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Sheffield Shield round-up: Openers stall, Smith frustrated, Carey flies

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia came away with victories as the selectors watched closely

Andrew McGlashan24-Oct-20240:56

Steven Smith: ‘Bumrah is the complete bowler’

Openers stallYou may have noticed, but Australia’s specialist openers are not banging down the door. Marcus Harris dug in for two hours at the MCG but was then undone by Mitchell Starc. Cameron Bancroft’s nightmare start to the season continued and his returns now read 0, 0, 8 and 2 – three times caught behind nibbling outside off then top-edging to fine leg. Matt Renshaw collected 2 and 21 against South Australia. Sam Konstas showed some promising signs in the second innings against Victoria before giving it away against Todd Murphy. It’s hard to know who, if anyone, is leading the race.Related

Victoria steamroll New South Wales but Starc primed for India

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David Warner's latest headline grab has underlined Australia's opener problem

Labuschagne: 'Anyone's guess' who will open, but Smith at No. 4 'pretty simple fix'

Steven Smith’s lean outingWe know he’s moving back to No. 4, but Steven Smith cut a frustrated figure at the MCG. Caught down the leg side off Fergus O’Neill in the first innings he was then less-than-impressed by the lbw decision against Scott Boland although there didn’t seem much wrong with it. “I actually felt pretty good out there, to be honest, for the 3 that I scored,” he said with a hint of a smile after the first innings. It now seems likely that the rest of Smith’s build-up to India will be against the white-ball with a One-Day Cup match against Victoria then the ODI series against Pakistan.The McSweeney solutionNathan McSweeney has made an excellent start to the season – scores of 55, 127 not out, 37 and 72 – to build on his success of last summer when runs were hard to come. He is certainly in the mix for Test selection; beyond who opens there will also need to be a spare batter in the squad. Despite the quick abort of Smith opening, there is a world where the selectors again go down the route of non-specialist which could open a space for McSweeney in the XI. He captains Australia A next week against India A.Nathan McSweeney has started the season strongly•Getty ImagesKeepers flyingMight Australia’s most in-form player heading into the Test summer be their No. 7? Alex Carey is churning out the runs following his successful return to the ODI side in England last month. He has now crunched two centuries and a 90 in four innings this season. Remember he also finished the New Zealand series in March with an unbeaten 98. Talk about his form feels a long time ago. But he’s not the only gloveman in fine fettle.Josh Inglis has played superbly for Western Australia and, like Carey, has two hundreds in two matches. If you were looking at the best six or seven batters on form, he’d be there. There is recent precedent for Australia playing two wicketkeepers in their Test side: Matthew Wade featured alongside Tim Paine from 2019 to 2021, including during India’s last visit when he also opened the batting for two Tests.Josh Philippe (45 not out and 88) also continued his impressive start to the season on a tricky MCG pitch after the move to New South Wales and Jimmy Peirson (94) led a Queensland fight back against South Australia. Both are in the Australia A squad.Starc looking goodNow, this looked encouraging. Mitchell Starc hit his straps at the MCG, finding swing at high pace. He could easily have had more than one wicket in the first innings then collected six in the second, although it wasn’t enough to turn things around for NSW. However, he produced some crackerjack deliveries and was gliding smoothly to the crease in his first red-ball outing since March. “Wickets aside, I think the rhythm was there,” Starc said. “I felt probably the best I have felt for a while actually. Across the two innings, it feels like it’s in a good spot.” In the last series at home against India he averaged 40.72 so will hope to improve on those numbers.Alex Carey has been prolific early in the summer•Getty ImagesThe ones we aren’t talking about (much) – Khawaja, Labuschagne, Marsh, LyonIt’s easy to forget, given all the chatter, that most of Australia’s squad for the first Test is locked in. It was a relatively lean week for Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne (who is bowling a lot of medium-pace bouncers) although the pair made runs in the opening round. Mitchell Marsh fell cheaply twice against Tasmania and didn’t return to the bowling crease as he had previously suggested he would. Nathan Lyon got through another 41 overs of work against Victoria. In the same game, Boland finished with the fewest wickets of the home side’s quicks (three) but was shaking off the early-season rust nicely. His around-the-wicket spell to Nic Maddinson was classy. His likely challenger as the back-up Test quick, Michael Neser, picked up four wickets against South Australia while Sean Abbott produced a reminder that he should remain in the conversation. Nathan McAndrew may not be a million miles away, either.What’s next?Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will feature for NSW in the One-Day Cup match against Victoria on Friday. Then the focus turns to the first Australia A vs India A match in Mackay which begins on October 31 and runs concurrently with the next round of Shield. Konstas, Harris, Bancroft and McSweeney are in the Australia A squad as is allrounder Beau Webster. Boland and Neser will also suit up in one of the matches. Of those left in Shield cricket, Renshaw and Maddinson will be in action in Sydney as NSW face Queensland. Lyon is expected to play that game, too, as his last outing before the Test series.

Battered, bruised Tiwary keeps Bengal's Ranji dream burning

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The captain is all about spreading “positive vibes” as he strongly believes his team will go all the way this time

Shashank Kishore30-Jan-2023Manoj Tiwary has played through a broken finger, damaged cartilages in his right knee and a troublesome back all because he’s forever dreaming of winning the Ranji Trophy.It’s his only reason to continue playing domestic cricket at 37. It’s the only reason he readily accepted the Bengal captaincy for a third time, when it was known Abhimanyu Easwaran wasn’t going to be available for the initial part of the group stages because of national commitments.”Three years ago, I didn’t want to leave captaincy, because I believed I’d given so much time to it and we were at a stage where all the youngsters who were given opportunities were starting to come up,” Tiwary told ESPNcricinfo ahead of the quarter-final against Jharkhand at Eden Gardens starting Tuesday.Related

From Patna to Nadiad: how Bihar won the Ranji Plate title

Tiwary hints at retirement at the end of ongoing season

How Bengal, Saurashtra, Uttarakhand and Andhra reached the quarter-finals

Rahane calls for five-day games all through Ranji Trophy

Madhya Pradesh have hit a rough patch, but Karnataka are coming into their own

“I thought it would’ve been nice to continue. But because the selectors told me we they want a younger captain for Ranji, I thought it was best I step away from white-ball formats too, because I didn’t want a new captain coming in and not having complete command or control of the team. And that can happen in domestic cricket with split-captaincy.”So, I stepped aside to give Abhimanyu a free rein. But when he wasn’t available initially this season and I was asked, I wasn’t expecting it, but I agreed to do the job because Ranji Trophy means a lot to me and it’s one thing I’ve been after. The very reason I’m playing is because of lifting that coveted trophy.”Bengal came close two years ago but were pipped by Saurashtra in the final. Last year, they lost to eventual champions Madhya Pradesh in the semi-final. This time around, Tiwary believes they have the squad and personnel to go all the way. Especially now that Shahbaz Ahmed is back from India duties and is certain to make the XI.

“I don’t want negative energy, I’ve suffered from lack of communication in my career. I didn’t want players to experience the same. In a team if someone isn’t happy, it affects the entire group. Positive vibes is important for a team to do well.”Manoj Tiwary

“In terms of squad strength, we have quality from top to bottom,” Tiwary said. “Players are aware of their roles; they’ve gained an understanding of their game and there’s a sense of freedom that you can see. We weren’t known to be intimidating earlier with our performances, but now the guys have brought in that attitude to the field which is refreshing to see.”There are a couple of concerns though. Middle-order batter Anustup Majumdar suffered a finger injury while fielding in their final league game against Odisha and fast bowler Akash Deep is recovering from a concussion he sustained in the same match. Bengal will hope both of them pull up well in time for the quarter-final. Mukesh Kumar, who wasn’t named in the Bengal squad for the quarter-final, is expected to join them in time for the match after being released from the India T20I squad that’s currently playing New Zealand.Among the things Tiwary has focused on personally is to help create a spirit of togetherness, which he believes wasn’t always there even if there wasn’t any friction within the group.”I used to see a lot of other teams and wonder what it is that they have that we don’t, and I figured we didn’t have the same camaraderie,” Tiwary said. “So, when I took over as captain, this is something I worked on building and improving. Without that you can’t turn around games like we did against Uttar Pradesh [they were 55 for 6 in their first innings] and against Baroda [who they bundled out for 98 after conceding a potentially decisive lead before winning].”Shahbaz Ahmed (middle) will be available to play the quarter-final for Bengal•Cricket Association of BengalWherever they’ve gone this season, Tiwary has ensured a huge cut out of the Ranji Trophy is pasted on all the walls of their dressing room. He’s ensured the Bengal flag flies behind the team at practice and at matches.”Like what Pakistan introduced, I loved the idea of carrying our flag onto the practice facility, and place it firmly behind us,” Tiwary said. “Then we’ve ensured we’re seeing the Ranji Trophy and big cut-outs and posters in our dressing room every day, so that the players see it the first thing they enter the dressing room. It’s there, staring at them.”When we’ve been down in a session and suddenly you see it staring at you, that motivation is there to give a little extra. It’s small things like these that could make a difference. We say verbally representing Bengal is a big thing, but visibly if you have something, a goal in front of your eyes, that pushes you to give a lot more. These things have been helpful.”Another aspect Tiwary has been mindful of along with new coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla is communication. Players who are not part of the XI are told well in advance what the thinking is. Others are backed, age being the least of their criteria. It explains why Majumdar at 38 continues to be a pillar of their batting along with Tiwary. It’s why Pritam Chakraborty, the offspinner, made a comeback after eight years in the wilderness.”Communication with players is clear, they understand what needs to be done,” Tiwary said. “This season, if we have left out someone, we’ve told them of the plan. I don’t want negative energy, I’ve suffered from lack of communication in my career. I didn’t want players to experience the same. If you tell them early, then there’s clarity. They may be sad, but I expect them to come fresh to the ground. In a team, if someone isn’t happy, it affects the entire group. Positive vibes is important for a team to do well.”It has helped that there has been an excellent working relationship between Tiwary and the coach Shukla. “The partnership has been really good,” Tiwary said. “He completely trusts my decision-making and has left the on-field cricketing matters to me. We’ve been able to back on-field decision with results so that helps. I have a like-minded wavelength. When I’m here in the team, I love to take responsibility and work with the youngsters. And he’s been welcoming of that.”We both think alike in that sense. What bowlers or batters should do – the rapport has been good. So, we have that understanding. During Arun Lal’s time [as Bengal coach], I was around but I felt my experience wasn’t tapped into, I can’t remember times when my opinion was sought or inputs towards players, so I took a step back and started working on my game. Everyone has their methods, and I understood that. But LRS [Shukla] has utilised my experience. That’s been really nice this time around.”

Do you really want Virat Kohli in your T20 XI?

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The answer lies in whether the format even needs the sort of role he plays in the batting order

Karthik Krishnaswamy11-Sep-2020Come to Think of itIn a week when his place in England’s T20I line-up has come under intense debate, Dawid Malan has become the world’s top-ranked batsman in the format. It shouldn’t make sense but it does, sort of, encapsulating the contradiction between two views of T20 batting.Proponents of the first view (who presumably include the designers of the ICC’s rankings system) would point to Malan’s basic numbers – the third-highest international average among batsmen with at least 500 runs, and a strike rate of 146.66 – and suggest that he scores runs both quickly and consistently. Why, they would ask, is this even a debate?The dissenters would reply: look at he builds his innings, and point to his strike rates over his first five, ten, 15, and 20 balls. He starts too slowly, they would say.Getting your eye in before accelerating is a tried and tested way of building an ODI innings. Scoring slowly over 20 balls isn’t that big a deal since 20 balls only make up 6.67% of a batting team’s total quota of deliveries in an ODI.

No one with any understanding of T20 would suggest Kohli is twice as good as Russell. But does Kohli even belong on the same level as Russell or AB de Villiers or Kieron Pollard?

In T20, 20 balls make up a sixth of a team’s innings. To proponents of the second view, those 20 balls would be better utilised by a more explosive batsman. Malan – or someone in his mould – might catch up later, but later might not happen at all, given the increased risk of dismissal inherent to the format. Even if that batsman does catch up, will it be enough to make up for that slow start?It’s the risk built into the role of the T20 anchor, and given the distribution of resources in a T20 innings – ten wickets over 20 overs – it’s valid to ask if teams need one at all, even if that anchor is the best who has ever anchored.You’ve seen the headline, you know where this is going.ALSO READ: Who are the greatest T20 players of them all?It isn’t just the armchair fan who believes Virat Kohli is a great T20 batsman. Former players say it all the time too, and pick him in their all-time XIs. He’s spent large swathes of his career at or near the top of the ICC T20I rankings, and he’s the highest paid player in the most lucrative franchise tournament in the world. His IPL earnings are particularly notable since the tournament enforces a spending cap, giving each team a purse of Rs 85 crore (approximately US$11.5 million) to assemble their entire playing squad. The Royal Challengers Bangalore spent a fifth of their purse at this year’s auction just to retain Kohli’s services. Oh, and he earns twice as much as Andre Russell does at the Kolkata Knight Riders.Is Kohli good?No one with any understanding of T20 would suggest Kohli is twice as good as Russell, so that isn’t the debate here. But does Kohli even belong on the same level as Russell or AB de Villiers or Kieron Pollard or Jos Buttler or peak Chris Gayle?To those who believe in the value of the anchor, the answer would probably be yes. As in Malan’s case, but over a larger sample size, the basic numbers are elite. If a career strike rate in the 130s doesn’t look too flash, look at his numbers since the start of 2016.

But, as with Malan, Kohli is a slow starter. The graphic below charts how T20’s top run getters (minimum 3000 runs) since the start of 2016 have gone about building their innings. You’re doing pretty well to be among the light-blue dots (overall strike rate in the 140-150 range), but Kohli sits at the extreme left of that band, with a strike rate of 130.92 over his first 30 balls.

Let’s split this by innings. The way batsmen approach chases is usually dictated by the target in front of them, and you could argue that Kohli’s place in the chart below is influenced by the fact that he has had to chase 179 or less (below nine an over) in 29 of his 45 chases in this period, and 159 or less (below eight an over) in 19 of them.

Runs made while batting first (minimum 1500 since the start of 2016) present a clearer picture of a batsman’s natural approach. Kohli’s strike rate undergoes a stark jump here, from 129.90 at the 30-ball mark to an eventual figure of 144.77. The batting-first graph, in general, shows more batsmen diverting sharply from the trend line. Malan makes the biggest jump in strike rate (from 118.90 at the 30-ball mark to 138.54 overall) followed by Kohli (from 129.90 to 144.77).

Kohli, in fact, ends up with a better strike rate than Buttler (142.69), but the latter has a 30-ball strike rate of 142.30.The 30-ball strike rate is an important number because 30 balls make up a quarter of a T20 innings. While batting first, a Buttler innings that lasts 30 balls would bring his team roughly 43 runs on average. A Kohli innings of 30 balls would bring his team 39 runs. Malan scores 36 off his first 30 balls, typically, and Russell, who has a 30-ball strike rate of 166.90, scores 50.Kohli, of course, begins his innings with the expectation of spending more time at the crease than a late-overs hitter like Russell would. This is why early on he plays fewer shots that would be construed as risky in the longer formats. But how often does he get past the 30-ball mark?Kohli is without equal when it comes to getting past the 30-ball mark in chases, doing so in nearly 58% of his innings. Of the 22 other batsmen who have made at least 1500 runs while chasing since the start of 2016, KL Rahul is a distant second at 43.59%. You can ask whether Kohli could score significantly quicker if he batted with less certainty, and whether scoring quicker would be more beneficial to his teams, but you can’t doubt his efficiency in executing his game plan.

While batting first, however, Kohli only gets past the 30-ball mark around 39% of the time, not significantly more frequently than de Villiers or Aaron Finch, who score significantly more quickly in those first 30 balls.

When Kohli does stay in, however, the payoff can be spectacular. In all T20 cricket since the start of 2016, 20 batsmen have scored at least 500 runs in the death overs (16-20) while batting first. It’s worth reproducing the entire list here, because it paints the full picture of how quickly Kohli scores at the death – quicker than Russell, Pollard, Hardik Pandya, MS Dhoni.

Kohli, of course, is almost always well set if he’s at the crease at the start of the 16th over, whereas most of the others on that list usually begin their innings around that point. But Kohli, unlike most T20 batsmen of his kind, has that extra gear. You might watch Ajinkya Rahane – a similarly slow starter – and occasionally wonder why T20 teams never retire batsmen out. You wouldn’t do that with Kohli.But as much of an outlier as Kohli may be among the larger group of anchors in T20, he remains an anchor, and the value of that role remains up for debate.If India have a weirdly skewed T20I record since the start of 2016 – they have 29 wins and seven losses while chasing, and 23-13 while batting first – it probably has something to do with the fact that they often play three anchors (Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Kohli) at the top of their order, and that their quicker starters (Rahul, Rishabh Pant) have either been shunted up and down the order or in and out of the side, or have not had the chance to bat often enough – Pandya has only batted 25 times in 40 T20Is.ALSO READ: How do the 2020 IPL captains stack up?In the wider philosophical debate over the role of the anchor, India currently sit in opposition to England, who have no place for Joe Root in T20Is, and will probably have no place for Malan when Jason Roy and Ben Stokes return to the side.Over its history, football has gradually moved towards a universalisation of skills, and teams at the elite level of the sport now seldom have room for defenders with a limited passing range, goalkeepers who are pure shot-stoppers – recall Joe Hart’s experience when Pep Guardiola took over at Manchester City – or forwards with a poor defensive work rate.Test cricket rewards specialist skills, but batting in T20 is probably destined to evolve towards universalisation. The vast majority of cricketers currently play at least two of its three formats, but the experience of West Indian players – for whom the politics and economics of the sport opened up a wider schism between T20 and the other formats – has given us a glimpse into the future. The likes of Gayle, Evin Lewis, Nicholas Pooran, Pollard, Russell and Dwayne Bravo either only play T20 or only white-ball cricket, and train year-round to be elite T20 hitters. West Indies’ line-up at the World T20 in 2016 had room for one anchor – Marlon Samuels – but there’s unlikely to be room for any such when they line up to defend their title next year.Elite teams of the future are likelier to conform to the model followed by West Indies and England, with more players specialising in one format or another, and a greater universalisation of roles among the T20 specialists. The best teams already have fairly fluid batting orders, with batsmen sent out to target specific opposition bowlers, but they will only grow more fluid with less room for an anchor.The likes of Kohli, Babar Azam and Kane Williamson are top-rung Test batsmen, and their only T20-specific training takes place around major T20 events. They can only be so good at T20, and becoming better at it will probably take something away from their longer-format game; the Test-match skills of Kohli, Azam or Williamson, you’d agree, are far too precious to lose. And so, given all the restrictions placed on him by his circumstances and priorities, Kohli is absurdly good at the specific role he plays in T20 cricket. But is he one of the world’s best in the format? Probably not, and in years to come, perhaps we’ll view him as the best of a dying breed.Come to Think of it

Roy Keane names "big personality" he dreams will replace Amorim at Man Utd

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Despite Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s call for patience, Old Trafford legend Roy Keane has now named his dream replacement for Ruben Amorim at Manchester United.

Ratcliffe drops update on Amorim's Man Utd future

Whilst he did reiterate that improvement at Man United will take time, Ratcliffe also admitted Amorim has not had the best of seasons at Old Trafford. The former Sporting Club boss is yet to reach 10 Premier League wins in charge of the Red Devils and has overseen just three wins in seven league games so far this season.

As many begin to call for the boot, however, INEOS and Ratcliffe have urged for patience – claiming that the manager will be judged after three years in charge of the club.

Amorim will be relieved to hear public backing from his boss, but has not received the same patience from the likes of Gary Neville.

The former right-back took aim at the Man United manager after he put his side’s struggles in his system down to criticism from pundits, saying: “If pundits are getting into your head then you shouldn’t be playing for the club.”

Man Utd now battling Atletico Madrid to sign £20m+ La Liga defender for Amorim

He’s one to watch…

By
Tom Cunningham

Oct 9, 2025

Victory over Sunderland bought Amorim time, but that hasn’t stood in the way of Neville’s verdict or in the way of Keane, who has now gone as far as naming his dream replacement for the current Man United boss.

Keane names dream Amorim replacement

Speaking on the latest episode of The Overlap, Keane named Diego Simeone as his dream replacement for Amorim at Man United. The former Old Trafford midfielder was full of praise for the Atletico Madrid player and claimed his “big personality” was a major factor in his selection.

Keane said: “I’ve said it for years … I’d like to see Diego Simeone going there. I think he’d create havoc, but good havoc. I’d like to see his personality and his track record. They beat Real Madrid, they scored five … yes he likes his teams a bit defensive, but they have that fighting spirit. I like a big personality.”

Simeone would certainly turn United into fighters again, as more of a throwback manager. As things stand, however, he very much remains a dream option. No one has been able to lure the Argentine away from Spain. He is Mr Atletico Madrid as far as the rest of European football are concerned and that may not change with a call from Manchester.

Given their defensive frailties, though, it’s easy to imagine the transformative job that Simeone would complete at Man United, who desperately need Amorim to turn things around.

Worth more than Semenyo: Spurs talent looks like he belongs in the Poch era

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Thomas Frank needs consistency at Tottenham Hotspur, having blown hot and cold in the months since replacing Ange Postecoglou in the dugout.

Postecoglou won the Europa League last season, but he was dismissed from his duties – some would call it Daniel Levy’s final act – and a new era has been ushered in, with Frank making a series of signings and reworking the Spurs set-up.

Room for one more? The Londoners’ attacking efforts have left something to be desired this season, and with so much on the line this term, ENIC Group have a dream of signing Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth during the January transfer window.

The latest on Spurs' interest in Semenyo

Bournemouth supposedly rejected an offer from Tottenham for Semenyo’s signature during the off-season. But the Lilywhites are back in the running, ready to contest Liverpool and Manchester City for the Ghana winger’s services, with his £65m release clause going live in January.

It’s going to be difficult, luring the 25-year-old to north London next month. While all the pointers suggest Semenyo will leave the Vitality Stadium, he has a range of elite outfits to pick from, and Liverpool and City often get their way in the transfer market.

But Tottenham do need a talismanic force on the left flank. After all, Heung-min Son left for Los Angeles after lifting the Europa League trophy, and his presence and influence have been keenly missed.

Patience, though, is so often a virtue in football, and while Spurs don’t have a frontline firing on all cylinders right now, Frank leads a number of players who could become real stars down the line.

And there’s one in particular who has fired himself into form over the past week, with his market value a reflection of just how talented he is.

The Spurs star who's overtaken Semenyo

This summer, Tottenham completed a series of signings, and when we look back on that window, we might view Xavi Simons as being the pick of the bunch. The Netherlands star, 21 years old, moved from RB Leipzig for about £51m in August, having been pursued by Chelsea.

He hadn’t hit the ground running this season – far from it – but Simons is starting to grow into his skin, and his silky, combative style of play suggests he could have been perfect for the Mauricio Pochettino era.

Yes, Simons’ natural playmaking qualities make him a tailor-made fit for that thrilling chapter of the previous decade. He has been flagged for a lack of physicality amid early-season struggles, but Simons is beginning to put those to rest, settling into life in London.

This is a show-stopper of a midfielder, boasting something special, something different to his teammates. When Frank gets his squad playing to his tune from a creative vantage, you can bet that Simons will be smack-bang in the middle of the success.

Already he ranks among the top 8% of positional peers in the Premier League this season for passes attempted and ball recoveries, as well as the top 3% for ball recoveries per 90 (data via FBref).

And he’s beginning to showcase an aptitude for the defensive side of the game, working hard in recovery and getting stuck in when against the ball.

Xavi Simons’ Past Two Games for Spurs

Match Stats

vs Brentford

vs Slavia Prague

Minutes played

90′

90′

Goals

1

1

Assists

1

0

Touches

60

70

Shots (on target)

4 (2)

3 (1)

Accurate passes

36/43 (84%)

35/41 (85%)

Chances created

1

0

Dribbles

0/0

1/4

Recoveries

7

2

Tackles won

0/1

1/2

Ground duels won

4/7

6/16

Data via Sofascore

Hailed by statistician Statman Dave for his ability to create “magic” on the ball, Simons suffered a tough start to his Tottenham career, but he has shown flashes of elite quality throughout the campaign, and now, with two goals from as many games, there’s a sense that the Dutchman could be about to kick on.

Could we be set to return to the halycon days of Poch’s reign? Tottenham didn’t win a trophy then, but the football was good, envied, and Simons looks like he could be an architect of such a revival of creativity and sharpness in the final third.

He has just started to earn some recognition, having already proven himself on the financial front, with CIES Football Observatory suggesting his value has already skyrocketed to £95m since his summer move, above Semenyo’s maximum market value of £67m.

Semenyo would be a terrific addition, and there’s no question that offensive signings will be made in 2026, but Tottenham fans must remember that their club have signed one of the most exciting playmakers in the business, and after seeing his market value skyrocket, he’s only going to keep getting better.

Frank's answer to Declan Rice: Spurs have found a "future £100m" superstar

Tottenham’s long-term vision is among the most ambitious in all of Europe.

By
Angus Sinclair

4 days ago

Forget Barnes: £28m Newcastle sensation now has to start at the World Cup

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The Saudi PIF takeover at Newcastle United in recent years has allowed a new generation of supporters to witness unthinkable levels of success on the pitch.

Eddie Howe has led the Magpies to multiple seasons competing in the Champions League, something which was a far-fetched dream under the ownership of Mike Ashley.

The hierarchy has invested serious money into the first-team squad over the last couple of years, which has allowed for numerous high/profile international names to move to St James’ Park.

Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes are just two players who are Brazilian internationals but also operating at the heart of the Magpies squad – something which was once an unthinkable sentence.

However, one other player could be set for a spell in the national team in the months ahead, especially if he keeps up his tremendous form in the Premier League.

Why Barnes could start at the World Cup

Over the last couple of weeks, winger Harvey Barnes has hit a tremendous run of form that has seen him nail down the left-wing role in Newcastle’s starting eleven.

The 27-year-old has started seven matches in the Premier League this campaign, already netting on three occasions, with his showing against Manchester City his best to date.

He scored a double against Pep Guardiola’s men at St James’ Park at the end of last month, subsequently securing a vital win for the Magpies on Tyneside.

Barnes has also thrived on the European stage, as seen by his tally of four Champions League goals in just five appearances – with two of which coming in just 27 minutes against Benfica.

As a result, rumours have been circulating over a potential call-up to the Scotland national team, with the winger potentially able to represent the nation through his grandparents.

He could feature at the World Cup in 2026, but he may even do so for England, with Barnes currently keeping international star Anthony Gordon out of the Magpies’ starting eleven at present.

It will certainly be a key few months for the winger, but it’s an exciting one for sure, which could see him reap the rewards of his recent success for Howe’s men.

The Newcastle star who has to start at the World Cup

As previously mentioned, the current Newcastle squad is littered with international stars, many of whom have taken their careers to the next level since their moves to the North East.

Dan Burn arrived in a fairytale return to St James’ after growing up in the area as a boy, but his move to the Magpies from Brighton in 2022 has seen the 33-year-old reach unimaginable heights.

The centre-back has been a regular in Thomas Tuchel’s England international setup, as seen by his tally of five appearances to date – with his debut coming back in March of this year.

It remains to be seen if he will have done enough to go to the World Cup in around six months’ time, but the defender has certainly done his chances no harm in recent times.

There is also a huge argument that Lewis Hall should be England’s starting left-back in the USA next summer and rightfully so given his recent form in the Premier League.

The 21-year-old has struggled with injuries at times in 2025/26, but it’s not stopped him from starring when handed the chance to start within Howe’s first-team squad.

The £28m man been selected to play in seven league games to date, with Hall making his comeback from an injury layoff during the Champions League victory over Athletic Bilbao back in November.

Hall has since started all four league games for the Magpies and has subsequently produced some incredible numbers, which could solve England’s long-standing left-back issue.

The £45k-per-week full-back, who’s been dubbed an “absolute baller” by scout Antonio Mango, has completed 2.1 dribbles per 90 whilst achieving a success rate of 69% to date – showcasing the incredible ability he possesses in possession.

He’s also completed 85% of his passes to date, even registering his first assist of the season against Everton, which magnifies his ability to cause chaos to the opposition.

Lewis Hall – PL stats (2025/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

7

Assists

1

Pass accuracy

85%

Successful dribbles

2.1

Dribble success

69%

Tackles made

3.4

Duels won

7.8

Recoveries made

4.7

Stats via FotMob

However, without the ball, Hall has been just as impressive, as seen by his tally of 3.4 tackles made and 7.8 duels won per 90 – subsequently offering a huge threat at both ends of the pitch.

Such a skillset would be perfect for Tuchel’s current squad, with the youngster needing to continue on the same trajectory over the next few months if he is to go to the World Cup.

If he manages to continue his recent success, there’s no reason why Hall and Barnes could be starting alongside one another down the left-flank for their country, with the younger man already regarded as “one of the best” in the Premier League in his position.

There is certainly a long way to go until the tournament commences, but the duo’s recent success at St James’ could certainly hand the German a huge decision to make.

Eddie Howe has already found a bigger talent than Anderson at Newcastle

Howe’s Newcastle side are showing green shoots after a difficult start to the season.

By
Angus Sinclair

Dec 5, 2025

Endrick fica inconformado após ser substituído em Palmeiras x Cuiabá

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

MatériaMais Notícias

Endrick foi substituído no jogo entre Palmeiras e Cuiabá, durante o segundo tempo, e não ficou nada feliz com a situação. O motivo da “revolta” do atacante seria um gol perdido antes de deixar o campo com a camisa do Verdão, segundo informações da reportagem do “Premiere”, que transmite o duelo.

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O garoto tabelou com Luis Guilherme, saiu cara a cara com Walter e finalizou. Porém, o goleiro do Dourado fechou espaço dentro da área e defendeu a batida do camisa 9.

Logo em sequência, Abel Ferreira promoveu alteração tripla no Palmeiras, e Endrick foi um dos escolhidos a sair. Além dele, Luis Guilherme e Lázaro foram substituídos. Rômulo, Richard Ríos e Estêvão entraram.

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Endrick saiu de “cara fechada” e, no banco de reservas, não demonstrou satisfação com a situação. Ele esteve cabisbaixo e fazendo sinal de negativo com a cabeça.

Em vias de se mudar para o Real Madrid, Endrick ainda tem cerca de oito jogos a disputar com a camisa do Palmeiras. Ele foi vendido por cerca de R$ 400 milhões e, se marcar mais um gol pelo Verdão, o clube embolsa 2,5 milhões de euros (em torno de R$ 14 milhões, pela cotação atual).

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Dodgers, Korean Infielder Hye-seong Kim Agree to Three-Year Contract

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The defending world champion Los Angeles Dodgers have continued their quest to upgrade their championship club from this past season.

The Dodgers on Friday agreed to terms on a three-year contract with infielder Hyeseong Kim of the KBO League, according to multiple reports. Daniel Kim of ESPN was first to report the news. The deal reportedly has the option for an additional two years.

Regarded as one of the top hitters in the KBO, Kim was posted on Dec. 4 by his team, the Kiwoom Heroes, opening up the 30-day window for the 25-year-old to sign with an MLB team.

In 953 games, Kim has posted a .304/.364/.403 slash line. A left-handed batter, Kim hit .326 with a .383 OBP, stealing 30 bases, his seventh straight season with 20-plus swipes, for the Heroes in '24.

A versatile and capable defender, Kim has spent time at second base, shortstop and both corner outfield spots in the KBO. He has twice won a KBO Golden Glove at the keystone and once at shortstop.

With Los Angeles, Kim figures to add valuable depth to a middle infield that includes the likes of eight-time All-Star Mookie Betts, Gavin Lux and Miguel Rojas.

Chelsea join race for "hugely impressive" £70m Champions League record-breaker

by rastrear-estafeta.com Uncategorized

Chelsea have now joined the race to sign a “hugely impressive” £70m forward, who recently broke a Champions League record.

Blues' winning streak ended by Sunderland

After winning four games on the spin in all competitions, Chelsea fans could be forgiven for expecting a comfortable victory at home against newly-promoted Sunderland, but their winning streak was brought to an abrupt end.

Chemsdine Talbi’s stoppage-time winner secured all three points for the visitors, with the Blues hardly laying a glove on their opponents, recording an xG of just 0.90 throughout the match, which will no doubt be a concern for Enzo Maresca.

It was a very poor performance from the hosts, and perhaps the only slight positive was Alejandro Garnacho’s performance, with the summer signing scoring his first goal since arriving from Manchester United.

It is still early days, but Garnacho will now be hoping he can kick on and silence the doubters, with journalist Ollie Holt not convinced the winger’s move to Stamford Bridge will pan out.

According to a report from Caught Offside, Chelsea have also joined the race for another young forward, having sent scouts to watch Bayern Munich forward Lennart Karl in action, but a deal is expected to be on the expensive side.

Indeed, Bayern value their break-out youngster at around €70m – €80m (£61m – £70m), which means the west Londoners may need to shell out a huge fee to tempt the German club into a sale.

Having recently smashed the previous record to become Bayern’s youngest-ever Champions League goalscorer, a number of top clubs have joined the race for Karl, with Arsenal and Manchester City also named as potential suitors.

"Hugely impressive" Karl could be future star

It is a very promising sign that the 17-year-old has managed to force his way into Vincent Kompany’s plans at such a young age, featuring six times in the Bundesliga this season, during which time he has chipped in with two goal contributions.

Having also gotten off the mark in the Champions League, the teenager has proven he could be a future star, but there are doubts over whether he is the type of signing that Chelsea need at this stage.

Worse than João Pedro: Maresca must drop Chelsea flop who lost 100% duels

Chelsea were ignominiously beaten 2-1 by Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, and Enzo Maresca must drop a flop who lost 100% of his duels.

ByBen Gray Oct 26, 2025

The Blues added Jamie Gittens and Garnacho to their ranks this summer, so it is questionable whether they need to bring in another young winger, with Paul Merson recently emphasizing that a lack of experience is a real issue.

Merson said: “The team is too young. The oldest player there is 23, 24? When you get a young team, you’re up and down, they have wingers who are very inconsistent.”

As such, rather than signing Karl, who has been described as “hugely impressive” by scout Ben Mattinson, Chelsea could do with bringing in players with more experience, instead of being so hell-bent on only signing young players.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi strikes fastest Youth ODI century as India seal series

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

As youngest Youth ODI century-maker, 14-year-old Suryavanshi’s 52-ball ton comes in 55-run win for India

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay05-Jul-2025India Under-19 363 for 9 (Suryavanshi 143, Malhotra 129, Home 4-63, Morgan 3-54) beat England Under-19 308 (Flintoff 107, Dawkins 67, Moores 52, Pushpak 3-63) by 55 runsFourteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi struck the fastest ever Youth ODI century – from 52 balls – as India U19 beat England U19 by 55 runs in Worcester to secure a series victory.India’s total of 363 for 9 featured two brilliant centuries. Suryavanshi smashed a blistering 143 from 78 balls and Vihaan Malhotra compiled a high-class 129 from 121 as they built a second-wicket partnership of 219 in 24 overs.That left India, at 233 for 1 after 27 overs, eyeing 400-plus but England fought back well as Worcestershire’s Jack Home took 4 for 63 and Middlesex seamer Sebastian Morgan added 3 for 54.

England replied with 308 all out from 45.2 overs after they failed to build on a century opening stand from Kent’s Ben Dawkins (67) and Lancashire’s Joe Moores (52). Rocky Flintoff’s defiant 107 was thereafter largely unsupported against a well-drilled India attack with captain Thomas Rew perishing in the most unfortunate way for just 19, run out backing up.The victory leaves India 3-1 up in the five-match series which concludes back at Visit Worcestershire New Road on Monday.England chose to field and struck an early blow when Ayush Mhatre lifted James Minto to long leg. That paved the way for Suryavanshi who become the youngest ever Youth ODI century-maker with an onslaught which included 13 fours and ten sixes. His truly memorable innings contained no slogging, just a sublime exhibition of power, timing and placement.With Suryavanshi and Malhotra in full flow, the sky appeared the limit for India, but England hit back with a burst of three wickets for one run in 11 balls. Ben Mayes made the vital breakthrough by having Suryavanshi calmly caught by Joe Moores in the deep. That over transpired to be a wicket maiden which Morgan followed up in the next by bowling Rahul Kumar and Harvansh Pangalia with successive balls.Abhigyan Kundu helped Malhotra rebuild with a stand of 93 in 13 overs but Home, on his home ground, having taken some punishment in his first spell, applied a brake on the late-innings charge by taking four wickets in three overs.England’s reply was solidly launched by Moores and Dawkins who added 104 in 14 overs before spinner Naman Pushpak took wickets with successive balls.Moores lifted to long on and Mayes fell lbw, first ball. Dawkins, sketchy at first, passed 50 from 41 balls and was looking increasingly fluent when he hoisted Chauhan to long off.Flintoff and Rew crafted a promising stand of 60 in nine overs before Lady Luck intervened on the tourists’ behalf. Flintoff, having just reached a 41-ball half-century, straight-drove Yudhajit Guha who parried the ball on the stumps, leaving the luckless Rew stranded and run out.A very different run out followed when Albert perished having been called for an impossible single by Flintoff. A third successive run out – Albert scuppered by a direct hit by Malhotra – left Flintoff and the tail needing to find 105 from 10 overs. The Lancashire player reached an 88-ball century but India closed out victory with impressive and relentless efficiency.

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