All posts by h716a5.icu

A month into the new season, Yorkshire and Durham, the two best sides in the County Championship last season, have won one match between them, and that against the side currently in last place

Jon Culley in Chester-le-Street07-May-2014
ScorecardBrigadier Block was on display as Paul Collingwood staved off Yorkshire•Getty ImagesA month into the new season, the two sides who showed themselves to be the best in the County Championship last season have won one match between them, and that against the side currently in last place. Something to worry about? At this early stage, perhaps not, but something to ponder.This match ultimately gave Durham a feather in the cap for character, given that they batted continuously for more than two days, even taking into account the rain that trimmed 11 overs off the time available to Yorkshire to bowl them out for a second time.Yet their bowling and fielding in the Yorkshire innings had been well below par, allowing Andrew Gale’s team to build a total of a size almost unheard of at this ground. Paul Collingwood, the Durham captain, said at the close that he would have bowled without hesitation had he had the choice, and put Yorkshire’s 589 at about 300 runs above par.For their part, Yorkshire must see the draw as an opportunity lost to score a significant win over a key rival. If, as Collingwood insisted, their first innings total was a freak, then they ought to have been capable, with their bowling resources, of dismissing Durham twice for fewer, within the seven sessions, or the best part thereof, that they gave themselves.However, while each of their key bowlers at different times in the match bowled spells of high quality, as a collective they fell a little way short. Yorkshire were ruthless in defeating Northamptonshire in their one win so far, but they conceded more than 500 runs to Somerset in their drawn opening match at Taunton and their failure to prevent Middlesex chasing 472 to win at Lord’s was a chastening experience, to say the least and Durham’s 388 in the first innings here was perhaps a few too many.Yet credit is due to Durham, who showed commendable resilience to bat through those seven sessions, having been asked to follow-on, and did find themselves in a crisis on the final afternoon, when their first four wickets fell for 42 and Yorkshire had their tails up.With 60 overs to face in which not to lose 10 wickets, a little better than it might have been after 11 overs lost to rain, they endured a first 18.1 overs that were catastrophic, in terms of their chances of doing so.Mark Stoneman, one of their two century-makers from the first innings, was out in the most unfortunate way, run out at the non-striker’s end when Liam Plunkett deflected a Keaton Jennings drive into the stumps.Then Scott Borthwick, a doubt for Durham’s trip to Hove next week because of a finger injury that stopped him bowling here, succumbed to a ball from Jack Brooks that was the best anyone faced all match, rearing up and taking the glove as he tried to take evasive action, with Andrew Hodd taking the catch.Kumar Sangakkara, out second ball in the first innings, was lucky not to be given out caught behind for nothing, was dropped at gully on four, just missed the fielder at point with his first boundary and got his second off an inside edge, none of which augured well. Then, with the streakiest 14 runs he may ever score to his name, he followed a wide one from Ryan Sidebottom to be caught at second slip.Adil Rashid, who bowled superbly, dismissed Michael Richardson, the other big success from the first innings, with his first ball, at which point Yorkshire had 42 overs still to work with and a sense of gathering momentum.But there were still some craggy rocks to shift, the craggiest of all being the captain, Collingwood, who joined Keaton Jennings, first offering sage advice to the 21-year-old at the other end and then setting about leading by example, facing 91 balls, 83 of them dots, enjoying a little luck at times, particularly against Rashid, but earning it. And, while doing this for more than two hours, guiding Jennings astutely enough through his business at the other for the young opener to finish with a highly creditable half-century.Collingwood praised Jennings for having the character to finish the job in the face of bowling which, he said, touched on international class at times, particularly when Plunkett got up to speed and when Rashid was employed all the guile he could muster.Equally important, though, had been the strength of will shown earlier by Jamie Harrison and Graham Onions, the overnight batsmen, whose 26-over, 45-run stand held back Yorkshire’s quest for the last two first innings wicket until the day was into its second hour.

Trent Copeland again shone with the ball as he took four wickets on the second day of against Hampshire at Wantage Road.

30-May-2013
ScorecardTrent Copeland took four wickets to keep Hampshire in trouble•Getty ImagesTrent Copeland again shone with the ball as he took four wickets on the second day of against Hampshire at Wantage Road.After losing the toss and being made to bat by the Division Two leaders, Hampshire closed on 149 for 5 as bad light brought an early finish with Liam Dawson making an obdurate 57 not out off 179 balls. Australia paceman Copeland returned figures of 4 for 49 from 28 over to give Northamptonshire the upper hand in what is his penultimate Championship game before he returns home.After the first day was washed out without a ball being bowled, Northamptonshire won the toss and chose to bowl first in overcast conditions. And they made a breakthrough with just the fourth ball of the match when Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams was superbly taken by wicketkeeper David Murphy off David Willey for a duck.Fellow opener Michael Carberry only made 10 before he was caught at second slip by David Sales off Copeland. The visitors crawled to 30 for 2 off the 24 overs that were possible in the morning but they lost James Vince in the fourth over after lunch when he was trapped lbw by Copeland.Copeland switched to the pavilion end in the 39th over and, two balls in, pinned Sean Ervine lbw after the former Zimbabwe international had made 26. The fifth-wicket pair of Dawson and Adam Wheater then moved Hampshire on to 114 for 4 before bad light forced the players off.The delay meant an early tea and the loss of five overs, but only another five were possible before the light dimmed again early in the evening session. Five more overs were trimmed from proceedings as a result, but the latest stoppage did not affect Dawson’s concentration as he completed a watchful half-century off 165 balls.However, Copeland struck yet again when he took out the off stump of Wheater, who had batted brightly in making 40 off 54 deliveries. Bad light intervened yet again with 25 overs still scheduled, and after rain finally set in umpires Mark Benson and Steve Garratt decided to call it a day at 6:05pm.A result now looks unlikely, but Northamptonshire will still be looking for quick wickets tomorrow morning with Dawson now joined at the crease by Mike Roberts, who will resume on 2.

Shane Watson chugged through a second fitness test in 24 hours at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday, trying his tender calf through jogging, running and near enough to sprinting over 30 minutes under the unblinking morning sun

Daniel Brettig in Adelaide20-Nov-2012Shane Watson chugged through a second fitness test in 24 hours at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday, trying his tender calf through jogging, running and near enough to sprinting over 30 minutes under the unblinking morning sun. Afterwards Australia’s physio Alex Kountouris gave Watson a pat on the back: whether it was a gesture of encouragement or consolation was difficult to tell.Whatever Kountouris and the team’s recently appointed strength and conditioning coach David Bailey have in store for Watson between now and the start of the second Test on Thursday, nothing can provide an entirely solid indicator of how likely the vice-captain’s calf is to flare again under the pressure of a five-day contest. Mindful of this, his fellow batsman Ricky Ponting stated bluntly that Watson should not play in Adelaide unless he is fully fit, no matter how his duties are modified by exempting him from bowling and stationing him permanently at slip.”He’ll have a certain criteria he’ll have to pass, there’ll be certain amount of running he’ll have to do and things to do to prove he’s right to play a Test match,” Ponting said. “No-one can go into a Test match 70% fit, I don’t care if you’re a batsman and a slips fielder, if you can’t bat at 100% then you’re putting pressure on other blokes as well.”Someone’s got to run with him between the wickets, and I’m sure that’ll be at the back of his mind, it’ll certainly be at the back of the minds of the physios and doctors looking after him for the next couple of days. I’ve only seen him on what he’s done in the nets over the last couple of days, I believe he did some extra running last night and today, but he’ll make sure he’s ticking all the boxes to be right to play the game.”Ponting has watched both this and last summer’s Watson injury sagas from a somewhat less involved viewpoint than in the past, his ceding of the captaincy to Michael Clarke taking him out of the decision-making group that for this match includes Clarke, the coach Mickey Arthur and the selector on duty Rod Marsh, who will liaise with the national selector John Inverarity.”It’s not up for me to decide whether he should play or not, I have watched him train closely the last couple of days, he’s getting through his batting fine, he’s been a bit restricted with what he can do in the field, he’s done his catching work and he’ll be in slips if he plays anyway,” Ponting said.”Obviously the selectors and our coaches are going to give him as long as possible to prove his fitness or otherwise, but so far he seems confident in himself and with what’s require of his batting at training, he’s looked good in the nets. He can play as a batsman, yeah, he’s just got to tick all the boxes he can tick and do the things he can do physically and then see what the selectors and captain and coach do from there.”As for whether the rest of the team harboured any impatience about Watson’s fitness battles, Ponting said any such feelings were nothing next to the allrounder’s own sense of an increasingly frustrated career. “It is what it is for us, I am sure it is more frustrating for Shane himself,” Ponting said. “He is a very valued member of our side, anyone who can bat in the top order and bowl the way he can bowl is going to be missed in any team around the world.”He is also our Test vice-captain and No. 3 batter so he’s a vital part of our side, if we’ve got him that will be great, and if we don’t we have to move on pretty quickly and if Rob Quiney gets another opportunity – he looked really good last week in his short stay at the crease and we are pretty confident he will do the job if he gets the chance to play.”

Isobel Joyce has stepped down as Ireland Women’s captain, though the 32-year-old allrounder has said she will continue to play

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Mar-2016Isobel Joyce has stepped down as Ireland Women’s captain, though the 32-year-old allrounder has said she will continue to play. Her decision comes following her team’s group-stage exit from the Women’s World T20 in India. No new captain has been named as yet.Having captained Ireland in 62 matches across formats, Joyce said she thought the time had come for “a younger leader” to take charge while she was still around to offer her guidance. “I’ve played cricket for Ireland for over half of my life and while I have not decided when I will call time on my playing career, I feel it’s time to step aside and help a younger leader to learn the role before I do eventually retire,” she said. “I’m looking forward to focusing on my own cricket for the twilight of my playing career and hopefully helping the team qualify for another 50-over World Cup, 16 years after I played in my first one.”Joyce had led her team through the qualifiers into two World T20s, and was a dedicated professional, coach Aaron Hamilton said. “Isobel has been a professional leader both on and off the field for the team,” Hamilton said. “She will be missed in the role of skipper but I’m delighted she will continue to play and assist this group of talented young players; her experience will be invaluable for us going forward.”

Preview of the match between Delhi Daredevils and Mumbai Indians in Delhi

The Preview by Nikita Bastian20-Apr-2013Match factsApril 21, 2013
Start time 1600 (1030 GMT)Is it the end of the road for the dream opening partnership?•BCCIBig PictureDelhi Daredevils are still without a win in IPL 2013. They’ve played six games, managed to tie one, but have zero points. Their confidence would have taken a particularly brutal beating in their previous game, against Chennai Super Kings, when they were shot out for 83 – the lowest total so far this IPL – while chasing 170. They have ten games to go in the group stages; they are not yet ruled out of the playoffs, but to progress they’ll have to win as much as possible and then hope other results go in their favour.The only losing margin bigger than Daredevils’ 86-run defeat this season was Mumbai Indians’ 87-run loss a day before to Rajasthan Royals. Mumbai are widely accepted as a favourite to win the tournament with their line-up of stars – both local and overseas – but they are yet to get their batting working at optimal level. Apart from the failure of the Tendulkar-Ponting combine, they have not had enough batsmen contributing. While Dinesh Karthik has been in contention for the orange cap all through and Rohit Sharma has played a couple of big innings, the rest of the batsmen have not touched an aggregate of 100 in five games. Kieron Pollard, who is third on their run-charts with 95, has batted too low too often. Do they persist with the old hands at the top? Do they push Kieron Pollard up to No. 4? Questions they’ll have to address, ahead of the Daredevils game.Form guideDelhi Daredevils LLLLL (most recent first)
Mumbai Indian LWWWLPlayers to watchDavid Warner has had a tough time of late. As he tweeted on Thursday, he has “not had much luck in India” – after losing the India-Australia Tests 0-4, he is now 0-6 down with Delhi Daredevils. And the frustration seems to be showing. After Sunrisers’ Cameron White had edged the ball into his grille and Warner had extracted it last week, Warner appealed – albeit in jest – for a catch. In Daredevils’ previous game, Warner had appealed – this time in all seriousness – for an obstructing the field decision against MS Dhoni. His batting has fallen away too, with scores of 1, 15 and 0 following two half-centuries in Daredevils’ first three games. If he is able to channel his frustration into aggression with the bat on Sunday, it could spell trouble for Mumbai.Will Ricky Ponting open at the Feroz Shah Kotla? Will he even play? Tendulkar has not been in the best of touch either, but knocked off 44 off 29 against Pune Warriors. Ponting, on the other hand, has shown no such hint of coming into form; he has scores of 28, 6, 0, 14, and 4, and he has taken 75 balls to score those 52 runs. Still, most of his team-mates have been all praise for his captaincy. It all adds up to a tough choice for Ponting. After the loss to Royals, he said: “We will think about changing the team a bit.” A reshuffle on the cards then? Or will Ponting do a Sangakkara and drop himself? That could open up a slot for Glenn Maxwell, Mumbai’s million-dollar recruit who five games into the season is still warming the bench.Stats and Trivia Delhi Daredevils have lost eight IPL games in a row. If they lose to Mumbai Indians, they will move to joint-second (with Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab) on the list of longest losing streaks in the IPL. Pune Warriors top the list with 11 Kieron Pollard is four catches short of 100 T20 catches. When he gets there, he’ll be only the second player to do so behind David HusseyQuotes”Barring a couple of games we haven’t got a good start yet, but they are the kind of players we all know can produce results and I am sure they will deliver.”
“I know the team has many players of proven quality and others who have immense talent and hunger to succeed at this level and higher.”

History suggests that this rain-ravaged contest between two of the second division’s likelier promotion candidates is heading for a dull draw after losing all but 74 of a possible 288 overs across the first three days

David Lloyd at the Ageas Bowl29-Apr-2014
ScorecardGraham Ford said that building “a solid base for a bright future” is his priority at Surrey•PA PhotosHistory suggests that this rain-ravaged contest between two of the second division’s likelier promotion candidates is heading for a dull draw after losing all but 74 of a possible 288 overs across the first three days. But maybe, just maybe, a spirit of adventure, as well as the sun, will come shining through tomorrow.For that to happen, and the game to turn into anything more than an exercise in bonus-point gathering, the captains of Hampshire and Surrey, Jimmy Adams and Graeme Smith, will need to agree on a target and a double forfeiture of innings.That may be unlikely, especially at this early stage of the season and with April pace-setters Hampshire having more to lose than the visitors. But at least Surrey’s coach, Graham Ford, has offered a glimmer of hope to those spectators planning another visit on Wednesday.”It’s probably too early to say much about tomorrow,” Ford said, after a saturated outfield brought about an early afternoon abandonment on day three. “But the result side of things is important because players learn most playing in pressure situations.”If we end up going through the motions, we might still get quite a bit out of it but there’s nothing quite like playing a pressure situation. And if you win a tight game that does wonder for players’ confidence. So a result is first option.”So what sort of deal would interest Surrey? “That’s something for the captain and myself to chew over,” Ford said. “A lot would depend on what kind of target Hampshire are prepared to set us. You can’t just say we are definitely going for a result if it’s a ridiculous challenge. But if something is realistic we are certainly up for it.”The strong hint from Hampshire is that they are happy to build up the bonus points. And, having batted themselves into a good position after being stuck in, why should they give Surrey a sniff? Fair enough, but if the ball is still doing a enough tomorrow then the temptation to offer a deal – against opponents who were rolled over for just 81 by Glamorgan two games ago – ought at least to be considered.It is short odds-on, though, that patience will be a necessity for spectators on the final day. And patience is likely to be required by Surrey supporters for much of this season, while Ford and Smith set about rebuilding the club’s fortunes.Nine of the 12 players in the squad for this match came through the county’s academy in the recent past – and two of them, Dom Sibley and Tom Curran, are still schoolboys who will sit their A levels in a few weeks.”Every cricket team I’ve been involved in wants to win every game but at same time we have to be realistic and appreciate that some of these guys are not quite the finished article,” Ford said. “We’ll be giving it the best shot we can but looking at it session by session, game by game, rather than where we’ll end up at the end of the season.”Hopefully everyone understands where we are at. Certainly, at the AGM the other day there was a strong feeling of ‘We’d rather have a young side improving than an older side that is perhaps past its best’. So, yes, patience is crucial, and then when you get through the hard work hopefully there is a solid base for a bright future.”

Aaron Ramsdale expressed his gratitude to Arsenal supporters after he made a rare start in the Gunners' dramatic win over Brentford on Saturday.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Ramsdale covers for ineligible RayaOvercomes nervy first halfThanks fans for supportGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The goalkeeper made his first league start since September as he covered for David Raya, who was ineligible to play against parent club Brentford. Ramsdale overcame a difficult first-half, in which he made a pair of nervous errors before settling down for a calmer second period. After his side grabbed a win courtesy of Kai Havertz's 89th-minute header, Ramsdale shared his delight with Arsenal fans and thanked them for their backing.

AdvertisementWHAT AARON RAMSDALE SAID

"A feeling I never take for granted," Ramsdale posted on Instagram. "Love being part of this club. Fans were next level last night looking out for me. Thank you"

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Ramsdale's reappearance due to Raya's enforced absence inevitably sparked more debate around the goalkeeping situation at Arsenal. Although Mikel Arteta had discussed rotating between the pair, it appears that Raya has won the starting role for the foreseeable future. It remains to be seen if Ramsdale may seek a solution away from the Emirates in January but as yesterday proved, he remains a popular figure among the Arsenal support as they made clear yesterday.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT NEXT FOR AARON RAMSDALE?

With Arsenal out of the Carabao Cup it will be back to the bench for Ramsdale, with the 25-year-old left eagerly waiting for another opportunity to get back in action in front of those adoring fans again.

Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm chinaman bowler, took a hat-trick to set up India Under-19s five-wicket win against Scotland Under-19s in Dubai

The Report by Kanishkaa Balachandran in Dubai17-Feb-2014
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsKuldeep Yadav picked up the wickets of Nick Farrar, Kyle Stirling and Alex Baum in successive deliveries•ICCKuldeep Yadav became the first Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in Under-19 World Cup history and in the process, sent Scotland Under-19s crashing to 88 all out in Dubai. But India ended up making heavy weather of the chase after what was predicted to be a cakewalk, given the gulf between the two sides. Scotland’s spinners had entertained thoughts of an upset, having pinned India down at 22 for 5, but Sarfaraz Khan and Deepak Hooda held their nerve and ensured India didn’t lose any more wickets.Kuldeep, the left-arm chinaman bowler is among the few of his type in world cricket, and Scotland batted like they had never faced anyone of his type before. Yadav’s spin partner, Aamir Gani, was just as incisive and their four-wicket hauls ended Scotland’s innings within 30 overs.Kuldeep’s mystery element claimed the wickets of Nick Farrar, Kyle Stirling and Alex Baum in three successive balls spread out over two overs. Farrar looked to sweep, but got a top edge that lobbed to fine leg.Kuldeep didn’t need any assistance for his next two wickets, relying on his own skills to fox the batsmen. Bowling round the wicket to Stirling, Kuldeep generously tossed it up but the batsman was caught in two minds about playing a shot. In the end, he merely padded up and the ball straightened and struck him in front of middle and leg stump.Kuldeep’s hat-trick ball was a spinner’s dream. It was a combination of flight and sharp turn from outside off stump that snuck through the big gap between Baum’s pad and bat, and dismantled the stumps.Scotland were already struggling for control before Kuldeep struck. The seamers, Chama Milind and Avesh Khan took a wicket each before both were taken off after ten overs. From then on, it was the Kuldeep-Gani show. Gani is an offspinner in the Ramesh Powar mould, with a similar approach to the crease and tendency to bowl much slower through the air. Zander Muir went a bit too deep in the crease trying to cut and was out hit-wicket.Kuldeep’s hat-trick then reduced Scotland to 59 for 5, before Chris Sole edged Gani to the wicketkeeper Ankish Bains who took the catch in the second attempt. The opener Andrew Umeed, the only batsman who looked like getting a fifty, was squared up by a quicker one from Gani for 44 before Kuldeep took his fourth wicket, getting Mark Watt to edge to slip. A brilliant running catch by Sanju Samson running to his left in the deep ended the innings on 88. It was a bizarre scorecard which read – 44, 7,1,7,0,0,5,2,16,0,1*.While Scotland hadn’t prepared for Kuldeep and Gani, India looked just as shaky against one of their own – Chayank Gosain. The Delhi-born left-arm spinner was given the new ball and he triggered early panic when he got rid of Akhil Herwadkar and Vijay Zol in his first two overs. Gosain bowled round the wicket to both left-handers and Herwadkar perished trying to cut while Zol failed to cover the line and edged to slip.Gosain bowled his ten overs in one spell and he nipped out another wicket, getting Bains to chip to midwicket. The pressure was starting to tell on the Indian batsmen, with fielders in catching position and the urgency to score eventually cost Bains his wicket.Gavin Main, the right-arm seamer, was lucky to get Samson lbw as replays showed the ball missing leg stump. Four balls later, Ricky Bhui played too early and chipped it low to short midwicket. The attacking field had claimed another wicket and India were reeling at 22 for 5.Sarfaraz found himself in a pressure situation greater than that against Pakistan. With the reliable lower-order batsman Hooda, the pair slowly got India back on track. They were initially watchful against Gosain before Sarfaraz broke a boundary drought that lasted nearly six overs, by cutting Watt to cover. They released the pressure by pushing the ball into gaps and pinching as many singles as they could.Hooda had gained enough confidence to charge Gosain and loft him for consecutive boundaries and at 60 for 5 at the end of 17 overs, India were on track. Sarfaraz hastened the chase with a four and a six off consecutive balls over cover off Watt, and finished the game in style with another four towards the same region.

The Finland international was relatively unknown before the Argentine's arrival, but in the weeks since, he hasn't stopped scoring

Throughout his illustrious career, Lionel Messi has had some iconic partners in crime. Ronaldinho was his mentor, the player that introduced him to the world. Xavi and Andres Iniesta were his table-setters, while Luis Suarez and Neymar helped him form arguably the best attack this sport has ever seen. And we couldn't go on without mentioning Rodrigo de Paul, his famous bodyguard that helped him carry Argentina to a World Cup trophy.

However, none of those famous sidekicks are quite like Robert Taylor. You see, Taylor is Messi's new partner in crime at Inter Miami, and it's safe to say that he's the most unlikely one yet.

Taylor didn't come into Messi's life with an elite pedigree or with a multi-million dollar transfer fee attached to his name. No, around a decade ago he was playing in the 10th tier of English soccer. That's a long way from Camp Nou.

Now, all these years later, he's Messi's new go-to team-mate. The Finland star has four goals and four assists in his last five games, making him the biggest beneficiary of the Argentine's arrival in the Miami team. The 28-year-old star had been an unfamiliar face for the bulk of his career, but now, with a helping hand from Messi, he's emerging as a star.

To get an idea of how much Taylor's life has changed, just look at his Instagram. His photo commemorating I his arrival at Inter Miami received just over 2,000 likes. The photo commemorating his first link-up with Messi? Well, that has over 200,000.

But who is Taylor and why does he fit so well with Messi? GOAL takes a look…

GettyAn unbelievable journey

If you consider where Taylor finds himself today, it's hard to imagine where he was just a few short years ago. Born in Finland to an English father, Paul, who was playing professionally overseas, Taylor spent several years with clubs in his father's homeland, notably at Nottingham Forest, Lincoln City and Barnet, with the latter's relegation seeing his hopes of a professional contract dashed. He also spent time with the likes of Boston Town and Lincoln Moorlands Railway, clubs in the lower reaches of the English pyramid.

“If someone told me a few years ago when I sitting on the bench for Lincoln Moorlands that I’m going to play with [Sergio] Busquets and Messi I would have just laughed in their face,” Taylor said. “I was sitting on the bench, I wasn’t able to get any minutes in non-league and the coach told me I’m not strong enough or basically good enough. I was just sitting on the bench watching. It tested me when I was younger. I was calling my parents back home in Finland and saying maybe I want to look for something, other options.”

In 2013, he returned to Finland with JJK before bouncing around Scandinavia with stints at AIK in Sweden as well as Tromso and Brann in Norway. Then, in 2022, Taylor arrived at Inter Miami on a two-year deal. At the time, he'd already made his mark for Finland, playing 24 times for his country up to that point, but it's far to say his arrival wasn't met with the fanfare that would come one summer later when Messi would arrive.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesBefore and after Messi

It's not just Taylor's path to Miami that make his recent surge with Messi so unbelievable, but also what we'd seen from him in the season-and-a-half before Messi joined.

In his debut season, Taylor scored three goals and provided three assists for Miami, starting 26 of his 33 appearances under head coach Phil Neville. And then this season, he contributed to six total goals in 19 MLS games before Messi's arrival, starting 10 games in that span.

It isn't just Taylor who has seen his fortunes change since Messi's arrival, but the club as a whole. Messi, of course, has helped Inter Miami dominate in the Leagues Cup, with MLS on a month-long break for the newly-formed tournament. As that tournament kicked-off, Miami found themselves last in MLS with little hope of making the playoffs.

Now, though, they'll have reason to believe. Not just because of Messi, although he's a huge factor, of course. Not just because of Sergio Busquets or Jordi Alba, both of whom have added much-needed quality to a team that was lacking it. And not just because of the other string of new signings brought in by Gerardo 'Tata' Martino to raise the level.

Taylor himself is now a key figure for the club. He may be a familiar face to Inter Miami, but he's now becoming a star with Messi's help.

Inter MiamiWhy it works

Taylor's game hasn't magically changed over the last month. The 28-year-old winger hasn't learned some life-altering lesson or developed some crazy new skill that has altered the direction of his career.

No, the attributes that have been on display over the last few weeks were always there, but with Messi now involved, Taylor has someone next to him that can put those attributes to good use. “[Messi] is the best player in the world,” Taylor told the . "I’ve never played with the best player in the world. That’s what it is. That’s the difference.”

One thing is clear about Taylor's game from the moment you watch him: he runs. The effort is always there. The second Miami win the ball, Taylor gets on his horse and runs towards a position that could eventually be dangerous.

And Messi, for his part, is perhaps the best ever at creating danger. As defenses collapse on Messi, Taylor frequently finds himself in position to make things happen and, so far, he's done just that.

"[Messi] creates a lot of space for everyone else," he said. "I think everyone sees what he does. He can do everything. He makes the right decision 100 percent of the time. Most of the time he finds a team-mate in space. He's the best player in the world, this is what he does. It's a dream come true to play with him."

That's not to say that Taylor doesn't have some skill to him, because he certainly does. Look at his goal against Cruz Azul, a fantastic curling finish that left Messi, at that point on the bench awaiting his debut, smiling from ear to ear.

You could also look at his ridiculous finish against Atlanta United: a thumping near-post missile after another Argentine, teenager Benjamin Cremaschi, had provided the assist.

But there's no doubt that Taylor's most notable moments have come alongside Messi. He teed the Argentine up for a goal in that win over Atlanta before Messi himself returned the favor on the counter later that night.

Taylor then set up Messi for the opener against Orlando City in the last 16 and scored Miami's second in the next round: a 4-0 shellacking of Charlotte FC.

Many of Taylor's best sequences have come as a result of him being in the right place at the right time, with Messi being the player to find him in those moments. That said, Taylor has ensured he make the best use of Messi's magic, at least so far.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesRaised level all around

Messi isn't the only one to have raised the level, though. All of Inter Miami's players, new and old, are stepping up in a big way. From youngster Cremaschi to U.S. men's national team veteran DeAndre Yedlin, the Herons have been energized by Messi's arrival. And then there's the likes of Busquets and Alba, who themselves have helped lift this team in other areas of the field. It was Alba that set up Messi for the opener against FC Dallas, while Busquets has been an incredible presence in the center of the field.

"It’s amazing," Taylor said. "[Messi]" has just come in and brought a lot of energy to the team. His play means he makes the right decisions all of the time in training and in the games which is why it’s so good. "Busquets brings a lot of confidence. You feel when he gives you the ball, it gives you time because he knows when to pass the ball, when to keep the ball and it makes life easier for everyone around him."

Ireland’s unbeaten start to the World Cup will face its toughest test yet against South Africa, who still have injury concerns over Vernon Philander and JP Duminy

Firdose Moonda02-Mar-2015Match factsMarch 3, 2015, Canberra
Start time 14:30 local (03:30 GMT)What will AB de Villiers have in store this time?•Getty ImagesBig pictureThe World Cup so far: South Africa, beaten once, Ireland unbeaten.Predictable as the tournament may have become in some ways, you cannot say you expected to read that. Ireland have also bucked the trend in Australia by chasing a tough target successfully under lights against UAE, one of just two successful pursuits in that part of the draw (the other being India’s against UAE when the lights weren’t needed in Perth).Victories over West Indies and UAE have left Ireland looking good for the knockouts with half their matches still to play, although they will know their strongest opposition in the group is still to come. That starts in Canberra, where they will take on a South African side sufficiently recovered from a defeat to India and buoyed by their performance over West Indies.Both sides will clear their own paths to the quarters with a win in this match and South Africa will be the strong favourites to get that. They may even regard their hiccup for the competition over after they dominated West Indies, albeit with an injury setback to JP Duminy and two reserves in the starting XI.That performance allowed almost all South Africa’s squad members, barring left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso, to find form and they will want nothing more than to take that back to New Zealand especially if they hit cruise control when they get there – and a win over Ireland will allow that.For Ireland, defeat will not mean disaster but an upset would be another jolt to the global order. It would also maintain them as the only unbeaten team alongside New Zealand and India.Form guide(last five matches, most recent first)
South Africa WLWWL
Ireland WWLWWIn the spotlightIn a tournament dominated by the batsmen there have been a few outstanding displays from bowlers, but Dale Steyn has yet to have a say. He has a wicket from each of the three games South Africa have played and pulled back his economy rate from more than seven runs an over against Zimbabwe to less than four runs an over against West Indies, but he seems to be missing some of the menace that makes his magic. Steyn has not been as quick or as aggressive as usual and has let some of South Africa’s other bowlers take over from him as the spearhead. But that may all have been part of his warming up and if he is ready to go, opposition line-ups will have something to fear.Ireland’s batting has proved, twice in this tournament alone, that they can stand up for themselves so it will be up to their bowlers to step up. George Dockrell is their highest wicket-taker with four scalps while Max Sorensen leads their pack. South Africa do not struggle against either left-arm spin or pace but have been known to be outthought by craftiness and guile, which is what Ireland’s pack will need to find to keep them quiet.Team newsVernon Philander and JP Duminy are still recovering from hamstring and side strains respectively and South Africa will likely take the cautious approach over their availability. That should give Rilee Rossouw and Kyle Abbott another opportunity after both performed impressively against West Indies. South Africa may still be deciding between which allrounder to use with Farhaan Behardien and Wayne Parnell the candidates.South Africa 1 Hashim Amla, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 Rilee Rossouw, 5 AB de Villiers (capt), 6 David Miller, 7 Farhaan Behardien/Wayne Parnell, 8 Kyle Abbott, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Imran TahirIreland have no reason to alter a strong batting line-up and will likely stick with the same attack they used against West Indies. Alex Cusack came in for Andy McBrine and they may want the extra seamer rather than slower bowler given the surface.Ireland 1 Williams Porterfield (capt), 2 Paul Stirling, 3 Ed Joyce, 4 Niall O’Brien, 5 Andy Balbirnie, 6 Gary Wilson (wk), 7 Kevin O’Brien, 8 John Mooney, 9 Alex Cusack, 10 Max Sorenson, 11 George DockrellPitch and conditionsAlthough Afghanistan made run scoring look like hard work at this venue, this was the surface Chris Gayle plundered 200 runs on a week ago. Zimbabwe responded with a total just shy of 300. A flat pitch and fast outfield should provide plenty more runs as the tournament says goodbye to the Australian capital. Warm weather of 29 degrees is forecast with no rain.Quotes”You can sit all day and talk about him and different theories and plans and whatever, but you’ve got to stick to your best ball and how you go about things. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel or change how you play really against one player.”
“In my opinion he is a level above most batters…I wouldn’t want to be in bowling analysis meetings when preparing for de Villiers.”
Farhaan Behardien wishes Ireland good luck at bowling to the aforementioned de Villiers