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Nottingham Forest have reportedly made their move for a "fantastic" player who will feature at Euro 2024 this summer, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Nottingham Forest transfer news

After narrowly avoiding relegation from the Premier League to the Championship in 2023/24, amid points deduction struggles, Reds supporters will hope that more positive times are on the horizon under Nuno Espirito Santo. In order for that to happen, some high-quality additions are needed in the summer transfer window, and various players have been linked with moves to the City ground.

Benfica midfielder Florentino Luis is one such target for Forest, with the 24-year-old possibly considered an upgrade on Ibrahim Sangare in the middle of the park. He made 30 appearances for the Portuguese giants in the Primeira Liga in 2023/24, averaging 2.6 tackles per game and showing why he could be a tenacious presence at the base of Nuno's midfield.

A new goalkeeper could also be looked at ahead of next season, with Matt Turner not always convincing between the sticks, and Bayern Munich stopper Daniel Peretz has emerged as an eye-catching loan option. A host of clubs are keen on snapping him up, with Manuel Neuer's continued brilliance at the German giants making it almost impossible for him to make an impact.

Meanwhile, Luis isn't the only Benfica player who is reportedly being looked at by Forest, with highly-rated centre-back Morato seen as a potential addition, being viewed as the club's new version of Murillo, who has impressed to date.

Nottingham Forest make offer to striker

According to Romano on X, Nottingham Forest have sent a proposal to Southampton striker Che Adams and appear to be leading the race ahead of Wolves, with the Reds confident they'll get a deal over the line this summer:

The 27-year-old played his part in Saints getting back into the top flight last month, too, scoring 16 goals in the Championship, while former manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has said of him in the past: "He is a guy who is one day a little bit frustrated when he sees he doesn’t play but then when the game comes, he shows up immediately and this is fantastic. That’s why we brought him here."

The fact that Adams hasn't always been a regular starter for Southampton could mean he wants a new challenge, and he is out of contract this month, meaning Forest would be able to snap him up on a free transfer.

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The £30,000-a-week forward is fully expected to make Scotland's final squad for Euro 2024 and could well start the tournament's opening game against Germany on June 14th, especially after fellow striker Lyndon Dykes was ruled out through injury. That shows the calibre of player that Adams is, and he could add firepower and pedigree to Nuno's squad.

تحدث محمود فتح الله عن مستقبل الزمالك والمصري في بطولة الكونفدرالية الإفريقية، مشيرًا إلى أنهما سيصعدان لدور الـ16 بنسبة 95% لكن الفكرة في مشوار الناديين فيما بعد.

وقال فتح الله في تصريحات تلفزيونية بفضائية “أون تايم سبورتس 2”: “لا بد أن يكون الزمالك حريصًا أكثر، بعد التقدم بهدفين من المفترض أنه من المستحيل أن يعود الخصم في اللقاء، لكن الأبيض في الشوط الثاني تراجع والخصم كان يُهاجم بقوة، لا بد أن نتعلم من هذه المباريات، ونُعالج الأخطاء لأن المباريات القادمة ستكون صعبة أكثر”.

وأضاف: “بالتأكيد حزنت من عدم فوز الزمالك على إنيمبا النيجيري، كنا نستطيع أن نعود بـ3 نقاط، لكن لا بد أن يُعالج جوميز الأخطاء، التعامل في الشوط الثاني دائمًا يكون مشتركًا بين اللاعبين والجهاز الفني، ولا نريد أن نقف عند هذا اللقاء، على الفريق أن يتعلم منه وينظر للأمام لأن المنافسة القادمة قوية في كل البطولات”.

عفت نصار: مستوى لاعب الزمالك بعيد عن الاحتراف.. وجوميز سبب التعادل مع إنيمبا

واستكمل: “يجب تدعيم الفريق، لأن القوام ينقصه الكثير، يحتاج من 4 لـ6 صفقات لخلق التنافس أيضًا بين اللاعبين، لأن هذا سيعود بالفائدة على الفريق ككل”.

واستطرد: “قوام الزمالك يحتاج لما لا يقل عن 4 صفقات، لأن الأبيض اسم كبير وعليه أن يدخل في كل بطولة بغرض الفوز بها، نعلم أن الإدارة تعاني من ضغوط كبيرة وتتحمل الكثير من الصعاب”.

وأكد: “بيراميدز يمتلك قائمة قوية جدًا، ومن كثرة الحديث عن قوتها يتعرضون للحسد، اليوم غاب 9 لاعبين، ومع ذلك الـ11 لاعبًا الذي شاركوا كلهم أساسيين، وعلى بيراميدز إذا أراد أن يتوج بالبطولات ألا يُفرط في أي فوز، بيراميدز ينقصه الجماهير والإعلام، فعليه أن يبذل 150% من مجهوده أكثر من الفرق الأخرى”.

لاعب نيجيريا السابق: استمتعت بـ الزمالك أمام إنيمبا.. ونحن الآن في زمن محمد صلاح

واستكمل: “بيراميدز يمتلك نجومًا كثرين، وهذا الكم من النجوم يحتاج للتعامل بشكل معين، إذا أراد أن يحصل على بطولات يجب ألا يُفرط في التفاصيل وكل لاعب يبذل أقصى ما لديه، لأنه يُنافس الزمالك والأهلي بقوتهم وجماهيرهم، فلا بد أن ينتهز بيراميدز الفرصة ويستغل القائمة التي يملكها والإمكانيات المتوفرة لديهم وصعب تواجدها في أندية أخرى، يجب أن يُصدقوا أنفسهم، ويلعبون كل مباراة على أنها مباراة كأس”.

وأتم: “الزمالك يحتاج لمدافع، وبيراميدز يمتلك 4 مدافعين أقوياء، وأيضًا فيستون ماييلي لو انضم للابيض سيكون مُفيدًا، وأيضًا الأبيض يحتاج جناح وبيراميدز يمتلك إبراهيم عادل وصديق إيجولا وعبد الرحمن مجدي ومصطفى فتحي”.

Ipswich Town fans will be praying that Kieran McKenna stays put in the Tractor Boys dug-out for their maiden Premier League season, with the former Manchester United coach beginning to be linked with moves away from Suffolk.

It's no real shock to see the likes of Chelsea, Brighton and Hove Albion and his ex-employers in Man United eyeing up the Ipswich boss, as the unbelievable achievement of sealing back-to-back promotions was always going to make him a hot property.

Those back at Portman Road won't want to read too much into these rumours, however, with the 38-year-old surely wanting to see out his job with the Tractor Boys in the top flight before potentially walking away.

If the unthinkable did come to fruition, rumours are suggesting Ipswich could look at this boss as his replacement, who has given the Premier League a valiant go this season from the sidelines himself.

Ipswich looking at "intense" McKenna replacement

According to a report from TalkSPORT, Ipswich have Luton Town boss Rob Edwards on the back-burner as a potential McKenna replacement if the ex-Red Devils man does move on.

Edwards could well be viewed as a like-for-like switch when you look at his glittering managerial CV with the Hatters, having guided the minnows to Premier League glory last campaign in spectacular fashion via the playoffs.

The popular 41-year-old nearly pulled off an unbelievable escape from relegation for Luton, not allowing his underdog side to rest on their laurels making the step-up, with a slender six-point gap separating Luton and Nottingham Forest in the end at the foot of the table.

Edwards, who has been described as setting his sides up to play "intense" football according to football journalist Josh Bunting, could fancy another crack at the top-flight, therefore, with Ipswich potentially offering him this shot at redemption down the line.

Games managed

76

Wins

26

Draws

19

Losses

31

Goals scored

110

Nobody at Ipswich will want McKenna to up and leave, but Edwards could well be an ideal replacement if such a situation occurs, who will want to keep a team up in the Premier League against all the odds after going so close with the brave Hatters.

Edwards' philosophy at Luton

Unlike Burnley and Sheffield United who have slipped back down to the second tier without a trace, Luton would gain plaudits this season for their entertaining and combative football that suited their underdog mentality up against the drop.

Often setting up his Luton sides up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, which could suit the likes of Nathan Broadhead and Conor Chaplin in Suffolk who aren't out-and-out strikers in those positions just behind the lone striker, the Hatters bettered the goal tally of both Everton and Nottingham Forest above them in the league as a result whilst only being five strikes off Man United's tally.

This will suit the plethora of attacking talent at Ipswich who won't want to recede into their shells moving on up, with a league-best total of 92 goals managed on the way to automatic promotion glory being clinched.

Edwards will also be a season more mature at the level having gone through the wringer this campaign at Kenilworth Road, hence his visible emotions when the Bedfordshire outfit were all but confirmed to return to the Championship away at West Ham United.

There won't be a dry eye in the house if McKenna leaves Ipswich equally, but the success story doesn't have to be over if the 38-year-old does exit with Edwards entering onto the scene.

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Whilst there are still plenty of questions as to just who may be in charge at West Ham United next season, the Hammers are seemingly wasting no time in the transfer market, having made their first move in an attempt to sign a future star.

West Ham transfer news

As things stand, David Moyes is set to leave West Ham at the end of the current campaign, leaving the Hammers in search of a replacement. Of course, the former Manchester United boss could yet sign a new deal, but if that proves not to be the case, then names such as Graham Potter and Maurizio Sarri may continue to emerge as candidates to take charge at the London Stadium.

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Whether it's Moyes, Potter or another option, however, West Ham will be looking to add some fresh faces in the summer transfer window. Already, the Hammers have been linked with stars such as Ivan Toney as well as Real Betis left-back Juan Miranda, with the former particularly capable of transforming the current side into a team ready to shock the Premier League's top six.

Those players are for the here and now though. Those in London are still planning for the future on top of that, and it looks as if they've made contact for a deal. According to Football Transfers, West Ham have expressed their interest in Bobby Wales ahead of the summer transfer window alongside Burnley. A player in demand after earlier links with Ipswich Town as well, the 6ft 3in Kilmarnock youngster may have quite the decision to make this summer.

After such an impressive loan spell at Alloa Athletic this season, Wales has more than earned such interest and is on course to step into the top flight, be it in Scotland or England, sooner rather than later. If he chooses West Ham, then the forward could follow in the footsteps of true greats like Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand.

"Excellent" Wales can realise potential at West Ham

With the possibility that the squad will have a new manager to impress this summer, Wales could be joining West Ham at the perfect time. That and the fact that Michail Antonio has shown signs of slowing down this season creates the perfect opportunity for a young striker to make their mark this summer. And that young striker could quite easily be Wales, whose ball striking was described as "excellent" by The Young Team – an X account based on scouting Scotland's future stars.

Still just 18 years old, Wales has his whole career ahead of him, making his first step into top-flight football one that should be made with caution, whether that's with Kilmarnock, West Ham, or elsewhere. The potential is certainly there, but Wales must still get his next move right.

Ireland head coach Graham Ford will miss his side’s upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan in India after a “slip accident” at his home in Dublin led to a fractured vertebrae and three broken ribs.Ford had to travel home from the Ireland Wolves (the ‘A’ side) tour of South Africa last week, after a Durban doctor told him he would be unable to participate in physical training with the squad.Rob Cassell, who will leave the coaching staff to take up a bowling coach position with Rajasthan Royals immediately after the tour, will be acting head coach for the series, while another coach will be added to the staff in the interim.Cricket Ireland also confirmed that it will “continue to monitor the situation” with regards to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The board said it was “concurrently taking advice from government, health and sporting bodies,” and that “while a duty of care approach to players’ health will be maintained, there is currently no advisory against travelling to northern India”.The series starts on March 6, with all three games being played in Greater Noida.

A pundit has urged chairman Daniel Levy to make an "incredibly affordable" Tottenham signing this summer after recent news from The Telegraph.

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Spurs have executed a brand of entertaining, attack-minded football to devastating effect at times, and while losses like their 4-0 defeat away to Newcastle indicate there is still plenty to work on, you can argue that this will be part of the growing process.

Postecoglou is certainly under that impression, and he expects more heavy losses akin to their Newcastle trip in future as they continue to work through the kinks.

“Newcastle were good, credit to them”, said Postecoglou after Tottenham's defeat to Newcastle. “We just didn’t really get a grip of the game at all. We never really wrestled control at any stage and we paid the price for that.

“We allowed them to dictate the way the game was played. We weren’t brave on the ball. A lot of it was self-inflicted. It’s the same as every other game. There’s no point sitting around feeling sorry for yourself. We’ve got another game in two weeks’ time.

Arsenal (home)

April 28th

Chelsea (away)

May 2nd

Liverpool (away)

May 5th

Burnley (home)

May 11th

Man City (home)

May 14th

“It’s not the first time it [a heavy defeat] has happened to us; it won’t be the last. It’s part of our growth. Sometimes that growth is painful. I was concerned with all of it. There was no one area that cost us today. We never got to any sort of tempo."

Part of that growth will be acquiring new faces later this year, when the window reopens, and it is believed that Tottenham are looking at signing a new forward or two. An exciting player to be linked with Spurs is Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, coming after the 21-year-old's three goals and eight assists in 25 La Liga appearances.

The Telegraph back other reports that Tottenham are eyeing a move for Williams this summer, and it is a deal which pundit John Wenham believes should absolutely be done.

Wenham urges Spurs to move for Nico Williams

Speaking to Tottenham News, Wenham says Tottenham should sign the "incredibly affordable" Williams given the rumoured £42.8 million release clause in his Bilbao deal.

“His £42.8million buyout clause is incredibly affordable for a team of Tottenham’s financial standing,” Wenham said.

“Williams is a player with immense talent, huge potential and somebody who is starting for Spain and will be looking to go to the Euros this summer. In this current market we’re talking about a £60million-plus player, and he is available for just over £40million, so this deal is a no-brainer for me.”

It's been another disappointing season of Premier League football for Chelsea this year, as Mauricio Pochettino has been unable to turn his promising young squad into a cohesive unit.

The Blues have looked out at sea for much of the season, although their expected goal numbers suggest that they should have another seven goals in the bag, indicating that with a clinical forward, they could well climb the table next year.

One striker who has recently been touted for a move to Stamford Bridge is Ivan Toney, but based on even more recent reports, Todd Boehly and Co could be eyeing a younger and more exciting alternative.

Chelsea interest in £42m marksman

According to a recent report from 90min, Chelsea are among several Premier League clubs who have maintained their interest in RB Leipzig's promising young striker, Benjamin Šeško.

The report has revealed that, alongside the Blues, Manchester United and Arsenal are also keen on bringing the Slovenia international to England in the summer. At the same time, Paris Saint-Germain are also very interested in bringing him to France.

While the number of competing clubs is far from ideal for the West Londoners, the price it would take to secure the forward's signature certainly is, with his release clause being set at just €50m – £42m – and the report has revealed that Leipzig may be willing to accept less if the final price is close enough.

The report has stated that Chelsea currently view the 20-year-old as a cheaper alternative to Victor Osimhen, and while that's true, he'd also be a brilliant alternative to Toney.

How Benjamin Šeško compares to Ivan Toney

Now, his age is the first and arguably most important reason why Chelsea should look at signing Šeško over Toney.

By this point, it's crystal clear that Boehly and Co want to create a team full of promising young talents who can grow and develop together over the coming years.

So, adding a 28-year-old striker into the mix over a 20-year-old seems counterproductive, especially when, on average, centre-forwards tend to peak at around 27 and then steadily decline, per The Athletic.

Aside from the squad-building aspect, there is also a strong case that the former RB Salzburg goal-scoring "machine", as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is just the better player of the pair.

With Toney missing a significant portion of the season due to his betting-related ban, it would be unfair to compare the pair's actual output this year. However, as their underlying numbers are calculated per 90, they can be compared for this season, and unfortunately for the Englishman, while he comes out on top in some metrics, he's a distant second in many others.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.59

0.50

Non-Penalty Goals

0.66

0.33

Assists

0.11

0.08

Shots on Target

1.64

1.24

Goals per Shot on Target

0.40

0.27

Passing Accuracy

66.8%

52.4%

Shot-Creating Actions

2.37

2.72

Goal-Creating Actions

0.47

0.41

Successful Take-Ons

0.95

0.66

Aerial Duels Won

2.31

3.80

For example, according to FBref, the "outstanding" Slovenian, as Kulig described him, produces a higher non-penalty goal and assists figure, takes more shots on target, scores from more of those shots, has better passing accuracy, produces more goal-creating actions, and is more successful in taking on defenders, all per 90.

In defence of the Brentford star, he does win more aerial duels and produce more shot-creating actions, but aside from that, it's a fairly one-sided comparison.

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Ultimately, if Chelsea want to add a new and seriously talented striker to their team, who won't cost an arm and a leg and should only get better over the next few years, they should sign Šeško and forget all about Toney.

“We could have been 15-20 runs ahead had something not happened out there in the end”At the end of India’s loss to West Indies, Virat Kohli brought up a bizarre incident that happened in the 48th over of their innings. Ravindra Jadeja seemed to have got through for a single despite a direct hit at his end from Roston Chase. Umpire Shaun George initially ruled it not out – never going upstairs for help – but a few seconds later replays shown around the ground revealed that Jadeja had not made his ground and West Indies used that to go up in a second appeal which prompted George to bring the third umpire into play.Kohli looked displeased while all this was happening live and made it known in no uncertain terms at the post-match presentation. “The thought is simple,” he told . “The fielder asked how was that and the umpire said not out. The dismissal ends there. The people sitting [and watching] on the TV outside cannot tell the fielders to tell the umpire to review it again.”I’ve never seen that happen again. I don’t know where the rules are, where the line is drawn. I think the referee and the umpires have to see that incident again and figure out what needs to be done in cricket. The people sitting outside can’t dictate what happens on the field and I think that’s exactly what happened then.”West Indies’ captain Kieron Pollard said: “For me at the end of the day, the right decision was made. That’s the most important thing if you’re looking to better the sport, you’re looking to get all the right decisions. Again, for me, we appealed, the umpire didn’t take it, didn’t think it was necessary at that point of time but eventually whatever took place, the right decision was made and that’s what’s most important”A similar thing happened In the 2017 home season when Australia’s Steven Smith seemed to ask his dressing room for help on a DRS call. Kohli just stopped himself short of calling that cheating.He did have high praise for West Indies over the way they approached their chase of 288 on Sunday night. “I think they batted really well,” Kohli said. “The pitch didn’t change drastically. The fast bowlers, I think the ball wasn’t holding enough for the fast bowlers, spinners was tough to play, but I think they put enough pressure on our spinners to not let them hit one area. I think [Shimron] Hetmyer’s innings was outstanding and Shai [Hope] held one end.”There seemed indications that it got better to bat on under lights, that the ball didn’t stick in it as much as it did in the first innings when West Indies’ slower balls had India at 25 for 2. “It [the pitch] wasn’t a drastic change which we thought could’ve been an advantage if it had remained the same,” Kohli said.

Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman has outlined where England need to improve in order to hit the levels needed to defend their title at Euro 2025.

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England secure Euro 2025 qualificationClinched spot with a draw in SwedenLionesses boss Wiegman outlines areas to improveWHAT HAPPENED?

England secured automatic qualification for next summer's tournament with a goalless draw in Sweden on Tuesday night, despite a nervy conclusion to the game. The hosts needed to win to beat their opponents to a top two finish in their qualifying group but the Lionesses held on, in no small part thanks to two big saves from Hannah Hampton.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Given how tough England's qualifying group was, also featuring France and the Republic of Ireland, Wiegman revealed after the game that she was "relieved" to have got over the line without the need for play-offs, which the Lionesses would've had to play later this year had they been defeated in Gothenburg. She also explained where the team needs to improve ahead of the Euros.

WHAT WIEGMAN SAID

"The first half, I think we dominated, besides the last part," Wiegman told . "When you play so well, you're so dominant, we have to create more chances and score goals. In the second half, we couldn't keep up that level. That's something we really want to do and now we have a year to prepare what we absolutely want to improve, keeping the level, because we had that against France too."

Asked how far away this England team is from it's top level, Wiegman replied, with a laugh: "We need a year!" She then added: "I think what you see now is moments where we play really well and and we want to do that for longer and also, when the pressure goes up, they are going to press us earlier and that's what we need to learn. We have some experienced players in the team that have experienced many moments like this. It's really hard to come on the pitch, too, with the pressure they have. Now, with the friendlies, hopefully we play some very good games so that we can also like develop, we can give players minutes who are knocking on the door, of course, because we're not a playground, and then when you get that moment, of course you can take big steps."

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DID YOU KNOW?

As Wiegman says, by avoiding the Euro 2025 play-offs later this year, England can now arrange friendlies that they believe will best prepare them for their European title defence. There is space in the calendar for four games at the end of 2024.

England’s fragile top order was again exposed by Australia’s attack but there is time for a few more twists on the final day

Andrew Miller at Lord's17-Aug-2019Test cricket is a shambles, and it is utterly compelling.There is no way on earth that a match that has lost five sessions to rain and hadn’t even reached the third innings until tea on the fourth day should be hurtling towards a position in which a positive result is now more likely than a draw.But we’ve known all along that the sport moves to an alternative rhythm these days, and as a pulsating Saturday at Lord’s concluded with England’s most potent duo, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, overcoming their team’s anxieties to keep their powder dry for a final push, it was clear that the pace of the format is now more thrash metal than the Green Sleeves of old.”This is why we love Test cricket so much,” said Justin Langer, Australia’s head coach, at the close. “Who would have thought it? We’re playing at Lord’s, we’ve lost a couple of days to rain, and it’s absolutely game on tomorrow.”ALSO READ: ‘I can’t get on the honour board unless I’m batting’Where’s your money now? Until Jofra Archer’s extraordinary exploits, you’d have assumed that any fourth-innings target would have favoured the Aussies, simply because in Steven Smith they possess a batsman who can operate in a different dimension to his peers.But now, all of a sudden, the parameters have shifted. Nobody in their right minds will expect England to still be batting by the end of this contest, which means Australia – with a battered and bruised Smith liable to be physically fit, if not quite in his pre-Archer mental zone – could be left with a tough dilemma in the denouement.More early success from their battery of quicks, and better luck (particularly with lbws) from the ever-probing Nathan Lyon, and they could give themselves a couple of sessions in which to close out an Ashes-crushing 2-0 lead. But if England’s middle order find anything resembling their gung-ho former selves (let’s face it, dying wondering is hardly going to be their chosen tactic…) the door could yet be ajar to sneak an improbable series-squaring win.”We probably went searching a little bit after getting off to a great start today,” said Langer. “It’s a tough wicket to bat on, which I don’t mind, and it’s going to be a great day’s Test cricket tomorrow. I guess the only issue is that there’s only one day left in it, so there’s lots of scenarios that can play out here. But it’s game on, I reckon.”Either way, it promises to be one of the most absorbing final days of Ashes cricket since the 2005 Ashes – that year’s second Test also came down to a faintly memorable Sunday shoot-out – and then as now, there’s an 18-year itch that is asking to be scratched, for incredibly it’s been that long since Australia last won the Ashes on English soil, and no Ashes team since Don Bradman’s in 1936-37 has ever come back from being 2-0 down.”When I envisaged Test and Ashes cricket as a child, this is what I envisaged it being like today,” said Chris Woakes, who finished the job that Archer had started by pinning Smith lbw for 92 shortly after the brave resumption of his innings.”An intense game of Ashes cricket is quite draining but it’s been an amazing game to be part of, and it’s pretty much in the balance now. Of course I think we can win the game, but I think all three results are still possible to be honest.”But one thing is for sure. Australia’s pack of quicks responded to Archer’s usurping of their mantle with a furious, if subtly different, mode of attack, and reconfirmed the fact that they’ve still got the weapons to defend their hitherto dominant position.The second of chances David Warner put down at slip offered by Ben Stokes off Nathan Lyon•Getty Images

Pat Cummins was supreme from the outset – just as he had been with the bat in the midst of the Archer onslaught – skilfully exposing everything we already knew about England’s batting frailties to ensure that another fretful innings panned out in a near-identical fashion to the first: two early wickets in Jason Roy and the hapless Joe Root, two half-formed repair jobs from Joe Denly and Rory Burns, and two more against-type survival grinds from Stokes and Buttler, albeit with their places in the order rightfully switched this time round.The fact that the damage was not more absolute by the close came down to a combination of Australia’s fallibility in the field, with David Warner dropping two clear-cut chances, and their ongoing failure to gauge Lyon’s angle into the left-handers, with Burns and Stokes both surviving leg-stump lbw appeals that would have been overturned on review.”We missed a few in the first Test as well,” said Langer. “Obviously the whole world’s aware whenever it happens, so it’s frustrating, there’s no doubt about that. It can change the game, it can change a session, it can change a Test match, it can change a series, so we need to get better at it.”It promises, too, to be a vital day for Root’s Test captaincy. A statistic doing the rounds before the match noted that, among men to have led England in 30 or more Tests, Root has the second-highest win percentage behind Mike Brearley. Unfortunately, he also has the second-lowest lose percentage behind David Gower – which is a testament to the ominous fact that his teams have managed just two draws out of 30.And another stat that cannot be ignored is his flatlining career average. Never mind the subplot about his promotion to No.3, Root’s returns have been nosediving since the end of the 2017-18 Ashes, to the extent that he is now averaging 32.82 from his last 18 Tests, having not strayed from a 50-plus average in the preceding four-year period.On a day when Smith required the fast-bowling spell of the series to remind onlookers of his mortality, the stark reality of Root’s first Test golden duck confirmed how far from those Fab Four standards he is now straying. Like Alastair Cook before him, he needs his team to rally round and ensure that the series doesn’t end before he can make a telling impact.Langer, however, believes his team is ready and waiting to take their chances on the final day, for he’s under no illusion that plenty will be flying around.”There’s always going to be tension in Test cricket, and with tension comes mistakes. I’m sure there’ll be six more opportunities tomorrow, and if that does happen, and we’ve got a chance to have a run-chase, we’ll stay nice and calm, on a very fast outfield, with great value for your shots. And it’s hopefully going to be a great run-chase if we can take those six wickets.”