Australia’s reserve opener is prepared to wait until Warner’s planned farewell next year

Alex Malcolm16-Jul-2023

Australia’s reserve opener Marcus Harris is resigned to the fact that he may not play in the Ashes, praising David Warner for his performances despite twin failures in the Headingley Test.Harris, 30, is the only specialist reserve batter currently in the squad after Matt Renshaw was released following the second Test at Lord’s. But he is not expecting to play a part in the series unless there is an injury to one of Australia’s top five batters.Since Australia’s loss at Headingley, all the selection talk has revolved around trying to fit Cameron Green back into the team after Mitchell Marsh made himself indispensable following his stunning opening-day century and crucial wickets, having replaced Green when he was withdrawn due to a hamstring niggle.Related

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Warner has been mooted publicly as the man who could make way given his continued struggles against Stuart Broad. But Green, and others within the Australian team, have tempered suggestions that either he, Marsh or Travis Head could be viable options to open the batting at Old Trafford.Harris echoed those sentiments and acknowledged that he is unlikely to be considered until after Warner’s planned Test swansong in January next year, given that Warner and Usman Khawaja have produced three 50-plus opening stands in the series so far while England’s opening duo of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett have managed just one.”Davey’s earned the right to pull the pin whenever he wants to pull the pin and he’s done well this series,” Harris said.”England’s not an easy place to open the batting and him and Uz have got us off to some good starts. So if I have to wait until then, so be it. But if something comes up earlier, I’m ready to go. Davey’s obviously a bit of a lightning rod for opinion.”Even if you’re not getting the big runs that you want to get, if you can still contribute to the team in some way, shape or form, I think you’re doing a job. But that’s coming from an opening batter so I’m probably biased towards that.”Harris was called upon midway through the 2019 Ashes series and found the challenge every bit as difficult as Warner, making just 58 runs in six innings.Marcus Harris has made nine first-class centuries in England•Getty Images

But Harris has accrued three years’ worth of County Championship experience since then and has built an impressive first-class record in England, averaging 45.83 from 52 innings with nine centuries, including two this season for Gloucestershire.Given his experience in English conditions, Harris cautioned against asking a middle-order batter to open the batting in a Test match in England.”I think it depends on the conditions and where you are,” he said. “Like you saw in the subcontinent, it is probably the best time so to have someone destructive like Heady, he can open the batting there. But I think probably in England and in Australia, the way the wickets have been the last couple of years, and New Zealand, those sorts of wickets, it’s more of a specialist position. And you want your destructive players like Greeny or Mitch or Travis to be coming in against a bit more of an older ball.”Maybe those first two wickets were alright. Definitely, Edgbaston would have been okay, but I think like we saw at Lord’s, whenever there were some overheads, and at Headingley, it was hard work. My experiences from county cricket [are] if you cop the wrong time of the day to open the batting, especially if you’re a destructive batter, it’s probably not ideal.”Harris is strong in his belief that he is a much-improved player compared to both his last England tour in 2019 and his last Test opportunity in January 2022.”I have been exposed to a lot more conditions,” Harris said. “Since then I have been to Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and played three county seasons here. Being an overseas pro to county teams is a different experience to playing Shield cricket. I just feel more well-rounded. That series taught me a lot in 2019. At the time it didn’t seem good, but I have probably benefited from it in the long haul.”I feel like I am ready to go whenever that chance comes. Whether that is this tour or not, so be it. I am in a good place mentally and with life. Whenever it comes up, I’ll be ready to go.”Harris has not played since making an unbeaten 122 for Gloucestershire against Durham on May 21, with the attack featuring Test bowlers Matthew Potts and Ajaz Patel.He was given the option of playing county cricket last week to get some middle time under his belt, as Michael Neser did for Glamorgan, but he opted to go on a golf trip to Scotland with Marsh, Josh Hazlewood, and Australia bowling coach Daniel Vettori.”I got given the option,” Harris said. “I thought it would be good to have a couple of days off and get away from cricket altogether. I have been here since April 1 so it has been a pretty long tour. The training we can do now with how big the squad is as a collective, during the games is as good, if not better, than playing a game of cricket. I don’t feel like I haven’t had a lot of cricket.”Might have been a different story if I just came on the Ashes and hadn’t played any county cricket. But personally, there hasn’t been any issue for me.”

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No clássico gaúcho pela 24ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, Internacional e Juventude mediram forças na noite desta segunda-feira, no estádio Beira-Rio. E o Colorado não deu chances ao adversário. Mostrando disposição em campo, Johnny, duas vezes, além de Wanderson e Edenilson, garantiram novo triunfo para o clube de Porto Alegre, desta vez por 4 a 0, alcançando o terceiro triunfo seguido na competição nacional.

+ Veja a tabela do Brasileirão e simule os resultados dos jogos

Com o resultado, o Inter chegou aos 42 pontos, em quinto lugar. Já a equipe de Caxias do Sul acabou estacionando na lanterna com seus 17 pontos.

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JUVENTUDE TEM BOM INÍCIO, MAS INTER EQUILIBRA

Mesmo jogando longe de seus domínios, o Juventude sabia da necessidade de um triunfo na partida contra o Internacional. Com isso, nos primeiros 10 minutos, mostrou que estava disposto a tentar fazer uma partida de igual para igual, apostando eu seu sistema ofensivo acionando Isidro Pitta algumas vezes, mas o paraguaio não aproveitou as chances.

Entretanto, aos poucos, o Colorado foi equilibrando e ditando mais as ações em campo. Sendo assim, devolvendo na mesma moeda, chegou com perigo em duas oportunidades sendo a primeira aos 17 minutos, quando Wanderson recebeu na entrada da área batendo forte para a grande defesa do goleiro Pegorari. Já na segunda, Maurício, após se livrar da marcação, cortou para o meio arriscando um chute que passou muito próximo à trave.

COLORADO ABRE BOA VANTAGEM

Já na reta final da etapa, o Inter seguia insistindo em encontrar, ao menos, um gol antes do término. E conseguiu mais do que isso. Aos 37 minutos, depois da cobrança de escanteio de Carlos De Pena, Johnny se antecipou à marcação para tirar o zero do placar.

Mesmo com a vantagem, os mandantes seguiram pressionando. Com isso, já nos acréscimos, aos 46 minutos, Alemão foi derrubado na área, porém com a arbitragem não marcando a penalidade em um primeiro momento, mas voltando atrás após checagem ao VAR. Na cobrança, a batida de Carlos De Pena parou na defesa do camisa 1, com Wanderson pegando rebote para estufar a rede fazendo 2 a 0.

JOHNNY VOLTA A MARCAR

Com a bola rolando para o segundo tempo, o Internacional voltou no mesmo ritmo que terminou na primeira etapa. E tratou de ampliar ainda mais o marcador. Após ter deixado sua marca, Johnny, logo aos 2 minutos, aproveitando cruzamento de Wanderson, cabeceou sem chances para Pegorari para fazer mais um gol.

Vendo o adversário construir uma boa vantagem, Umberto Louzer optou por algumas trocas reforçando seu meio-campo. Por outro lado, Sidnei Lobo, que assumiu o comando do time substituindo Mano Menezes, expulso no duelo contra o Avaí, também não ficou para trás e resolveu fazer duas mudanças, entre elas a saída de Johnny para a entrada de Edenílson, com direito a algumas vaias.

APÓS VAR SER ACIONADO, INTER FECHA GOLEADA DE PÊNALTI

E o time local voltou a marcar, desta vez aos 28 minutos. Porém, o tento de Vitão acabou anulado por conta de um toque na mão de Wanderson na disputa com Pegorari.

Passado o momento, ambos os treinadores, com o tempo se encaminhando para o fim, ainda apostaram em suas últimas trocas. Até que aos 43 minutos, o juiz novamente consultou o VAR desta vez para analisar o lance na área entre Nogueira e Edenilson, confirmando a penalidade após a checagem. Com isso, o próprio camisa 8, que sofreu com vaias por parte da torcida, bateu com perfeição para fechar a conta no Beira-Rio.

FICHA TÉCNICA
Internacional 4 x 0 Juventude

Data e horário: 29/08/2022 – 20h (de Brasília)
Local: Estádio Beira-Rio, em Porto Alegre (RS)
Árbitro:Bruno Arleu de Araujo (RJ)
Assistentes:Rodrigo Figueiredo Henrique Correa (RJ) e Thiago Henrique Neto Farinha (RJ)
VAR:Wagner Reway (PB)

Cartões amarelos: Nogueira, 44’/1ºT;Pegorari, 45’/2ºT

Gols: Johnny, 37’/1ºT (1-0); Wanderson, 49’/1ºT (2-0); Johnny, 2’/2ºT (3-0); Edenilson, 46’/2ºT (4-0)

INTERNACIONAL:Daniel; Fabricio Bustos, Vitão, Gabriel Mercado e Renê; Gabriel, Johnny (Edenílson, aos 23’/2ºT) e Carlos De Pena (Pedro Henrique, aos 35’/2ºT), Maurício (Alan Patrick, aos 23’/2ºT) e Wanderson (Taison, aos 37’/2ºT); Alemão. (Técnico: Sidnei Lobo)

JUVENTUDE:Pegorari; Rodrigo Soares, Nogueira, Paulo Miranda e Moraes; Elton (Pará, aos 18’/2ºT), Jadson (Rafinha, aos 36’/2ºT), Paulo Henrique (Guilherme Parede, aos 17’/2ºT), Bruno Nazário (Chico, aos 18’/2ºT) e Felipe Pires (Óscar Ruíz, aos 35’/2ºT); Pitta. (Técnico: Umberto Louzer)

Rangers and potential new owners the 49ers Enterprises could make an £8m signing at Ibrox, with the player keen on a move to Glasgow.

Rangers impressing under Ferguson as 49ers agree deal in principle

In what has been an underwhelming season on the whole, Rangers have enjoyed a positive month under interim boss Barry Ferguson.

The Gers managed to book their place in the Europa League quarter-finals by beating Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce on penalties, and days later, took down Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic.

A late strike from Hamza Igamane sealed Rangers’ first win at Celtic since 2020, a result that could boost Ferguson’s chances of landing the job permanently.

The 49ers Enterprises have agreed a deal in principle to take over in Scotland and are confident it will be completed ahead of the new campaign.

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Tom Cunningham

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They will have a lot of work to do, such as securing Philippe Clement’s long-term successor and potentially signing and selling numerous players, and an exciting update has been made regarding the 49ers’ move to Scotland.

49ers plans for Rangers including permanent Vaclav Cerny transfer

TEAMtalk shared news on the 49ers’ plans at Rangers, saying ‘the 49ers Enterprises will back Rangers with a strong transfer budget that will help them compete on the pitch’.

It is added that an amount of £25m per season is seen as methodical and the 49ers could make Vaclav Cerny’s Rangers loan move from VfL Wolfsburg permanent.

The 27-year-old, who could miss some action in the Scottish Premiership after squirting Celtic fans with water following Igamane’s winner at Parkhead, has been a star for Rangers during the current campaign.

He’s expected to cost around £8m if Rangers want to do a deal, and Cerny himself has recently hinted he’s open to a permanent Ibrox move.

Asked if he wants to stay in Scotland with Rangers, Cerny said: “I definitely do. But there are so many aspects that I can’t control. All I can do is be the best I can and keep up my form and numbers.”

TEAMtalk also add that no decision will be made on a new manager until the end of the season, however, Ferguson and his coaching staff are in the frame currently.

It could be a busy few months both on and off the pitch at Rangers, and by the looks of things, a permanent transfer for Cerny will be one to keep a close eye on.

Alvaro Morata has constantly battled with depression and mental health struggles, and is contemplating retirement from the Spanish national team.

Article continues below

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• Morata opens up on struggles with mental health
• Admits experiencing anxiety attacks
• Will consider retirement from international football

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Morata opened up on his battle with mental health issues, acknowledging that he has suffered from anxiety attacks. The Spain captain also admitted that he would contemplate retirement from the national team following his heartbreaking penalty miss that cost La Roja in the shootout defeat to Portugal in the Nations League final last week.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Spain and Portugal played out an entertaining game that ended 2-2 after 120 minutes in Munich. However, La Roja lost the shootout 5-3, with Morata, who came on as the substitute, missing his penalty. It's not the first time that the former Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Real Madrid forward has spoken up about his struggles with depression. Back in October 2024, the 32-year-old conceded that he was battling depression right before the 2024 European Championship.

  Now, after the Nations League defeat, the Spaniard has already hinted that his future with the national team is clouded in uncertainty. Not just that, but he also received death threats from a section of fans on social media, pitting all the blame for Spain's loss on Morata. Such incidents would only take a bigger toll on the mental health of any player.

• WHAT ALVARO MORATA SAID

  Morata spoke to on the occasion of the presentation of his documentary 'They Don't Know Who I Am'. Opening up on his mental health struggles, he said: "Your status has nothing to do with your mental health. You have no idea what's happening to you. There are many people who say: 'You have everything.' But it has nothing to do with it. Depression is a very deep issue, but anxiety attacks are there. Eight out of 10 young people suffer from it. And you're not weaker for saying: 'I'm not well at that moment.' What you need is someone to help you, but you can live a normal life. I'm Morata, I'm like that, and I always try to give my all, but it often doesn't work. I often beat myself up, I have a bad time, like last Sunday, but I stop beating myself up. Now I know I have to live. It's ten seconds, knowing what's coming or celebrating the goal in the corner. It hurts. I'm the first one who wanted to win the title with Spain. I had to take that penalty, I did it with determination, and I missed. Yes. You can miss and nothing happens.”

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• FUTURE WITH SPAIN NATIONAL TEAM

  The 2024 European Championship winner with Spain also shared his thoughts on where he stands with regards to his future with the national team: “I don't have anything on my mind. I need to think. First, out of respect for the fans, then for my teammates, and also for Luis [de la Fuente], who has given me life. I need time to pass and analyze things, and see what's good for the national team and what's good or less good for me. I can't answer that today. My wife and children encourage me to keep fighting, but it's not about that anymore. I know what I've been through, and I would do it again a thousand times. I'm getting older, and you have to think things through, calmly and coolly. When I missed the penalty on Sunday, I spoke to her, and what you have to do is think. I'm impulsive, and when a situation like that comes up… it happens to me with football and in other aspects of my life. I wasn't aware of the decisions I was making in the media.”

تحدث الألماني المعتزل توني كروس، لاعب ريال مدريد السابق عن مشاركة النادي الإسباني في كأس العالم للأندية تحت قيادة تشابي ألونسو ودور لوكا مودريتش الجديد.

وتأهل ريال مدريد إلى دور نصف النهائي من بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025 بعدما فاز على بوروسيا دورتموند بثلاثية مقابل هدفين، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما مساء أمس السبت.

ويلتقي ريال مدريد نظيره باريس سان جيرمان في نصف نهائي كأس العالم للأندية 2025 مساء يوم الأربعاء المقبل، في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً.

وقال كروس، في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية: “الفريق ما زال في احتياج إلى لاعب مثلي، وما زالوا يبحثون عنه، لا يوجد الكثير من اللاعبين من هذا النوع، ومن الصعب الحصول على هؤلاء اللاعبين”.

اقرأ أيضًا | لاعب ريال مدريد يغيب عن مباراة باريس سان جيرمان في كأس العالم للأندية

وأضاف: “اللاعبون الجيدون يمكنهم اللعب معًا، ولكن عليهم أيضًا الدفاع، بالنسبة لي الهجوم والدفاع كانا دائمًا لا ينفصلان عن بعضهما”.

وعن رأيه في تشابي ألونسو قال: “من المبكر جدًا الحكم على ريال مدريد بقيادة تشابي، يتطلب الأمر وقتًا لتقييم التغيير وتطبيق أفكاره، لا يسعني إلا أن أقول إنه قام بعمل رائع في ألمانيا”.

وأردف: “أنا متأكد من أن تشابي سيعرف كيف يصحح أي شيء يحتاج إلى تعديل، هناك أشياء تحتاج إلى تغيير، ولكن مع هذه الجودة العالية، يجب أن تسير الأمور على ما يرام”.

واستغل الفرصة للحديث عن لوكا مودريتش وقال: “لطالما كان لاعبًا مميزًا، لن يفقد جودته أبدًا، من الواضح أنه ليس كما كان بدنيًا، لكنه يواصل المساهمة والاستمتاع، ليس فقط داخل الملعب بل وخارجه أيضًا، لن يفقد أبدًا مستواه المعهود”.

واختتم حديثه قائلًا: “هناك من يقبلون بدور مختلف في الفريق عن المشاركة باستمرار في المباريات، ولكن إذا استمروا في الاستمتاع بكرة القدم، فهذا رائع، هذا جيد لهم”.

They might not have won anything, but Mauricio Pochettino’s peak Tottenham Hotspur team was packed with talent.

The North Londoners were blessed with some truly sensational players from front to back during that period.

Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Dele Alli were scoring for fun, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld created one of the best defensive pairings in Europe, and Hugo Lloris was, more often than not, a rock at the back.

However, perhaps the most underrated player – among non-Spurs fans – of them all from that period was the incredible Mousa Dembélé, and it looks as if Ange Postecoglou may have just uncovered his own version of the Belgian.

Mousa Dembélé's Spurs career

In the summer of 2012, after spending just over two seasons with West London side Fulham, Dembélé completed a £15m move to Spurs.

The former AZ Alkmaar star made an instant impact in North London, scoring on his debut – against Norwich City – and ending his first campaign at the club with 42 appearances across all competitions.

Already an established part of the first team, the Belgian “monster,” as dubbed by Eric Dier, took yet another step forward when Pochettino joined the club in May 2014.

Under the Argentine’s leadership, the Antwerp-born dynamo turned into one of the very best central midfielders in the Premier League, someone capable of winning the ball in his own half and carrying it all the way up the pitch for someone else to finish.

His immense abilities weren’t lost on his teammates or manager either, with Kyle Walker describing him as “the best player I’ve ever seen play football” and Pochettino claiming that he was a footballing “genius.”

In all, the 37-year-old made 249 appearances for the Lilywhites, scoring ten goals and providing ten assists, before moving to the Chinese Super League in January 2019 and retiring four years later.

Dembélé was an utterly sublime footballer, and while the club haven’t been able to replace him, Postecoglou may have just stumbled upon the club’s next version of the Belgian.

Appearances

249

Starts

181

Minutes

16115′

Goals

10

Assists

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.08

Minutes per Goal Involvement

805.75

Spurs' next Dembélé

Now, we are aware that such a label can be both a blessing and a curse for players, but we reckon Lucas Bergvall has more than enough talent to make good on it.

The young midfielder was signed from Swedish outfit Djurgårdens for around £8.5m last winter but didn’t officially join the squad until last summer, and while it took him some time to get up to speed in the first team, he has recently been one of the club’s most impressive players.

Like Dembélé, the young Swede is seemingly a natural in a few positions in midfield, making 34 appearances in central midfield, 16 in attacking midfield and 13 in defensive midfield.

Moreover, while each role requires something a little different from the 19-year-old, be that a dangerous final ball from the ten position or a brilliant interception at the base of midfield, he’s shown one quality that the Belgian star was known for: ball-carrying.

According to FBref, the “generational” talent, as dubbed by journalist Mitch Fretton, sits in the top 3% of midfielders in the Premier League this season for total carrying distance, the top 5% for successful take-ons, the top 7% for progressive carrying distance, the top 10% for carries and more, all per 90.

Finally, while the “uber-complete” teenage phenom, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, certainly has what it takes to play in the number ten position in the future, it does seem like Postecoglu and Co will be able to get more out of his incredible skillset by playing him in the middle of the park, where Dembélé used to boss games.

Ultimately, while he’s still incredibly young, and a lot could happen over the coming years, it looks like Spurs might just have their next genuinely great central midfielder in Bergvall.

Leading candidate to replace Ange: Spurs want "special" Iraola alternative

The experienced manager could be just what Spurs need.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 19, 2025

It will not surprise you to hear a golf-mad England dressing-room passed the time during the persistent rains on day four at Emirates Old Trafford by watching the Open, away to the west at Hoylake. And as much as this was a group indulging their hobby while their day jobs were put on hold, there was some useful crossover.Every player and coach had their weather apps open, either on their phones or laptops while cooped up in the home dressing room, aside from a period between 2.42pm and 5pm in which they were able to get on the field for 30 overs. But it was through the television screens that they were getting their most useful visual cues.While umbrellas in Manchester were open for most of the day, the sight of them being closed some 47 miles away at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club offered hope, seeing as the weather was coming from that direction out west. The Open’s final round is sure to be back on the TV on Sunday as well, although with the next band of rain sweeping down from the north, England may have to find alternative reasons for optimism. Their window of opportunity is closing as they seek five more wickets to prevent Australia from retaining the urn with a match to spare. The tourists are now 214 for five in their second innings, trailing by 61.”It was nice, the golf was on,” Marcus Trescothick, England’s batting coach, said. “It’s obviously in the right direction, so when the brollies went down over there, we were a little bit more hopeful we might get a bit of break in it.” As for what their forecasts were saying for day five, Trescothick was far less upbeat: “Rain, unfortunately.”Those 30 overs were more than England expected to get. Australia’s addition of 101 runs closed the gap to just 61, but the loss of Marnus Labuschagne for 111, his first century of the series, means the tail is now just two wickets away.James Anderson was thwarted as Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh built a good stand•Getty Images

Even that chunk of play came with caveats. After 17 overs, the umpires ruled the light was too poor for England to continue with their quicks when Ben Stokes wanted to turn back to Mark Wood from the James Anderson end. It was a particular impediment to England’s hopes, given that Wood would have been armed with a harder, replacement ball, given that the original had been changed the over before after losing its shape because of the moisture picked up from the damp outfield.That ball had been good to England on Friday evening, particularly Wood who had been getting some handy reverse-swing which helped him take three for 17 from seven overs. England’s fielders were also unhappy that Labuschagne got involved with the change of ball. In the end, only one over of pace was bowled with the replacement, by James Anderson.Just as it looked like a period of stasis had come over proceedings with Moeen Ali and Joe Root bowling in tandem, the latter struck to remove Labuschagne, caught behind attempting a cut. It was originally given not out on the field before DRS showed a spike as the ball clearly snicked the bat. The batter had previously enjoyed a life when he edged a surprise away-swinger from Root which almost took Zak Crawley’s head off at first slip before running away for four to take Labuschagne to 97.Related

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• That was then, this is now for Steven Smith

• Josh Hazlewood happy to pray for rain as Australia's Ashes lead hangs in the balance

Root also came close to removing Marsh on 31 after the allrounder inside-edged to Harry Brook, but a tough chance was put down at short leg. Then, off what ended up being the final delivery of the day, Root and England thought they had snared Green at first slip via an inside-edge off the pad, but this review proved unsuccessful.”He’s a little bit of a golden arm, isn’t he?” Trescothick said of Root, who now has 58 Test dismissals, including 13 since Stokes took charge. “He just has that ability to come in, two or three overs here, a little spell now and again and just pick up one or two wickets and he has a good knack of doing that.”We know how good a player he (Labuschagne) is. It’s a big, big player out of the way on a decent pitch. So we’ve still got a decent amount of work to do, it’s not going to be a case of turning up and the ball is going to swing around with a new ball all over the place and nip about, and we’ll roll them over in ten overs. I think we’re going to need a bit more time and a bit more graft than that, but there’s one less person that we have to knock over, which is important”Trescothick has no qualms if most of what they get from day five, or perhaps even all of it, comes in similar conditions. While there may be a gripe about the timing of the bad-light decision, particularly with little discernable difference in visibility, England know they will have to squeeze the most out of whatever they are given.”Firstly, we were sat on the balcony and we didn’t think it had deteriorated that much to not allow the seamers to bowl,” Trescothick said. “The umpires out in the middle deemed it was too dark and they’ve got to make that decision. It didn’t feel like it from where we were, but we’re 50 metres, 60 metres from the edge of the pitch.”And tomorrow, if that’s what we’ve got, and that’s what we’re given, then that’s what we’ll take. Any opportunity that we can get out in the middle tomorrow, we will be grabbing with both hands.”On the other side of the fence, Labuschagne has urged Australia to ensure they are switched on to react accordingly to whatever situation eventuates on Sunday, even if the rain is very much in their favour. A similar application to Saturday’s would go a long way to securing the urn and giving them a shot at winning a first Ashes away from home since 2001.”As players you have to be prepared to play, and think we saw we took the game on,” he said. “We knew the task we had. We knew it wasn’t going to be a massively long day, but we had to be on for that two-hour stint. For us now, it’s about retaining the Ashes, this is what it comes down to, whatever time we have left tomorrow, there’s only one option which is bat out the day. The rain will play its part but I certainly think there’ll be some play.”As for the possibility of batting on into a lead and giving England a chase, Labuschagne was understandably unenthusiastic.”No, no chance, zero. As in get ahead? We’re sixty behind!”I mean if Mitch gets going maybe, if Mitch and Green put on an absolutely unbelievable partnership, but I think we’re just going to let it play out, get bowled out when we do. I don’t think we’re going to give England a sniff, I think that’s exactly what they’d like.”

Gus Atkinson claims best figures by England T20I debutant as tourists slide to crushing defeat

Alan Gardner01-Sep-2023

Harry Brook ensured the conversation about his 50-over World Cup omission would continue to bubble under, as he and Jonny Bairstow dismantled New Zealand’s attack during a century stand at Old Trafford. Gus Atkinson then confirmed his arrival as a fast man of international pedigree with the best figures by an Englishman on T20I debut as New Zealand were brutally dispatched in the second T20I.Bairstow batted through the England innings for 86 off 60 balls but it was Brook’s audacious strokeplay that had the crowd off their feet while adding 67 from 36, with five fours and as many sixes, as England powered to a commanding score after choosing to bat first.Atkinson, clocked at 95mph/152kph during the Hundred last month, claimed a wicket with his fourth ball in international cricket before returning to blast out the final three in the space of an over. Atkinson finished with 4 for 20, New Zealand plummeting from 72 for 3 to 103 all out – only three batters managing double-figures – as England consigned them to their third-heaviest defeat in T20s, and a 2-0 series deficit.Atkinson quick off the mark
“He’s got extra pace, and pace can create wickets,” Jos Buttler said at the toss, when asked about England’s newest quick bowler, Atkinson of Surrey (or Oval Invincibles in new money). Few outside the county borders knew much about the 25-year-old at the start of the season, even though he had been on the club’s books since 2017, but impressive returns and, more importantly, a propensity to push the speed gun well above 90mph, had seen him rocket up the pecking order and into England’s 50-over World Cup squad despite being uncapped in any format.The first cap duly came, having been given an extra couple of days to recover from his exertions in the Hundred final, and it didn’t take long for pace to create a maiden international wicket. His start was tight, the wheels in evidence – second ball, 92mph/148kph – and Devon Conway duly attempted to hit his way out of trouble, only to flick another 90mph/145kph delivery down the throat of deep backward square leg.New Zealand crumble in steep chase
With both openers gone for single-figure scores and Glenn Phillips hitting an Adil Rashid full toss straight to long-on – Brook again on the scene with a precisely judged leap – New Zealand were 44 for 3 and struggling to keep up with a required rate of almost 10 an over. Mark Chapman crashed Liam Livingstone’s first two balls for six and four but fell in the same over, and when Brydon Carse’s deck-hitting approach had Daryl Mitchell caught behind first ball, the jig was as good as up.It was still a tame ending, as Will Jacks bowled Mitchell Santner for a maiden T20I wicket, Adam Milne reversed Rashid straight to slip – a fine reaction catch from Moeen Ali – and Atkinson returned to end it in the space of five balls. Tim Seifert, who battled gamely for 39 off 31, top-edged a bouncer straight up, before Tim Southee was lbw attempting to scoop and Atkinson’s yorker thudded into the base of middle and off stumps to dismiss Lockie Ferguson first ball. As at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday, the game was done with six overs to spare.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Bat first, bat steady
After Buttler had opted to bat at the toss, England’s powerplay effort of 40 for 1 suggested that conditions might not be conducive for outright carnage. Bairstow ticked along at just under a run a ball, and although Jacks fetched Ferguson for two fours and a six in the space of three balls, not everything was coming out of the middle – as evidenced by a flaccid pull off Southee that looped to mid-on in the following over.Dawid Malan, a T20I banker for England but coping uneasily with scrutiny over his 50-over World Cup spot, soon departed for a four-ball duck, done by Santner looping one up in the old style, to make it 43 for 2. Bairstow bludgeoned Santner into the crowd for his first six, before Brook twice smoked Ish Sodhi over deep extra cover from consecutive balls – the latter despite barely reaching the pitch – but a score of 76 for 2 at halfway would not have daunted New Zealand.Bairstow, Brook go big
A pair of Yorkshiremen on Lancashire’s home ground, Bairstow and Brook took a while to feel comfortable. England’s third-wicket pair were prepared to put in the groundwork, easing to a fifty partnership from 30 balls – and then came the signal to unleash. Bairstow, having notched a 40-ball half-century, slog-swept Southee over the ropes before hitting him down the ground for four and then six – the latter a huge straight hit into the pavilion – before Brook latched on to another wide slower ball and flogged six more over long-on, as the over went for 23.Bairstow made it three sixes in five balls by tucking into Sodhi, Brook adding another boundary with an impudent reverse-slap. Milne briefly put a break on the scoring with a boundary-free 15th, but Brook showed his touch by dabbing and driving Ferguson for another brace of fours, then went after Southee again with 6-4-6 from consecutive balls. A baseball slap down the ground took him to fifty off 31 balls, before whipping a full toss through midwicket, then picking the wide legcutter again and ploughing it over long-on.By the time Brook departed in the 18th, advancing to mistime Sodhi to long-on, the partnership had realised 131 from 65 balls – the highest stand in T20Is at Old Trafford. Although only 24 runs came from the last 16 balls, Milne completing an excellent showing to finish with figures of 4-0-23-0, England were as good as out of sight already.

West Ham United have reportedly tested the waters by making contact over a move to sign a £33m+ defender ahead of Manchester United.

West Ham looking to spend again ahead of Potter’s first full season in charge

The Hammers and Graham Potter appear to already be working behind the scenes at the London Stadium on potential summer signings ahead of the 2025/26 season. It will be Potter’s first full campaign in charge of the Irons, who splashed the cash on a plethora of new faces last summer.

There have been numerous transfer links regarding West Ham signing a new forward, following injuries to Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug in 2024/25.

Antonio recently made a return to the London Stadium following a serious car crash at the end of 2024, however, the forward is adamant he’ll play again.

“Yes, 100%. I will play again. That’s what I am focused on and why I am working six days a week. I’ve always been positive from this situation. It’s a horrendous accident, and it’s a massive injury.

“It’s the biggest injury I’ve ever had in my career. But the fact that I’m already two to three months ahead of where I should be, I know that I’ll play again, and I know that once I’m playing the game I’ll get the sharpness back.”

Ruthless from Potter as West Ham want to sell Lopetegui signing for £25m

One club are circling.

By
Charlie Smith

Mar 27, 2025

Lille’s Jonathan David, Fiorentina’s Moise Kean and Corinthians’ Yuri Alberto are just three attackers thought to be of interest to West Ham, but additions could also be made at the back.

Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens has been linked with a move to London in recent days, and now, a centre-back target has come onto West Ham’s radar.

West Ham test waters over move for £33m+ defender

According to reports in Italy, relayed by Sport Witness, West Ham are looking at signing Udinese defender Oumar Solet. They’ve made contact and tested the waters over a potential deal and have received encouragement, with Udinese looking at possible replacements.

Solet, who was linked with the Irons last summer, hasn’t signed a new deal with the Serie A side and is out of contract in 2027, meaning an exit could be on the cards in the coming months.

Udinese want at least €40m (£33.3m) to part ways with Solet, who they only signed back in January. The 25-year-old previously turned out for the likes of Lyon and RB Salzburg, however, he was without a club for a few months prior to moving to Italy at the beginning of 2025.

Now, it looks as if he could be on the move again, but this time for big money if the Irons firm up their interest after contact by making an offer. If they do, Potter will be getting a centre-back who can also turn out as a holding midfielder if needed.

Fenerbahce have reportedly made an approach to try to sign Brazilian superstar Neymar from Santos on a free transfer.

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• Neymar at Santos but future uncertain
• Fenerbahce make initial move
• Star's father says plenty of interest in Brazilian

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Neymar's future is once again the subject of speculation, with his father having confirmed talks with Champions League clubs. Jose Mourinho's side appear to be admirers of the Brazilian and have made an initial offer to bring him to Turkey this summer, according to .

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Fenerbahce are eager to strengthen their squad over the summer after ending last season without a trophy. Mourinho's men finished the season in second place in the Super Lig standings, but a distant 11 points behind champions Galatasaray. Neymar appears to be an option amid an uncertain time for the Brazilian. He returned to Santos in January on a short-term contract after an injury-ravaged spell in the Saudi Pro League at Al-Hilal but is yet confirm where he will play next season amid similar fitness problems.

• WHAT NEYMAR'S DAD HAS SAID

  Neymar's father has offered an update on his situation in an interview with He said: "I see a market that's interested. This week, we're going to Miami to talk to clubs. We have to listen to them and decide what we're going to do. Yes, there are European clubs. Some are competing in the Champions League. They know he's capable of having a great season because the lights are green. But the Brazilian market is also interesting.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR NEYMAR?

  Neymar will no doubt consider his options carefully over the summer. The 33-year-old is eager to lead Brazil at the 2026 World Cup and will want to reach the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico in the best possible shape.