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West Ham face an urgent crisis in the striker position as the January transfer window approaches, with manager Nuno Espírito Santo reportedly identifying a new centre-forward as the absolute priority if the club hope to swerve relegation.

The Hammers sit 18th in the Premier League table with just 13 points from 18 matches, having scored the joint-fourth fewest goals in the top flight this season.

Relegation is staring them in the face right now as West Ham sit five points adrift of safety, and pressure is mounting on Nuno after a barren run of seven games without victory.

West Ham host Brighton this evening with Nuno desperately in need of three points to both restore faith in him and their hopes of Premier League survival.

Nuno made the controversial decision to drop striker Callum Wilson, who has been in good form lately, in their last outing against Fulham — instead opting for Jarrod Bowen as the makeshift number nin

Related "Could happen" – Player admits he may join West Ham as agent works on transfer

He’s made a January admission.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini

Niclas Füllkrug’s departure to AC Milan also means that Nuno has been left with very few natural options up top bar Wilson and the inexperienced Callum Marshall, so reports are suggesting that a striker is top of the agenda next month.

West Ham have already made an approach to sign Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, as first reported by the reliable David Ornstein, and it is believed that the Norwegian is open to an east London move.

However, the asking price for Strand Larsen also sits at around £45 million, which presents a roadblock to West Ham as they reportedly scour for cheaper alternatives.

According to reliable club insider ExWHUemployee recently, one of the other strikers on their radar is Viktoria Plzen star Rafiu Durosinmi.

Even though Nuno is prioritising domestic options right now, the Nigerian is one to watch if he abandons that approach.

Now, as per Football Insider journalist Pete O’Rourke, West Ham have moved in with an offer.

West Ham submit bid for Viktoria Plzen star Rafiu Durosinmi

Indeed, it is now claimed that a £12 million bid has gone in from West Ham for Durosinmi, with both Stuttgart and Lazio making identical offers for the African ahead of January.

The 22-year-old has been on fire for Plzen since returning from a serious ACL injury, bagging 22 goals in all competitions across 2025, with former Plzen boss Miroslav Koubek praising his ‘high level’ form this year.

West Ham have enjoyed real success shopping in the Czech top flight in recent years, with Tomas Soucek, Vladimir Coufal and even El Hadj Malick Diouf impressing at the London Stadium.

Subscribe to the newsletter for striker-transfer insight Want detailed transfer analysis? Subscribe to the newsletter for focused coverage of West Ham’s striker options: from reported £12m offers for Rafiu Durosinmi to scouting assessments and how each target could reshape the club’s attacking prospects.

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Durosinmi’s form both domestically and in Europe has caught the attention of West Ham talent-spotters, and he could well be a solid outside option to bolster Nuno’s attacking line.

Related West Ham make January bid to sign Man United forward target after opening talks

They want him ‘as soon as’ the window opens.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini

Scorecard
Central Zone, riding on Faiz Fazal’s 95-ball 58, and a fine all-round display from Piyush Chawla, who took 3 for 47 before scoring an unbeaten 33, defeated South Zone by five wickets to clinch the 2007-08 Deodhar Trophy. Central lead the standings with 15 points after three consecutive wins, and though there’s a chance of West finishing on equal points, Central will keep the title by virtue of having defeated West.Chasing 164 for victory, Central began aggressively, with Naman Ojha leading the way with a 30-ball 29. Central lost Naman and Suresh Raina within the space of three overs, but Fazal did not let that affect his concentration, picking up runs without taking any risks. Pragyan Ojha, the left-arm spinner, briefly threatened with two quick wickets: he had Mohammad Kaif top-edging a slog-sweep before having Himalaya Sagar stumped with a well-flighted ball.Chawla quickly diminished South’s hopes, blasting two fours and a six as he countered the spinners. Central lost a wicket against the run of play when Fazal holed out to Pragyan while trying to take on S Badrinath’s offspin. But with only 24 runs required, Rohit Sharma made his way to a brisk 21 not out, finishing things off by launching Vinay Kumar beyond the midwicket boundary.South were in trouble as soon as their innings began when both Robin Uthappa and Bharat Chipli fell victim to the swing of Praveen Kumar. Seamer Rajesh Kanojia then struck twice in quick time, dismissing Badrinath and Dinesh Karthik as South collapsed to 41 for 4. But Rahul Dravid, who looked solid during his 70-ball 51, and Arjun Yadav (41) led the rescue act with 56-run fifth-wicket stand.Once Dravid departed, South’s lower order folded up without putting up a fight. Chawla bowled C Raghu and Vinay, both of whom failed to pick up his wrong ‘un before Kanojia returned to have Yadav caught behind. Chawla picked up his third when he had Saurabh Bandekar nicking to the keeper, and soon enough, Raina brought the innings to a close when he dismissed Pragyan.

Jon Lewis will have an operation on his left ankle to remove some troublesome bits of bone. Lewis, the England seamer and Gloucestershire captain, will undergo the surgery next Thursday.Gloucestershire expect him to be out of the game for two to three months. It’s obviously not great timing for the county season, but the club’s physiotherapist, Steve Griffin, explained that this is the best course of action for the long-term.”Hopefully it will resolve the issues that have been causing him problems over the winter months. The rehabilitation process following the surgery is very important and we will not be rushing Jon back until he is completely ready. “

Simon Jones has been hit with another setback © Getty Images

Simon Jones will undergo an MRI scan on his injured left knee, and is also set to meet with a specialist, after limping off the field during Glamorgan’s C&G Trophy match against Ireland on Monday.Jones had bowled an impressive first spell, claiming two wickets, but felt a twinge in his knee when he return for a second stint and left the field after one more delivery. The seriousness of the setback is not yet known, but the ECB chief medical officer, Dr Peter Gregory, did not envisage him being fit in time for Lord’s.”Simon is currently rated very doubtful for next week’s first Test match,” said Gregory, after liaising with the Glamorgan physiotherapist, Chris Towers. “We will need to re-assess his injury after consultations with the specialist on Thursday.”Jones has made a careful return to action after leaving England’s tour of India after twisting his knee in the nets before the first Test. He bowled 28 overs during Glamorgan’s Championship match against Essex and, despite reporting some slight stiffness, came through unscathed.England name their Test squad next Sunday with Ashley Giles and Michael Vaughan already ruled out and Steve Harmison unlikely to make it.

Ian Harvey is unhappy with his offer from Victoria © Getty Images

Ian Harvey, the Yorkshire and former Australia allrounder, has revealed he will consider an offer to play South African domestic cricket next summer when he receives his contract proposal this week.Harvey’s manager Tony Box confirmed negotiations with Victoria, his Australian state, had reached an impasse and that Harvey was seriously considering playing for Western Province Boland – alongside the South Africa captain Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs – after the English season.Harvey, 33, has been offered only a 12-month contract at a reduced rate by Victoria for next season, after he had asked for a two-year deal. “The beauty about South Africa is their season corresponds with the Australian domestic season,” Box told Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper. “It would mean Ian could continue to play English county cricket.”Harvey has played 73 ODIs for Australia, but lost his place after their brief tour of Zimbabwe in 2004. Last season, for Victoria, he scored 434 runs at 36 and took 21 wickets at 28 apiece from nine Pura Cup matches. He is currently playing for Yorkshire, and is averaging 43 with the bat and 33 with the ball in the Championship.

Scorecard

Sunny Singh during his unbeaten 68

India won their second match of the Under-19 World Cup with what was, in the end, a comfortable 69-run win against New Zealand. Sunny Singh kept India A on track after a shaky start to help them post 215 before New Zealand slumped to 146 all out in their doomed run chase.The New Zealand bowlers began brightly as Brent Findlay ripped away India’s top-middle order to reduce them to 86 for 5. But Singh, who was dropped three times, came to India’s rescue with a well-paced 68 not out, including seven fours. He added 66 with Gaurav Dhiman, who made a brisk 38.New Zealand’s reply never got going, despite a steady 55 from the captain Bradley-John Watling. Wickets were shared around by the Indian bowlers, and as the batsmen fell at regular intervals, the New Zealand lower order failed to cope with the pressure. The last six wickets fell for only 14 runs as India went top of Group C.Robin Singh, India’s coach, said afterwards that he believes his side can still improve. “The team could have scored 260 to 270 runs. The pitch was a good batting strip but the batsmen played too many loose shots,” he said. “The bowlers bowled well, but there is still scope for improvement – the spinners bowled too fast.”Singh, who was named Man of the Match, said, “I was lucky, I was given two or three lives. I capitalized on the dropped chances and initially concentrated on taking singles. I was pleased with the final result.”

Bryan Colin Strang – born Bulawayo, 9 June 1972
Right-handed batsman, left-arm medium-pace bowler
Career: 1993/94-2000/01

Abbreviations: Capital letters for team names denotes a Test match.Man – ManicalandMash – Mashonaland * indicates not out inningsMat – Matabeleland + indicates wicket-keeperMCD – Mashonaland Country Districts *+ retired hurt/illMid – Midlands # batted firstZim – Zimbabwe/ZimbabweansGrounds:Alex – Alexandra Sports Club OG – Old Georgians Sports ClubBAC – Bulawayo Athletic Club OH – Old Hararians Sports ClubHSC – Harare Sports ClubNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1994/95 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl TotalBryan burst into Zimbabwean cricket after being unavailable early while at university in South Africa. He is one of the few cricketers to play Test cricket during their maiden first-class season, and to take 50 wickets in their maiden season, especially outside England.1 Zimbabwe A v South Africa A (10) 9 #87 – (4) 33 7 95 5 409(Alex, 4 Oct – Lost) (9) 0 1432 Zim Board XI v Griqualand West (10) 12 #423/9d – (4) 9 4 17 0 121(Kimberley, 4 Nov – Won) – (4) 21 9 52 0 2833 Zim Board XI v Western Transvaal — 400/7d 1 (3) 26.1 11 59 2 #248(BAC, 1 Dec – Drawn) (3) 22 10 48 1 279/74 Zim Board XI v Natal B (11) 7 #317 – (3) 20 3 76 2 265(HSC, 15 Dec – Drawn) (11) 0* 169 – (3) 21 5 45 3 136/55 Zim Board XI v Northern Tvl B (8) 27 205 – (4) 27.5 11 59 4 #276/9d(HSC, 5 Jan – Lost) (8) 0 117 – (4) 18 6 38 2 227/7d6 MCD v Matabeleland (11) 1 #123 – (1) 12 4 34 2 127(Harare South, 20 Jan – L) (3) 1 336 – (1) 23 3 72 2 335/37 Zim Board XI v Western Prov B (10) 9 260 – (2) 30 9 73 4 #284/8d(Cape Town, 26 Jan – D) — 86/4 – (2) 19 2 58 1 2578 ZIMBABWE v PAKISTAN (2nd) (11) 0* #174 1 (3) 23 10 44 3 260(Queens, 7 Feb – L) (11) 0 146 – (3) 3.4 2 6 2 61/29 ZIMBABWE v PAKISTAN (3rd) (11) 6 243 – (3) 32 15 43 3 #231(HSC, 15 Feb – L) (11) 0 139 – (4) 26 16 27 1 25010 MCD v Mashonaland (9) 1 182 – (1) 24.3 7 64 7 #188(HSC, 10 March – L) (2) 11 161 – (1) 17.4 1 92 2 42111 Mash Select v Northamptonshire (9) 4 83 1 (1) 28 7 59 1 #276/7d(HSC, 4 April – W) — 417/4 – (1) 27 9 83 4 2231994/95 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM11 17 2 88 27 5.86 – – 3 463.5 151 1144 51 22.43 7/64 2 -No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1995/96 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl Total12 MCD v Young Mashonaland (10) 0 #309 – (2) 21 6 61 3 182(Alex, 15 Sept – W) — 264/2d – (2) 14 3 35 1 168M I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareer 12 18 2 88 27 5.50 – – 3 498.5 160 1240 55 22.54 7/64 2 -No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1995/96 (South Africa) bat Score Total bowl Total13 Zimbabwe A v Transvaal (11) 1* #264 – (2) 31 11 104 1 509(Johannesburg, 21 Sept – L) (11) 29 312 – (1) 9.2 5 13 1 70/114 Zimbabwe A v Eastern Province (10) 0 #112 – (2) 26 10 57 3 313Port Elizabeth, 28 Sept – L) (10) 8 14415 Zimbabwe A v South Africa A (10) 2 #221 – (4) 14.5 5 42 1 310(Durban, 6 Oct – D) (10) 27* 256/81995/96 (SOUTH AFRICA) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM3 6 2 67 29 16.75 – – – 81.1 31 216 6 36.00 3/57 – -Career 15 24 4 155 29 7.75 – – 3 580 191 1456 61 23.86 7/64 2 -No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1995/96 (Zimbabwe, cont.) bat Score Total bowl Total16 ZIMBABWE v SOUTH AFRICA (Only) (10) 0 #170 1 (3) 32 4 101 5 346(HSC, 13 Oct – L) (10) 25* 283 1 (3) 12 6 18 0 108/317 MCD v Matabeleland (9) 0 209 – (1) 22.4 6 41 5 #152(BAC, 17 Nov – L) (9) 8 283 – (1) 25.4 3 92 2 34418 Zim Board XI v Northern Tvl B (10) 0* 334/9d – (2) 33 11 69 5 #339(Centurion, 24 Nov – D) — 131/7 – (2) 29 4 106 2 244/8d19 MCD v Mashonaland (10) 25* 279 1 (1) 10 0 45 3 #133(Harare South, 8 Dec – W) (10) 26* 207/8 – (1) 29.2 8 96 6 35220 Zim Board XI v Griqualand West (8) 0 153 1 (3) 26 10 63 3 #290/9d(Harare South, 15 Dec – D) (8) 44 258/9 – (1) 18 4 65 3 183/9d1995/96 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareer 20 33 8 283 44 11.32 – – 7 817.4 247 2152 95 22.65 7/64 6 -No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1995/96 (New Zealand) bat Score Total bowl TotalBryan made a notable debut on his first Test-playing tour for the national side, taking 12 wickets for just 59 runs in his opening first-class match.21 Zimbabweans v New Zealand XI (9) 14 #172 – (2) 18 10 20 6 111(Wanganui, 2 Jan – W) — 154/3 – (2) 27.4 15 39 6 21222 ZIMBABWE v NEW ZEALAND (1st) (11) 4 196 – (2) 24 11 51 0 #230/8d(Hamilton, 13 Jan – D) — 208/6 – (3) 5 1 19 1 222/5d23 ZIMBABWE v NEW ZEALAND (2nd) (11) 14* 326 1 (3) 31.3 8 64 3 #251(Auckland, 20 Jan – D) — 246/4 – (3) 27 8 64 0 441/5d1995/96 (NEW ZEALAND) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM3 3 1 32 14* 16.00 – – 1 133.1 53 257 16 16.06 6/20 2 1Career 23 36 9 315 44 11.66 – – 8 950.5 300 2409 111 21.70 7/64 8 1No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1997/98 (Zimbabwe, cont.) bat Score Total bowl TotalBryan was surprisingly chosen to play against Yorkshire when not fully fit.24 Mash Invitation XI v Yorkshire (10) 0 273/9d – (7) 5 0 26 0 #267/6d(HSC, 1 April – L) (9) 0 156 – (6) 7 2 13 0 215/7d25 MCD v Matabeleland (9) 66 #265 – (1) 26 8 69 4 220(BAC, 19 April – L) (9) 19 128 – (1) 12 3 46 1 176/41997/98 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM8 14 4 213 66 21.30 – 1 4 322.4 78 946 43 22.00 6/96 4 -Career 25 40 9 400 66 12.90 – 1 8 1000.5 313 2563 116 22.09 7/64 8 1No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1996/97 (Sri Lanka) bat Score Total bowl TotalBryan suffered a broken jaw in an incident off the field and returned home, missing the tour of New Zealand that followed.26 ZIMBABWE v SRI LANKA (2nd)(Colombo SSC, 18 Sept – L)1996/97 (SRI LANKA) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1996/97 (Pakistan) bat Score Total bowl Total1996/97 (PAKISTAN) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1996/97 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl Total1996/97 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1997/98 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl TotalM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1997/98 (Sri Lanka) bat Score Total bowl Total1997/98 (SRI LANKA) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1997/98 (New Zealand) bat Score Total bowl Total1997/98 (NEW ZEALAND) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1997/98 (Zimbabwe, cont.) bat Score Total bowl Total1997/98 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1998/99 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl TotalM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1998/99 (Pakistan) bat Score Total bowl Total1998/99 (PAKISTAN) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1998/99 (Zimbabwe, cont.) bat Score Total bowl Total1998/99 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1999/2000 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl TotalM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1999/2000 (South Africa) bat Score Total bowl Total1999/2000 (SOUTH AFRICA) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1999/2000 (Zimbabwe, cont.) bat Score Total bowl Total1999/2000 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.1999/2000 (West Indies) bat Score Total bowl Total1999/2000 (WEST INDIES) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2000 (England) bat Score Total bowl Total2000 (ENGLAND) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2000/01 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl TotalM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2000/01 (India) bat Score Total bowl Total2000/01 (INDIA) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2000/01 (New Zealand) bat Score Total bowl Total2000/01 (NEW ZEALAND) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2000/01 (Zimbabwe, cont.) bat Score Total bowl Total2000/01 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2001/02 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl TotalM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2001/02 (Bangladesh) bat Score Total bowl Total2001/02 (BANGLADESH) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2001/02 (Sri Lanka) bat Score Total bowl Total2001/02 (SRI LANKA) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2001/02 (India) bat Score Total bowl Total2001/02 (INDIA) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerNo. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2001/02 (Zimbabwe, cont.) bat Score Total bowl Total2001/02 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareer*****LAST*****No. Own Team Ct No. O M R W Opp.2002/03 (Zimbabwe) bat Score Total bowl Total2002/03 (ZIMBABWE) SEASON TOTALM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMCareerRECORD SEASON BY SEASONM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM1989/90xxxxxxx 4 7 0 54 15 7.71 – – 6 39 4 133 6 22.16 2/6 – -1990/911991/921992/93(Z)1992/93(I)1993 (E)1993/94(P)1993/94(Z)1994/95(A)1994/95(Z)1995/96(NZ)1995/96(Z)1996/97(SL)1996/97(P)1996/97(Z)1997/98(SL)1997/98(NZ)1997/98(Z)1998/99(P)1998/99(Z)1999/00(SA)1999/00(Z)1999/00(WI)2000 (E)2000/01(I)2000/01(NZ)2000/01(Z)2001/02(B)2001/02(K)2001/02(SL)2001/02(I)2001/02(Z)RECORD IN EACH COUNTRYM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMZimbabweEngland 1 1 0 0 0 0.00 – – – 27 6 76 2 38.00 2/58 – -EnglandAustraliaSouth AfricaWest IndiesNew ZealandIndiaPakistanSri LankaBangladeshKenyaRECORD ON ZIMBABWEAN GROUNDSM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMAlexandraBulawayo ACCountry ClubHarare Southxxxxxxxxxxxx 3 3 0 126 70 42.00 – 1 1 66 18 154 5 30.80 2/18 – -Harare SouthHarare SCKwekweMutareOld HarariansQueens SCSunriseLOGAN CUP RECORD (FOR MASHONALAND)M I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wM1993/94xxxxxxx 3 3 0 126 70 42.00 – 1 1 66 18 154 5 30.80 2/18 – -1994/951995/961996/971997/981998/991999/20002000/012001/02RECORD AGAINST OTHER LOGAN CUP TEAMSM I NO Runs HS Av. 100 50 Ct O M R W Av. BB 5wI 10wMFor Matabeleland:Mash Under-24 2 3 0 91 73 30.33 – – 1 76.5 22 145 10 14.50 6/34 1 -CENTURIES1 101 Mashonaland A v Mashonaland Harare South Country Club 1997/98TWO CENTURIES IN A MATCH104 and 151 ZIMBABWE v NEW ZEALAND (Harare Sports Club) 1997/98CENTURY AND FIFTY IN THE SAME MATCHTWO FIFTIES IN A MATCH200 OR MORE RUNS IN A MATCH`PAIRS’FIVE WICKETS IN AN INNINGS1 5/56 Zimbabwe v Pakistan (Second Test, Rawalpindi) 1993/94BEST MATCH FIGURESMATCH DOUBLE OF 100 RUNS AND FIVE WICKETS131; 1/60 and 7/69 Matabeleland v Mashonaland Country Districts (Bulawayo AC) 1995/96MOST OVERS BOWLED IN AN INNINGSMOST OVERS BOWLED IN A MATCHMOST RUNS CONCEDED IN AN INNINGSMOST RUNS CONCEDED IN A MATCHMOST MAIDEN OVERS BOWLED IN AN INNINGSDETAILS OF DISMISSALS AS A BATSMANbowledlbw 22 17.89caughtcaught by wicketkeepercaught and bowledstumpedrun outTOTAL 123 100.00%DETAILS OF DISMISSALS AS A BOWLERbowledlbw 61 20.07caughtcaught by wicket-keepercaught and bowledstumpedTOTAL 304 100.00%THREE OR MORE CATCHES IN AN INNINGS3 Matabeleland v Glamorgan (Bulawayo Athletic Club) 1994/95FOUR OR MORE CATCHES IN A MATCH4 Matabeleland v Glamorgan (Bulawayo Athletic Club) 1994/95MOST CATCHES IN AN INNINGSMOST CATCHES IN A MATCH

Zimbabwe ‘A’ will play West Indies in a one-day warm-up match atHarare Sports Club on 26 June 2001 and the following will represent Zimbabwe ‘A’:

• PAUL STRANG (CAPTAIN)
• GARY BRENT
• DONALD CAMPBELL
• GUY CROXFORD
• HAMILTON MASAKADZA
• STUART MATSIKENYIRE
• DAVID MUTENDERA
• MLULEKI NKALA
• GAVIN RENNIE
• BRIGHTON WATAMBWA
• CRAIG WISHART
• BARNEY ROGERS (12TH MAN)
• KISHORE GOKAL (MANAGER)
• BRADLEY ROBINSON (PHYSIOTHERAPIST)

Player potential can be both prosperous and dangerous.

On one hand, if a player is to reach their maximum skill evolvement, their club can benefit no-end, financially speaking.

Though, if a player fails to hit the heights that their hype holds them accountable to, it can be a damaging affair for their employers.

Wolves are unique in the fact that their saga with former Portuguese and now Angolan footballer, Helder Costa leant more towards the former and more prosperous scenario, rather than the latter.

Costa profit

Costa emerged from the high profile Benfica youth system at the age of 18, in the same age group as Ivan Cavaleiro and Bernardo Silva.

After making his debut for the Lisbon side’s B-team in 2012, he would go onto represent them 72 times, scoring 15 goals. Ultimately, he failed to make the grade for the Benfica first-team, making just one appearance.

After a failed loan-spell at La Liga side Deportivo de La Coruna, he made the brave switch to pastures new to link-up with fellow Benfica graduates Silva and Cavaleiro at Monaco.

Despite teeing up a young Kylian Mbappe for the Frenchman’s first-ever league goal, Costa would go on to play a total of 28 games for the Ligue 1 side, scoring five goals, with Monaco loaded with depth options in Kylian Mbappe, Thomas Lemar and Bernardo Silva.

It wasn’t all bad though as Helder Costa moved on a season-long loan to Championship side at the time Wolverhampton Wanderers in what was his best season ever in terms of end product, with a total of 18 goal contributions in 35 appearances. 

Wolves made the transfer permanent, with the Old Gold side splashing out £13m for Costa’s services to break their club-record transfer fee at the time in January 2017.

Ultimately, the attacker was not able replicate his ten goals and eight assists that he showed the season prior, but still chipped in with a solid five goals and six assists to help Wolves top the Championship and gain promotion to the Premier League.

After one season in the Premier League, Costa joined Leeds United on loan in the Championship and after helping them to promotion, made the deal permanent with Leeds forking out £16m but he was soon dubbed a “massive flop” by pundit Noel Whelan.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

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He featured 22 times in the Premier League for Bielsa’s side the following season (2020/2021) yet Leeds offloaded him to Valencia the following campaign after just one appearance, in what was a strange deal at the time.

With 28-year-old Costa fighting to turn his loan move at Valencia into a permanent deal, he is now valued at just £7.2m, with Wolves’ decision to sell in 2019 looking ingenious.

In other news – Wolves eyeing “all-round” 26y/o regarded as “most complete ever” with fans buzzing…

	Stuart Broad passes some advice to the next generation at a coaching clinic © Getty Images

It’s not a tag you would want to hand any young cricketer, but Stuart Broad’s success in the early days of his international career is already getting him dubbed as Andrew Flintoff’s successor. Although he has some way to go to match the all-round performances of Flintoff, it is Broad’s efforts with the ball that are raising expectations.He has claimed six wickets in the first three ODIs against New Zealand; he was the one shining light in the opening six-wicket defeat in Wellington and played a key role in the comeback win in Auckland with 3 for 32. His first spell in that match was an outstanding 7-1-12-2 and helped set the tone for England’s victory.After 24 matches Broad has 36 wickets despite taking just five in his first six matches. Among England bowlers with at least 30 ODI scalps, Broad’s strike-rate of 33.8 puts him second behind Flintoff by just one decimal point. However, the most important thing for Broad is that he is continuing to learn and develop his bowling.”At first, I barely picked up a wicket and I wondered where one was coming from,” he told . “I think the more you play, the more you learn how to take wickets in different scenarios. I feel I’m learning when to bowl balls and when to bowl a bouncer a bit better, but it does depend on which role you’re doing.”Coming on first change, when Jimmy [James Anderson] and Ryan [Sidebottom] have bowled well up front, it’s a lot easier to come on when the pressure is on the batsman and get some wickets so that has helped me out massively.”Broad didn’t escape the hammering that England’s attack received during the second ODI in Hamilton when Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum slammed 165 in little more than 18 overs. His three overs went for 32, but it isn’t the first time Broad has had to come back from some severe punishment. During the ICC World Twenty20 he was clubbed for six sixes in an over by Yuvraj Singh and quickly pushed it to the back of his mind.”International cricket is a fantastic place to play because you know that if you’re not at the top of your game, you get punished and it makes you keep your standards high,” he said “You learn from your mistakes and you learn quickest if you bounce back. County cricket is still a very good standard but you can still get away with a few things.”International cricket really makes you nail your variations. I’ve come in and worked on different cutters and slower balls and not running up and bowling at the same pace with the stock ball – little things like that really help and hopefully when I go back to county cricket, I will implement them there as well.”