Teams left short on match practice ahead of World Cup after second washout of series
Matt Roller28-May-2024England and Pakistan will head to the T20 World Cup short on match practice after persistent rain wiped out Tuesday night’s match between them in Cardiff without a ball being bowled. It is the second abandonment of the series after the weather ruined Wednesday’s series opener in Leeds, with only 39.2 of the 120 scheduled overs bowled so far.Jos Buttler, England’s captain, did not travel to Cardiff and Moeen Ali would have led their side in his place if the game had taken place. Buttler left the squad on Saturday night following England’s 23-run win in Birmingham and travelled to London to be with his wife Louise, with the couple expecting their third child imminently.Mark Wood was due to play his first match since early March for England, while Sam Curran would also have featured after being left out on Saturday at Edgbaston. ESPNcricinfo understands that Jofra Archer would have been rested, with England taking a cautious approach to his workload after such a long injury lay-off.Buttler is expected to travel to Barbados with the rest of the England squad on Friday, and could even return to the squad in time to play in the final match of the series at The Oval on Thursday night. As things stand, the weather forecast for south London is not hugely promising as both sides hope for a final run-out before they travel, though should at least allow for a shortened match.With neither side due to play an official warm-up match between Thursday and their respective opening group-stage fixtures, they will be relatively undercooked compared to some teams at the World Cup. Pakistan have at least played regularly in this format recently, drawing 2-2 with New Zealand in April and beating Ireland 2-1 earlier this month; Saturday’s match was England’s only T20I since December 21.There was heavy rain early on Tuesday morning in Cardiff, which continued for much of the day. It briefly stopped during the afternoon but returned at around 5.15pm, repeatedly delaying the toss until umpires Mike Burns and Russell Warren abandoned the match at 8.12pm, much to the disappointment of a sold-out crowd.
da fezbet： Glasgow Rangers will be in the market for a new head coach this summer as they prepare to bounce back from a disappointing 2024/25 campaign.
da blaze casino： Barry Ferguson is currently in interim charge but has presided over a dismal run in the Scottish Premiership and has been knocked out of the Europa League – failing to score a single goal in three of his four matches in Europe.
The Scottish boss has won three, lost two, and drawn one of his six league games at Ibrox, which does not suggest that he is the right man to lead the team forward into next season to challenge Celtic for the title.
Rangers, who needed a last-gasp stunner from Ianis Hagi to salvage a draw against Aberdeen last time out in the league, may look for an experienced coach who has a track record of winning trophies.
One man who would fit that profile is experienced Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho, who has been linked with a move to Ibrox this summer.
The latest on Jose Mourinho to Rangers
TEAMtalk reported on Sunday that the Fenerbahce manager is a possible candidate for the job ahead of next season, as the Rangers board are looking for a big-name appointment to lead the new era in Glasgow.
The outlet claimed that the 49ers, who are said to be close to sealing a takeover of the club, want to make a strong managerial move, with Steven Gerrard and Mourinho named as two contenders for the role.
It revealed that the Fenerbahce boss would be open to completing a move to Ibrox this summer, but only if the new ownership group are willing to back him in the transfer market.
TEAMtalk claimed that the club are yet to approach Mourinho to discuss the job, though, and this suggests that they are still in the early stage of their recruitment process.
As you can see in the clip above, the 62-year-old tactician refused to rule out the possibility of managing in Scottish football in the future when asked about it back in March.
The TEAMtalk report mentioned that Mourinho would want to be backed by the owners, though, and that would include them having to possibly move on from players who would not be up to the standard that the manager wants.
Mourinho, who has won eight league titles in his career, may want to move on from Jack Butland at Ibrox, as the English goalkeeper has endured a frustrating season in Glasgow.
Why Jack Butland could be sold by Jose Mourinho
The Portuguese boss has managed some iconic goalkeepers during his career, including the likes of Petr Cech, Iker Casillas, Hugo Lloris, and Thibaut Courtois, and the former England international may not join that illustrious list.
Jack Butland
Butland is currently sat on the bench watching on as Liam Kelly plays in his place after Ferguson decided to take him out of the team, due to his poor performances on the pitch.
The experienced shot-stopper has not performed well enough in the Premiership this season, making too many errors with the ball at his feet and with his lack of shot-stopping, and the club should look to move him on this summer.
24/25 Premiership
Jack Butland
Appearances
26
Save success rate
67%
Goals prevented
-1.45
Goals conceded from outside the box
6
Error led to shot
2
Error led to goal
2
Penalties committed
1
Stats via Sofascore & FotMob
As you can see in the table above, Butland has conceded more than the average goalkeeper would be expected to based on the xG of the shots on his goal, which shows that he has been poor from a shot-stopping perspective.
The former England international has also made a whopping five errors that have led to shots, goals, or penalties for the opposition. To put it simply, he became a liability to the team between the sticks, and it was the right call by Ferguson to remove him from the starting line-up.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Butland, however, is not the only player who should be moved on from Ibrox if Mourinho is appointed this summer, as Ridvan Yilmaz could also be on the chopping block.
Why Ridvan Yilmaz may not have a future under Jose Mourinho
The Portuguese manager builds his teams around a defensive structure and ensures that there is a solid platform for the rest of the side to build from, with his belief that the team that makes the fewest mistakes tends to win.
Yilmaz’s performances for Rangers this season suggest that he is not the kind of defender that Mourinho would want to build his team around, because the full-back is not a solid defensive operator who can be relied upon week-in-week-out.
Standing at 5 foot 9, the 23-year-old dud is not the tallest of defenders and that is reflected in his lack of success in the air. In 17 appearances in the Premiership this season, he has lost 100% of his aerial duels. Mourinho may not have much faith in a full-back who has not won a single aerial duel in 17 league games to defend the back post for him in matches next season.
Yilmaz, who Tam McManus claimed had an “absolute shocker” in the league back in March, has also made two errors that have led to shots for the opposition in the Premiership, which further suggests that he would not suit the Portuguese manager because of his desire to build a team that does not make many mistakes defensively.
24/25 Europa League
Ridvan Yilmaz
Appearances
7
Pass accuracy
66%
Tackles
6
Dribbled past
8x
Big chances created
0
Aerial duels won
1
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Turkish full-back also struggled in the Europa League, staggeringly being dribbled past more times than he completed tackles, whilst only winning one aerial duel.
These statistics from his performances in the Premiership and the Europa League combine to suggest that he would not suit Mourinho’s footballing philosophy, which is why he should be out of the door if the manager is appointed this summer.
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Yilmaz reportedly had interest from his former club Besiktas during the January transfer window, which suggests that there could be interest in his services ahead of next season that would allow Rangers and Mourinho to cash in on him.
Antonio Conte has reflected on the emotional weight of his Tottenham exit, and how personal tragedy reshaped his outlook on life and football.
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Conte reflects on his Tottenham daysReveals how tragedy shaped his outlookReveals ick at Spurs celebrating CL qualificationFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Conte has opened up about his turbulent spell with Tottenham, describing his time in North London as a “difficult” chapter in his managerial journey. Though he led Spurs to a top-four finish in 2022, Conte has admitted that qualifying for the Champions League wasn’t something he ever felt deserved celebration — and revealed how a series of devastating personal losses shifted his perspective on football and life.
AdvertisementWHAT CONTE SAID
Speaking to Sky Italia, Conte recalled his first full season with Spurs and the emotional and philosophical toll it took: "It was a difficult year at Tottenham. I arrived in November with them ninth in the standings and we ended up in the Champions League, overtaking Arsenal… For them, going to the Champions League was like winning the Premier League.”
But for Conte, the celebrations in the dressing room after sealing fourth place didn’t sit right: "On the last day, the Champions League entry was celebrated in the dressing room. I called my staff and told them: we don’t get used to these celebrations. You don’t celebrate these things. We are used to celebrating other things. OK, great feat, but at the same time, we understand what kind of celebration it is."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The Italian coach went on to speak candidly about the personal tragedies that surrounded his final months in charge — the deaths of close friends Gian Piero Ventrone and Gianluca Vialli — which ultimately left him questioning his priorities and emotional capacity to continue at Spurs.
He added: "Gian Piero Ventrone died of leukaemia in fifteen days and it was a terrible blow on an emotional and psychological level and it wasn’t easy.
"Then Gianluca Vialli also passed away, with whom I had met the month before at a restaurant with my wife. I had seen him very calm, he was even fine, but during that dinner, I understood that something was wrong. You notice it when someone is enjoying something, he had drunk, eaten and after a month he passed away."
Getty Images SportTELL ME MORE…
The Napoli manager also spoke about Sinisa Mihajlovic’s death and its impact on him, and how it led him to reconsider his priorities in life.
Conte continued: "Sinisa’s story also had an impact. A series of pains that made me rethink some priorities. I had my family far away, in Italy, while I was in a hotel. My wife had always made an effort for me. So I asked myself: how much is it worth sacrificing family and friends for this knowing that from one day to the next you find yourself facing tragedies of this kind and no longer being there? This made me change some priorities.
"Then I also had a problem and I had to urgently have gallbladder surgery and I was at risk of getting pancreatitis. In short, that period made me think a lot about the priorities."
Eoin Morgan has suggested that England’s underperformance at the World Cup in India is unparalleled across sport and that their players are “definitely unsettled” after heavy defeats in four out of their five group games.England have not been mathematically eliminated from the tournament – even defeat in Lucknow on Sunday will not officially knock them out – but they are unlikely to qualify for the semi-finals even if they put together an improbable run of form and win all four of their remaining fixtures.Morgan, who captained them to the 2019 title, said it had been “unsettling” to watch England’s plight over the last three weeks and that their confidence had taken a beating. He also hinted at wider issues than simply form, saying: “I think there’s something else going on – there has to be.”Related
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And Morgan went as far as to suggest that England’s campaign has been among the worst in sporting history, in the context of the widespread expectation that they would reach the semi-finals. “I’ve never come across a sports team that has underperformed like this England team, given the level of expectation that is on their shoulders,” he said on Sky Sports.”There’s something within the team that is definitely unsettled. The method which they’re trying to use and given the substantial nature in which they’ve lost the game[s], it is definitely called into question, the morale within the changing room and the confidence. It must be at its lowest that it’s been for a considerable period of time now.”Morgan said that it was “an unacceptable excuse” to simply say that players were all out of form at the same time. “I think there’s something else going on – there has to be,” he said. “When you look at the strength in depth, particularly with the bat, England are as good on paper as any other side in this tournament, but they haven’t yet fired.”They’ve made mistakes with selection: they’ve really struggled to find a balanced side and one that’s effective enough to compete, never mind win this tournament. It’s been unbelievably challenging for Jos and his team… they have to regain the confidence in the method that they’ve used for so long that has made them double world champions.”Marcus Trescothick, England’s assistant coach, said that the squad are “feeling the heat” and “gutted” about their results to date, and admitted that he has been unable to get his head around their collective failures with the bat. England have lost 47 out of a possible 49 wickets (Reece Topley was absent hurt against South Africa) and no batter has made an individual 50 in their last two matches.”The thing that’s baffled me the most is that it’s been consistent across the board,” Trescothick said. “Bar the game at Dharamsala, where we played Bangladesh, where one got a big score [Dawid Malan’s 140] and we got a few other big scores around it, there’s just never been the consistency of people getting the runs.”I think they’re trying to understand it… it [their form] has not gone, it’s just hiding in a funny place at the moment. It’s not suddenly disappeared and they’re never going to score runs again. They’ll rebound from this and rebound back into form at some point. But it might be, unfortunately, disappointing that it’s going to be too late for this competition.”Dawid Malan is bowled for 140•Getty Images
Sunday’s match in Lucknow will be played on a used pitch, the same one that was used for South Africa’s win over Australia two weeks ago.”The timing actually couldn’t be any worse,” Morgan said. “Given India are still out and out favourites to win this tournament on home soil, that challenge just becomes far bigger now than it probably would be if you were playing on a fresh pitch.”England just have to play what’s in front of them,” he added. “For a lot of this tournament, I believe that they’ve been carrying other things or looking outside of the camp, as opposed to their own performance. They need to stay in the present for as long as they can tomorrow and turn India over.”
The road to 2027 begins already for two teams in search of better 50-over fortunes
Andrew Miller02-Dec-2023
Big picture – Caribbean reboot
The return to action hasn’t been quite so jarringly immediate as it was for India and Australia in the wake of the World Cup final, or indeed for England’s T20 World Cup winners in Australia last winter. And, let’s face it, a four-island jaunt to the Caribbean in December is a reasonably palatable assignment after the indignities that preceded it.Nevertheless, it’s still only three weeks since Jos Buttler’s browbeaten squad limped back to Blighty with their World Cup dreams in tatters, and less than a fortnight since their four-year reign as 50-over world champions was formally ended in Ahmedabad. Whatever way you look at it, it seems a curious juncture in the global cycle to be undertaking another three-match ODI series.And to judge by the inexperienced squad lining up against them, West Indies might be in broad agreement. Not only did they miss out entirely on the World Cup just gone, having fallen short in the brutal qualifying tournament that took place in Zimbabwe in June and July, it now transpires that that failure has condemned them to onlooker status at the 2025 Champions Trophy as well. The road to 2027 will feel all the more dim and distant without that staging post to aim for.Related
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Nicholas Pooran and Jason Holder are among the big names who have opted out of ODIs since the qualifiers, seemingly indefinitely, while Shane Dowrich’s retirement only days after his recall – having played his one previous ODI back in 2019 – was further evidence of the format’s lowly standing within the region at present.Rovman Powell, Dominic Drakes, Kyle Mayers and Jayden Seales are among the other familiar names missing for this campaign, and while Shimron Hetmyer is back in favour with the selectors, the decision to move on from the veteran Darren Bravo feels peculiar in light of the reasons given for Hetmyer’s absence in Zimbabwe. Though he is already 34, and therefore unlikely to feature in 2027, Bravo was still the leading run-scorer in this year’s Super50 Cup, as he captained Trinidad and Tobago to victory in the final.In the bigger picture, it feels there’ll be significantly more at stake for these two teams come the T20I leg of the tour later in the month, when the narrative shifts from two World Cup also-rans to a clash of the defending champions versus the impending hosts of the 2024 tournament next June. Nevertheless, all revivals have to have a starting point, and in the 50-over stakes, that begins at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Sunday afternoon.From England’s perspective, it’s a shot to nothing. A chance for a cast of talented fringe players to impress their captain (and indisputable white-ball GOAT, notwithstanding his recent struggles) Buttler, and make the case for a 2015-style cleaning-out of the stables – even if Ben Duckett, one of the players with most to gain in the coming weeks, has played down the likelihood that any long-term places are up for grabs in the coming days.As for West Indies, at least it’s a return to the fray after their telling absence in the months just gone. Financially, if not necessarily competitively, England’s visit – and moreover the hordes of supporters that are sure to accompany them – offer significant compensation for the recent dents in their coffers. And besides, it’s cricket in the Caribbean with Christmas drawing nigh. What’s not to enjoy?
Form guide
West Indies LWLLW England WWLLL
In the spotlight – Shimron Hetmyer and Will Jacks
There are a fair few players with a point to prove in this series, but Shimron Hetmyer’s back-story takes some beating. He’s been powerless to influence not one, but two recent World Cup campaigns. In 2022, he was axed on the eve of West Indies’ T20 World Cup campaign after missing a connecting flight to New York, then last summer, he was overlooked for the ODI qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe because the selectors decided to stick with the players who had made their mark on the tour of South Africa earlier that year … and we all know how that decision panned out. Never mind that Hetmyer’s absence had been due to his forceful displays for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, or that in 2019, on his previous ODI tour of India (the venue for the World Cup that West Indies missed) his fifth and most recent century had helped to secure a startling eight-wicket win in Chennai. He’ll no doubt be eager to make up for that lost time.Of all the England players who might believe their time has come, few have a better case than Will Jacks. As a hard-hitting opener for Surrey and Oval Invincibles, he had been outshining the mighty Jason Roy at a domestic level long before the selectors decided that Roy’s lock on a World Cup place was untenable. Jacks wasn’t awarded a central contract in the recent round of deals, but that fact has the potential to work in his favour at this early juncture – with nothing to lose, he has everything to win next time out if he can set about making a long-term case. And to judge by his forceful 94 from 88 balls against Ireland in September, he offers an unfettered attitude to top-order strokeplay that wasn’t adequately replicated in Roy’s absence last month.
Team news – Rookies to the fore
Bravo may have been a notable omission but his Trinidad and Tobago team-mate Kjorn Ottley – only a year younger at 33 – is back in favour for the first time in three years and looks set to open alongside Brandon King. Shai Hope, the captain and wicketkeeper, is by some distance the most experienced man in their ranks, although Hetmyer, Alzarri Joseph and Oshane Thomas offer a decent spine to a side that could feature two new ODI caps, including the talented allrounder Matthew Forde, 21, who impressed for the Academy side in the Super50 Cup.West Indies (probable): 1 Brandon King, 2 Kjorn Ottley, 3 Alick Athanaze, 4 Shai Hope (capt, wk), 5 Keacy Carty, 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Sherfane Rutherford, 8 Yannic Cariah, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Matthew Forde / Gudakesh Motie, 11 Oshane ThomasAll change for England after their World Cup catastrophe, although how much of it will be permanent remains to be seen. For now, only Jos Buttler remains from the class of 2019, but with the ink still drying on a host of multi-year ECB contracts – including for the likes of Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Mark Wood and Adil Rashid – you’d suspect one or two of the old guard aren’t quite done yet. That said, there ought to be at least seven names in this opening XI who played no part in the tournament just gone, including the same top three who finished the series against Ireland – Will Jacks, Phil Salt and Zak Crawley – and potentially a spot for the Lancashire left-arm spinner, Tom Hartley.England (probable): 1 Will Jacks, 2 Phil Salt, 3 Zak Crawley, 4 Harry Brook, 5 Ben Duckett, 6 Jos Buttler (capt & wk), 7 Sam Curran, 8 Brydon Carse, 9 Rehan Ahmed, 10 Tom Hartley, 11 Gus Atkinson.
Pitch and conditions
No major damage has been reported after a 5.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours of Saturday morning in Antigua, so there’s no suggestion that the match will be affected. The Sir Vivian Richards Stadium is not traditionally the most high-scoring of Caribbean venues, with just three scores in excess of 300 in 20 previous matches, and none higher than the 322 for 6 posted by Ricky Ponting’s all-time-great Australia in the venue’s maiden fixture during the 2007 World Cup. It’s been an intermittent host for ODIs in recent years, however, with just three matches since 2017. Local knowledge suggests the pitch will take spin.
Stats and trivia
England have won 52 of their 102 previous ODIs against West Indies, against 44 losses and six no-results.
West Indies, however, have the edge on home soil, with 23 wins against 17 defeats since their first ODI meeting in the Caribbean in 1981.
England have won each of their last four ODIs at the venue, spanning their tours in 2014 and 2017, having lost their first three, including two at the 2007 World Cup.
England’s last series, in the lead-up to the 2019 World Cup, ended in a 2-2 draw, including a memorable match in Grenada that featured a world-record 46 sixes.
Jos Buttler needs 39 runs to reach 5000 in ODIs. However, he has passed that total just once in his last 12 innings.
Quotes
“You see the depth of talent of guys coming through and you want to help shape that period of white-ball cricket. That’s something I feel responsibility and motivation for….to get England white-ball cricket back to where it’s been for a long time.”
Arsenal’s ambitions of ending their two-decade wait for a Premier League title have taken a huge hit in recent weeks, with various injuries and setbacks derailing their progress.
Whilst Liverpool have been the runaway leaders for the majority of the campaign, Mikel Arteta’s side have the quality across the pitch to mount a serious charge to close the gap.
However, the hamstring injury to winger Bukayo Saka has seen an understandable decline in goals within the final third, with the Englishman registering five goals and 10 assists before his spell on the sidelines.
He’s been missing since the triumph over Crystal Palace on the 21st of December, with the Gunners failing to win five matches across all competitions in that time frame.
Saka isn’t the only forward who’s been sat on the sidelines in recent weeks, as two other players have seen their season cut short by injuries over the last couple of weeks.
Arsenal’s injuries to Gabriel Jesus & Kai Havertz
Just a couple of weeks after the injury sustained to Saka, Arteta also saw Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus suffer his own setback, picking up an ACL injury in the FA Cup defeat against Manchester United.
The 27-year-old had previously had issues with his knee, but this time the issue appears to be way more serious, undergoing surgery to solve his latest issue – ruling him out for the remainder of 2024/25.
If that wasn’t bad enough, Kai Havertz recently picked up a torn hamstring injury during the warm weather training camp in Dubai, leaving the Gunners without a recognised senior centre forward.
His own setback will also see him miss the rest of the season, with Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri the only attacking options left at Arteta’s disposal.
The decision not to sign a new attacker in January now looks to be a huge mistake, but it’s not the first time they may regret not landing a forward, after one former target’s rapid development on the European stage.
The player who Arsenal nearly signed & is now worth more than Saka
There’s no denying that Saka has been a sensational player for Arsenal over the last couple of years, registering 56 combined goals and assists over the last two years despite his recent issue.
However, he’s often needed the added reinforcement alongside him to help the club end their long wait for a Premier League title despite finishing runners-up in each of the last two seasons.
They may have been able to complete the task had the club completed a deal for Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé, especially considering his form over the last couple of years.
Former boss Arsène Wenger revealed in an interview that he flew to speak to his compatriot during his time as a youngster at Monaco, but was unable to convince him to move to North London.
The 26-year-old has since emerged as one of the leading attackers in European football, impressing at Monaco, before a huge move to PSG back in 2017 – costing the Parisians a whopping £150m.
Mbappé, who’s since been dubbed “lethal” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored 256 times in just 310 appearances for the Ligue 1 giants, offering that clinical edge Arteta’s side have been craving.
Season
Games
Goals
Assists
2017/18
46
21
16
2018/19
43
39
17
2019/20
37
30
18
2020/21
47
42
11
2021/22
46
39
26
2022/23
43
41
10
2023/24
48
44
10
Total:
310
256
108
He’s since moved to Real Madrid in what’s dubbed the “most expensive free transfer in history” after the Spanish side had to pay the attacker a mammoth signing bonus after leaving PSG.
The forward has continued his goalscoring form under Carlo Ancelotti, scoring 24 times in his 36 appearances for his new side, creating a deadly partnership with Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior.
As a result of his tremendous displays over the last few years, Mbappé is now valued at £133m by Transfermarkt – a figure higher than that of Saka, who’s valued at £125m after his own emergence in England.
There’s no denying that the Englishman is one of the Premier League’s leading attackers, as seen by his goal contributions before his injury, with Arteta certainly desperate for the youngster to return to action as soon as possible.
However, the thought of the academy graduate featuring alongside Mbappé is a scary one, but unfortunately for the supporters, it will always remain a case of what could’ve been had Wenger worked his magic during his time in charge.
His value has soared by £58m: Arsenal hit the jackpot on "phenomenal" star
Arsenal have conducted superb business in the transfer market over the last couple of years.
أعلن اتحاد الكرة، عن طاقم حكام مباراة الزمالك وسيراميكا كليوباترا، ضمن منافسات مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز 2025-2026.
ويلتقي الزمالك مع سيراميكا كليوباترا، على ملعب استاد السويس الجديد، ضمن منافسات الجولة الأولى من بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز 2025-2026.
طالع.. خاص | بتروجيت يرد على عرض الزمالك الأخير لضم حامد حمدان
وتنطلق النسخة الجديدة من مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز يوم الجمعة المقبل الموافق 8 أغسطس بمشاركة 21 فريقًا بعد إلغاء الهبوط وصعود 3 فرق.
ومن المقرر أن تخوض الفرق دوري من دور واحد كمرحلة أولى ثم يتنافس 7 فرق في مجموعة تحديد البطل، و14 في مجموعة تحديد الهابطين، ومن ثم يهبط 4 فرق.
ويبحث الزمالك عن تحقيق الفوز في الظهور الأول تحت قيادة مدربه البلجيكي يانيك فيريرا مدعمًا بصفقاته الجديدة، بينما سيراميكا كليوباترا يأمل في تحقيق نتيجة إيجابية في أولى جولات الدوري. حكام مباراة الزمالك وسيراميكا كليوباترا في افتتاح الدوري المصري
“Still a long way to go to be performing how I’d like to,” says seamer after Ageas Bowl three-for
Vithushan Ehantharajah11-Sep-2023Reece Topley admits he will be overcoming “a bit of PTSD” when he boards the plane later this month for the 50-over World Cup in India after leaving last year’s T20 edition on the eve of the tournament due to an ankle injury.The left-arm seamer was dealt a sickening blow when he damaged ligaments in his left ankle after stepping on a boundary sponge at the Gabba during a fielding drill ahead of England’s final warm-up match against Pakistan. He was soon on a flight back from Australia and watched from afar as England became the first men’s white-ball team to hold both 50-over and 20-over World Cups simultaneously.”You could say I have a bit of PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] about getting on the plane again because it was pretty emotional coming back from the last one injured,” said Topley. “But injuries happen in sport. You can only do so much to prevent them. I don’t really think about it too much, but hopefully, they stay away.”Related
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Switch Hit: By hook or by Brook
There was further heartbreak at the start of the year for Topley. Having returned fully fit, a maiden stint in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore was cut short after bowling just two overs against Mumbai Indians on debut when a heavy fall in the outfield resulted in a dislocated right shoulder.Topley’s return to action after surgery came at the start of August in the Hundred for Northern Superchargers, finishing as the tournament’s second-highest wicket-taker with 13, resulting in selection for England’s provisional World Cup squad. That faith from Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott was rewarded on Sunday with 3 for 37 in the second ODI against New Zealand to help square the series.”Obviously, for anyone to come back from seven months out of 12 injured is tricky. When I came back from my ankle injury, I was getting back into it and then it was like having the rug pulled from underneath me when I came home from India. It’s all part of that process again, and hopefully it’s another box ticked, but it’s still a long way to go to be performing how I’d like to.”As you get older, the injuries do get a bit harder to come back from – just the nature of just being years older. It’s not like you won’t ever come back from it, it’s just always a bit trickier.””Hopefully, the bad days just sort of become less and less. I definitely wouldn’t say I’m out of the jungle in terms of my ankle and my shoulder, but it’s a case of doing the right things, and hopefully, there’s more performances like Sunday.”The outing at the Ageas Bowl was encouraging after an indifferent none for 47 from seven overs in the first ODI, which New Zealand won by eight wickets. After England set a total 227 in a rain-reduced 34-over affair, Topley was tight for the first five overs with the new ball (conceding just 19) before returning from the 21st over to take three in eight deliveries. His gutting of the middle order with the dismissals of Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra triggered a terminal collapse, with the last seven Kiwi batters falling for the addition of just 36 as the hosts triumphed by 78.While these were his first ODI dismissals in over a year after going wicketless at Cardiff and in two matches in South Africa before the IPL, Topley was as much encouraged by underlining his capabilities beyond the new ball as the return to form.”I like to think I take wickets in all stages, but with the new ball the other day [first ODI], I wasn’t great. It’s tricky. Obviously for seven months of this year I’ve been out injured, so it’s nice to be finding my feet again, hopefully just at the right time for India.”My record in the format is pretty good [36 wickets at 26.83 across 24 caps]. I like to think that I can contribute whenever needed. It was nice to get that performance. Last game, I was pretty nervous about getting back in the ODI squad and it was my first ODI since South Africa as well.”It’s tricky playing and getting yourself back into it mentally and physically after some injuries. The game moves on and people move on, and you obviously don’t get the chance to because you’re sidelined and can’t play cricket. It’s nice to sort of get yourself back up to speed and it’s all part of the process. It’s not the end of it now: it’s just another good day.”That being said, Topley is allowing himself to look further ahead. At 29, this will be his third global tournament for England, after featuring in the 2016 World T20 and again in 2021, when he was an injury replacement for Tymal Mills. Having overcome a spate of back issues which saw him suffer five stress fractures in six years, the last of which came in 2018, he has sights set on two more tournaments for his country, starting with 2024’s T20 assignment in the Caribbean and USA.”It would be the third World Cup I’ve been involved in,” he said of the upcoming trip to India. “I’d like to be involved in next summer’s as well. I’ve set myself a goal to be involved in five World Cups and that’d be something pretty special as a player.”
Ian Wright believes Newcastle United would be an ideal club for Marcus Rashford with his future at Manchester United in doubt.
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Rashford has shone on loan at Aston Villa
Villa have £40m option to sign him permanently
Wright feels Newcastle should be in the mix.
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Rashford has been urged to consider a move to Newcastle come the end of the season, as the ex-Arsenal star believes a link-up with Magpies talisman Isak would make for a frightening combination at St James’ Park.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Rashford is on loan at Aston Villa until the end of the season having fallen out of favour under United manager Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford.
The England forward played just six times under Amorim following the Portuguese’s appointment in November. However, he was loaned to Villa in January and has thrived under Unai Emery, scoring four goals and registering six assists in 17 appearances.
Villa have an option to buy Rashford for £40 million ($53m) but have still decide whether to use it. Rashford is under contract at United until 2028, but there are doubts whether he would be able to force his way back into Amorim’s plans.
WHAT WRIGHT SAID
Wright told the podcast of a possible deal for Rashford: “It’s the kind of signing Newcastle should be making.
“That would be amazing. That would be dangerous. Rashford at Newcastle? Yeah. That would be really good. I really like that for Rashford. Rashford at Newcastle can be dangerous.”
Asked if there was any possibility of Rashford returning to United, Wright replied: “Nope. No chance.”
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WHAT NEXT FOR RASHFORD?
The immediate focus for Rashford is Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final with Crystal Palace. Neither Villa nor Newcastle will be thinking about the transfer window yet, as they are each involved in a tight battle for Champions League football. Newcastle occupy the fifth and final qualification spot and have two-point lead over Villa in seventh with a game in hand.
Similarly, United will be concentrated on their quest to reach the Champions League by winning the Europa League. The Red Devils face Athletic Club in the first leg of their semi-final tie next Thursday.
There could be competition for Rashford’s services from Barcelona, who have been credited with an interest. Newcastle are in need of better strength in depth behind Isak and, like United, have been linked with Ipswich striker Liam Delap.
Smith insisted he had not requested a move back down the order but rather just told Andrew McDonald his preference
Alex Malcolm21-Oct-20241:36
What’s the logic of moving Smith back down the order?
Steven Smith has said Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne “hated” him opening the batting in the Test team, and believes it was a key driver behind his return to No. 4, but has insisted he did not request the move and would have continued to open if asked to.Australia’s chair selectors George Bailey confirmed last week that Smith would not be opening against India saying Smith “had expressed a desire to move back down from that opening position” and that captain Pat Cummins and Andrew McDonald had made the decision.McDonald stated on ABC Radio at the weekend that he and Cummins were the key decision-makers in the move, playing down Smith’s influence.Related
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Smith wanted it on the record that he had not explicitly requested to move back to No. 4 but had rather been asked by McDonald what his preferred batting spot was. He also added that Khawaja and Labuschagne had both expressed their discontent at him opening.”I got asked where I’d prefer to bat, and I said four. I didn’t ask [to move] though,” Smith said. “I also said I’m happy batting wherever. I’m not really too fussed. I got asked where my preference would be, and I said four. I saw a few things last week saying that I’ve requested to bat at four. That wasn’t the case. I said I’m happy to bat wherever you’d like me to bat but, yeah, four would be my ideal position.”Asked what had changed since earlier this year, he said: “Obviously there’s a spot there now with Greeny [Cameron Green] out. And I think just conversations we had after New Zealand with particularly Marnus and Uzzie, they hated me up top, to be honest. They wanted me behind them.”They just like the…they call it security behind them, in a way. They were pretty strong on me not batting there. So that was a big part of it. And then obviously, I’ve got a decent record at four.”It was good fun having a crack at something new, batting up top. I still feel like I could do a job there for sure. It was a pretty small sample size. But I’ve done pretty well at four for a number of years now. I feel like it’s probably where I can have my best input for this team at the moment.”Smith was set to move regardless of Green’s injury as the conversations had taken place prior to the limited-overs tour of England.He was asked whether he felt like he could have continued in the role longer term given his average of 28.50 in the four Tests in the job was not that bad as no opener averaged more than 32 across those four Tests.In his own style: Steven Smith leaves the ball alone•Getty Images”Honestly, I’m not that fussed,” Smith said. “I said it when I took that job, I’m not really fussed where I bat. The conversations I had with the other guys, they didn’t like it at all. They wanted some security, I suppose, behind them, where I’ve done really well for a number of years, and I can understand that as well. So it is what it is and I’m not going to be opening this summer. That’s it.”Smith made 3 off 29 balls for New South Wales against Victoria in his first red-ball innings since the New Zealand Test series in March and his first Sheffield Shield match since 2021.On a day when 15 wickets fell at the MCG in difficult batting conditions, Smith was upbeat about the innings despite being caught down the leg side off Fergus O’Neill.”I actually felt pretty good out there, to be honest, for the three that I scored strangely enough,” Smith said. “I felt like I was moving well. I was leaving well, and got a little bit unlucky with the one that sort of took off a little bit down the leg side. And that can happen. But I actually felt like I was getting in nice positions. My bat path was good and felt pretty good. So happy with that.”Meanwhile, Smith has been impressed with his limited time watching 19-year-old Sam Konstas who was lbw after 10 balls on the second day at the MCG”He got a bit unlucky there I reckon,” Smith said. “It looked like it might have been just darting down leg a little bit. I haven’t seen a lot of him. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of him out here in the middle for sure. But from what I have seen in the nets, he’s got a lot of time.Steven Smith threw in Nic Maddinson’s name as a potential opening option•Getty Images”He’s very organised. He plays fast bowling and spin well from what I’ve seen in the brief couple of times I’ve seen him bat, it’s looked really good. He’s a bright prospect. We’ve got to remember he’s only 19 as well so you he’s got plenty of time. But what I’ve seen so far, it looks promising”He’s got all the makings to definitely be a really good Test player. That’s for sure. Whether it’s now or in the future, time will tell.”Smith also threw Nic Maddinson’s name in the mix as a possible candidate to open the batting for Australia against India given he is a similar type of player to David Warner.”There’s a few really good candidates, guys that have, done really well the last few years,” Smith said. “[Cameron] Bancroft and the usual suspects that have been talked about. Maddo I think is also another really good candidate. He’s had a good couple of years. If you’re looking for someone similar to a Davey replacement, he gets after the ball and can score really quickly.”So he’s someone who probably hasn’t been spoken about a great deal from all you guys in the last little bit, but I think he’s someone that could definitely play test cricket and have a similar impact to what Davey sort of had at the top, the way he plays. So plenty of options. We’ll wait and see.”