A New York Yankees fan interfered with an outfielder in foul territory along the right-field wall at Yankee Stadium, preventing the player from securing the out. Such an incident, involving Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts, infamously occurred during Game 4 of the Dodgers' World Series triumph over the Yankees in October of 2024.
Well, it happened again on Tuesday night.
Except this time, a Yankees fan was interfering with one of their own in two-time American League MVP Aaron Judge. With the Yankees leading 1-0 in the top of the sixth inning with two outs and the count 1-and-1, Yankees starter Carlos Rodon's changeup was lofted to right field by Cleveland Guardians center fielder Angel Martinez. Judge tracked the ball to foul territory in right and leapt into the stands to attempt to catch the foul pop, but was bumped by a fan. The Yankees captain then bobbled the ball.
New York immediately challenged the call and the umpires replay reviewed the play. The crew later ruled fan interference, awarding the Yankees the final out of the inning. Judge, to his credit, handled the situation about as well as anyone could, given the circumstances. He showed little emotion, picked the ball up and flipped it to the crowd before jogging back to his position in right field.
It's hard to see the play and not think back to the notorious sequence involving Betts. In the bottom of the first inning of the Yankees' eventual 11-4 win over the Dodgers in Game 4 of the World Series, Betts was attempting to make a play on a foul ball by Yankees infielder Gleyber Torres when two fans interfered with him. One grabbed Betts's right hand while the other held his glove and pried the ball out. Torres was ultimately called out due to fan interference.
The fans were ejected and later banned indefinitely from all MLB stadiums, offices and facilities.
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has just shared some ‘very positive’ team news from his press conference ahead of their mouth-watering North London derby clash with Arsenal this Sunday.
The Dane is gearing up for his first ever derby clash as Spurs boss, but the Dane has a mountainous task on his hands.
The numbers make for pretty grim reading, with Tottenham having lost seven of their last nine Premier League games against Arsenal, winning just once in their last 32 away league derbies at the Emirates (The Analyst).
That solitary victory a 3-2 comeback triumph in November 2010, and Arsenal have won five of their last six league meetings between the sides, including the last three consecutively, marking their longest winning streak against Spurs since the late 1980s (The Analyst).
Even more ominously, Arsenal have scored in each of their last 26 home league games against Tottenham, netting at least twice in the last eight encounters (The Analyst).
The Gunners’ dominance at home against their fierce rivals appears unshakable, with Opta’s supercomputer assigning Spurs just a 13.7 per cent chance of victory — their lowest win probability in any Premier League game this season.
The odds aren’t exactly in Spurs’ favour, and they’ve had a host of injury doubts to contend with in the build up to their trip across London.
Tottenham absentee list
Problem
Estimated return date (subject to change)
Dejan Kulusevski
Knee
29/11/2025
James Maddison
ACL
01/06/2026
Radu Dragusin
Knee
22/11/2025
Ben Davies
Thigh
23/11/2025
Kota Takai
Ankle/Foot
23/11/2025
Mohammed Kudus
Knock
23/11/2025
Randal Kolo Muani
Jaw
23/11/2025
Yves Bissouma
Ankle/Foot
23/11/2025
Lucas Bergvall
Concussion
23/11/2025
Dominic Solanke
Ankle
23/11/2025
Archie Gray
Calf/Shin/Heel
23/11/2025
via Premier Injuries
However, according to Frank, there’s been some real encouragement on that front.
Thomas Frank shares 'very positive' Tottenham injury update ahead of Arsenal
Speaking to the media, via reliable journalist Alasdair Gold, Frank confirmed that Pape Sarr will be available to play Arsenal after his injury scare for Senegal on international duty, and the same can be said for midfielder Lucas Bergvall, who’s been out for the last two games serving concussion protocol.
Randal Kolo Muani can also play despite fracturing his jaw against Man United, with the Frenchman set to wear a protective mask.
As well as this, Frank states that Ben Davies, Kota Takai and Archie Gray all trained at Hotspur Way this morning, as did star winger Mohammed Kudus, with Frank potentially in line for a seven-player in-swing as they battle to be ready for one of Spurs’ biggest games of the season.
Kudus’ potential return would be a major boost for Frank especially.
The Ghanaian, who missed Spurs’ 4-0 rout of FC Copenhagen and 2-2 draw with Man United last time out, has been their most pivotal attacking player so far this season. Kudus declined international duty with Ghana to focus on his recovery, and that decision now appears to be paying dividends for the Lilywhites.
Tottenham hold preliminary talks to sign unsettled striker who Frank thinks is 'clinical'
Spurs are prioritising a number nine this January.
ByEmilio Galantini Nov 20, 2025
Bergvall and Sarr’s returns will provide Frank with different midfield options, bar the one-dimensional defensive pivot of Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur, which comes as yet more good news.
Against an Arsenal side top of the pile and seemingly impenetrable 90 per cent of the time, Spurs need all the help they can get, so this update comes as a very positive one indeed.
Leeds United have some very tricky fixtures ahead, away from just their crunch tie with Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest up next.
Looking at their intimidating fixture list, it does appear as if sealing a win at the City Ground for Daniel Farke’s Whites is crucial to fixing the dour mood around the Premier League new boys, with Aston Villa, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool then on the agenda, after this battle near the foot of the division.
Losing to the Tricky Trees and then being faced with that onslaught of tough matches directly after, really could intensify the pressure on Farke’s shoulders, as he attempts to guide his lowly team away from being sucked into a relegation dog-fight.
The German will likely make some changes for the crucial showdown in Nottinghamshire, with Brenden Aaronson one figure who could be fearing for his starting spot down the right wing.
Why Aaronson could be benched
Aaronson has always been a slightly controversial figure at Elland Road, with the American definitely prone to an off-performance or two, away from lighting up the Premier League on occasion.
Against West Ham United to close out October, the ex-Union Berlin playmaker looked at his terrifying best, with a goal put away after three minutes.
That was then backed up by Aaronson winning eight duels and completing all three of his dribbles, as per Sofascore, as a tricky livewire the Hammers just couldn’t contain.
That’s what makes the hot-and-cold number 11’s drop-off against Brighton and Hove Albion so frustrating, with Aaronson only winning a meagre three duels and failing to register a single shot on goal, as the Whites were trounced 3-0 on the South Coast.
After all, Farke has been shoehorning Aaronson into his starting XI this season on the right flank owing to plenty of injury problems in his camp, with the Championship title winner far more suited to a number ten spot.
Aaronson’s numbers for Leeds by position
Position played
Games
Goals + Assists
AM
63
9 + 5
RW
15
1 + 0
RM
4
0
CF
2
0
LM
2
0
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Indeed, that opening strike against Nuno Espirito Santo’s men was actually Aaronson’s first-ever goal for Leeds when not lining up in a more familiar attacking midfield position.
But, with the return of this attacking star from injury, Aaronson’s days as Leeds’ main starter on the right channel look to be numbered, as the ace in question could also finally get a hit-and-miss Dominic Calvert-Lewin firing.
Leeds could now unleash "unstoppable" star
Leeds won’t be giving up on Calvert-Lewin just yet, despite the ex-Everton marksman experiencing a wobbly start to life in West Yorkshire.
He does only have one meagre goal next to his name from eight Premier League outings, but he has also spurned five big chances along the way, meaning he is, at least, getting into the correct positions to try and add to his slim Whites tally.
Farke will desperately be trying to work out a combination that gets the number nine in amongst the goals on a more regular basis, with Daniel James perhaps the winger Calvert-Lewin needs to bounce off of, to finally hit an Elland Road purple patch.
James and Calvert-Lewin, owing to the Welshman’s injury issues so far this season, have only lined up alongside each other for a paltry 34 minutes, with a blistering partnership perhaps now ready to be unearthed, if the former Manchester United attacker is placed into the starting XI in Aaronson’s spot away at Forest.
After all, while James did steal the majority of the headlines last season in the Championship for his bumper 12-goal haul, he did also pick up nine assists, with the £25m trickster amassing a whopping 16 big chances created in total.
That will be music to the ears of the one-time Toffees talisman, who has often cut an isolated figure this campaign next to Aaronson.
Moreover, even though he has been restricted to just 277 minutes of top-flight action so far, James has picked up one big chance created this campaign, too, as James now tries to hit his “unstoppable” best in attack again as a tricky, front-foot attacker, as Statman Dave once labelled him.
The worry will be if Calvert-Lewin sticks to his end of the bargain, but there is an electric presence inside of the ex-England international, too, when he gets into his groove.
With James also victorious the last time he travelled to the City Ground as a Cottagers loanee, standing out as a good omen, Farke will hope this potential change spurs his side on to a rare away win.
"Highly-rated" Leeds gem could now leave "on a free transfer in January"
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Rutschman was stunned after being rung up in the bottom of the ninth inning of the Baltimore Orioles' 1–0 loss to the Kansas City Royals in Game 1 of their wild-card series.
The All-Star catcher was facing Royals closer Lucas Erceg with Baltimore trailing 1–0. He forced a 2-2 count with no outs and Ryan O'Hearn on first. Erceg fired a 93-mph changeup that sunk below the zone, and home plate umpire Ryan Additon called strike three. Rutschman was displeased.
He had a right to be upset, as the Gamecast on MLB.com indicated the pitch was low as well.
MLB
While the pitch wasn't egregiously far out of the zone, it was a ball. In that situation, the umpire has to be better. Instead of a 3-2 count with no outs, the Orioles were down to their final two outs.
Colton Cowser was up next and flew out to center, then pinch hitter Heston Kjerstad struck out swinging to end the game.
The Royals now lead the series 1-0. It may have been different if the umpire had gotten the call correct.
اتخذ مسؤولو نادي الزمالك قرارًا هامًا بشان أحمد سيد زيزو لاعب الفريق السابق ولا النادي الأهلي حاليا، بعد التصرف الذي بدر من الأخير خلال مباراة قطبي الكرة المصرية في نهائي كأس السوبر المصري.
وأرسل نادي الزمالك شكوى رسمية للجنة الانضباط بالاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، ضد “زيزو” وذلك بسبب التصرف الذي صدر من اللاعب أثناء مراسم التتويج عقب نهائي كأس السوبر المحلي، وعدم مصافحته لهشام نصر نائب رئيس نادي الزمالك ورئيس بعثة الفريق الأبيض في السوبر.
وكان الأهلي توج بلقب كأس السوبر المصري للمرة الـ 16 في تاريخه، بالفوز على الزمالك بنتيجة 2-0، في المباراة النهائية التي أقيمت أمس الأحد، في الإمارات.
طالع| كاف يٌحدد موعد أول مباراتين لـ الزمالك في مجموعات كأس الكونفدرالية
واستند نادي الزمالك في شكواه إلى لائحة لجنة الانضباط التي تؤكد على اللاعبين أهمية الاحترام والالتزام بالمعايير الموضوعة والروح الرياضية.
وتنص المادة 6/6 من لائحة الانضباط والأخلاق الصادرة من لجنة الانضباط بالاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، على فرض عقوبات على من يتعرض بالإساءة إلى الاتحاد أو المجلس أو اللجنة أو الجهة المنظمة أو المسوؤلين أو عناصر اللعبة.
وطالب الزمالك في شكواه بتوقيع العقوبات اللازمة على اللاعب طبقًا للائحة.
One of the most esteemed academies in world football is Manchester United’s Carrington.
You can go back as far in footballing history as you’d like; United have always produced some top academy graduates.
In recent years, there have been a couple of stars really flying the flag for the Red Devils academy. The main name that springs to mind is Marcus Rashford, who is now plying his trade at Barcelona, where he is flying.
For his boyhood club, the Wythenshawe-born sensation racked up 426 appearances, scoring 138 goals and assisting 79.
Man Unites starMarcusRashford
Kobbie Mainoo is a more recent example. He was brought through by Erik ten Hag, although the Dutchman was quite ruthless when it came to giving academy stars a chance.
The best academy prospects let go under Ten Hag's management
It is naturally quite hard to break into the first team of a club the size of United. There were a few players, like Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, who Ten Hag gave a platform to. Yet, others didn’t make the cut and were sold by the former United boss, only to thrive at other clubs.
Someone who certainly fits that bill is Alvaro Carreras. The 22-year-old completed a move to Real Madrid this summer after shining at Benfica. He never actually played a first-team game at Old Trafford, with Ten Hag opting against giving him a debut.
He moved to Portugal permanently last summer after a loan spell in 2023/24, before joining Los Blancos in 2025. He’s started every La Liga game under Xabi Alonso, operating at left-back and even as a centre-back.
Anthony Elanga could also come under the same category. Despite thriving under Ralf Rangnick and scoring a huge goal away to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, he only played 26 times under Ten Hag before moving to Nottingham Forest.
This summer, he switched to Newcastle United for a massive £55m fee but is yet to find the net for the Toon.
Both players could quite realistically have made it in a different era. The same could be said of United’s new Paul Scholes. At least that was how he was described at the time.
Ten Hag let go of Man Utd's 'next Scholes'
There is no doubt that, over the years, some of the academy sales made under Ten Hag have been blunders. The decision to move Carreras on, for example, must sting United fans given how well he is doing in Madrid.
When the Red Devils decided not to renew Shola Shoretire’s contract back in 2024, it brought an end to a United career that saw the Newcastle-born midfielder become the youngest player to appear for the club in a European match, aged 17 years and 23 days old.
It’s safe to say that in his younger days, the former United number 47 was incredibly highly rated.
Stephen Rutherford, the director of football at his junior club, said that he “would compare Shola to Paul Scholes,” which is high praise indeed.
Shoretire’s record for United’s academy was impressive. In the Premier League 2, he played 61 times, scoring 29 goals and assisting a further 18 goals. He operated all over the midfield and even out on the wing.
Shoretire record per season in PL2
Season
Games
Goals & assists
2020/21
21
10g & 5a
2021/22
22
7g & 8a
2022/23
9
5g & 1a
2023/24
9
7g & 4a
Stats from Transfermarkt
Unfortunately for Shoretire, he could only rack up five first-team appearances at Old Trafford. A loan spell to Bolton Wanderers saw him get first-team opportunities, but he left Old Trafford upon the expiration of his contract in 2024.
He joined Greek side PAOK on a free transfer, and now plays on loan for PEC Zwolle in the Netherlands. Those Scholes comparison feel like a long time ago now.
Under Ten Hag, the 21-year-old only featured on the bench four times. Despite his excellent form in the academy, the Dutchman never gave Shoretire more of an opportunity to showcase his skills at senior level.
This might always be one that United fans look back on and think, what could have been. Their youngest-ever European player was clearly very talented, and to be compared to Scholes is no mean feat.
Perhaps, if he’d have been given more of a platform by Ten Hag, he could have proven his worth at United.
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Man Utd will not want to repeat the mistake they made with McTominay
Snoop Dogg is reportedly set to make his first appearance at a Swansea game when a derby date with Welsh rivals Wrexham is taken in. The Red Dragons are co-owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynold and Rob Mac, who have made a habit of inviting celebrity guests to EFL fixtures down the years. Rap icon Snoop is now poised to make his bow with the Swans, having become a minority stakeholder.
Getty Images/GOALStar investors: Snoop & Modric involved with Swansea
The legendary musician bought into the Swans back in July. He then helped to front the launch of the club’s home kit for 2025-26, with his global appeal being put to good use. Snoop is not the only familiar face to figure on Swansea’s board, with Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric – who is now with AC Milan after severing ties with Real Madrid – another with financial ties to the Championship outfit.
Modric is otherwise engaged at present prolonging his playing career in Italy at 40 years of age, making trips to South Wales difficult. Snoop is, however, finding space in his schedule to take in that journey. The 53-year-old is a big sports fan and has previously been spotted at NBA matches and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
AdvertisementDerby date: When Swansea face Wrexham in the Championship
Another change of scenery is about to be taken in, with Swans star Liam Cullen revealing that Snoop is due in Wales for the most glamorous of fixtures. There is no word on whether Reynolds and Mac will be joining him for a meeting between two geographical rivals.
Cullen told the BBC when asked about Snoop’s ties to Swansea: “I've not seen him yet. I think he's actually coming over for the Wrexham game. That's what I've heard. So I'm looking forward to seeing him."
Wrexham are due at the Swansea.com Stadium on December 19. Snoop could be on hand to deliver early Christmas presents, with Swans CEO Tom Gorringe having already talked up the commercial benefits that he brings to the club.
Cullen added on embracing famous faces: “With the new investors in Snoop Dogg and Luka Modric, it adds a few more eyes on the club, and with the investment there's a higher expectation now, which is good for us. It's a good thing to have the expectation of going and needing to do well.”
Getty/GOALSnoop warning: Urged to remain behind the scenes
Snoop’s son, Cordell C Broadus, has paid a visit to Swansea, taking in a 1-1 draw with Watford on August 23. He stopped by the dressing room to mingle with players and coaches, and his father has admitted that he is readying a “pep talk” for his trip to the United Kingdom.
While Swansea are delighted to have Snoop involved, he has been urged not to interfere with team affairs. Experienced Welsh manager Tony Pulis has told sports betting site BetVictor: “Would I be pleased if someone like that came into a football club? Yeah, as long as they didn't poke their nose in and start picking the team and picking the players and picking the tactics, it'd be no issues to me.
“I've met Luka Modric. What a wonderful, wonderful man. An absolutely fantastic player. Top, top player. And I mean a top, top player, but he's a fantastic lad as well. Having Luka around would be unbelievable. Snoop Dogg, I don't even know what he sings!”
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Swansea have enjoyed a solid yet unspectacular start to the 2025-26 campaign. They have picked up 12 points from nine games that have delivered three wins, a trio of defeats and a few draws. They remain within three points of the play-off places in a congested Championship table – with Wrexham only two points behind them.
Alan Sheehan is the coach charged with the task of generating positive results, with a permanent contract being passed his way after initially taking the reins on a caretaker basis in February. He is cutting his managerial teeth in a demanding division, with the presence of Snoop and Modric behind the scenes bringing with it added pressure. The Swans will return to action after the latest international break when taking in a trip to Southampton on October 18.
Mesmo tendo sido pivô de uma confusão no fim da partida entre Corinthians e Universitario, do Peru, na última terça-feira (18), o garoto Ryan terá a sua promoção ao elenco profissional garantida pelo técnico Vanderlei Luxemburgo. E a postura do jovem, que completou 20 anos no último sábado (15), foi fundamental para a decisão do treinador, que fazia parte do elenco sub-20 e compunha espaço entre os profissionais de forma esporádica.
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O que poderia se transformar em um grande problema se tornou a maior oportunidade da carreira do volante, que marcou o gol da vitória corintiana sobre a equipe peruana, em pleno estádio Monumental lotado, com cerca de 80 mil pessoas. Ao comemorar, a prata da casa tirou a camisa e mostrou para a torcida local. A atitude gerou revolta aos atletas e torcedores da La U. Os jogadores foram para cima do elenco corintiano, enquanto a torcida lançou objetos em direção aos profissionais da equipe alvinegra.
+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Timão com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF
Repreendido no vestiário por Luxemburgo e também pelos atletas mais velhos, Ryan se desculpou com cada jogador individualmente e justificou a atitude com a emoção de marcar pela primeira vez no time principal, onde tem somente dois jogos disputados, totalizando 21 minutos.
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Mesmo tendo ‘puxado a orelha’ do jogador, Vanderlei Luxemburgo ficou satisfeito com a forma com que o atleta lidou com a situação, reconhecendo o erro, sabendo se desculpar e, principalmente, tendo a atitude de pedir desculpas para cada companheiro.
Luxa até consegue tirar algo benéfico do erro cometido pelo garoto em campo, já que o comandante corintiano entende a atitude como amostra de vontade. Ainda assim, o treinador considera o ato intempestivo e, por isso, passível de correção. Vanderlei entende que o cenário instalado em Lima já era pouco propício desde o início do jogo e que tudo que o Corinthians não precisava naquele momento era alguém da equipe promovendo um clima ainda mais quente.
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O duelo entre Universitario e Corinthians ganhou traços de hostilidade desde o encontro entre as equipes em São Paulo, no dia 11 de julho, pelo jogo de ida da fase de playoffs da Copa Sul-Americana. Ao fim da partida, Sebástian Avellino Vargas, preparador físico do clube peruano, fez gestos de macaco em direção à torcida corintiana. O membro da comissão técnica foi preso em flagrante na madrugada do dia 12 de julho e ficou detido até esta quinta-feira (20), quando lhe foi concedida liberdade provisória.
Na época da acusação, que conta com registro em vídeo, o Universitario emitiu uma nota se mostrando favorável ao seu profissional, reclamando do tratamento da Justiça brasileira à situação e dizendo que também houve comportamento hostil da torcida corintiana. Essa situação fez com que os peruanos tratassem o jogo de volta pelo playoffs como guerra. Em campo, deu Timão vencendo por 3 a 1 no placar agregado – 1 a 0 no jogo de ida, em São Paulo, e 2 a 1 na volta, na cidade de Lima.
E A BOLA?
A decisão de Vanderlei Luxemburgo de promover Ryan ao elenco profissional do Corinthians não tem a ver só com postura e personalidade, mas também com desempenho em campo.
O técnico não enxerga o jogador especial, como foi com Gabriel Moscardo, que virou titular após atuar poucos minutos como profissional, mas tem muito valor considerado pelo técnico, que já coloca o jovem à frente, por exemplo, do colombiano Cantillo, que está no clube alvinegro desde 2020, e também na condição de disputa com Roni, que é prata da casa, mas está desde 2019 entre os profissionais.
Luxemburgo entende que Ryan é um bom primeiro volante, de marcação forte e boa saída para o jogo, mas que, ainda assim, precisa maturar um pouco mais, o que o treinador espera que aconteça durante o período do jovem entre os profissionais.
Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming has said that CSK haven’t been able to read the Chepauk pitch in recent years. During the IPL 2025 auction, CSK had stacked their squad with spin, but the Chepauk pitch seemed to assist the seamers more than the spinners during their second home game of the season. Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed combined figures of 7-0-41-4 to shut CSK down in their chase of 197.”Well, as we’ve been telling you for a number of years, there was no home advantage at Chepauk,” Fleming said after CSK suffered their biggest defeat against RCB at home. “We’ve won away from home a couple of times. And we haven’t been able to read… we’ve been really honest with you. We haven’t been able to read the wickets here in the last couple of years. So, it’s not new. We are trying to come to grips each day with what we get, and we don’t know.”Related
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The Chepauk pitches in IPL 2024 didn’t suit spin, which has been CSK’s traditional strength. The fast bowlers took 74 wickets while the spinners claimed only 25 at the venue last season.”It’s not the Chepauk [of old] where you can just go in and play four spinners,” Fleming said. “We’re having to work really hard to try and understand what the nature of each pitch is, and it’s quite different.”On Friday, Fleming had expected the dew to set in and aid their chase. However, it wasn’t to be and the surface got even slower in the second innings. CSK ended up losing by 50 runs.”No, we didn’t get it right,” Fleming said. “It’s so hard to read, but we thought it was going to skid on with the dew, but it actually got a bit tacky. So, it certainly made it harder here.”CSK’s batters don’t usually swing from the get-go – which can become a talking point when big chases go wrong – but that doesn’t make them a bad team, Fleming insisted.When Fleming was asked if “this [batting approach] was his way of playing cricket”, it didn’t go down too well with him. Somewhat testy reactions from the usually calm Fleming suggested that CSK might be feeling the heat.”We talk about firepower, we have firepower all the way through,” Fleming said. “I don’t understand this question. Just because we don’t swing from ball one and have a little bit of luck go away, we’ll see at the end. Just see at the end who wins it. It’s a positive brand of cricket, no doubt about it, but don’t discount us.”
Galle plays host to the first Test of the series which brings spin bowling to the fore again
Andrew Fidel Fernando28-Jan-20251:34
Smith on captaincy: I understand what’s needed at certain times in subcontinent
Big Picture: The Warne-Muralidaran trophy is backAustralia’s Test series in Sri Lanka often seem to have a touch of the dramatic about them. Last time Australia were in Galle, Sri Lanka saw the greatest mass protests in the country’s history, while the teams battled out a 1-1 series. In 2016, Australia had nosedived spectacularly against spin, Rangana Herath gobbling up their top order en masse.Over the years there have been series-ending fielding collisions, such as in 1999 in Kandy when Jason Gillespie broke a leg and Steve Waugh broke a nose, Shane Warne triggering one of Sri Lanka’s most painful 90s collapses to clinch victory in a game Australia were losing, and Sri Lanka producing one of their most infamously dry surfaces in Galle in 2011. Where Sri Lanka have never won a Test in Australia, these teams tend to be more evenly matched in Sri Lanka.Related
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Can Kamindu overcome fresh hurdles after a stellar 2024?
Head to replace Konstas as opener against Sri Lanka
And so it shapes up again. Australia are coming off their big Border-Gavaskar Trophy win, of course. Through their 3-1 win in that series, they also booked their World Test Championship final spot. They are missing regular captain Pat Cummins, who is on paternity leave, but have a seasoned leader in Steven Smith.Sri Lanka had had a decent Test year in 2024, until the disappointing series in South Africa to finish it off. But they will feel as if their Test team is building to something – maybe mounting a more serious campaign in the next WTC cycle, in which they appear to have a relatively easy schedule.It will likely come down to spin in Galle. This surface doesn’t appear to be the dryest one the ground has turned out, and may stay together a little longer than usual, owing to January’s cooler weather. But it is likely to take substantial turn from day three onwards. Expect plenty of sweeping and reverse-sweeping, and catchers around the bat as the match wears on.Form guideSri Lanka: LLWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first) Australia: WWWDLCaptain Steven Smith, senior spinner Nathan Lyon and selector Tony Dodemaide take a look at the pitch•Getty ImagesIn the spotlight: Nathan Lyon and Prabath JayasuriyaA track that tends to start off dry, a sea breeze that helps sap what little moisture there is in the pitch, footmarks to bowl into from as early as day two sometimes – Galle is basically spin-bowling paradise. As such, how well your lead spinner goes in a Galle Test goes a long way to deciding the outcome.It is a track Nathan Lyon will know well. Not only did he get a five-wicket haul on debut here in 2011, he also took a match-winning 9 for 121 from the first game in 2022, when Australia last visited. He has 21 wickets from seven innings at this venue, with an average of 27.61. Expect this group of Sri Lanka’s batters to attempt to attack Lyon, particularly in the first innings. Sri Lanka’s easiest path to upsetting Australia’s bowling plan is to unsettle Lyon.Prabath Jayasuriya had also made his debut in Galle, and he has dominated as few spinners ever have at this venue. He’s got 71 wickets at an average of 21.78 at this venue, and the key to much of that success has been his devastating straight ball, as well as his control. With Sri Lanka’s remaining frontline spin options lacking in experience, the hosts will look to Jayasuriya to define the back half of these Tests.Pitch and conditions: Some rain aroundThere’s a little unseasonal rain around in Galle, but rare is the Galle Test that even goes into the last couple of sessions, even if there are interruptions along the way. Dhananjaya de Silva said he expected the surface to be decent for batting to begin with. Temperatures are forecast to hover around 30 degrees celsius.Prabath Jayasuriya has an incredible record at Galle•APTeam news: Who will be SL’s opener?Australia have confirmed that Travis Head will open the innings, displacing Sam Konstas from that position. They are pondering their attack though, and could go in with as many as three spinners – Todd Murphy potentially joining Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann. They will likely have Josh Inglis and Beau Webster – who bowls spin as well as seam – in the lower middle order.Australia (possible): 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Travis Head, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith (capt.), 5 Josh Inglis, 6 Beau Webster, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Mathew Kuhnemann, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Scott Boland/ Todd MurphySri Lanka have a decision to make around their attack as well – whether their second seamer will be Vishwa Fernando or Lahiru Kumara. They also have to replace the injured Pathum Nissanka at the top of the order. Oshada Fernando is his likeliest replacement.Sri Lanka (possible) 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Oshada Fernando, 3 Dinesh Chandimal, 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Kamindu Mendis, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva (capt.), 7 Kusal Mendis (wk), 8 Prabath Jayasuriya, 9 Nishan Peiris, 10 Asitha Fernando, 11 Lahiru Kumara/Vishwa FernandoStats and trivia: Smith 10,000 watch Steve Smith is one run away from completing 10,000 in Test cricket. He’d be the fourth Australia batter to the milestone, after Alan Border, Steve Waugh, and Ricky Ponting. Prabath Jayasuriya took 12 wickets for 177 in the one Test he’d played against Australia – on debut in Galle. All up, Australia have won three of the six Tests they’ve played in Galle, losing two and drawing one.