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Gareth Southgate gave the fans what they wanted by making changes to his starting line-up that inspired a rousing 3-0 win over Wales

Marcus Rashford is smiling again. And so are England.

After being tamed by the United States last time out, the Three Lions tore Wales to shreds in the second half of an ultimately facile 3-0 victory at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Tuesday night.

The fans had demanded changes after the dismal draw with U.S. on match day two and they got them, with Gareth Southgate bringing Phil Foden and Rashford into a misfiring forward line.

After the pair had switched flanks for the restart, oth players made a massive impact, with Rashford striking either side of a Foden tap-in to move level with Enner Valencia, Kylian Mbappe and Cody Gakpo at the top of the tournament's goalscorers' charts on three goals.

Southgate said afterwards that Rashford is "a different player to the one we had at Euro 2020" and it's impossible to disagree.

Below, GOAL runs through all of the winners and losers from a Rashford-inspired victory that sees a re-energised England progress to the knockout stage of Qatar 2022 as winners of Group B, meaning they will face Senegal in the last 16.

Getty ImagesThe Winners

Marcus Rashford:

One of the most endearing tales of redemption at this World Cup. Rashford has been through a lot over the past 18 months, including the recent loss of one of his close friends. And yet here he is, back in the England squad and a Golden Boot contender at Qatar 2022. Indeed, with most of the media attention fixed on Foden, the resurgent Rashford's claims on a starting spot were largely overlooked, even after he had come off the bench to produce a fine finish in the 6-2 rout of Iran. Now, though, it would be a huge surprise if the Manchester United forward isn't in the side to face Senegal. Rashford was England's one constant threat against Wales, with his pace causing all sorts of problems. Indeed, he'd already forced Danny Ward into one good save before he broke the deadlock with a fine free-kick early in the second half and then embarrassed the Wales goalkeeper again for his second. The little smile he shared with Southgate after his 76th-minute withdrawal said it all: Rashford has been revitalised. "Moments like this," he told the BBC afterwards, "it's what I play football for."

Phil Foden fans:

Let's face it, there would have been uproar among England fans had Phil Foden not started here. They were already understandably enraged that the Manchester City star had been left on the bench for the duration of the bore draw with the USA. There were even suggestions that the England boss had some sort of personal issue with the Manchester City star. That was rubbish, of course. As Jack Grealish pointed out, there's always a clamour around the squad for someone to start. Southgate handled the situation well and was rewarded with a fine performance from Foden against Wales, with the 'Stockport Iniesta' causing chaos with his quick feet. Indeed, Foden didn't just score, he also won the free-kick from which Rashford made it 1-0 with one of his trademark surges towards the penalty area. Of course, the 22-year-old's supporters will argue that he should have been in the starting line-up all along. But, for now, all is calm, at least until the next selection row kicks off ahead of the Senegal game…

England's options out wide:

Seriously, another starting line-up storm is already on its way. It's inevitable given the amount of quality players they have competing for two-to-three attacking roles. There will be pressure on Southgate to stick with this side against Senegal but it's worth remembering that Bukayo Saka was brilliant against Iran, Raheem Sterling is England's big-game player and Mason Mount… well, what manager doesn't want the Chelsea man on the field when both industry and innovation are required against a strong side? Southgate, then, faces more big calls on Sunday. Is it a problem that the manager doesn't yet know his best side? Perhaps. But let's look on the bright side here: at least he has a plethora of possible solutions. It's arguable that no other side in the competition has as many exciting options out wide.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Losers

Harry Kane:

If there was one big negative on the night for England, it was the performance of their one world-class centre-forward. Granted, Kane grabbed an assist – his third of the tournament – after good work by Rashford, with the Spurs striker squaring the ball for Foden to score at the back post. However, if England are to win this tournament, they need Kane firing on all cylinders – and he's just not. Kane's hold up-play is good, his awareness of the runners around him is still there, but he still doesn't look like scoring. He left the field here having had zero shots and just one touch in the penalty area. Kane was replaced just over 10 minutes into the second half, which is just as well because he looks in dire need of a rest right now. Southgate will now be praying that Kane comes alive in the knockout stage, just as he did at Euro 2020.

Senegal:

Having sealed their place in the last 16 with a dramatic win over Ecuador, Senegal's players would have enjoyed watching England's performance in the first half of this game. The Three Lions looked toothless. Again. However, Rashford's free-kick changed everything. After the deflating draw with the U.S., England would have been slated had they been held by a horribly limited Wales. Instead, the boo boys are back on their side again after a scintillating second-half showing that means they will go into Sunday's showdown with Senegal supremely confident of progressing to the quarter-finals.

Gareth Bale:

Was this the end of Gareth Bale's career? If so, it was a desperately sad way for him to bow out, with the winger visibly irked by the attention of a cameraman at full-time. His frustration was, of course, understandable. The man who did so much to get Wales to Qatar was forced to watch on helplessly from the bench as his nation's hopes of qualifying for the last 16 were extinguished within six minutes of his injury-enforced withdrawal. Bale said afterwards that he will play as long as he can and as long as he's wanted. His compatriots will certainly be hoping he continues and we know that the love of playing for his country has been the only thing motivating Bale over the past year or so. However, it would not be at all surprising to see the 33-year-old walk away for two reasons: firstly, his long-standing injury issues; and secondly, the hard truth that it could be some time before this Championship-level Wales side qualify for another major international tournament.

Getty ImagesEngland Ratings: Defence

Jordan Pickford (6/10):

A virtual spectator for most of this mismatch. Only called into action once.

Kyle Walker (6/10):

Decent night's work. Got just over 56 minutes under his belt on his return from injury.

John Stones (7/10):

His looping header from a corner was one of England's better efforts in the first half. The odd poor pass aside, he was his usual dependable self.

Harry Maguire (7/10):

Surged forward just after the half-hour mark and tried his luck with a shot that went out for a throw. However, defensively, he was once again impressive, showing off good anticipation and timing.

Luke Shaw (5/10):

Wasn't given much to work to do but he offered nothing going forward. His starting spot could be under threat, with Trippier an option on the left-hand side.

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Getty ImagesMidfield

Jordan Henderson (6/10):

As expected, brought plenty of purpose and passion after being recalled in place of Mason Mount, winning plenty of duels. But may not have done enough to hold onto his starting spot.

Declan Rice (7/10):

His usual dependable self, protecting the back four well while at the same time keeping the ball moving.

Jude Bellingham (7/10):

Always dangerous when he got a chance to run at players and get into the box. Looked the man most likely to make something happen before Rashford took centre stage.

Only 30 miles down the road from England’s debacle at Lord’s, life at Tunbridge Wells chugged along much as always

Andrew Miller at Tunbridge Wells20-Jul-2015
ScorecardRob Key was one of five Kent batsmen to pass fifty•Getty ImagesRavi, Jesse, Hoddy and Napes. As rampant seam attacks go, it’s not really a patch on Josh and the Three Mitches. But, for most of the patrons at the Nevill Ground in Tunbridge Wells, that was a somnambulantly pleasing fact.Thirty miles and several light-years from the scene of yesterday’s crime at Lord’s, life went on as normal in Kent’s most idyllic of outgrounds. Kent churned out the runs, 352 of them on the day, for the loss of four wickets. Essex stuck wilfully to their task, outplayed on the day maybe, but proving positively incisive compared to the horrors being endured by Sussex’s and Glamorgan’s bowlers at Horsham and Colwyn Bay.Fourth versus eighth in the second division of the LV= County Championship brought with it an excuse not to be drawn to the edge of one’s seat, or chew one’s nails to the quick. Instead it was an excuse to sit back and soak in, as Kent closed on an imposing 420 for 4, a lead of 160 leaving them well placed to exact revenge for their five-wicket defeat on a Chelmsford minefield in April.The spectators who bimbled around the boundary’s edge included plenty refugees from England’s Ashes debacle: horrified survivors of that grim fourth day, as well as mildly bewildered holders of those now-redundant fifth-day tickets, all booked up but with nowhere to go.In between their perusals of the second-hand bookstall at midwicket, or their chats with Jack Russell – the Gloucestershire and England legend was incongruously in situ, selling signed copies of his painting compilations – the faithful were rewarded with a meandering day of accumulation.None of Kent’s batsmen made fewer than Sam Northeast’s 43, but Daniel Bell-Drummond’s 81 from 71 balls – 46 of which had come in his first-evening onslaught – remained the clubhouse-leading score by the close.His aggression and timing was matched, in the gloaming, by the evergreen Darren Stevens, who enlived the evening session with 11 fours and a fierce six over midwicket off David Masters, as he and Ben Harmison laid into the new ball to carry the total past 400 in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 117.In between whiles, Kent’s batsmen took turns to drive the innings along without ever seizing the day by the scruff of the neck. Bell-Drummond looked the likeliest to do so, but with the third ball of his second spell, Ryder bowled him off a big inside-edge, his deceptively lolloping run-up giving way to a command of swing and seam that has now earned him 34 wickets at 23.76.Rob Key, restored to the opener’s role that he had relinquished during his last stint as captain, made a confident 71 – a lower-octane affair than his 87 against the Australians at Canterbury last month, maybe, after which he had joked that he wasn’t paid enough to face Mitchell Johnson at full tilt, but one which ended amid the threat of unexpected bounce. Graham Napier kicked one off a good length and Key, visibly taken aback, flapped an uncommitted pull to a stooping Nick Browne at square leg.That ought to have been Napier’s second of the day after Joe Denly had been dropped by Ryder at slip before he had scored. But he was quickly into his stride thereafter, clipping Napier through midwicket to get off the mark, and moving serenely along to 69 from 121 balls before Ravi Patel, the left-arm spinner, bowled him through a loose drive.Northeast, by that stage, had lost his leg stump to Jamie Porter, Essex’s quickest bowler whose methods were less suited to the conditions than those of his team-mates – his 18 overs were milked for 105 runs, including a loose morning spell in which Key and Bell-Drummond had picked off the boundaries at will.”I always enjoy playing at Tunbridge Wells, it’s always a decent wicket and enjoyed spending some time out there today,” said Denly at the close. “It’d be good to get one over Essex, and we are in a very strong position. Hopefully tomorrow we can kick on again, get a good lead and hopefully put them under some pressure.”It was very slow wicket,” he added. “Early on, Keysy and Deebs [Bell-Drummond] played very well with the newer harder ball, but when it got softer it was pretty hard to score and time, and my innings was a little bit scratchy. But at the end when the new ball was taken, Stevo and Ben were able to score a bit more freely and put us in a good position.”

Former New Zealand bowler Gavin Larsen has been named a national selector as a replacement for Bruce Edgar, who stood down from the position in May

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jul-2015Former New Zealand bowler Gavin Larsen has been named a national selector as a replacement for Bruce Edgar, who stood down from the position in May.Larsen will assist New Zealand coach Mike Hesson in picking the Test, ODI, T20I as well as the New Zealand A squads. Larsen’s first task will selecting the squad for the tour to Zimbabwe and South Africa, which will be announced on Thursday.”Gavin will be a real asset,” NZC’s Head of Cricket Lindsay Crocker said. “His breadth of experience – as a player, as a Cricket World Cup administrator and a former chief executive of Cricket Wellington means he’s stayed close and connected to the game.”Larsen, who served as a Cricket Operations Manager for New Zealand during the World Cup, expressed excitement about the new role. “I have the utmost respect and admiration for the way the Blackcaps have moved things forward under Mike’s direction and I’m looking forward to helping that progress continue.”It’s impossible not to be impressed by the consistency and stability of the selection process in recent years, which, I believe, points to excellence in terms of leadership.”Larsen played 121 ODIs and eight Tests between 1990 and 1999.

Pakistan are ranked No. 3 in Test cricket and Bangladesh are ninth. But on current form, Pakistan’s unbeaten record against Bangladesh in Tests is likely to be threatened in Mirpur

The Preview by Umar Farooq05-May-2015Match factsMay 6-10, 2015
Start time 1000 local (0400 GMT)1:27

Isam: Test of Pakistan’s nerves

Big pictureBefore this tour could go ahead, the BCB had to agree to compensate the PCB monetarily for two cancelled visits in 2012. The amount offered and accepted was $325,000. But the money doesn’t seem so important now. Honour is, and Pakistan’s is at stake.Pakistan arrived in Dhaka in April with an unbeaten bilateral series record against Bangladesh. Over the next 20 days they were blanked 0-3 in the ODIs, lost the T20 international, and were on the receiving end of a record-breaking batting performance from Bangladesh in the drawn first Test. They have one more opportunity to salvage something from this tour.Pakistan are the No. 3 ranked Test side. Bangladesh are ninth. Pakistan have never lost a Test to Bangladesh but to preserve that record they will have to battle a hungry side in unprecedented form. Bangladesh have shown improvement in every aspect of the game, and Misbah-ul-Haq said his team had underestimated their opponent but would regroup with a different approach for the second Test. Their prestige hinges on it.Form guideBangladesh DWWWL (last five matches, most recent first)
Pakistan DLDWWIn the spotlightImrul Kayes kept wicket for 120 overs before batting Bangladesh out of trouble with a career best 150. It is the hardest he has had to work in a cricket match, so it remains to be seen how he has recovered physically going into the second Test.Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to take wickets in the second innings in Khulna. Wahab Riaz, the leader of the attack and the only bowler to trouble Tamim Iqbal and Imrul, needs to step up for Pakistan and be the difference between the sides in Mirpur.Team newsShahadat Hossain could take the injured Rubel Hossain’s spot in Bangladesh’s XI. The big decision is whether to pick the defensive option of a batting allrounder – Shuvagata Hom – or the more attacking one of a legspinner – Jubair Hossain. Mohammad Shahid could play his second Test after impressing the senior players.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Imrul Kayes, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Mahmudullah, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), 6 Shakib Al Hasan, 7 Soumya Sarkar 8 Shuvagata Hom/Jubair Hossain, 9 Taijul Islam, 10 Shahadat Hossain, 11 Mohammad ShahidPakistan called in Bilawal Bhatti as cover for Rahat Ali but they are unlikely to change their line-up. They rested all their front-line seamers on Monday, giving them ample rest before the Test.Pakistan (probable): 1 Sami Aslam, 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed, 8 Wahab Riaz, 9 Junaid Khan, 10 Yasir Shah, 11 Zulfiqar BabarPitch and conditionsThe Mirpur pitch is likely to play like the one in Khulna did. It will provide another run feast but there are chances of cracks developing later in the game. The forecast is for high temperatures and the chance of rain is remote.Stats and trivia Mohamamd Hafeez is 136 short of 3000 Test runs. He also needs three wickets to make it to 50 wickets. In Khulna, Tamim and Imrul not only broke a 55-year old record for the highest opening partnership in the second innings of a Test match, they also broke the record for the largest deficit (296 runs) wiped out without losing a wicket.Quotes”We will try to keep them winless in the tour.”
“There is still no favourite in the series as both are equal. Whoever wants to win this has to be at their best on every particular day.”

USMNT star Gio Reyna has been linked with a move to La Liga side Real Sociedad this January.

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Reyna signs with new agentOn the outskirts of XI at DortmundLinked with move to Real SociedadWHAT HAPPENED?

After signing with super agent Jorge Mendes earlier this week, Reyna is already drawing suitors for a January move away from Dortmund. The latest team showing interest is Real Sociedad, per Noticias de Gipuzkoa in Spain.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Reyna has been struggling for minutes all season long, earning just one start for Edin Terzic in competitive fashion. Now, with the arrival of Jadon Sancho on loan from Manchester United, the USMNT star is being pushed even further down the pecking order. A move away seems to be the best option for both parties.

DID YOU KNOW

Reyna has seven goals in 24 caps on the international stage with the USMNT. He has come through the Dortmund academy and has made 118 appearances in all competitions.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR REYNA

Dortmund take on SV Darmstadt Saturday morning, with a match against Koln on the cards seven days later. If a transfer comes about, the U.S. international will hope it arrives sooner rather than later.

Mashrafe Mortaza was optimistic of receiving backing from the stands during their World Cup opening match against Afghanistan, but Bangladesh’s form in the warm-ups has not generated the same confidence

The Preview by Abhishek Purohit in Canberra17-Feb-2015Match factsFebruary 18, 2015
Start time 1430 local (0330 GMT)Big PictureCanberra’s streets are so quiet even during the day, you wonder when you might next spot some life around, forget coming to know that there is a World Cup in town. That will change next afternoon, when Bangladesh take on Afghanistan in both teams’ tournament opener. Like all the four major South Asian teams, Bangladesh have plenty of support in Australia, particularly around Sydney, from where a lot of fans are expected to make the drive to Canberra.Mashrafe Mortaza was optimistic of receiving backing from the stands during the match, but Bangladesh’s form in the warm-ups has not generated the same confidence. The loss to Pakistan, albeit close, was not unexpected but the defeat to Ireland would have hurt. Bangladesh have trained hard post those losses, and Mortaza appreciated the efforts put in by his players.The onus has to be on Bangladesh here, given they are the Full Member side with nearly 15 years of Test history. However, Afghanistan beat Bangladesh the only time they met them in the ODI format in the Asia Cup last March, and have taken down Zimbabwe twice in four meetings. The fact that all those three wins came at the home of the opposition is revealing too, and Afghanistan believe Australian conditions suit them better.Ireland chasing 300-plus against West Indies in Nelson has already set an early standard for Associates in this World Cup, and not only Afghanistan, but Bangladesh are also taking that result as an inspiration. They know how hard it is going to be for them to beat two of Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Australia and England, which is why they cannot afford another slip-up against Afghanistan.Form guide(last five matches, most recent first)
Afghanistan WLLWL
Bangladesh WWWWWIn the spotlightThe Afghanistan fast bowlers are tall and quick. The usually short Bangladesh batsmen will have to handle the extra bounce, something they are not used to at home and something they have been working on in the nets. The likes of Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim have the strokes, but it will be a matter of getting in first.Tamim Iqbal made 81 against Pakistan in the warm-up game but he has been feeling his way back from knee surgery. He has not been extending himself during training. He does not have any major worries, and even if there is a niggle or two, Mortaza said his experienced opener was mentally strong enough to do his job well.Teams newsBangladesh’s four fast bowlers skipped optional training on Tuesday, as did left-arm spinner Taijul Islam. The batsmen, however, had a hit. Mominul Haque provides them a solid option in the top order but he has not clicked in the warm-ups. Soumya Sarkar can bat up the order and provides a few overs of seam-up too.Bangladesh: (probable) 1 Anamul Haque, 2 Tamim Iqbal, 3 Soumya Sarkar, 4 Mahmudullah, 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk) , 7 Sabbir Rahman/Nasir Hossain, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 9 Taijul Islam, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Rubel HossainAfghanistan chose to train under lights late in the evening before the match. Fast bowler Shapoor Zadran had a knee niggle but was expected to be fine to play.Afghanistan (probable): 1 Javed Ahmadi, 2 Usman Ghani, 3, Asghar Stanikzai, 4 Najibullah Zadran,  5 Samiullah Shenwari,  6 Mohammad Nabi (capt), 7 Afsar Zazai (wk), 8 Gulbadin Naib/Mirwais Ashraf , 9 Dawlat Zadran, 10 Hamid Hassan, 11 Shapoor ZadranPitch and conditionsManuka Oval is known to be full of runs. Just last month, England collected 364 and 391 in two practice one-dayers before the tri-series here. In the second one, the opposition replied with 331.Temperatures are expected to be around 30 degrees in Canberra, which has seen some clouds come over in the evening past couple of days, although there hasn’t been rain.Stats and trivia Bangladesh have never played at a venue other than Cairns or Darwin in Australia Afghanistan have played only ten ODIs against Full Member sides Bangladesh’s win-loss record is 8-17 in World CupsQuotes”We have some very good quicks. Yes, they’re still young, but they have the potential and hopefully they’ll do their job. I feel that our spinners are world class and can bowl on any wicket.”
“Honestly, we’re here to compete in every fixture. We’re not here to fill fixtures. We believe if we play good cricket, we’ll challenge every side that we play against.”

Ricardo Pepi scored a stoppage-time winner to seal a brilliant comeback from PSV against Sevilla in the Champions League.

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PSV fight back from 2-0Score winner in stoppage timePepi nets with flying headerGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Pepi scored a last-gasp winner for PSV to seal a 3-2 win for the Eredivisie side in the Champions League. Sevilla had been 2-0 up but were pegged back when Ismael Saibari pulled on back. An own goal from Nemanja Gudelj then made it 2-2 before Pepi's late heroics.

The striker's goal came from a fantastic cross from Yorbe Vertessen, who put the ball right onto Pepi's head. After evading his defender, Pepi powered the ball home, leaving Sevilla with no hope as he knocked them out of the Champions League while keeping PSV's knockout round dreams alive.

With the win, PSV sit second in the group and sealed advancement thanks to Arsenal's lopsided win over Lens later on Wednesday.

AdvertisementWATCH THE CLIPGettyDID YOU KNOW?

Sergino Dest and Ricardo Pepi are the first pair of USMNT teammates to record a Champions League goal contribution in the same matcH.

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WHAT NEXT FOR PSV?

Pepi and PSV will face Feyenoord this weekend in a battle of the Eredivisie's top two sides. PSV enter with a seven-point lead atop the league, and a win at Feyenoord would be a massive, massive blow even this early in the title race.

The club, meanwhile, will play its Champions league group stage finale against Arsenal on December 12.

Manoj Tiwary became Abahani Limited’s third Indian recruit in the Dhaka Premier League in 2016

Mohammad Isam16-May-2016Bengal batsman Manoj Tiwary became Abahani Limited’s third Indian recruit in the Dhaka Premier League in 2016. The 30-year old batsman replaced wicketkeeper Manvinder Bisla; before Bisla, Abahani had acquired the services of wicketkeeper Uday Kaul.Tiwary began his DPL career with 40 off 50 balls against Kalabagan Cricket Academy in Fatullah on Monday.Indian players are not strangers to the DPL, but this season there has been a significant number of signings. Brothers Union recruited Milind Kumar, the Saxena brothers Jatin and Jalaj are playing for Kalabagan and Legends of Rupganj respectively, and Prime Bank Cricket Club signed Sachin Rana, who was making his debut along with Tiwary in the current round of matches.Each team is allowed only one overseas player in the XI, but they can register as many as they want to be part of the squad.Some of the other Indians who have played in the Dhaka League are Raman Lamba, Yuvraj Singh, Ajay Jadeja, Arun Lal, Ashok Malhotra, Iqbal Abdulla, Rajat Bhatia, Chetan Sharma, Sanjeev Sharma, Rohan Gavaskar, Amol Muzumdar and Aakash Chopra.

Opener Chris Rogers has said he considered retiring from cricket after being struck in the helmet during the second Test against India at the Gabba

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jan-2015Opener Chris Rogers has said he considered retiring from cricket after being struck in the helmet during the second Test against India at the Gabba.Rogers was fielding at short leg when he turned to avoid a sweep from Rohit Sharma and was hit on the back of the helmet, appearing shaken and avoiding the team doctor Peter Brukner, who came on the field to assess him.Coming so soon after the death of Phillip Hughes, who was hit on the neck below where the protection of his helmet ended, Rogers naturally had thoughts of what could have happened. He said”It was an interesting time after what happened with Phil,” Rogers told . “There are a lot of guys who are finding it pretty hard. Mortality hadn’t really been an issue in the game. I fielded at short leg on the last day in the Test when Michael Clarke got injured in Adelaide, and I took one on the hip there, and I didn’t do very well [with the bat], so I wasn’t happy with my own form.”Then we went up to Brisbane and day one I was under there and Rohit Sharma swept one and he hit me in the back of the helmet, and it’s only inches away from where Phil got hit. So you just have different thoughts go through your head. That night I was pretty upset so I just wasn’t sure which way to go. I had to speak to a few people close to me.”However, Rogers returned to batting form with a pair of half-centuries at the Gabba, the start of a run of six straight fifties to close out the series against India. On Wednesday he will captain the Prime Minister’s XI against England in Canberra, and it is likely that the same opposition will provide his Test swansong on this year’s Ashes tour.”You never say never, but it might be a nice way to round my career out,” Rogers said of the Ashes campaign. “I’ve played a lot over in England, it would mean a lot to me. But also, I think, looking forward for the Australian side, there’s got to be a time when they start to rebuild the side, and maybe with the Tests that are on next summer there might be a little bit less pressure and it might be the ideal time for a younger guy to come in and get some experience.”I can see the writing on the wall with that as well, but also I think time is nearly up for me. I’m getting on and maybe there’s other things to do in life.”

Sri Lanka coach Marvan Atapattu has said that he is confident his team can chase down 370 to win the Galle Test

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Galle19-Jul-20144:15

Willing to put up a fight – Atapattu

Marvan Atapattu – “A team hasn’t gone past 300 in the fourth innings here, but we’ve got a team inside the dressing room who are willing to fight”•AFPFormer Sri Lanka coaches have often spoken of the team’s thrill for a fight, particularly from poor positions. As the man currently in that job, Marvan Atapattu delivered a fighting talk of his own, after the fourth day in Galle.Sri Lanka remain 260 runs adrift on a wearing surface, and although the hosts would have to score the highest-ever fourth innings total at the venue as well as break their own record for the highest fourth-innings chase, Atapattu has not ruled out victory yet.”It’s a challenging total,” he said. “A team hasn’t gone past 300 in the fourth innings at this venue, but we’ve got a team inside the dressing room who’re willing to fight. That I can guarantee you. We’re aiming to get the amount of runs but we’ll fight to get through the first session tomorrow and see where we’ll be placed at.”Sri Lanka faced a first-innings deficit of 163, and the only time a side has overturned a deficit of that size at the venue, was when Australia defeated Sri Lanka in 2004, after the hosts had scored 161 more runs in the first innings. The highest successful fourth innings chase in Galle is 96, but Sri Lanka will take heart that their highest chase of 352 also came against South Africa.”I haven’t seen that stat, but that is something I’ll look into and probably have in the dressing room for all of us to be motivated,” Atapattu said. “It’s good to know that people have done it, but even if someone hasn’t done it – it doesn’t mean that you can’t do it.”It’s all in the mind and how you think and the confidence levels. In a situation when you have the whole day to get the runs – don’t get me wrong, it’s not easy or guaranteed with the attack they have – but there is a chance. It’s a bold declaration from Amla, encouraging us to go for our shots.”Their bowlers might have a few more chances from our batsmen, going for shots. After the first innings when South Africa got to 255 on the first day, for the game to be poised at this position, is a credit to both teams and how they’ve played.”Atapattu also suggested the Galle surface remained a good one for batting, despite its history of taking extravagant turn. South Africa scored 206 at over four runs an over on Saturday – though they did lose six wickets – and Sri Lanka reached 110 for 1 by stumps, going at well over three runs an over.”This wicket has turned square when Muttiah Muralitharan bowled here and he would have turned it square on any wicket. Some of us had been misled. Yes the wicket is good and the batsmen have adapted, used their feet, swept, reserve swept, handled situations, and handled bowlers differently, because there’s no bowler called Murali. He would have been in a different proposition had he been here.”Despite the optimism, Atapattu was also sober in his assessment of the challenges his team would face on the final day, particularly in the form of reverse swing and spin. Imran Tahir, South Africa’s No.l spinner, would appear one of their primary hopes for victory.”It could be anybody from that attack tomorrow that poses a major threat. They’re all quality bowlers. For a legspinner, I believe that he [Tahir] can come into the game at any time on a track like that, when somebody has the variety that he has. We will play with respect and look to put the bad ball away.”