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GT handed an IPL debut to Afghanistan allrounder Karim Janat

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Apr-20253:13

Bumrah’s yorkers or Starc’s yorkers? Sai Sudharsan has to choose

On a pitch that looked similar to the “LSG game” to their captain Riyan Parag, Rajasthan Royals (RR) elected to field first against Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2025. RR had dominated the chase of 181 against LSG but stumbled at the final step, losing by two runs.Parag said there had been dew on the eve of this match.GT handed out a debut to Aghanistan allrounder Karim Janat. Sherfane Rutherford was missing for GT; he wasn’t in the list of substitutes either.RR brought back mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana to their side in accordance with the low bounce expected in Jaipur. He replaced swing bowler Fazalhar Farooqi. Tushar Deshpande, who went for 36 in two overs in the last game, was left out for Yudhvir Singh.RR were playing for survival in the tournament, needing to win all their remaining five games to give themselves half a chance of qualifying for the playoffs. GT were just two points behind the table toppers Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), but they had two games in hand.GT won the first match between these two teams comfortably, starting for RR a five-match losing streak. Three of those were games that RR bossed for 35 overs or so before failing to close them out.Gujarat Titans: 1 B Sai Sudharsan, 2 Shubman Gill (capt.), 3 Jos Buttler (wk), 4 Washington Sundar, 5 M Shahrukh Khan, 6 Rahul Tewatia, 7 Karim Janat, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 R Sai Kishore, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Prasidh KrishnaPossible Impact Players: Ishant Sharma, Anuj Rawat, Mahipal Lomror, Arshad KhanRajasthan Royals: 1 Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Nitish Rana, 4 Riyan Parag (capt.), 5 Dhruv Jurel, 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Sandeep Sharma, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Yudhvir SinghPossible Impact Players: Shubham Dubey, Tushar Deshpande, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal, Kunal Singh Rathore

Queensland Cricket general manager Joe Dawes called Khawaja absence from the last game “disappointing” while Khawaja insists he was rehabbing a hamstring injury

Alex Malcolm20-Mar-2025There is tension between Test batter Usman Khawaja and Queensland Cricket ahead of next week’s Sheffield Shield final, but he is likely to be named in an extended squad for the final on Friday with a decision on whether he plays or not to come ahead of the game starting next Wednesday.Khawaja, 38, and Queensland Cricket are at odds over his absence from the last Shield game of the season against South Australia at Karen Rolton Oval, where Queensland secured a draw which qualified them for the final against South Australia at the same venue.Khawaja attended all five days of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne while the game was going on in Adelaide but posted on social media on Tuesday that he was rehabbing a hamstring niggle that he picked up while making match-winning contributions of 127 and 33 not out in the Bulls previous win over Tasmania. There is also a suggestion he is managing an ankle issue that flared up during the Sri Lanka tour although that did not stop him playing against Tasmania.Related

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Sangha makes ton, Queensland secure draw in possible Shield final preview

South Australia prevented from hosting Shield final at Adelaide Oval

Queensland Cricket general manager Joe Dawes made strong comments on Wednesday suggesting that Khawaja was not injured and insisted Queensland’s medical staff had declared him available for selection.”That is my understanding from Cricket Australia staff as well. No hamstring issues as far as we are concerned,” Dawes told reporters at Brisbane Airport on Wednesday.”I go off our medical staff and there is no reason why he could not have played the last game. It’s just disappointing he didn’t play a game for Queensland when he had an opportunity to. I have got a bunch of blokes here that all want to play. I think we are disappointed he did not play the game against South Australia. That’s the decision he made and he has communicated some of the reasons for that in the public. Hopefully he will make that decision to make himself available for next week and we will make that decision on Friday.”Khawaja was not the only Cricket Australia contracted player who did not play in the final round of the season. Nathan Lyon also attended the Australian Formula One Grand Prix with Khawaja and has not played since returning from Sri Lanka due to management of a hip issue. Steven Smith did not play the final round for New South Wales after returning from the Champions Trophy but Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey both played for Queensland and South Australia respectively.Every CA and state-contracted player who is headed to the IPL also did not play in the final Shield round as they were all given No-Objection Certificates to head to India ahead of the tournament starting on Saturday.Khawaja has already played 11 first-class matches this summer including seven Tests, meaning he has already played more games and days than any Australian domestic red-ball-only batter would play in a Shield summer in total. The 38-year-old has managed his schedule carefully in recent years, valuing rest over playing a lot of back-to-back games in order to remain mentally and physically fresh for his Test commitments as he attempts to extend his career as long as possible.That management plan has been supported by CA. He missed one of Queensland’s first four Shield games to freshen up ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and missed the Shield game against Western Australia that started nine days after the tour of Sri Lanka where he scored a career-best 232 not out in the first Test.However, Khawaja is likely to have all of April and May to rest after the Shield final finishes on March 30 before preparing for four Tests in June and July which include the WTC final and a three-Test tour of the Caribbean. He won’t have any international commitments thereafter until the Ashes begin in late November.

The transfer window has passed by chaotically, leaving Sunderland now with just a few days before their Premier League adventure officially gets underway.

There will be lots of excitement in the air as the Black Cats’ bumper 11 new signings take to the field for the first time this season against West Ham United.

However, there will be equal amounts of nerves also hanging over proceedings, as Regis Le Bris attempts to get a tune out of all those fresh faces immediately to ensure positive results are picked up from the first game to the last.

Thankfully, when contests are going to test the resolve of the top-flight newcomers, the Black Cats should be able to rely on Granit Xhaka, who is undoubtedly the most experienced Premier League body in the squad, at the moment.

Why Xhaka could be crucial this season

Amazingly, the 32-year-old battler has even taken on the club captaincy this pre-season, as he prepares to be the leader Sunderland needs on the pitch to ensure safety is comfortably reached.

He will be one figure who will make sure the standards are lifted, considering he has amassed 225 Premier League appearances to date as a performer unafraid to get stuck in and be fierce, which lends itself well to a tense battle against the drop.

On top of launching himself into tackles galore – with 368 attempted during that long stay in the top-flight with Arsenal – the Swiss international is also capable of a moment of magic from outside the area when firing home an audacious strike, with a reasonable 17 goals and 24 assists also next to his Premier League tally.

Landing Xhaka for just £17m really does show off what Sunderland’s ambitions are this season, therefore, as they try to make survival look a breeze.

However, there is an even bigger coup potentially in the works if Sunderland can pull off this other crazy buy, as they attempt to boldly land an even more seasoned top-flight performer…

Sunderland could land a bigger signing than Xhaka

£132m has now been spent on the end of the Black Cats this summer, with the latest splurge seeing Omar Alderete arrive from Getafe for a modest £10m fee.

He is another pick-up who holds significant experience of a top league in La Liga. Still, he will be forgotten about quite swiftly if Sunderland can pull off the ridiculous signature of Raheem Sterling – a player who cost Chelsea £50m just three years ago.

This standout move has been tentatively speculated by Mackem News, with Sterling in desperate need of repairing his damaged Premier League reputation after an instantly forgettable loan stint with Xhaka’s former side.

If he can get back to the heights of his Manchester City heyday, Sunderland will be laughing, as they go about winning themselves another top-flight-capable performer who could fire home the goals to drag the Black Cats up the rankings.

While his career has since fallen to the wayside after exiting Manchester, it goes without saying that Sterling is an immense talent in the Premier League when firing on all cylinders, as seen in his colossal haul of 123 strikes in the difficult division from 396 games.

These constant moments of class for Man City would push Pep Guardiola’s men on to win four top-flight titles, with the trusty Englishman causing all sorts of havoc down the right wing to pick up all this shiny silverware, leading to pundit Chris Sutton even heralding him as “world class” back in 2020.

Xhaka would never swim in the same levels of success in North London, unfortunately, with Sterling also more hungry to prove a point than his Swiss counterpart, arguably, considering his past couple of seasons of underwhelming performances at both Arsenal and Chelsea. As noted by ex-England boss Gareth Southgate, he is a “fighter”.

If he can reach his best once again, he will be a very effective weapon for Le Bris to possess, knowing what the Frenchman managed to get out of Enzo Le Fee last season, after his own career had hit a similar crossroads.

You would imagine Sunderland are close to wrapping up all of their hectic business soon.

But, if they can land Sterling just in time before September’s deadline, this would be a fantastic coup, particularly if his goals and assists make all the difference in the battle to beat relegation.

Sunderland could land their own Wirtz with move for "electric" £26m star

Regis Le Bris could soon be handed his very own Florian Wirtz at Sunderland.

By
Kelan Sarson

Aug 13, 2025

Warner has had an impressive season with the bat but also helped bring the side together after last summer’s problems

AAP21-Jan-2025

David Warner has helped the Sydney Thunder to believe again according to coach Trevor Bayliss as the team’s fairytale BBL resurgence stretches into the finals.A year ago, they were preparing for a post-mortem on the equal-worst season from any BBL team in a decade. Not since the Thunder outfit of 2013-14 had a side won only one match in a BBL summer.But led by new captain Warner, they have surged to third place on the ladder this summer with a 5-3 record, easily securing a top-four spot and knockout date with Melbourne Stars on Wednesday.Related

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Bowlers take Hobart Hurricanes to their first BBL final in seven years

On the pitch, Warner scored the second-most runs of any player in the tournament, an unbeaten 88 against the ladder-leading Hobart Hurricanes the clear highlight of his first full BBL season to date.He would likely have sat atop the batting rankings if not for rain; wet weather meant the Thunder played one fewer game than the Perth Scorchers, whose star allrounder Cooper Connolly scored only five more runs. But Bayliss has noticed Warner’s impact stretch beyond the playing field.”The job he’s done as captain, it’s not just about his batting for example, it’s his personality,” he said. “He’s always up for it, he’s a positive character. Loud, obnoxious sometimes, but the boys love it.”I think it’s the confidence that he gives his team-mates, and their belief then that they’re good enough to do the job. They’re all good players, they sometimes just need that belief. Certainly I think the results have shown this year.”Public opinion of Warner has wavered dramatically over the years, from his early days as a hyper-confident ballstriker, to his role in the Newlands ball-tampering controversy, and the shift to introspection that followed. The latest iteration of Warner has made an impression on new Thunder team-mate Sam Billings.”People have this perception around him, but he’s incredible in terms of the conversations he has with individuals and the consistent drive,” Billings said. “You see why he’s one of the best players in the world, still at the age of 38. I’m learning off him every day.”As they prepared to host a similarly resurgent Stars at ENGIE Stadium, Warner felt the Thunder still had room for improvement. The team’s largest partnership, 89 between Warner and Matthew Gilkes against Perth Scorchers, was only the 10th-largest of the regular season. The side also does not have a wicket-taker in the top 10 for the tournament.”The batters haven’t all gelled together and gotten big partnerships,” Warner said. “We talk about bowling partnerships as well, one has leaked at one end and then the other has taken wickets. We still haven’t played a complete game yet, which for me is scary.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras vive grande fase dentro e fora de campo, dessa forma pensa também no futuro e, por isso, está tratando da renovação de contrato com Gabriel Menino. Segundo informação revelada pelo GE e confirmada pelo LANCE!, as partes devem acertar um novo vínculo até o fim de 2027. Seriam mais dois anos além do que está registrado no vínculo atual.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasOLHAR DO PORCO: Em lua de mel com o time, torcida do Palmeiras vive maior jogo do ano no Allianz ParquePalmeiras11/05/2023PalmeirasPalmeiras se reapresenta após goleada e já foca no duelo com o Bragantino pelo BrasileirãoPalmeiras11/05/2023PalmeirasMayke valoriza coletivo do Palmeiras e projeta duelo contra o BragantinoPalmeiras11/05/2023

+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

De acordo com o apurado pela reportagem, a renovação está encaminhada neste momento e deve ser oficializada em breve. Atualmente, Menino tem contrato até o fim de 2025 e tem se valorizado ainda mais neste ano depois de virar titular do meio-campo ao lado de Zé Rafael.

Apesar de as partes ainda alinharem detalhes para sacramentar a prorrogação do vínculo, elas acreditam que tudo deve ser definido nos próximos dias. O jogador vai ter um aumento salarial, além da extensão até o fim de 2027. Vale lembrar que Menino foi pretendido por outros clubes no início desta temporada, mas o Palmeiras recusou a possibilidade de saída e manteve o jovem em seu elenco.

continua após a publicidade

+ OLHAR DO PORCO: Em lua de mel com o time, torcida do Palmeiras vive o maior jogo do ano no Allianz

Desde 2020 no profissional do Verdão, Gabriel Menino é Cria da Academia e já tem 166 jogos pelo clube, além de 14 gols marcados no período (sendo seis deles apenas em 2023). Isso sem contar os títulos conquistados: três Paulistas (2020, 2022 e 2023), duas Libertadores (2020 e 2021), uma Copa do Brasil (2020), um Brasileirão (2022), uma Supercopa do Brasil (2023) e uma Recopa Sul-Americana (2022)

All the issues and implications surrounding a landmark county cricket deal

Matt Roller30-Sep-2024

Have Delhi Capitals bought Hampshire?
Not quite. Delhi Capitals are an equal-share joint venture between the sports arms of two Indian conglomerates: JSW Group and GMR Group. GMR bought the Delhi franchise – initially named Delhi Daredevils – ahead of the inaugural IPL season in 2008, and sold a 50% stake to JSW in 2018. GMR are the only relevant party in the Hampshire deal.So who are GMR, and why have they invested in cricket?
The group describe themselves as “a leading infrastructure developer” who own and manage projects in a number of different areas. They own and run six airports, including Delhi and Hyderabad. GMR says its sports division has the “social objective” of “promoting and nurturing potential talent at the grassroot level” in Delhi while the IPL has proved a lucrative investment: having paid US$84 million for the Delhi franchise in 2008, they sold a 50% stake in 2018 for US$66m.Do GMR own any other teams?
Yes. GMR are the owners of Dubai Capitals in the UAE’s ILT20, India Capitals in the Legend League Cricket (LLC), and have a stake in Seattle Orcas (MLC). JSW, their IPL co-owners, run Pretoria Capitals in South Africa’s SA20, and the two companies also co-own Delhi Capitals Women in India’s WPL. GMR also own teams in the Indian sports kabaddi and kho-kho.And have they taken over at Hampshire?
Hampshire announced on Monday morning that GMR have acquired a majority stake – understood to be around 53% – in Hampshire Sport & Leisure Holdings Ltd, and will complete a full acquisition over the next two years. Rod Bransgrove (chair) and David Mann (chief executive) will retain their respective roles during that transition period.GMR have a 50% stake in Delhi Capitals in the IPL•BCCI

What does this mean for the Hundred?
The ECB started the process of selling stakes in the eight Hundred teams at the start of this month. The proposed model would see the ECB sell 49% stakes in each team to private investors, with 51% transferred to the host venue or county – in Southern Brave’s case, Hampshire.So will GMR become majority owners of Southern Brave by default?
No, not necessarily. The ECB’s sales process includes a mechanism which gives the ECB discretion over whether or not to transfer 51% stakes to hosts. They could opt to retain it if they feel that an investor is attempting to circumvent the wider sale process or buying a franchise via the back door. “The deal is not contingent on getting a Hundred franchise,” Bransgrove said.But in practice…?
The ECB have spoken to every IPL and WPL franchise about the prospect of investing in Hundred teams, and GMR appear highly likely to bid for the remaining 49% of Southern Brave as part of the sales process. If GMR’s bid is successful and is considered by the ECB to represent fair market value, Hampshire would then be transferred the other 51% and GMR would effectively become 100% owners of the Hundred franchise.What’s in it for Hampshire?
Most obviously, money. Hampshire said in their statement that the deal was “designed to strengthen the financial position” of their parent company, which also runs the on-site hotel and golf course at the Utilita Bowl. GMR will provide “a material injection of capital to reduce the leveraging” of the company – in other words, starting to pay off Hampshire’s £60 million debt.Bransgrove said GMR were chosen after a “thorough selection process” because of their “shared values and commitment to our vision”. The Utilita Bowl has been awarded its first men’s Ashes Test in 2027, and Bransgrove said investment was necessary to ensure Hampshire can stay “at the top table… in a leadership position”.What do the ECB make of it?
Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, welcomed GMR to English cricket in a statement. Gould said: “I am pleased to see their commitment to continuing to develop Hampshire’s cricket teams and pathways and enhance facilities at Utilita Bowl, and their respect for the traditions of the game in this country.” After recent criticism of the Hundred’s sale from Lalit Modi, Gould said that the deal “demonstrates the global interest” in investing in English cricket.Related

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Didn’t Hampshire do something like this before?
Yes. Hampshire were previously part of a short-lived tie-in with Rajasthan Royals in 2010, which saw them spend four years playing as Hampshire Royals as one of five ‘Royals2020’ teams around the world. The deal was quietly shelved amid a dispute between Rajasthan’s owners and the IPL which briefly saw the franchise expelled from the league.How long has this been planned?
Hampshire said that the principal terms and conditions of their agreement with GMR were “formally agreed upon by the parties a year ago” and Bransgrove clarified that talks started “the best part of two years ago”. The reported in January that the two parties were in advanced talks and in February, Bransgrove and Mann were GMR’s hospitality guests at the ILT20. Discussions have continued through the year, with GMR representatives attending England’s T20I against Australia at the Utilita Bowl earlier this month, and the deal has now been announced publicly.What’s KP got to do with it?
Kevin Pietersen played an informal role in helping to broker the deal as a “common link” between Bransgrove and GMR’s Kiran Kumar Grandhi. Pietersen represented both Hampshire and Delhi Daredevils (as they were then known) during his playing career, and described Monday as a “historic day” for English cricket.Will Hampshire’s deal be the first of many in county cricket?
Maybe, although not imminently. Hampshire are one of only three counties – the others are Durham and Northamptonshire – who are private limited companies rather than member-run mutual ‘societies’, though Yorkshire’s chair Colin Graves is attempting to demutualise the club to open up the possibility of private funding.The majority of counties are heavily reliant on central ECB funding for income and may consider private investment an attractive alternative. “I’m absolutely certain that we will not be the last to go down this route,” Bransgrove said.

Newcastle United have been put through the wringer this summer, having missed out on key attacking targets in Liam Delap, Bryan Mbeumo, Joao Pedro and now Hugo Ekitike.

However, context is important, and in the latter’s case, Liverpool have moved ahead with a bumper deal after Eddie Howe and co stood firm on their stance that Alexander Isak is not for sale.

Ekitike, valued at €100m (£85m), has handed in a transfer request at Eintracht Frankfurt as he edges closer to Anfield. Thus, Newcastle have turned their attention to Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.

However, the Magpies may be foiled once again with that one.

Newcastle lining up Ekitike alternatives

On Friday afternoon, Manchester United finally achieved a breakthrough in their long pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo, with a £71m fee agreed between the Premier League clubs.

This transfer may run counter to Newcastle’s ambitions regarding Wissa, for the Bees have already lost Thomas Frank and their captain Christian Norgaard, and thus will be loath to part with their central striker too.

Thus, Newcastle need – once again – an alternative.

Well, according to Sport BILD, Howe has lined up Napoli’s Victor Osimhen as an ambitious alternative, with the free-scoring marksman said to be one of the players who is on the Magpies’ ‘radar’.

While the £64m-rated Osimhen is the centre of talks between Napoli and Galatasaray, with whom he spent the 2024/25 season on loan, the allure of the Premier League could work in the Toon’s favour.

Why Newcastle want Victor Osimhen

Osimhen is one of the most feared and famous centre-forwards currently competing in Europe. The end of an unhappy marriage with Napoli led to his loan move to Galatasaray in the Turkish Super Lig, but who can say he hasn’t made good use of the cards dealt?

The prolific star’s meaty haul does suggest that he’s got every bit the clinical nature of Isak, with Statman Dave even commenting that he’s “the best striker on the market” right now.

With Isak’s long-term future a debatable thing, there’s a chance that Osimhen could prove to be not just a fitting replacement but an incredible upgrade. Indeed, his goalscoring consistency can be viewed across a number of years and a number of countries.

Victor Osimhen – Past Five Seasons (all comps)

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

24/25 – Galatasaray

41

37

8

23/24 – Napoli

32

17

4

22/23 – Napoli

39

31

5

21/22 – Napoli

32

18

6

20/21 – Napoli

30

10

3

Stats via Transfermarkt

A title winner who is more than just a goalscoring focal point, Osimhen could be the perfect man to add another layer to this incredible Newcastle side.

Isak, a world-class striker, scored 27 goals across 42 matches last season. Osimhen, meanwhile, bagged 37 times over 41 games. Though the Nigerian competed in a division of inferior quality to the Premier League, he scored six goals across seven matches in the Europa League, including a brace in a 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Moreover, Isak’s six Champions League outings in 2023/24 yielded just the one goal, and no assists either. Conversely, Osimhen’s prolificness in the European theatre is underscored further by his record of nine goals and an assist across 17 Champions League fixtures.

And Osimhen could even emulate his positional peer in regard to movement and intelligence. As per FBref, he ranked among the top 4% of strikers across Europe last season for shot-creating actions and the top 18% for progressive carries per 90.

Ultimately, Newcastle have scored a winner by keeping hold of Isak, and in Osimhen, they could land a new number nine to challenge him for that first-choice spot, certainly proving an upgrade on the young Ekitike.

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Posts ByJoe Nuttall Jul 17, 2025

Batting cameos underpin Australian victory as reigning champions fall away in chase

Matt Roller08-Jun-20241:06

Why was Zampa more successful than Rashid?

Australia outplayed England in Barbados to leave the defending champions sweating on their qualification for the Super 8s. They posted the highest score of the T20 World Cup to date after David Warner and Travis Head blitzed 70 runs in the first five overs, before Adam Zampa made the difference in England’s lacklustre run chase.The result is not terminal for England’s title defence, but they have one point from their first two matches and face an anxious week ahead in Antigua. They will almost certainly need to beat both Oman (on Thursday) and Namibia (on Saturday), but even then would likely have to rely on net run rate to qualify for the second round ahead of Scotland.The dimensions played a major role at Kensington Oval: one square boundary was nine metres shorter than the other, measured at just 58m. Australia targeted it, almost immediately. Will Jacks, surprisingly given the second over, conceded three sixes in his first four balls, all flying over the shorter leg-side boundary; Mark Wood’s first over from the same end also cost 22.Related

Australia punch and counterpunch to blow England away

Highlights – Eng vs Aus – Australia dominate defending champions

Australia’s total relied on cameos throughout their batting line-up rather than one substantial innings. Warner, likely facing England for the final time in international cricket, top-scored with 39 but everyone in their top five reached at least 28; Matthew Wade’s 10-ball 17 not out was another useful contribution from No. 7, taking Australia past 200.England, by contrast, fell away badly after Zampa accounted for both of their openers – Jos Buttler and Phil Salt – inside his first 11 balls. They were 73 for 0 after seven overs but only managed 92 for 6 in the following 13, their middle order failing to adjust to a dry pitch quickly enough against a clinical Australian attack.Adam Zampa celebrates the dismissal of Phil Salt•ICC via Getty ImagesHead, Warner’s fast start
For the first time in their T20 history, England opened the bowling with spin from both ends. It didn’t work: Moeen Ali’s first over cost only three runs to Head and Warner, Australia’s left-handed opening pair, but Jacks – who had only bowled two overs in his 14 previous T20Is – was pumped over the short boundary three times in four balls.Wood took over from Jacks at the same end and his first over was equally as expensive: he tried to tuck Warner up and bowl to his sweepers, but instead fed his strengths and was cracked over the short side for three more sixes and a four. Moeen broke through when a ball skidded under Warner’s bottom edge, but only after conceding two fours and a six in his second over.Jofra Archer was the quickest England bowler to adjust to the conditions, using his slower balls and dragging his length back, and could celebrate a first international wicket in Barbados when his offcutter burst through Head and hit middle and off stumps. Even still, Australia’s 74 for 2 was their highest powerplay at a men’s T20 World Cup.Australia’s strong finish
England started to drag things back when the field spread, though Mitchell Marsh continued to find the boundary. He nailed a pull over midwicket and onto the solar panels on the roof of a stand off Adil Rashid, and swung Archer over the leg-side boundary after the mid-innings drinks break.Glenn Maxwell’s 28 off 25 was his joint-highest T20 score since February but he and Marsh fell within four balls of one another: Marsh was stumped by Buttler at the second attempt off Livingstone’s legspin, and Maxwell picked out deep midwicket off Rashid. At 142 for 4 in the 15th over, Australia needed a strong finish.David Warner ignited Australia’s innings with 39 from 16 balls•Getty ImagesBut Marcus Stoinis, Tim David and Wade ensured they reached 200 with regular boundaries at the back end and England became ragged in the field: Rashid threw his hands up in frustration when Stoinis picked up four from a toe-ended reverse-sweep, Archer and Jonny Bairstow leaving the ball to one another at point and backward point.Zampa makes the difference
England’s openers looked to maximise the powerplay, with Buttler using his feet to target Josh Hazlewood and Salt launching a 106-metre six off his Kolkata Knight Riders team-mate Mitchell Starc. The seventh over, Starc’s third, then cost 19: Head caught Salt at deep third but while stepping on the boundary, and Buttler picked off a six then a four.But on a dry surface, Zampa was the key bowler and struck with his first ball, which crashed into the top of Salt’s off stump as he looked to create room to cut. In Zampa’s second over, Buttler swung him down the ground for six but then reverse-swept straight to Pat Cummins at point, leaving 109 required off the final 10 overs.Will Jacks cracked one boundary off Cummins but then picked out Starc at long-off, who took an excellent diving catch off Stoinis, and Bairstow looked short on rhythm throughout his 13-ball 7. Moeen briefly threatened something special, hitting three sixes in a Maxwell over, but the required rate proved insurmountable.

The last few seasons have seen Chelsea completely overhaul their squad.

While there have been a few mistakes along the way, it would be fair to say the club look like they now have a team full of incredibly talented players.

Arguably, the most exhilarating of the lot has been Cole Palmer, who, since his arrival from Manchester City in the summer of 2023, has been nothing short of world-class for the Blues.

So, fans should be tremendously excited about recent reports linking the West Londoners to another talent who has won comparisons to the game-changing Englishman.

Chelsea target Premier League signings

Chelsea have already made a few signings from outside England this summer, but, if reports are to be believed, the club are also looking at several stars from the Premier League, such as Joao Pedro and Murillo.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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The former could reportedly cost up to £60m, and while that is a significant amount of money, he was fairly effective in limited minutes this season, scoring ten goals and providing seven assists in 30 appearances, totalling 2,136 minutes.

Murillo, on the other hand, could cost the Blues up to £80m, but given his incredible performances at the back for Nottingham Forest this year, that once again may well be a fee worth paying.

However, as transformational as these two players could be for Maresca’s side, neither one can really be compared to Palmer, unlike Harvey Elliott.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Chelsea are one of a number of teams interested in the Liverpool gem this summer.

Alongside the Blues, the report claims that Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United, and Borussia Dortmund are all keen on the 22-year-old talent.

However, alongside the intense competition for his services, the West Londoners will have to pay a substantial sum of money to secure their man, with the report claiming that the Reds want at least £50m.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Elliott’s ability and potential, it’s one Chelsea should fight for, especially as he’s won comparisons to Palmer.

How Elliott compares to Palmer

In this instance, the primary comparison to Palmer originates from FBref, which looked at players in similar positions across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, and came to the conclusion that the Chelsea gem has been the eighth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to Elliott over the last 365 days.

Elliott & Palmer

Statistics per 90

Elliott

Palmer

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.69

0.68

Goals per Shot

0.06

0.09

Goals per Shot on Target

0.25

0.25

Key Passes

2.44

2.45

Interceptions

0.24

0.31

Successful Take-On %

44.4%

45.1%

Carries into the Penalty Area

1.22

1.15

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 PL Season

The best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is by examining some of the underlying metrics in which the pair ranked incredibly closely, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, goals per shot and shot on target, interceptions, carries into the penalty area and more, all per 90.

However, the similarities extend beyond the statistics, as the young Liverpool gem, like the Blues star, has demonstrated an ability to play in multiple positions, with attacking midfield and right-wing his most played.

Moreover, should this transfer go through, then it would be another example of the West Londoners bringing in a younger talent from one of their rivals who’s just not getting the game time he deserves at the moment.

On top of that, even though he’s had to play a bit-part role at Anfield this season, the 22-year-old “machine,” as dubbed by journalist Sam McGuire, has still got some seriously impressive underlying numbers, which suggests that were he given more regular game time, he could seriously explode.

For example, FBref places him in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals, the top 2% for progressive passes and passes attempted, the top 8% for non-penalty expected goals, and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, there would undoubtedly be some risk in signing Elliott this summer, but there was also plenty of risk in signing an unproven Palmer in 2023, and thanks to their similarities, this feels like a risk Chelsea should take.

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Liverpool have lost their underdog moniker under the management of Arne Slot, who is a Premier League-winning manager in his maiden campaign.

That’s for the best. Anfield, after all, plays host to one of the best and most fearsome outfits in world football, and the powers that be will no doubt be aware Arsenal and Manchester City are ready to make sweeping changes over the summer.

It’s the full-backs, however, who have been the first port of call. Jeremie Frimpong is on the verge of completing his transfer as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s replacement, while plans have been drawn to secure a long-term star at left-back.

In something of an open secret, FSG are looking to close talks with Bournemouth for their rising talent Milos Kerkez, who is desperate to make the move to Merseyside.

Liverpool advancing in talks for Milos Kerkez

Andy Robertson became a two-time Premier League winner this year, starting 28 matches with one to spare. However, the 31-year-old is on the decline and bringing Kerkez in as his heir is a brilliant move.

Not least because the two can work together next season, the younger man absorbing the teachings of one of the modern game’s finest full-backs.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Kerkez, 21, is closing on his dream move to Merseyside, with personal terms all wrapped up and now advancing discussions with the Cherries, who have previously listed the Hungarian at £45m.

Hailed a “revelation at Bournemouth” by pundit Jamie Carragher, Kerkez is the perfect wide defender for Slot’s side, with a balanced approach, energy and tenacity, athleticism and initiative.

Kerkez would add a dimension for sure, but that’s not Liverpool done and dusted in the rearguard. Indeed, FSG may yet green-light another move for a central defender to complete a title-winning defence.

Liverpool line up new centre-back

Liverpool missed out on Dean Huijsen, the Bournemouth centre-back moving to Real Madrid despite the vested interests of the Premier League’s biggest hitters.

Huijsen isn’t the only talented defender on the market, though, with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi also on the Reds’ radar.

According to GIVEMESPORT’s Dean Jones, Liverpool continue to circle for the Three Lions star, though they are joined by a host of further clubs: Chelsea, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich, Juventus.

Currently, Guehi is understood to have a market value of £50m, but after Oliver Glasner orchestrated an incredible FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, the Eagles may well look for something steeper, a fresh update that will no doubt have Liverpool and the rest chewing over.

That said, the 24-year-old is about to enter the final year of his deal, so this might be one that carries into the thick of the summer market.

What Marc Guehi would offer Liverpool

Crystal Palace signed Guehi from Chelsea for £18m in 2021, and now he is immortal.

Across 155 appearances, he’s scored eight goals and risen in reputation and actual ability to become one of England’s finest. Now, his triumph in the FA Cup has solidified his greatness in south London.

This might make it more difficult to pull him away from Glasner’s clutches, for Palace will compete in the Europa League next year, but the savvy Steve Parish runs the risk of losing his prized asset on a free if bids are turned away over the coming months.

Regarding Liverpool, Slot and co may want to exhaust every reasonable option to bring him to the club. The two-footed centre-half really could be the perfect signing alongside Kerkez, especially since he bears a likeness to Huijsen.

Matches (starts)

34 (34)

30 (25)

Goals

3

3

Assists

2

1

Touches*

64.9

64.4

Pass completion

84%

84%

Key passes*

0.5

0.5

Dribble success

86%

40%

Ball recoveries*

4.3

3.4

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

2.9

Clearances*

4.6

6.0

Duels (won)*

4.9 (59%)

3.8 (57%)

As you can see, both players have dynamic qualities on the ball and are strong and sure in their defensive work.

But why are we discussing Real Madrid-bound Huijsen? Well, given the similarities and, dare we say, superiorities across certain areas in Guehi’s favour, it’s hard to imagine he’d be anything other than a bona fide success alongside Kerkez in the years to come.

After all, we’re talking about “one of the most impressive defensive lines in Europe,” something echoed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, whose expansive style of football under the wing of Andoni Iraola could see Kerkez dovetail right into the Liverpool scene.

Guehi, who has had a taste for success with Palace this year, is a defender catered toward the highest station. His ability to pick out promising attacks with regularity is something Huijsen has built into his efforts this year, and is something that Kerkez has indeed used to charge his exploits.

Over the past year, Guehi has established himself as a starting fixture for England, but the signs of brilliance have been there for far longer.

His former teammate at youth level for England, Josef Bursik, once remarked that the “tank” of a defender is fantastic to play with as it’s “like having a brick wall in front of you.”

With a silky ability to play out from the back, ranking among the top 9% of Premier League centre-backs this year for through balls and the top 18% for shot-creating actions per 90 (as per FBref), Guehi could thread neat balls out wide, into space, into Kerkez’s path.

It’s quite the exciting combination, one Liverpool fans may begin to salivate over given Kerkez looks pretty nailed-on to sign for Liverpool in the coming weeks.

More importantly, it’s all evidence that Liverpool, Premier League champions, aren’t resting on their laurels, and are acting like the goliath institution that they are.

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