Aston Villa have been linked to another Premier League ace, after the Villans sealed their first signing of the summer in Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans.

Unai Emery is expected to have a busy transfer window following his incredible first season in charge at Villa Park, in a bid to build upon the success of this term and prepare the squad for Europe.

Latest news has suggested that the Midlands club are looking to replicate their move for free agent Tielemans in another Premier League star out of contract.

What’s the latest on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Aston Villa?

As reported by talkSPORT, Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be on his way to Villa Park.

The report states that sources close to the outlet understand that the 29-year-old is ‘on the verge’ of completing a move to Aston Villa.

The £125k-per-week Englishman will become a free agent this summer after no new contract was established on Merseyside.

What could Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain offer Aston Villa?

Hailed by BBC Sport writer Raj Chohan as “superb”, the former Arsenal ace has shown spells of his potential at Liverpool in a period tainted by injury.

During his six years at Anfield, the Portsmouth-born ace missed a total of 88 games due to injury as per Transfermarkt, contributing to him losing his spot as a regular in the side.

Starting his career as a dynamic wide player, Oxlade-Chamberlain was unleashed by Jurgen Klopp as a central midfielder, in a switch of position that paid off greatly for the Englishman.

Emery could land himself a force to be reckoned with in his midfield, with the Premier League and Champions League winner posing as a perfect fit for the Spaniard’s plans.

Following the arrival of Tielemans, the Spaniard has added significant depth to the middle of the park and by introducing Oxlade-Chamberlain as well, it could mean bad news for Philippe Coutinho.

The Brazilian has failed to find his best form at Villa, and having been linked with the exit door of late could be forced out of Emery’s plans entirely should another central talent arrive at Villa Park.

Comparing their statistics from last season when both players accumulated sufficient game time, the Englishman could offer a significantly greater threat to Villa’s midfield both going forward and as a defensive presence.

As per FBref, the Liverpool gem acts as more of a threat in the final third than Coutinho, averaging in the 2021/22 campaign 7.22 progressive passes received per 90 to the Brazilian’s 4.20, showing his ability to pop up in threatening positions.

In terms of actually distributing the ball, the 'Ox' averaged 6.99 progressive passes per 90 to the 30-year-old’s 6.37 per 90 as well averaging 3.99 progressive carries to his 3.25, via FBref.

The 29-year-old could rediscover his impressive form between his injury woes under Emery, and pose as a valuable member of his plans at Villa Park, being a better fit than the out-of-favour Coutinho to the Spaniard’s demands of his midfielders.

Alex Moir had taken 6 for 155 against England in Christchurch in 1951. Sixty-five years later, Colin de Grandhomme took 6 for 41 to finish with the best figures by a New Zealander on debut; Pakistan were bowled out for 133

The Report by Shashank Kishore17-Nov-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:36

Fernando: Vintage New Zealand medium-pace bowling

It was a tale of two debutants on a fascinating day of Test cricket where ball dominated the bat. Although the final analysis of 13 wickets for 237 runs would suggest a menacing surface, the truth was that a lot of batsmen, especially from Pakistan, were out poking or trying to play expansive drives. New Zealand fared much better with the bat, and held the aces as the first Test moved forward at a breakneck speed despite an entire day being washed out by rain in Christchurch.Colin de Grandhomme, the Harare-born Auckland allrounder who had previously taken just one five-wicket haul in 83 first-class games, had the best figures (6 for 41) by a New Zealand debutant. It meant Pakistan, sent in to bat, were rolled over for 133. Misbah-ul-Haq, captaining his country for the 50th time, top scored with a typically feisty 31 off 108 deliveries during the course of which he proved it was the top order’s impatience and not a menacing Hagley Oval green top that contributed to their downfall; no other batsman crossed 20.In reply, Jeet Raval, the other debutant, replacing Martin Guptill, overcame a testing new-ball burst to finish 55 not out as New Zealand recovered from early losses of Tom Latham, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor to end on 104 for 3, trailing by just 29 runs. Playing late and committing himself wholeheartedly to his strokes, both off the front and back foot, he picked off seven boundaries and looked at ease even as his partners largely struggled; particularly against Mohammad Amir in a probing opening spell that read 6-2-6-1.Things could have been much worse for New Zealand had Henry Nicholls, replacing Luke Ronchi, not substituted flamboyance for grit and patience to finish unbeaten on 29. The fourth-wicket pair added 64, but in blunting out 19.4 overs, they ensured New Zealand had limited the new-ball damage to potentially make run-scoring a lot easier on the morrow.The surface demanded patience which Pakistan clearly lacked, as their top order crumbled after a solid 31-run opening stand that frustrated New Zealand. In trying to bowl full and swing the ball late, their new ball pair of Tim Southee and Trent Boult either slipping the ball down the leg side or bowl it full and wide in the first hour as Sami Aslam and Azhar Ali went into their shell, seemingly happy to blunt the new ball.Ina ddition to a half-century on debut, Raval also took two excellent catches in the slips•AFPThen Williamson turned to de Grandhomme’s seam-ups over Neil Wagner’s bustling pace, and the move worked immediately. After two poor overs in which he sprayed the ball, de Grandhomme broke through when he scythed through Azhar’s defence with an in-dipper. The old adage of ‘one brings two’ ensured when Southee, brought back form the other end, sent back Aslam, who jabbed hard to get a thick edge to Raval at second slip.Babar Azam was reprieved on 4, but couldn’t curb his instincts of trying to drive on the up as he was also pouched in the slips. When Younis Khan’s flashy cover drive to a delivery he could have left alone off de Grandhomme was pouched by Raval in the cordon, Pakistan had sensationally slipped from 31 without loss to 56 for 4.Pakistan slowly rebuilt through a 32-run stand, but the lunch break came to New Zealand’s rescue as Asad Shafiq, demoted to No. 6 after a fruitless stint at No. 3 in the UAE, poked one to gully. Sarfraz Ahmed tried to unsettle the bowlers by walking outside the crease, giving bowlers the charge and play a typically aggressive game. Not even being hit on the helmet by a steep bouncer altered his approach. Eventually a tame waft resulted in a simple catch at gully to a relieved Todd Astle, who put down a chance earlier in the day.Watching the carnage unfold, Misbah continued to bat on in the hope that he would find some support from the tail. But such was the nature of Pakistan’s collapse that Williamson resisted temptation to give his faster men a break, and go for the kill. Boult and Southee overcame insipid starts to finish with two wickets apiece.For a while it looked like New Zealand’s top order would match Pakistan’s indiscretions. After Tom Latham was lbw to Amir, Williamson, in particular, fell tamely when he pushed away from the body – neither attempting a punch nor a full-blooded cut shot – to be caught at slip. Ross Taylor, all at sea against Sohail Khan’s late away-swing, was snaffled down leg side to extend his lean patch to 10 innings now to open up the game.With over 25 overs left, two more wickets then may have tilted the scales Pakistan’s way. That it didn’t was largely due to Raval’s steadfast determination and Nicholl’s grit that capped off an eventful day.

An update has emerged on Celtic as they speed up their plans to replace manager Ange Postecoglou this summer…

What's the latest on David Moyes to Celtic?

According to Football Insider, the Hoops have made West Ham United head coach David Moyes their number one target to take over at Parkhead next season.

The report claims that the club are preparing a swoop to snap the Scotsman up after their last boss moved down south to join Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month.

Majority shareholder Dermot Desmond is now looking for the Australian's heir and has identified the Hammers chief as an option, as the Scottish giants want someone who can make an impact in Europe after Brendan Rodgers and Postecoglou both struggled in continental competitions.

What is David Moyes' record in Europe?

The 60-year-old has an impressive record in European matches in recent seasons and secured his name in his history books by winning the Europa Conference League with West Ham last week.

Moyes, who reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League with Manchester United in 2013/14, made it to the semi-finals of the Europa League in 2021/22 with the Hammers before going all the way to win a trophy this term.

He has won an impressive 18 of his 25 European games in charge of the London-based club, losing four in that time, suggesting that the tactician, who won eight of his 14 UEFA Cup outings with Everton, knows how to get results outside of domestic action.

The Scottish tinkerer, who was once dubbed a "fantastic" coach by ex-United forward Robin van Persie, has proven that he can excel in European competitions and take teams into the latter stages, which is something that has eluded the Hoops for some time.

Celtic have not reached the quarter-finals of any tournament outside of Scotland since they reached the last eight of the UEFA Cup in the 2003/04 campaign.

Postecoglou won three of his 12 Europa League and Champions League group-stage matches combined and did not win a single knockout match during his two years at the club.

Rodgers won one of his 12 games in the Champions League with the Hoops and these statistics suggest that Moyes has the potential to come in and achieve a level of success in Europe for the Scottish giants that their most recent managers have failed to get anywhere near.

Therefore, Desmond could get Celtic firing again on the continent by pulling off this ambitious swoop for the Premier League head coach to replace Postecoglou.

West Ham can look to next season with huge excitement and optimism. Their first major trophy in 43 years secured Europa League football and makes them a compelling option for any footballer looking to challenge themselves at a higher level.

After their £166m outlay last summer, David Moyes has demonstrated he isn’t afraid to be active in the transfer market, and the club is set for a busy summer.

One player who has been linked to joining the Hammers at this fruitful time is Brennan Johnson, who has been one of Nottingham Forest’s most consistent and productive players since their promotion back to the Premier League.

What’s the latest on Brennan Johnson to West Ham?

According to the Daily Mail, the 22-year-old is set to be the subject of an intense transfer battle between Everton and West Ham.

This outlet details that the Welshman is valued at £40m due to his massive effort to keep his side away from relegation.

However, with the added attractive option of European football, the East London outfit may have the edge to secure this talent.

How would Brennan Johnson fit in at West Ham?

The tricky attacker has been an indispensable component of a Reds side that gained promotion and kept their Premier League status.

In the 2021/22 campaign, the forward recorded 25 contributions in 46 appearances in the second tier and followed this up with 11 goal involvements in his debut season at the top level of English football.

Johnson appeared in every single domestic game and his manager Steve Cooper is a massive fan, saying: “He’s a fantastic player, we know he’s got qualities and is a great finisher.”

One of his most impressive attributes is his chameleonic ability to play across the frontline and his potential link-up with the dazzling Lucas Paqueta is a mouth-watering prospect.

The dazzling Brazilian ranks within the best 7% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for progressive passes per 90, and has averaged the second-most dribbles per game (1.2) in the West Ham squad.

Described as “simply sensational” by CBS’ James Benge, the former Lyon star’s impudent vision, skill, and passing, coupled with Johnson’s endless running and commendable athleticism could be a devastating method of attack next term.

The way Paqueta expertly slipped in Jarrod Bowen to win the final last night is a teaser of how Johnson can benefit from his creativity.

The 18-cap international was born in Nottingham and has been in the youth ranks at Forest since 2009 – to tempt Johnson to leave his boyhood club will take a humongous proposal.

The £30k-per-week man’s current deal expires in 2026, so it would certainly be an audacious swoop for the high-flying Hammers.

West Ham United's initial trepidation over losing captain Declan Rice this summer has slowly turned to cautious optimism as the Hammers continue to be linked with some big names.

David Moyes will be eager to use some of the cash Rice's sale brings to strengthen other positions, but a new central midfielder is surely top of his wishlist this summer.

Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Chelsea are all reported to be in the running for Rice, who could attract a fee in excess of £100m, though The Sun claims the latter are the preferred choice for the Hammers.

That is because there is a possibility that Conor Gallagher – who himself is valued at £50m by Chelsea, according to the Daily Mail – could be used in part-exchange for Rice, leaving plenty of money left over to bring in a defender and a striker.

What can Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher bring to West Ham United?

After impressing on loan with another London side in Crystal Palace two seasons ago, Gallagher was given a chance – of sorts – by Chelsea last time out in what was a poor campaign for the Blues, who lurched from one manager to another.

While almost half of Gallagher's 35 Premier League appearances last season came as a substitute, the six-cap England international was still able to showcase his talents.

Gallagher scored three goals and assisted another, while the nine yellow cards he received – the most of any Chelsea player – also highlights the tenacious side of his game.

As pointed out by sports writer PGR Analytics, Gallagher has a "relentless work rate" and is a "threat in the final third" – qualities that Hammers fans would surely love to see.

While not a like-for-like replacement for Rice in a direct sense, there are some similarities between the two men. Gallagher is a more attacking player, as reflected in his 0.22 goals and assists per 90 last season, compared to 0.14 for Rice.

As per FBref, Rice has a slightly better pass percentage than Gallagher per 90 minutes (86.5 v 81.1), while they average 68 and 63 touches per 90 – not a huge deal of difference.

Gallagher's arrival at West Ham would certainly excite fans, even if the £50m price tag seems a little excessive. However, in the same week Jude Bellingham joined Real Madrid for a fee rising to £115m, Gallagher boasts many similar attributes to his international colleague.

Indeed, FBref's comparison tool ranks Bellingham as the player most like Gallagher across Europe's top five leagues in terms of their statistical profiles.

For example, they find the target from a similar number of shots (39.3% for Gallagher at Chelsea, compared to 34.8% for Bellingham at Borussia Dortmund), have a near identical pass-completion percentage (81.1 v 81.7) and tackle at a similar rate (2.56 per game v 2.54), all per 90 via FBref.

This is not to say Gallagher is on the same level as Bellingham right now, but as a replacement for Rice, and with a huge sum of cash left over for one or two other players, it is a deal that could make lots of sense for West Ham as they look to move on from their long-serving skipper.

Ange Postecoglou may have only just been named as the permanent successor to Antonio Conte at Tottenham Hotspur, although there are already reports that the 57-year-old could be set to spark something of a mass clearout at N17.

As per The Telegraph, one of the most high-profile figures who is set for the axe is long-serving captain, Hugo Lloris, despite the veteran Frenchman still having a year left to run on his existing deal.

The 36-year-old – who missed much of the 2022/23 campaign due to injury – looks almost certain to be usurped as the new number one in north London, with 90min reporting that Postecoglou and co are interested in a move for Brentford's David Raya.

As pundit Graeme Souness stated earlier this year, the World Cup winner looks to be "past his sell-by date" following what was a rather dismal campaign, with the former Nice man having made the most errors leading goals of any player in the Premier League (4).

If it is any consolation to Lloris, the 145-cap stopper won't be the only figure to be axed under the new regime, with The Telegraph report also stating that on-loan defender, Clement Lenglet, could be set for a return to parent club Barcelona.

Football Insider has also corroborated those claims, with that recent report suggesting that the Lilywhites are not looking to make the centre-back a permanent fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the 27-year-old set to be the 'first to go' as part of this impending summer exodus.

Should Tottenham sign Lenglet permanently?

Described as an "imposter" by ex-Spurs man, Jamie O'Hara, it is fair to say that Lenglet's year on loan in north London has not gone particularly smoothly, with the Frenchman forming part of a defence that shipped 63 league goals – the sixth-worst record in the division.

Notably criticised by commentator Jim Belgin for his "awful mistake" in the 4-2 defeat to Manchester City back in January, the one-time Sevilla man failed to have the desired impact at the heart of the defence, with his average match rating of 6.65, as per Sofascore, seeing him only ranking 20th in the Tottenham squad.

Remarkably, the struggling outfit only kept one Premier League clean sheet with the 15-cap dud in the side, with the club seemingly "paying the price" for opting to make that cheap, temporary move, according to respected insider, John Wenham.

As such, there will no doubt be a sense of relief that Postecoglou is looking to shift the centre-back in the coming weeks, with chairman Daniel Levy likely keen to free up some funds by getting Lenglet's £145k-per-week salary off the books – with that figure equating to around 7% of the entire wage bill.

With the Lilywhites having had little return on that investment this season, it appears to be a no-brainer for the new boss to quickly ditch the defender and send him packing back to Catalonia.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMarlon Samuels hit his second fifty of the competition to steer Comilla home•BCB

Comilla Victorians dented Rajshahi Kings’ charge towards a last-four finish, beating them by eight wickets with eight balls to spare. Young allrounder Mohammad Saifuddin took three wickets to help restrict Rajshahi to 124 for 7 before Marlon Samuels struck an unbeaten 55 off 41 to complete a convincing chase.The win took Comilla to six points on the table, still well behind Rajshahi, on 10. With two rounds of matches to go, Rajshahi will be engaged in a closely-contested battle with Rangpur Riders, also on 10 points, and Khulna Titans, on 12 points, as the race for semi-final berths tightens.Comilla opener Imrul Kayes holed out to deep square leg in the fourth over of the chase, giving Rajshahi a sniff. But Ahmed Shehzad and Marlon Samuels held sway thereafter, adding 90 off 69 for the second wicket. Shehzad struck four fours and a six in his 45-ball 46, while Samuels hit two fours and four sixes in what was his second fifty of the competition.Shehzad was dismissed with 19 runs left for victory, but Samuels and Khalid Latif steered the chase home with no further losses.Earlier, Saifuddin removed the dangerous Samit Patel in the ninth over before dismissing Mehedi Hasan and Rajshahi captain Darren Sammy in the 12th over, reducing them to 59 for 6. Comilla captain Mashrafe Mortaza picked up two wickets while Nabil Samad and Rashid Khan took one each.Only James Franklin, making his first BPL appearance, stood out among the Rajshahi batsmen, making an unbeaten 44 off 31 that included two fours and three sixes. He struck two of those sixes in the last over, bowled by Shahadat Hossain, that cost Comilla 24 runs. In the end, even that late charge proved too little for Rajshahi.

Manchester United are reportedly keeping tabs on AC Milan left-back Theo Hernandez as Erik ten Hag looks to bolster his defensive options.

What’s the latest on Theo Hernandez to Manchester United?

According to Italian news outlet Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), the Red Devils are keen on making a move for Hernandez this summer, although the report claims any potential move will ‘only happen in the event of a sensational offer’ and in this regard, the Italian side are demanding at least €60m (£51m).

The Old Trafford side are said to be ‘pressing’ to sign the player as they want to ‘bridge the gap’ between them and Manchester City next season.

Could Theo Hernandez join Manchester United?

Ten Hag was able to call on both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia last season as the club qualified for the Champions League due to finishing third in the Premier League, with Shaw especially performing extremely well.

The Englishman ranked as United’s fourth best player for overall rating, third for big chances created and seventh for tackles made per game, suggesting he was influential at both ends of the pitch.

With Malacia, signed just last summer, also featuring 39 times in all competitions, do United need another left-back? Making a move for Hernandez however could spell bad news for the Dutchman ahead of next season.

Indeed, last term, the Frenchman registered more goal contributions (seven to zero), progressive passes (128 to 44), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.82 to 1.22) and progressive carries (108 to 19) than the United defender, clearly suggesting that he would be a far better attacking option at left-back than the former Ajax man.

Malacia does hold the upper hand defensively however, winning more tackles (33 to 24) and more interceptions (25 to 21), yet if Hernandez does move to Manchester, he could improve on these attributes.

Milan coach Stefano Pioli lavished praise on the defender back in 2021, saying: “He can play both phases very well, with his physical abilities it is enough to stay in the game. He can very well become one of the best.

“He has only been playing continuously for a year and a half, I always tell him that he must not be satisfied with being talented.

“He has an incredible physical strength and quality, he must prove that he wants to become the best every day."

The praise doesn’t stop there, as Jacek Kulig even lauded him as a “beast” previously and he even starred for France at the most recent World Cup, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.3/10 across six matches for his country as they finished runners up to Argentina, indicating that he can perform on the biggest stage of all.

A move for Hernandez may push Malacia further down the pecking order, yet it would certainly strengthen the squad that’s for sure.

كشفت تقارير صحفية، عن مدة غياب صادمة للثنائي بيدري جونزاليس وفرينكي دي يونج، عن فريق كرة القدم الأول لنادي برشلونة الإسباني.

وتعرض دي يونج وبيدري لإصابتين مبكرتين في مباراة برشلونة وأتلتيك بلباو يوم أمس الأحد، وخرج الثنائي مبكرًا.

وخضع لاعبا برشلونة لفحوصات طبية شاملة اليوم، الإثنين، وأظهرت النتائج أن دي يونج يعاني من التواء في الأربطة الجانبية لكاحله الأيمن.

بينما يعاني بيدري من إصابة في العضلة المأبضية الرباعية اليمنى، وبالتالي لن يكون الثنائي متاحًا لصالح تشافي للاعتماد عليهما في المباريات المقبلة.

التقارير الإسبانية صدمت برشلونة، بعدما أكد توني خوان مارتي، الصحفي بصحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية، غياب دي يونج فترة ما بين 4 لـ 5 أسابيع، أي ما يزيد عن الشهر.

بينما خافي ميجيل، الصحفي بصحيفة “آس” الإسبانية، أكد بأن غياب بيدري سيكون ما بين 5 لـ6 أسابيع، مما يعني أن البلوجرانا سيفتقد الثنائي خلال الشهر المقبل.

مباراة الكلاسيكو بين ريال مدريد وبرشلونة ستكون يوم 21 أبريل المقبل، مما يعني أن هناك شكوك حول مشاركة بيدري تحديدًا في اللقاء.

وفي حالة تأهل برشونة إلى الدور ربع النهائي من بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، سيغيب الثنائي عن مباراة الذهاب.

Though he has been in good form, and seems set to be part of the South African Test side for a sustained period of time, Kyle Abbott feels he can’t relax just yet

Firdose Moonda in Port Elizabeth23-Dec-20161:51

‘Attacking the stumps will be key’ – Abbott

Boxing Day could bring Kyle Abbott a belated Christmas present. It’s one he has tried not to think too much about. It’s the gift of security.If Abbott is in the XI to take on Sri Lanka – and all indications, from his own form, to coach Russell Domingo’s hope that players use this series to cement spots, suggested as much – it would be his fourth Test in 2016, the most in a calendar year for him. It would also be Abbott’s third consecutive Test for South Africa and his tenth overall. These are hardly milestones, but considering he has taken 46 months to rack up these numbers, they are important.In another country, perhaps, Abbott might have established himself in far less time. But in South Africa, where Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel have been mainstays for a decade, where Vernon Philander recorded the best start a seamer has made in more than a hundred years, and where Kagiso Rabada’s prodigious talent fast-forwarded his progression, Abbot has had to fight. And wait. And hope.After a productive tour of Australia – 13 wickets at 14.84 – he seems to have finally earned a sustained run in the Test side. His Christmas present is almost at hand, but he is not quite sure about tearing the wrapping off just yet.”I don’t think anything is secure at this level unfortunately, or cricket in general,” Abbott said. “At the end of the day, we’ve still got to put in performances. As long as the team is winning, those selections become easier. It’s a case of putting in the performances and winning games. I will go about like I do every game – probably still having to prove myself – but I will cross that bridge when I get there.”Abbott’s hesitation may stem from the fact that there is still some competition. Wayne Parnell is the reserve quick, offering a left-arm option and hometown flavour, though he was with the Cobras in Cape Town last season. More importantly, he hasn’t played any long-form cricket this summer after picking up a rib injury in October, and last played a Test almost three years ago.As a result, It is unlikely that South Africa would tinker with the attack that won them the series in Australia. It looks a strong one too. Abbott, who has recently moved to the Port Elizabeth based Warriors franchise, offers swing and bounce. Philander moves the ball off the seam. Rabada is fast and fiery. And Keshav Maharaj chips in with left-arm spin. While they may not have played together often, they have learnt to adjust to each other’s styles quickly and were flexible when it came to their roles.”We complement each other so well, which is key,” Abbott said. “Although fairly similar, I think there is quite a bit of variation amongst us. We work well together.”We look at what the other guy is doing from the other end. It’s not like one of us has to do something and stick to it. It changes through the Test match and through the series.”All of them have to be highly disciplined at St George’s Park. The pitch has a thick covering of grass, but is expected to flatten out with Saturday’s westerly wind. For Abbott, who has built his career on consistency, it presents exactly the kind of challenge he enjoys.”We always feel we are in the game here as fast bowlers because we get to bowl wicket to wicket,” he said. “We are attacking the stumps, attacking the pads quite a bit and it brings in quite a few different dismissals. Sometimes on bouncy tracks you get caught out a bit in the channel and are only really looking for the nick off but on a wicket like this we are bringing in lbws, bowled, caught midwicket, some scrappy dismissals. It’s also quite a nice ground to build pressure as bowlers because it’s not a very fast-scoring ground.”It could also be the place Abbott enjoys his best Christmas; the one where he becomes a regular.