Pace bowling was crucial to England’s unprecedented 3-0 series win here two years ago. Whereas the spinners on the opposing sides were well-matched, the touring seamers comfortably outperformed Pakistan’s – 26 wickets at an average of 23.2 compared to 11 at 62.7.
England’s new-look pace attack was a concern going into this first Test, yet they performed well, especially in reducing Pakistan to 59-5 in the second innings.
Brydon Carse is the third pace bowler to make his Test debut since July, as England build their Ashes-focused attack. The Durham man might well have got his cap in the home summer had he not been serving a ban for historic gambling offences.
In Multan, Carse did a decent imitation of his Durham team-mate Mark Wood, who is absent injured. In taking four wickets, as well as having one chalked off by DRS and a dropped catch, Carse averaged 85.2mph, bending his back to bowl 42% of his deliveries as bouncers.
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As a comparison, on the last tour, Wood averaged 88.7mph and sent down half his deliveries as bumpers.
It can be frustrating to see England using bowlers of high pace only as battering rams – Jamie Overton, Olly Stone and Josh Tongue have had similar treatment – but sometimes needs must.
In the right conditions, Wood is given licence to show his considerable skills and the hope is Carse will one day get the same opportunity. Either way, England like him, and he only enhanced his reputation in Multan.
Nottingham Forest issued the highly critical post on X about five minutes after full-time in that April match at Goodison Park – which left the club one point above the relegation zone at the time.
In a controversial game, Forest were upset by referee Anthony Taylor ignoring three penalty appeals, including when Everton’s Ashley Young handled in the closing moments of the opening half and then when the veteran tangled with Callum Hudson-Odoi as he raced in on goal.
The Key Match Incident Panel – an independent panel that reviews decisions after each round of Premier League fixtures – found Forest should have been awarded a penalty for Young’s challenge on Hudson-Odoi in the 55th minute.
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Forest said they had “warned” the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL) that “the VAR is a Luton fan but they didn’t change him”.
“Three extremely poor decisions – three penalties not given – which we simply cannot accept,” the club posted on X, external on 21 April.
“Our patience has been tested multiple times.”
Although they did not name the official, the VAR was Attwell.
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Forest were charged by the FA, who sought a fine in excess of £1m over the club’s “egregious, direct and public attack”.
The written reasons for the ruling confirmed that Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer of PGMOL, and Mark Clattenburg, then a referee analyst employed by Forest, did discuss the fact that Attwell was a Luton fan during a call on 19 April – two days before the match.
However, the commission says it was “common ground” between the parties that no representations or requests were made to change the VAR for the match.
Attwell gave a statement to the panel which described the “stress, distress, fear and embarrassment caused to him” as a result of the post.
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The panel found the impact on the official had “plainly been very significant,” adding: “To Stuart Attwell, the harm has continued well beyond the short period contended for by NFFC.”
Everton’s win over Forest moved them five points clear of the relegation zone with a game in hand on Luton, with Forest in deep trouble, only a point ahead of the Hatters.
In the end, both Forest and Everton stayed up while Luton went down.
Clattenburg left his position at Forest on the day the club were charged by the FA, having been given a formal warning himself.
But in a bitter blow to Red Devils chiefs as they consider their options, the German could now be set to replace Gareth Southgate.
German outlet Bild report the ex-Chelsea boss is in negotiations to become the new manager of the Three Lions.
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It comes after Ten Hag appeared to have kept his job at Old Trafford following a long meeting with Man Utd chiefs in London on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, Interim England boss Lee Carsley suffered a potentially decisive blow to his aspirations of taking the job on full-time after an embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Greece last night.
Speaking in 2022, he said: “Yeah, why not? I would, I would. I did not give too much thought to it until now.
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“But I would consider if it is the right team and if it has the potential to win trophies like the World Cup and the Euros.”
Asked specifically about England, who then had Southgate in charge, he said: “I see where you are going. But I think England has a good coach right now.
Carsley appeared resigned to not being handed the keys to the senior team for much longer.
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Speaking after the defeat to Greece, the 50-year-old said: “I was surprised after the last camp [to hear], ‘The job’s mine, it’s mine to lose.’
“My remit is I am doing three camps and then hopefully going back to the Under-21s…
“I said at the start that I wouldn’t rule myself in or out.
“And that’s still the case. I’m more than comfortable in my position where I am.
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“The remit was clear. I’m comfortable and confident with that.
“After the first camp, I definitely didn’t get too excited or believe too much.
“I’m very aware that this job is one of the best in the world in terms of you’ve actually got a chance of winning.
“Obviously, I’m talking about that after a loss but in terms of a major competition – and that’s still the case.”
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England’s job advert for new boss
The FA’s seven requirements to succeed Gareth Southgate:
Will hold a Uefa Pro License.
Will have significant experience of English football, with a strong track record delivering results in the Premier League and/or leading international competitions.
Will be an exceptional leader who understands and will enjoy the international football environment.
Will be experienced in successfully identifying, managing and developing English qualified players.
Will be highly resilient and comfortable in a very high-profile role with intense public scrutiny.
Will have a track record of creating a high performing, positive team culture and environment.
Will have strong personal values and integrity and understand and embrace the role that the England Men’s Senior Team Head Coach has inspiring the nation.
Britain and Italy will contest the inaugural Women’s America’s Cup final on Saturday after advancing through a four-race semi-final in Barcelona.
A British Athena Pathway team led by Hannah Mills won the third race on Friday and held off boats from Spain, Sweden, New Zealand and the Netherlands to progress.
Racing in high-tech foiling AC40 monohulls, lifted just above the water on hydrofoils, the black-sailed boats reached speeds of around 30 knots as they sped around the course.
“That was so stressful,” said Mills on the America’s Cup live broadcast.
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The two-time Olympic gold medallist in the Women’s 470, added: “It’s amazing to be in the first ever Women’s America’s Cup final. We are all so happy.
“We will enjoy this moment and then focus on what I’m sure will be an exciting and action-packed race against the Italians.”
The event has been welcomed as a pathway to gain experience in the state-of-the art foiling boats which have been dominated by men, improving the opportunities for women at the highest level of professional sailing.
“It’s such a joy, I’m so happy,” said Italian co-helm Giulia Conti on reaching the head-to-head final, which organisers say will now take place on Saturday, a day earlier than previously scheduled.
LAS VEGAS – UFC Fight Night 244 weigh-ins took place Friday, and the fighters came face-to-face one final time before Saturday’s event.
The weigh-ins took place at the UFC Apex, which hosts Saturday’s event (ESPN+). Check out the video above to see the athletes from all 13 scheduled matchups come face-to-face, and don’t miss the photo gallery below.
But Klopp reportedly netted £15m in his final years at Liverpool, making him the second highest paid boss in the Prem behind Pep.
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The former Dortmund manager has signed a long-term contract with Red Bull but will not begin in his new job until January 1 2025.
Arne Slot aims dig at Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool boss says ‘I’m a stupid manager if 12.30pm kick offs are more difficult’
Klopp has been assured that he can exit this contract if there is a concrete offer that he wishes to pursue.
The German had been enjoying his time off, stating that he didn’t want to take up a coaching role and needed a rest after making his decision at the start of the year.
The position of the German national team head coach remains an option for him.
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Klopp has been linked to the Germany job in the past and has made no secret of his desire to become manager one day.
In 2023 he said: “It’s not completely out of the question that I’ll be the national coach at some point.
“But it has to fit. And so far it hasn’t. And if I end the contract in Liverpool, then nothing will definitely be done for a year.”
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