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After a chastening start to life at Old Trafford, the Dutch coach has transformed the Red Devils into a team chasing an unlikely quadruple

Erik ten Hag's reign at Manchester United could not have got off to a worse start. After losing 2-1 to Brighton at home on the opening day, the Red Devils travelled down to Brentford – where they were soundly beaten 4-0.

The result was treated with the sort of frenzied reaction that should be expected when United are on the wrong side of a drubbing, with naysayers warning that the club was damaged beyond repair.

But just a matter of months later, Ten Hag's side are threatening to sneak into the Premier League title race and challenge for four trophies. After so many false dawns, United finally appear set to shake off the malaise that has shrouded Old Trafford for a decade.

The Dutchman has been the architect of this quite remarkable turnaround, instilling discipline, making some inspired moves in the transfer market and improving several players that had previously appeared destined for the scrap heap.

Below, ahead of the Carabao Cup final, GOAL takes a deep dive into exactly how Ten Hag has turned United's fortunes around so swiftly…

Getty ImagesRevitalising Rashford

The 2021-22 season was seriously rough for Marcus Rashford. It began with a niggling injury and he never got going after that, finishing the campaign with a sickening 12-game scoring drought in the Premier League.

In truth, Rashford looked unmotivated and uninterested at times, and there were loud rumblings that he might call time on his United career in the summer.

However, Ten Hag's arrival has transformed his fortunes. It is no overstatement to describe Rashford as the most in-form player in Europe right now, with the 24 goals he has plundered in all competitions already surpassing his tally from any other previous season.

Ten Hag's role in this resurgence is pretty simple, really. When he first met Rashford he told him: "I want to see you smile, I want to see your teeth. Now we see it often. I think he’s in a happy place, the whole dressing room is in a happy place, there is a lot of confidence and belief in this squad."

Rashford's improvement is the textbook example of Ten Hag's impeccable man-management skills. He has restored the forward's confidence and the thought of him being sold is now completely laughable.

AdvertisementInstilling Ferguson levels of discipline

Recently, Ten Hag's red-wine fuelled meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson made headlines, with the current United boss revealing that he "cannot wait for the next one".

Harking back to the glorious Fergie era has been less of a help and more of a hindrance for some of the Dutchman's predecessors, but it's clear that there are plenty of similarities between the pair.

Most strikingly, like Ferguson, Ten Hag runs his dressing room with iron-clad discipline. No one has been immune from the code of conduct this season. Even Rashford, in the form of his life, was dropped to the bench after arriving late to a meeting, while big-money signing Jadon Sancho was placed on an individual training program to correct his mental and physical struggles.

There has also been a clear change in the way the players address the media, something Ten Hag explained following his side's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace back in January.

"What I want to bring in is a culture of high standards, values, accountability and transparency. So honestly that is our values that I want to set and control, both internal and external with the media and the fans," he said.

GettyMoving on from Ronaldo

Of course, the most revealing example of United's newfound discipline was the protracted Cristiano Ronaldo saga.

Only a special leader can take on one of the most influential sports people on the planet, but Ten Hag did exactly that – and 'won'.

The first signs of discontent appeared during a pre-season friendly against Rayo Vallecano, where Ronaldo – who was pushing for a move away from the club at the time – was among the United players to depart before full-time. Ten Hag described the incident as "unacceptable", refusing to brush his disrespect under the carpet.

In November, he repeated the trick, heading straight down the tunnel following his side's victory over Tottenham. Ronaldo later explained in that infamous Piers Morgan interview that his actions were a result of being "provoked" by Ten Hag, who only saw fit to use him as a late substitute.

That wasn't the only mud thrown in the head coach's direction either…

"I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me," he also told Morgan. "If you don’t have respect for me, I’m never gonna have respect for you."

This attack would result in Ronaldo leaving Old Trafford shortly after, something many suspected Ten Hag wanted all along despite his often positive press conference comments.

Ronaldo is now at Al-Nassr, while United – free from the media spotlight his doomed second spell constantly brought – could end their lengthy trophy drought when they face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.

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Getty ImagesInspired transfer dealings

The jury's still out on Antony and United probably could do with another striker, but generally Ten Hag has got almost everything else right in the transfer window so far.

Lisandro Martinez's signing was widely panned in the summer, most notably by Jamie Carragher, who has since been forced to backtrack following the Argentine's superb form. Christian Eriksen – incredibly, a free transfer – has proved to be an inspired piece of business too, giving United a far more incisive edge in the final third.

The cream of the crop, however, has to be the signing of Casemiro. Costing £70 million ($84.6m) from Real Madrid, the Brazilian has had a restorative effect on the United midfield, adding much-needed solidity and control by breaking up the much-maligned Scott McTominay-Fred pivot.

Under new owners, Ten Hag could be handed a transfer war chest and the club would be wise to listen to his recommendations due to his near-spotless recruitment record.

After reaching their second successive semi-final in a global event, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson stressed on the importance of ‘smart cricket’ to get them past a tricky opposition

Sidharth Monga29-Mar-20161:31

We’ve shown an ability to adapt to conditions – Munro

They all say that you have to play the big matches as if it were just another game. New Zealand might have that covered through their captain Kane Williamson. At the best of the times he is understated and levelled, but when you see that a buzzing phone bothers him more than a question about the perceived lack of ruthlessness in the World Cup final, you know this team is taking it as just another game.When asked about “the time of their lives” in the World Cup last year, having come up short against “ruthless” Australians, and what lessons they took from there, Williamson said: “Australia are a very good cricket side. They beat us. That’s fine. That can happen in cricket.”From our perspective we want to keep improving as a unit. We are not looking too far down the track, of changing personalities or looking to make drastic changes. We just want to keep taking small steps forward as a team. Hope that brings a consistent improvement. Respect the game, you can win, you can lose. T20 is more fickle than any format. Go into the game, play fearless cricket, and play smart cricket as well.”Apart from fearless cricket, New Zealand have played a lot of canny cricket. Their selections, and success thereof in all four matches, have come as a surprise for others, but it is business as usual for Williamson and coach Mike Hesson. “I think in terms of my perspective and our coach they are not surprises to us,” Williamson said. “We are simply trying to pick horses for courses, our best side for the given conditions against the given opposition at that point of time. That certainly won’t change.”The success of New Zealand has been the readiness of replacements whenever they are called upon. Mitchell McClenaghan was called in at the last minute in Dharamsala against Australia, and he ended up as the Man of the Match. Tim Southee and Trent Boult, who have not played any game in this World T20, will be a chance here: David Willey has swung the ball in matches in Delhi. Williamson said he didn’t need to bother about that.”They’re very much ready to go,” Williamson said. “Like I said, we still haven’t decided on our side. We will be looking closely at the conditions and the history I suppose of what the wicket has produced and try and pick up a side.”It doesn’t rule out the importance of the two main spinners, though. “Our spinners have been brilliant on surfaces that have suited spin bowling,” Williamson said. “And perhaps the best track we played on in Mohali, they still played a big part. We’re not quite sure what to expect. A few games have been played on it [the Delhi pitch] recently.”A phone kept buzzing, Williamson kept looking at the media manager, and then he provided the most fun answer when asked about the amount of travel New Zealand have had to undertake in playing all their four league matches at different venues. In Dharamsala they got their first look of the pitch on the day of the match. By comparison England have played only in two venues, both of which are hosting semi-finals.”That’s great,” Williamson said. “We’ve been able to see more of India than most opposition sides. It’s one of those things. Surely it just happened by co-incidence? They guys embraced it, embraced the flights and enjoyed the variety of hotels.”

Chamu Chibhabha and Graeme Cremer played starring roles as Zimbabwe finally coalesced their different strengths into a functional, all-round performance to trip up India by 10 runs in the second T20 international

The Report by Arun Venugopal19-Jul-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsChamu Chibhabha and Graeme Cremer played starring roles as Zimbabwe finally coalesced their different strengths into a functional, all-round performance to trip up India by 10 runs in the second T20 international.After Chibhabha’s 51-ball 67 helped Zimbabwe put up a total of 145 – one that seemed inadequate at the halfway mark – Cremer garotted India’s batsmen with a spell of 4-0-18-3. Zimbabwe seemed to be headed towards another lopsided defeat when Robin Uthappa, who blasted 42 off 25 balls, was in the middle, but Cremer’s introduction in the seventh over saw India slip from 56 for 1 to 61 for 4. India took the equation to 25 off 12 balls, but Taurai Muzarabani conceded only six runs in the penultimate over, before Chris Mpofu, buckled India’s batsmen in the last over to complete Zimbabwe’s first T20 win over India.India’s start had an ominous portent to it when captain Ajinkya Rahane was run-out having been sent back by his opening partner, M Vijay, who bailed after initially setting off for a run. Uthappa, however, produced an innings that bore no resemblance to his grinding effort in the first T20 international.Uthappa found his bearings with successive boundaries off Muzarabani, a well-timed cover drive followed by a powerful whip through midwicket. Two overs later, he collected three fours off Mpofu with rasping pulls off the front foot and a cheeky nudge behind short fine leg as India galloped to 57 for 1 at the end of six overs.It was the first delivery after the Powerplay, however, that brought Zimbabwe back. Cremer, who troubled India two days ago, slipped one past Vijay, and three balls later, had Manish Pandey out lbw, but the ball appeared headed down the leg side.India lost two more wickets in the next two overs. Uthappa was the prize wicket, as Sean Williams completed a sharp return catch. Kedar Jadhav’s departure in the next over was as much because of his laxity as some sparkling fielding from Muzarabani, who produced a direct hit from deep midwicket.Stuart Binny and debutant Sanju Samson, though, took charge of the restoration job, putting on 36 runs for the sixth wicket. With 41 required off 30 balls, however, India suffered another jolt through Cremer. Binny’s attempted thwack over long-off seemed to dip in front of Chibhabha, but the fielder flung himself forward to grab the chance. Zimbabwe’s seamers then removed Samson and Axar Patel in successive overs, effectively deciding the result.India’s tactics with the ball appeared to be pre-determined, as they persisted with bowling short. The short-ball gambit was particularly puzzling given that their seamers were getting the ball to move appreciably off a fuller length.Hamilton Masakadza and Chibhabha were alert to opportunities, swatting away half-trackers between square leg and midwicket. Masakadza, though, was dismissed by Sandeep Sharma, attempting to dab a short delivery that fizzed off the wicket, one ball after carting the bowler for six.Sikandar Raza, standing in as captain for the first time in international cricket after Elton Chigumbura was injured, showed intent before his slash floated into third man’s hands. India’s spinners – Axar Patel and Vijay – sent down a few tight overs immediately after the Powerplay in which Zimbabwe scored 49.But, Rahane didn’t have the luxury of a second specialist spinner – Harbhajan Singh was rested – and appeared loath to let Vijay complete his quota. Chibhabha and Sean Williams then knitted together a 37-run partnership for the third wicket.India’s bowlers, though, were chipping away, and Chibhabha found himself without much support at the other end. Once Chibhabha was bowled in the 19th over, the innings stagnated further. Zimbabwe eventually managed 69 runs in the last 10 overs, including 33 in the last five.

Chris Read helped himself to a second century of the season as Nottinghamshire dominated day three against Middlesex at Trent Bridge

ECB/PA07-Jul-2015
ScorecardChris Read’s century put Notts into the lead•Getty ImagesChris Read helped himself to a second century of the season as Nottinghamshire dominated day three against Middlesex at Trent Bridge. Having passed three figures for the first time this summer in the four-day game between the sides at Lord’s back in April, the Notts captain was at it again, this time on home soil.Having been dropped on 54, Read, the 36-year-old former England wicketkeeper, went on to score 108 from 206 balls as Notts built a useful first innings lead.Resuming on their overnight score of 180 for 4, Notts found themselves in a spot of trouble when Samit Patel was bowled, in the third over of the day, at 184 for 5 and Steven Mullaney holed out to Tim Murtagh off Ollie Rayner 45 runs later. At that stage, they still trailed Middlesex by 145. But despite losing 15 overs to rain, Notts pushed on after lunch with Read and Brett Hutton adding 157 for the seventh wicket.Read, who missed six weeks of the season from the middle of May due to a hamstring injury, struck eight fours in reaching his half century, off 101 balls, and posted three figures for the first time since mid-April, off 190 balls. Having been dropped at slip by Ollie Rayner on 54 – a sharp chance to Rayner’s right hand – he eventually fell to Toby Roland-Jones, at 386 for 7.The captain’s job was made all the more easy by Hutton, who batted beautifully to post his highest first class score of 72. The 22-year-old bowling allrounder brought up his own half-century off 121 balls, with seven fours, and looked comfortable throughout against a Middlesex attack that offered precious little as the day wore on.Hutton continued to bat with due care and attention after his skipper’s departure and with Luke Wood, who was dropped on 0 off the bowling of Dawid Malan, he added 25 for the eighth wicket. But he finally departed at 419 for 9 and at that juncture Notts declared with a first innings lead of 45. Middlesex opener Sam Robson and nightwatchman James Harris successfully negotiated the final two overs of the evening and trail Notts by 38 runs with all 10 second innings wickets in hand.

Lionel Messi has shared that Argentina fans were "very unfair" to him during his Barcelona days, but that he has now turned a corner.

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Messi says Argentina fans were 'unfair' during Barca daysCurrently feels love from them after 22' World Cup triumphReturns to pitch in January for Inter MiamiWHAT HAPPENED?

Speaking to , the Inter Miami forward elaborated on the reaction from fans following the 2022 FIFA World Cup victory in Argentina. It was a highlight of his life, but the response from fans wasn't always so kind in the past, with the Argentine sharing that it was different during his time at Barcelona. Messi claims that La Albiceleste's followers were "unfair" to him during his Catalan journey.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT MESSI SAID

"I had a bad time. My family and the people who love me did too. [Critics in Argentina] were very unfair to a generation of players and they said a lot of bad things about me. I'm not spiteful," Messi said. "I feel it like a triumph for me to have changed that situation and won over all the people of Argentina. Today 95% or 100% of Argentines love me and that's a beautiful feeling."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

During his Barcelona days, the Argentine relayed that he felt as though he wasn't "loved" by his international fans, in comparison to that of the Catalan Club. The 2016 Copa America was a turning point in his international career, after missing his penalty in the final against Chile. For a period of time following, he had even retired from the Argentina squad before returning shortly thereafter. Now, however, after the team's 2022 triumph, he feels the love and passion of the fans.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

The Argentine is in offseason mode with Inter Miami, but will return to the pitch on January 19 with the Herons for their first preseason friendly of the campaign against El Salvador. The David Beckham co-owned side will otherwise go about preparing for the 2024 campaign over the next few months.

Sam Hain and Joe Leach shared the honours as Warwickshire and Worcestershire exchanged blows on an intriguing opening day of their LV= County Championship derby at Edgbaston

Press Association09-May-2015
ScorecardSam Hain held Warwickshire together in the West Midlands derby•Getty ImagesSam Hain and Joe Leach shared the honours as Warwickshire and Worcestershire exchanged blows on an intriguing opening day of their LV= County Championship derby at Edgbaston.Warwickshire closed on 258 for 8, 19-year-old Hain top-scoring with 82, a measured and strong-minded innings compiled under pressure with his team in trouble.Most of that trouble was caused by 24-year-old seamer Leach who continued his stylish return to first-team colours in place of the injured Gareth Andrew. Leach ended the day with 24-5-68-5, only his second five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.With the ball moving around all day, batting was never easy and, while Warwickshire look set for only a moderate total, their strong seam attack will expect to cause plenty of problems when their turn comes.After bowling Somerset out for 90 last week, Worcestershire’s three-pronged seam battery of Leach, Charlie Morris and Jack Shantry took up where they left off, reducing the home side to 53 for 3, a deserved reward for some fine pre-lunch bowling.Leach soon dismissed Varun Chopra, caught at second slip, and the in-form Ian Westwood, adjudged lbw to one that looked rather high. William Porterfield dug in for 29 before glancing Shantry down the leg-side to wicketkeeper Ben Cox.Hain and Laurie Evans batted watchfully to add 87 in 30 overs for the fourth wicket before, just after posting his first half-century of the season, Evans mis-pulled Leach to mid-on to fall for 50. Leach soon struck again when he sent Tim Ambrose’s middle stump flying.That left the home side on a parlous 142 for 5 but Hain found another resolute partner in Rikki Clarke and they added 73 before both perished to the new ball after tea. Leach trapped Hain lbw with an excellent delivery and then Morris had Clarke caught at mid-off and Jeetan Patel pouched behind.Keith Barker and Chris Wright added an unbroken 27 in the closing overs of the day, very handy runs in the context of a likely low-scoring game.Moeen Ali is in Worcestershire’s team having been allowed to play by the ECB, but Ian Bell has not been released and Warwickshire are also without Jonathan Trott, not considered for selection to “let the dust settle,” as director of cricket Dougie Brown put it, following Trott’s abrupt retirement from international cricket.

Ash Herron, the wife of Nottingham Forest and USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner, has revealed which player broke her nose during a warmup.

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Turner moves to Premier LeagueWife, Ash, breaks nose in warm upShe reveals which player did itGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Herron has revealed she suffered a broken nose during one of the pre-game warmups while watching her husband in action. Ash is one of many wives set to feature in the new Amazon Prime Video documentary called 'Married to the Game' which will showcase the lives of significant others who are with Premier League footballers.

AdvertisementNottingham Forest TwitterWHAT HERRON SAID

“I’ve got a broken nose right now because I went to a game and got hit in the nose,” Ash Turner told talkSPORT. “It happened during the warm up. It was [Gonzalo] Montiel. I don’t think it’s glitz and glamour.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Turner and his family made the switch from the MLS to the Premier League back in 2022, when he sealed a move to join North London giants Arsenal.

Speaking on the difference between the MLS and the Premier League, Turner's wife added: “I don’t think I was necessarily prepared for the intensity of the Premier League. We came from MLS and obviously that’s not as high profile. This league is just developed in people’s blood and it’s a beautiful thing. The pressure for the players and their families is something I don’t think you can prepare for. You have to just go through the journey and experience it and that’s where you really learn the ins and outs of everything."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR TURNER?

Turner and his Forest teammates are looking to get back to winning ways this weekend after suffering a disappointing 3-2 loss to Newcastle United last weekend. Nuno Espirito Santo's men will host West Ham United in their next clash at the City Ground on Saturday.

Which of these Chelsea greats would make our Super Eagles-Black Stars combined XI?

Goal/GettyGhana-Nigeria Combined XI

Ahead of this week’s World Cup qualifying double header between Nigeria and Ghana, GOAL Africa are picking our dream combined XI between these two West African heavyweights.

Both the Super Eagles and the Black Stars have storied histories in continental and global competition, and our shortlist for this combined Dream Team was overflowing with elite African talent.

However, only eleven stars can make the cut between these two West African giants, which of these two Chelsea greats would make the cut?

AdvertisementLefty Shivambu/Gallo Images/Getty ImagesInternational Career

Despite being a part of an excellent Ghanaian generation, Essien only featured in three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments—largely a consequence of the injury problems that undermined his career.

While he reached the final in 2010, the Black Stars ultimately fell short at the hands of Egypt. Mikel went one further as part of Stephen Keshi’s fine side, and got his hands on the big one in 2013.

The Nigerian also went on to reach four Afcon semis during his international career, most recently finishing third in 2019.

He missed out on three editions between 2012 and 2017, but did feature in three World Cups, reaching the Last 16 at Brazil 2014.

While Essien was present for Ghana’s debut display and their run to the Last 16 in 2006, injury denied him a place in the team that reached the quarters four years later.

Winner: Mikel

GettyClub Career

These two are immensely decorated at club level, with the majority of their silverware coming ast part of Chelsea’s magnificent flurry of successes under the likes of Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Di Matteo.

Essien won two Premier League winner’s medals at Chelsea, and was an unused substitute in the 2012 Champions League final, where Mikel did feature in the victory over Bayern Munich.

The pair each won three FA Cups with Chelsea, although while the Nigerian was still around for the Europa League triumph of 2013—by which point Essien had departed—The Bison did win two Ligue 1 titles as part of a magnificent Olympique Lyonnais side.

Winner: Essien

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Getty ImagesIndividual Accolades

Essien comfortably outclasses Mikel here, probably testament to him being seen as a far more dynamic and impactful player during his peak years.

The midfield powerhouse never won Caf’s African Footballer of the Year award—among the finest continental stars not to do so—although he did clinch the BBC version of the prize.

He did make Caf’s podium on five occasions though, and indeed, no one has finished in third place more times than the Ghana star.

The midfielder was Ligue 1 Player of the Year for 2005, only the third African player after Ali Benarbia and Didier Drogba to win the award, and was named in Caf’s Team of the Year on four occasions.

Mikel was never really in contention for these kinds of honours during his senior career, having won plenty of individual accolades as a youngster, for both Chelsea and at the Fifa World Youth Championship.

He twice made the Nations Cup Team of the Tournament, once finished runner-up in the African Player of the Year award, and twice made Caf’s Team of the Year.

Did Mikel deserve more individual accolades during his career?

Winner: Essien

An interim committee to run Sri Lanka cricket that came into power yesterday is under scrutiny for breaching the ICC constitution

Sa'adi Thawfeeq02-Apr-2015An interim committee to run Sri Lanka cricket that came into power yesterday is under scrutiny for breaching the ICC constitution. A nine-man team led by former Test opener Sidath Wettimuny, appointed by sports minister Navin Dissanayake, could run foul of the ICC’s stance on government interference in cricketing affairs, the penalties for which include suspension of the board in question.The committee was established because the posts held by the existing office-bearers, led by president Jayantha Dharmadasa, had become null and void. The laws governing all sports bodies in the country require annual elections to be held on or before March 31. SLC’s elections, however, were postponed until the end of April due to the World Cup, which ended on March 29.Dissanayake said he was in talks with the ICC to explain his stance after SLC received a letter from chief executive David Richardson that stated “such action [sports minister appointing an interim committee] could put Sri Lanka Cricket in breach of Article 2.9 (B) of ICC’s Articles of Association which states as follows: “Where a government interferes in the administration of cricket by a Member, including but not limited to interference in operational matters, the selection and management of teams, the appoint of coaches or support personnel, the Executive Board shall have the power to suspend or refuse to recognise that Member….””The ICC is not happy with interim committees, but we as a sovereign country have the power under the legislation to appoint one,” Dissanayake said “We will justify our stand with the ICC as we have grounds to appoint such a committee. Questions of suspension and all that are not serious issues, but we are addressing that. We are waiting to have talks with the chairman N Srinivasan.”We have already spoken to CEO David Richardson and we will be speaking to N Srinivasan today or tomorrow. After that myself, Sidath and a member of the interim committee will go and meet Srinivasan personally. We have a desire to go forward without any problems. We’ve had cordial relations with ICC. We have not got into confrontation with them at any time and whatever issues that have come up have been dealt through discussions.Dissanayake was confident an amicable resolution can be found. “We have laws governing our country and according to the laws of the country I have appointed an interim committee,” he said. “We are prepared to have discussions with the ICC and if they have any issues with it we are prepared to talk it out. As far as we are concerned I don’t see that we have a problem.”He said that more than half of Sri Lanka cricket’s history has been under interim committees. “It’s not something new, the appointing of interim committees,” he said. SLC was run by a series of nine government-appointed interim committees between 2004 and 2012. Though the board’s recent history has been characterised by government intervention, the ICC has not formally penalised the board so far, nor officially threatened suspension.

Lancashire have given three of young players their first professional contracts as Ashley Giles, the new head coach, starts to shape his squad for next season

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Oct-2014Lancashire have given three of their young players their first professional contracts as Ashley Giles, the new head coach, starts to shape his squad for next season.Haseeb Hameed, Matthew Parkinson and Saqib Mahmood, who are all 17, have joined the full-time staff. Hameed and Mahmood played for England U-19s in the 2014 season while Parkinson, a legspinner, has played for the U-17 side and in August took 6 for 28 in a Lancashire 2nd XI Trophy match against Leicestershire.Hameed scored 112 in that same match but really made his mark during the U-19 series against South Africa when he piled up 389 runs in five matches – the most by any batsman in a youth bilateral one-day series, beating the 387 of Phil Hughes against Pakistan in 2007 – including consecutive scores of 97, 97 and 125.Mahmood joined the Lancashire academy two seasons ago and has since been part of the England development programme. He made his U-19 debut in the second Test against South Africa where he took 3 for 12 in the first innings.”Internal development will be key to our medium and long term sustainability and success,” Giles said. “These young players are the future of Lancashire cricket and I look forward to working closely with them over the coming years.”The academy director, John Stanworth, added: “I am delighted the county have recognised the potential and achievements of these three youngsters and given them the opportunity to develop quickly as full time professionals.”