star scored 28 goals across his last three Eredivisie seasons, which works out at around nine goals per league term.

This could make him an upgrade on Celtic's current options in that position if he is able to translate that form over to Scotland as no central midfielder managed more than six Premiership strikes.

Van de Beek also created 1.8 chances per game during his final league term with Ajax in 2019/20, which only Matt O'Riley (2.1) and Jota (1.9) outperformed for the Hoops throughout the 2022/23 campaign.

Therefore, Abada and the Manchester United man could form a lethal partnership as part of Rodgers' three attackers behind Kyogo due to their respective ability to score and assist goals on a regular basis.

Of course, there is a question mark over whether van de Beek can return to the form he showcased at Ajax but his impressive statistics in his home country suggest that is a gamble worth taking.