تحدث الهولندي آرني سلوت، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ليفربول عن أزمة محمد صلاح الأخيرة وتصريحاته التي أدلى بها عقب مباراة ليدز يونايتد.

وخرج صلاح بعد انتهاء مباراة ليدز يونايتد بالتعادل بثلاثة أهداف لكل منهما وتحدث لوسائل الإعلام وفتح النار على الجميع، وعلى رأسهم مدربه آرني سلوت، بسبب جلوسه على دكة البدلاء لثلاث مباريات متتالية.

بعد تلك التصريحات، انهالت على صلاح تعليقات اللاعبين القدامى والمحللين الإنجليز وانتقدوا حديثه بشدة وعلى رأسهم جيمي كاراجر.

كما قرر الهولندي آرني سلوت، المدير الفني لليفربول استبعاد محمد صلاح من مباراة إنتر ميلان بعد تصريحاته الأخيرة عقب تعادل الفريق مع ليدز يونايتد ضمن منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي.

ويخوض ليفربول مباراته أمام إنتر ميلان مساء اليوم، الثلاثاء، ضمن منافسات بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، على ملعب “جيوسيبي مياتزا”.

وقال سلوت، خلال مقابلة مع ليفربول دوت كوم: “هذه كلماته، لا أعتقد أن من حقي مناقشة ما يفكر به وما يشعر به لكن هذا ليس ما أشعر به بالتأكيد”.

وأكمل: “ما حدث هو أنني لم أبدأ بلاعب لعب العديد والعديد والعديد من المباريات مع ليفربول ومعي”.

اقرأ أيضًا | “ادعم الجانب الخطأ”.. لوفرين يدخل على خط أزمة محمد صلاح وسلوت في ليفربول

ثم أوضح أن الفريق بدا ضعيفًا للغاية في الهزائم أمام آيندهوفن وفوريست، وكان جزءا من إخراج صلاح هو تعزيز الأمور دفاعيًا: “أعتقد أننا عانينا هذا الموسم، ولكن في الجزء الأخير من الموسم الماضي، واجهنا بعض الصعوبات مع خطط الخصم”.

وأردف: “حاولت التكيف ولكن بعد مواجهتي آيندهوفن وفورست بدا الفريق ضعيفًا للغاية، قررت القيام بشيء آخر وهذا ما حدث، حيث لم أشرك صلاح ضد وست هام، وسندرلاند، وليدز”.

واستطرد: “يمكن لأي شخص أن يكون لديه رأيه ويستخدم كلماته الخاصة حول ما يفكر فيه بشأن الموقف ولكن الأمر متروك لنا أيضًا للرد عليهم، إذا تكلم أحد اللاعبين فلا يمكننا قبول ذلك”.

وحول ما قاله صلاح بأنه لم يعد هناك علاقة بينهما أجاب: “أنت تسأل في كل شئ قاله (يبتسم للصحفي)، كل من له علاقة بكرة القدم يعلم جيدًا أنني كنت لاعبًا لكن بالتأكيد لم أكن في هذا المستوى، لكنني مدربًا لعدة سنوات، أنا أحب جميع اللاعبين وأعمل معهم سواء الذين يشاركون أو لا”.

وأتم: “بالنسبة للاعبين، أحيانًا حينما يجلسون على دكة البدلاء لا يحبون المدرب بنفس القدر حينما كانوا يشاركون بشكل أساسي، بالنسبة لي أنا أحب مو بنفس القدر الذي أحب به جميع اللاعبين”.

The 48 hours before the 2025 MLB trade deadline were hectic, with a ton of movement from contending teams looking to improve their roster. Nearly two months later, it has become clear which teams won and lost at the deadline.

The flurry of activity before the deadline on July 31 didn't produce great results for every team, but some have hit the jackpot, and their additions fueled their sprint to the postseason. What follows is a look at the players who have solidified themselves as the best trade deadline pickups this year.

10. Kyle Finnegan, Tigers

Finnegan was having a wobbly season for the Nationals when the Tigers acquired him on deadline day in exchange for pitchers Josh Randall and R.J. Sales. He has been lights out ever since.

In 40 games for the Nationals, the 34-year-old reliever was 1–4 with a 4.38 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP, with 20 saves in 26 opportunities. Since Detroit acquired him, he’s been dominant, going 3–0 with a 0.00 ERA, a 0.42 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts against three walks in 14 1/3 innings over 12 appearances. He also has four saves without blowing one. Unfortunately, an adductor injury has sidelined him for most of September, but he appears close to a return.

Before the deadline, I identified a high-leverage reliever as Detroit’s biggest need. Finnegan has filled that role. His injury is the only thing dragging this ranking down.

9. David Bednar, Yankees

The Yankees also needed relief help at the deadline and found it in Bednar. New York landed the two-time All-Star from the Pirates in exchange for Rafael Flores, Edgleen Perez and Brian Sanchez. He has rewarded them by helping solidify their previously erratic bullpen. Fellow deadline acquisitions Jake Bird and Camilo Doval have produced mixed results, but Bednar has been excellent.

In 17 appearances for the Yankees, the 30-year-old is 3–0 with a 2.75 ERA, a 0.97 WHIP, and 28 strikeouts against six walks in 19 2/3 innings. Bednar has eight saves in 11 chances, and opposing batters are slashing .181/.244/.319 against him. He has only allowed four runs since Aug. 4, and hasn't blown a save since Aug. 20, when the Yankees rallied to get him a win after he gave up two runs against the Rays.

Bednar is under team control through next season, and the Yankees will happily keep him as their closer moving forward after Devin Williams's mess of a season.

8. Miguel Andújar, Reds

The Reds acquired Andújar from the A’s at the deadline in what was an under-the-radar move. He had been solid up to that point in the season, slashing .298/.329/.436 with six home runs and 27 RBIs in 60 games, but he exploded upon joining the Reds.

In 26 games with Cincinnati, Andújar is slashing .351/.405/.545, with three homers and 15 RBIs. His .950 OPS and 161 wRC+ are outstanding. Unfortunately, a lingering quad injury has limited his availability, which has knocked this pickup down the list. He’ll hit free agency after the season, so this could be a brief pairing. When he’s been available, Andújar has been excellent, though.

7. Leo De Vries, Athletics

This is a bit of a curveball because I’m adding a minor leaguer who won’t see the big leagues for quite a while, but De Vries is a special case. The Athletics were part of the biggest deal at the deadline when they sent Mason Miller and JP Sears to the Padres in exchange for prospects. De Vries was the headliner. The 18-year-old is a consensus top-five prospect in baseball as a shortstop with elite skills at the plate. Many, including myself, couldn’t believe San Diego traded him. It’s looking like a move the Padres will come to regret, no matter how good Miller is for them.

The A’s bumped De Vries to Double A in mid-August, and he has gone on a tear. In 21 games, he has slashed .281/.359/.551 with five home runs and 16 RBIs. He posted a wRC+ of 144 in that span. Just as a reminder, he won’t turn 19 until next month. He has incredible plate discipline, and his power has continued to increase as he has climbed the minor league ladder. It’s not a stretch to think he could be in the big leagues by next summer, though 2027 is a more likely target.

The Athletics appear to have a future star on their hands thanks to a savvy deal at the deadline that, yes, moved an All-Star, but may have gotten them a future cornerstone. Speaking of the guy he was traded for…

6. Mason Miller, Padres

To land Miller, the Padres shipped a king's ransom to … Sacramento? Las Vegas? What are we going with here? He’s one of the game’s elite relievers and added to an already strong bullpen, which made the deal puzzling. Regardless of the price paid to land him, Miller has been even better than advertised since arriving.

The 27-year-old has been on the mound for the Padres 18 times and boasts a 0.93 ERA, a WHIP of 0.67 and 36 strikeouts against six walks in 19 1/3 innings. He has only allowed two runs, both came in his second appearance for the team on Aug. 5. Since then, he has authored 16 scoreless outings while mostly acting as the setup man for All-Star closer Robert Suárez. Opposing hitters are batting .115 off of him with an OPS of .358 since the trade.

It remains to be seen what the Padres’ plans for Miller are long-term. He came up to the big leagues as a starter and is under team control through 2029. They could transition him back to that role. If not, they will have an elite reliever under team control for a long time. They paid a high price for it, but he has lived up to his billing so far.

The Braves beat the White Sox 1-0 on Wednesday in front of an announced crowd of more than 30,000 at Truist Park. Since it was a home game, FanDuel Sports Network's Wiley Ballard was in the crowd to talk to some fans.

During the top of the 5th, he found a fan named Rick sitting in front of the Chop House in right field. Rick was holding an upper body cutout of Ballard himself with a red and white striped shirt that said, "Where's Wiley?" Ballard did a quick interview with the fan asking if someone had put him up to it.

He revealed that his wife had and explained why she was missing the interview. Oh, and he swore.

“She loves you," said the fan. "Every time you come up, you know, and talk about either food or whatever she loves you so she’s like we gotta f—— put a sign up for him. So I was like ok cool. So… but she just went to the bathroom."

Ballard didn't even blink and continued the interview as the game continued. The Braves social media team posted a gif of the couple holding up a sign and a teddy bear, but stopped short of sharing the video.

Tottenham Hotspur is a club that has so often been home to numerous elite-level attackers, many of whom have captured the hearts of supporters in the process.

Harry Kane will remain as the Lilywhites’ best-ever goalscorer, with his remarkable figures during his decade-long stint in North London backing up such claims.

The Englishman scored 280 times in his 435 appearances for the club, subsequently breaking the late Jimmy Greaves’ long-standing goalscoring record.

He also formed a deadly partnership with Heung-min Son during his time in the first team, with the duo linking up together on 47 occasions – the most of any pairing in Premier League history.

However, current boss Thomas Frank has been unable to rely upon either of the stars after taking the reins during the off-season, after both were sold in the last handful of years.

Numerous other teams currently boast players of similar characteristics, which has often seen them produce the goods on a consistent basis against them in the Premier League.

The pain Bukayo Saka has inflicted on Spurs in the PL

The North London derby is one of the first dates all Spurs fans look for in the calendar every year, with such a fixture having huge importance in terms of bragging rights.

Winger Bukayo Saka has been a player the Lilywhites supporters have certainly envied over the last few years, with the Englishman often producing the goods against the Lilywhites.

He’s helped Mikel Arteta’s side claim numerous victories in the clashes between the two sides in recent years, subsequently inflicting pain on the Lilywhites faithful as a result.

After his debut for the Gunners five years ago, he’s racked up 10 appearances against Spurs, even finding the back of the net in 50% of the matches he’s featured in.

From solo efforts, as seen in the clash back in April 2024, to assists for Gabriel in the meeting at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – Saka has constantly proved to be a nuisance.

Given the levels he’s achieved in the Premier League over the last couple of years, the Lilywhites faithful will no doubt have wished that they had a player of his calibre in their ranks.

The Spurs star who could be their answer to Saka

In the present day, Spurs boss Frank does have numerous attacking options at his disposal, but many have failed to meet the expectations in 2025/26 to date.

Brennan Johnson has fallen down the pecking order after the Dane’s arrival, subsequently only starting five of the club’s 11 league outings in the Premier League this season.

The Welshman has only registered two goals, but has failed to match the levels he produced last season, which saw him find the net on 18 occasions across all competitions.

His failures have led to youngsters such as Wilson Odobert being handed the chance to impress in North London, but the manager will no doubt want further options off the left-hand flank.

Son’s departure has seen an elite-level talent vacate the squad, leaving a huge hole for one player to potentially fill in the long-term future under Frank.

Mikey Moore could well prove to be the beneficiary in the years ahead, with the teenager deserving of a consistent run in the first-team to allow him to reach his full potential.

The 18-year-old made 19 appearances across all competitions last season, taking advantage of the injury crisis and even registering his first senior goal in the Europa League.

However, he’s been sent on loan to Rangers this campaign in an attempt to gain valuable first-team minutes elsewhere to help aid his development and build on last season’s success.

During his temporary stint in Scotland, the teenager has shown glimpses of his quality, subsequently netting his first goal for Danny Rohl’s side against Dundee last weekend.

Underlying figures such as 1.7 dribbles completed per 90 and 7.7 ball recoveries per 90 further indicate his all-round talents – something which is extremely rare given his tender age.

Moore’s performances at Rangers have already seen him receive huge praise from analysts around Spurs, with one of which labelling the winger as “the best prospect in the country”.

However, it’s crucial that the club manage expectations of the youngster, especially if he is to reach the levels that many people around North London know he is capable of achieving.

Despite that, fans have a reason to be excited, with Moore’s rise through the academy and immediate impact as a teenager extremely similar to Saka’s emergence at Arsenal.

Like his compatriot, he has the tools to make a name for himself in the North London derby, subsequently handing the fans memories to cherish in such an iconic fixture.

Should he continue on his current trajectory, there’s no reason why the youngster can’t play a huge role in the Spurs first team, potentially helping Frank claim added silverware in the near future.

Spurs have "one of Europe’s best finishers" & he could end Richarlison's stay

Tottenham Hotspur can offload Richarlison if Thomas Frank shows faith in one other squad member.

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 14, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are now seriously considering a move for an “incredible” manager to replace Thomas Frank, following the 2-1 defeat at home against Fulham on Saturday.

Thomas Frank's future in doubt after another home defeat

Tottenham’s extremely concerning home form continued on Saturday afternoon, with the Cottagers consigning Frank’s side to a third loss in their last four Premier League games, and the lack of creativity, particularly in the first half, will no doubt be of particular concern to the manager.

It was not the first time this season Spurs have struggled from an attacking point of view, having recorded an xG of just 0.07 against Arsenal in the North London derby, the lowest figure of any side in the Premier League during the 2025-26 campaign.

As such, the pressure is mounting on Frank, who has just one home win to his name in the Premier League this season, with Jamie O’Hara expressing doubts over the Dane after the most recent setback.

As such, ENIC & co have started thinking about potential replacements, and according to a report from Spain, Tottenham are now seriously considering a move for Barcelona legend Xavi, with the board tempted to make a change if results don’t improve by the end of next month.

The 45-year-old is ready to return to management, having been out of work since being sacked by Barcelona back in May 2024, and there is plenty of interest from within the Premier League, with Manchester United also considering him as a replacement for Ruben Amorim.

The north Londoners are yet to make contact with the Spaniard, but they are planning to do so if results don’t improve in the near future, and there are signs he could be an excellent replacement for Frank…

"Incredible" Xavi could be ideal Frank replacement

With O’Hara concerned the Tottenham job may be too big for the 52-year-old, it would make sense to bring in a manager with experience managing at the highest level, and the legendary former midfielder certainly fits the bill in that regard, having led Barcelona to the 2022-23 La Liga title.

Lauded as “incredible” by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, the Terrassa-born manager, who prefers to implement an attacking 4-3-3 system, has won eight trophies across his managerial career, while Frank is yet to lift any silverware.

Jamie O'Hara loses it with Xavi Simons after what Tottenham star did in Fulham defeat

The summer signing was one of many underwhelming performers.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Nov 29, 2025

As such, Xavi could be an ideal replacement for Frank, who should be on very thin ice, given that recent performances have been way below standard from an attacking point of view.

Detroit Tigers ace lefthander Tarik Skubal cemented himself as the best pitcher in the American League by capturing his second consecutive Cy Young Award earlier in November. And yet, Skubal's name is popping up in trade rumors as MLB's hot stove heats up this winter.

Why?

Tigers‘s reported lowball extension offer to Skubal with free agency looming

Skubal, 29, will be a free agent at season‘s end in 2026. The Tigers, undoubtedly aware of the caliber of pitcher they possess and looking to get ahead of things, in November of 2024 made a contract extension offer to Skubal that his representation, bank-breaking agent Scott Boras, deemed "non-competitive." This past month, with Skubal's '26 free agency still looming and his price tag soaring ever higher on the heels of back-to-back Cy Young Award-winning campaigns, the Tigers reportedly made another offer to the ace lefthander, but the two sides weren't close. The apparent negotiations gulf between Skubal and the Tigers has opened the door to a trade.

Why a Skubal trade makes sense for the Tigers

Skubal has posted back-to-back seasons with a sub-3.00 ERA and 220-plus strikeouts with fewer than 40 walks in 190-plus innings. He's one of the last truly dominant aces in baseball in a bullpen-heavy era where the type starter isn't as prevalent as in past years. MLB has never seen a free agent pitcher command a contract at—or north of—$400 million.

There's every reason to believe that Skubal could become the first.

Represented by Boras, it's very likely that Skubal will hit free agency. Boras is fresh off of an offseason in which he helped Juan Soto land the richest contract for a position player in baseball history. For several million reasons, he'd love to see Skubal surpass Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto's $325 million deal next winter, meaning that Boras clients would own the largest contracts among both position players and pitchers.

And while Boras told reporters he's "prepared to listen" to overtures from Tigers principal owner Chris Ilitch and president of baseball operations Scott Harris in terms of a pre-free agency Skubal contract, a deal seems unlikely to materialize before the star pitcher hits the open market, given the way Boras has traditionally done business. When you consider the Tigers‘ resources, it's reasonable to think that Skubal hitting the open market could spell doom for its chances of retaining the ace. Of the 12 teams that made the postseason in 2025, Detroit's payroll ranked ninth. The Tigers again project to have a payroll that ranks in the bottom half of the league's 30 teams. As great as Skubal is, would the Tigers be willing to allocate a hefty chunk of that payroll to one player?

Should Skubal walk in free agency in '26, Detroit would likely recoup a draft pick in terms of compensation.

That's where a trade potentially factors in.

Given how good he is, Skubal could command a massive haul of prospects as part of a trade return. After the 2025 trade deadline, Detroit's farm system checked in as the sixth-best in MLB.com's rankings. The Tigers boast four top-100 prospects, but none of them are pitchers. In fact, of the Tigers's top-10 prospects, just one of them is a pitcher. Perhaps the Tigers, already armed with one of baseball's youngest rosters, lean further into a youth movement, particularly on the pitching side, to capitalize on the potential loss of Skubal?

If so, there's an argument about the best time to trade Skubal would be. This winter, giving contending teams a potential alternative against the backdrop of a solid starting pitching free agent market that lacks a true ace? Or at the '26 trade deadline, giving the (hopefully) contending Tigers a chance to assess how its season is going, and, potentially convince Skubal to remain in Detroit without him testing the open market.

It's a bit of a precarious position for the Tigers front office. Such is the business of baseball.

The Brewers experienced a redemptive victory in Game 5 of the National League Division Series on Saturday to advance to the NLCS for the first time since 2018. In order to do that, they had to eliminate the Cubs, which was probably a nice little cherry on top of their third run to a league championship series since the early 1980s.

After the game, the team gathered together on the field to take a team picture. Someone got ahold of a white flag with a big blue L on it, meant to mirror Chicago's Win Flag which flies at Wrigley Field whenever the Cubs win.

According to the media present for the picture, pitcher Trevor Megill was the one brave enough to grab the flag and hold it up to immortalize the win with a little bit of trolling.

The two teams have both played in the NL Central since Brewers moved over from the American League in 1998. This troll job is just another chapter in an intense rivalry that's only getting spicier.

We break the match into six phases, and see who is likely to gain and lose in each

Sreshth Shah in Potchefstroom08-Feb-2020

India’s batting innings

Overs 1-15
India openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Divyaansh Saxena have to be watchful, looking to build a strong foundation with a steady start. Shoriful Islam, the left-arm seamer, has been accurate all tournament and will have the responsibility of getting Bangladesh the early breakthrough – there will be lateral movement for him, and that’s something for the openers to watch out for. Tanzim Hasan Sakib, the right-arm seamer, is the quicker bowler, but that might play in the hands of Jaiswal and Saxena, and they will look to pick him off for runs. Left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan and offspinner Shamim Hossain will have to be introduced early, and the India openers will look to play them out without much risk.Overs 16-35
Foundation in place, India will look to consolidate here, but a variety of spin and pace may earn Bangladesh some wickets in this period. Tilak Varma and Priyam Garg, who have had a quiet World Cup, will look to push on in the spin-heavy middle overs – with one of the openers around for a while, ideally – when Rakibul, Shamim and Hasan Murad will operate. Shoriful’s second spell will be crucial for both teams as India will look to score off him but not lose wickets in the process. Bangladesh have an opportunity in this period to dent India’s progress with quick strikes, perhaps even exposing their lower-middle order earlier than usual, but India will want to chug along at a decent rate.Siddhesh Veer has a variety of shots in his repertoire•ICC via GettyOvers 36-50
Siddhesh Veer, the swashbuckling allrounder, will be key here. If India are four or five down, he will look to take the innings as deep as possible before really changing gears. Veer’s reputation as a 360-degree batsman could create some doubts in Bangladesh captain Akbar Ali, and the rate will increase in the early part of this stage with India looking to wrest back some control – in case they have conceded any. Although wickets may continue to tumble, the impetus on scoring at a quick pace will be high. India’s lower-order batsmen will try to chip in with some handy runs but it’s also likely that Tanzim and Shoriful will be tough customers to deal with at the death. Expect a few expensive overs and a total in the 240-260 range, which will be very competitive, especially in a final.

Bangladesh’s batting innings

Overs 1-15
Looking at the target, the first priority for Parvez Hossain Emon and Tanzid Hasan will be to not lose their wickets in the early overs. They can’t afford to get bogged down either, so expect them to wait for the loose balls and cash in. The pace of Kartik Tyagi and Sushant Mishra might work well for Bangladesh, but they must tread with caution. If a wicket falls early, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, the centurion from the semi-final, will be in with the agenda to consolidate, but legspinner Ravi Bishnoi, India’s primary wicket-taking bowler, will come in to try and change the script. Bangladesh will stay in touching distance of the required run-rate, but two (or more) early wickets could hurt their chances.Mahmudul Hasan Joy acknowledges the cheers for his century•ICC via GettyOvers 16-35
Bangladesh’s middle order, which has been very prolific, will have to ensure they don’t crumble. Consolidation remains the key, but not at the cost of runs – too many dot balls will, as always, add to the pressure. Bishnoi and left-arm spinner Atharva Ankolekar are perfect when it comes to applying the choke, but Bangladesh know the latter can often err in his lengths. Left-arm seamer Akash Singh is probably India’s weakest link and Bangladesh will have to make full use of the overs he gets. It’s the best time for Bangladesh’s middle-order to send India captain Garg scampering for other bowling options, and it will be in Bangladesh’s advantage if he is forced to use up some extra overs from Tyagi and Mishra, which will leave Singh to bowl more in the back end.Overs 36-50
Bangladesh wouldn’t mind a required run-rate of around 6-7 in the final 15 overs, but only if they have wickets in hand. But, as it often is at the death, this is when they are most likely to lose wickets. If one of the top few manages to bat deep, as long as Akbar or Shahadat Hossain are at the crease, they would still be confident, even against a required run-rate of more than 8 in the final five overs. Bishnoi and Ankolekar will be bowled out by then, and if things go according to Bangladesh’s plans, India will be left with Singh and another pacer to bowl the final overs. Tyagi’s yorker-length deliveries will be key at this stage for India to prise out wickets, and how Bangladesh play his final overs out will determine the result.What strategies can the teams employ if it’s a rain-curtailed game?For India, it’s about how they best use their batsmen. Jaiswal, who has batted within himself so far despite being the tournament’s run-scorer, will need to up his strike rate, something he is famous for in domestic cricket. Barring his hundred against Pakistan, his strike rate has been below 80 in the other four games. Varma, Veer, and Ankolekar are best suited to score at a faster rate, so they could bat ahead of Garg and Dhruv Jurel. India could also be tempted to use Bishnoi inside the powerplay, instead of sending him too late.As for Bangladesh, they may be tempted to not play left-arm spinner Murad and opt for a quick bowler instead. Shahin Alam, the medium-pacer who can also bat, could be a good option. In the batting line-up, Hridoy could bat at No. 3 while Joy drops to No. 4. Shahadat, who has been unbeaten in his last three innings, is another pinch-hitting option whose potential they should not let go waste if it’s a short game.

Essex batsman standing still in stance but taking strides forward in career after run-fest in Australia

Matt Roller04-Mar-2020Ever since he became the County Championship’s third-youngest centurion back in 2015, some 75 days short of his 18th birthday, Dan Lawrence has been slapped with a ‘one for the future’ tag that has at times seem to weigh heavy on him.In 2018, he made batting look like hard work, averaging 23.26 in first-class cricket as he passed fifty twice in 24 innings. The summer had been “a massively frustrating time”, he would reflect.But after a remarkable run of form in an England shirt on the Lions’ tour to Australia, it seems as though that tag may soon be revised to include the present. Scores of 50 not out, 35 and 41 were complemented by six wickets with his improving offbreaks in the white-ball leg of the tour, before his 190 against a Cricket Australia XI was followed by 125 against Australia A under the MCG floodlights. All things considered, Lawrence could hardly have dreamt of making a better impression in an effective audition for the 2021-22 Ashes series.ALSO READ: Lawrence, Sibley make Australia A toilThat success has not come through natural talent alone. After missing out on the Lions squads last winter, he travelled to Cape Town, where he spent several weeks “doing boring drill stuff” and “hitting loads and loads and loads of balls”. The results were not startling, but after a solid summer across formats, an innings against Warwickshire during Essex’s Championship charge proved the catalyst for a technical change which he credits with his breathtaking winter form.”I’ve cut down on my trigger a lot,” Lawrence explains. “I was getting that wrong in the summer quite a lot. I was getting out in silly ways. Standing a bit more still, and the game is feeling a little bit easier.”It was something that I decided to do myself. I had a knock against Warwickshire at the end of last year and I was a bit like… I was finding it pretty hard to carry on triggering. So I just thought: ‘sod it, I might as well change it up’ and it’s been feeling amazing so far.”Footage from last summer demonstrates the difference, which is simple but clear. Rather than stepping across towards the off side moments before delivery, Lawrence now stands still, focused on the bowler alone rather than his own movements.”It’s just something that I’ve been tinkering with myself really, just trying to find the best possible way to carry on with it. It’s not perfect, but it’s certainly a damn sight better than what it was. I’m pretty happy with where I am.”Much as his performances early in the tour were impressive, the standard of attack that the Lions faced was relatively low. That meant impressing against Australia A – with Test cap Jackson Bird and next-cabs-off-the-rank Michael Neser and Mitchell Swepson among the attack – became an important aim. Despite striding out at 55 for 3, Lawrence made hay on a good batting surface, adding 219 in partnership with Dom Sibley and plundering 17 boundaries in his 210-ball 125.”Confidence was high, but that was a game I really wanted to do particularly well in. You don’t get many chances to play at the MCG, so it was nice to get a bit of time in the middle there, and thankfully score some runs.”Dan Lawrence drives during his hundred•Getty ImagesAnd, presumably, impressing in Australian conditions must have been a real fillip with half an eye on 2021-22? “There’s an element of that, but it’s more sort of taking the opportunities when they come. That’s how I look at it anyway: if other stuff does come up, then happy days, but just trying to focus on every innings that I’m playing, be as ruthless as I possibly can be.”Lawrence’s progress has been tracked by England from a young age: he impressed at the Bunbury festival in 2012, and graduated through the national age-group ranks including a strong showing at the U-19 World Cup in 2016. He has now been in and out of the Lions set-up for nearly three years, and was one of a select group of batsmen to travel to Mumbai on a spin camp at the end of last year.”He’s been a player of potential in our minds for some time,” says Mo Bobat, the ECB’s performance director. “I remember talking to him in Mumbai when he came across for the spin camp. Both myself and Ed [Smith, the national selector] spoke to him about the fact that there were a lot of people that rate the quality of his cricket. And I think that we wanted to see him score the volume of runs that, for want of a better phrase, his talent deserved.”To be fair to him, he’s gone out and done exactly that this trip. He couldn’t have done much more in terms of volume of runs. And before I left I congratulated him on that and said that his challenge was doing exactly that this summer, which I hope he does. And if he does that he’s not going to be far off.”The thing he’s hopefully done is prove to himself and others that he can score the volume of runs that he has scored and impact games the way he has. And the way actually many of us believe that he was capable of.”