Inter are eyeing a summer bid to sign Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Manchester United in case Denzel Dumfries leaves San Siro.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Quite a few rare talents from Pakistan have disappeared after record-breaking starts. But Abbas is here to stay
Osman Samiuddin in Abu Dhabi17-Oct-2018Pakistani fans breathe easy. Mohammad Abbas is confident he will not fall off the rails as so many promising Pakistani fast bowlers have before him. Abbas has made a record-breaking start to his Test career, but fans have been down this route before.In men such as Mohammad Zahid, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir – to name but three – they have seen rare talents emerge, sizzle all too briefly and then, for various reasons, disappear or fade away.On Wednesday, Abbas completed a five-wicket haul in Abu Dhabi that was instrumental in dismantling Australia for 145. That included a 50th wicket in just his 10th Test, the joint second-fastest Pakistani to the mark. It also means that as his figures stand currently, he has the fourth-lowest bowling average (15.94) for bowlers with at least 50 Test wickets.He has taken wickets against all opponents and in all conditions so far, though his bowling this series, in conditions that don’t traditionally suit fast bowling, has been a revelation still.Better still, he comes across as a fairly straight-laced character.”I have played first-class cricket and a lot of things have happened before my eyes,” he said. “I suffered hardships in my life so my focus is on cricket and that has made me mature.”My focus is only to play cricket and focus on my fitness. I want to keep my feet on the ground. That has been my life. Right or wrong I know where to go.”A number of comparisons have already been thrown up, Asif lead among them, but also similar operators such as Vernon Philander. The South African had 63 wickets in his first ten Tests though they were played in South Africa, New Zealand and England – countries where bowlers will get reasonable assistance.By contrast, Abbas’ career has been a tour of fast bowling graveyards. Seven of his ten Tests have been in West Indies and the UAE. So far, that has not made a difference to his approach. Right lines, right lengths and whatever seam movement is on offer. Most impressively he has been able to extract movement even on this Abu Dhabi surface, to a degree rarely seen.”There are different conditions, different pitches, whatever you get you need to focus on your bowling,” he said. “I mould myself according to that. I see who is the opponent and then focus on my bowling positions.”He is on course to make this series one of the most successful ever for a pace bowler in Asia. His 12 Australian wickets have come at a cost of just 9.83 each, which leaves only Chaminda Vaas’ 2005 series against the West Indies ahead of him.That has drawn praise from his opponents who could be forgiven for preparing for spin before this series and not medium-pace.”The simplicity of his plan to just bowl at the stumps with nice straight fields, limit your scoring, that’s been his real strength,” Aaron Finch said. “He’s just very simple, very good, but nothing we can’t overcome in the second dig.”I think it’s nothing that [we] haven’t seen before. But I suppose just a little bit of seam there, particularly to new batters, is so important. I saw him coming wide on the crease to the left-handers, seaming it across them, then around the wicket, and that’s the most difficult ball to face, if someone’s angling them in at the stumps, and we know that he’s always there or thereabouts on the stumps, he doesn’t go over the stumps, he doesn’t miss them too often, so I think that does have its challenges.”
Nathan Coulter-Nile’s speed and Usman Qadir’s guile combined to upend Victoria and set the scene for a bonus-point victory by Western Australia in the domestic limited-overs match at the refurbished Junction Oval in Melbourne.While Victoria toasted the first match at their new home, the unseasonably early September date of the fixture made it a decidedly useful day to bowl first, an option handed to WA when the home captain Peter Handscomb chose to bat. Coulter-Nile bowled with notable swiftness opposite Jhye Richardson, and both claimed wickets with the new ball.As significant was the adrenaline rush Coulter-Nile appeared to generate with a handful of spiteful short balls, meaning that once he had pinned Nic Maddinson lbw with a late inswinger, the rest of the Victorian top order seemed intent on fighting fire with fire. Handscomb and Glenn Maxwell both fell to the hook shot, after Cameron White had been stranded when attempting to take the attack to the 25-year-old Qadir, whose mere presence in the WA XI was a tale in itself.The son of the formidable Pakistani wristspin bowler Abdul Qadir, he had trained with South Australia as long as five years ago, and was initially called up as a member of the Perth Scorchers squad for this summer’s Big Bash League. Some head-turning displays in practice matches for WA coaxed the Warriors coach Adam Voges into selecting Qadir as Ashton Agar’s replacement, and he would demonstrate his ability with an artful spell of 3 for 50 that showcased his dizzying variations and considerable accuracy.Victoria’s batting order had been the subject of some discussion before the match, and Handscomb reshuffled his deck by promoting White to open and Maddinson to No. 3, while Maxwell remained at No. 5. After the loss of three early wickets, it was up to Handscomb and Maxwell to rebuild things, but the latter was unable to contain himself after hooking Andrew Tye for a big six, top-edging an attempted repeat the very next ball to fine leg.Handscomb, following up his 89 in Sunday’s defeat of New South Wales at North Sydney Oval, was unable to go beyond 57 before falling in similar fashion, and from that point the hosts were never likely to set a significantly challenging tally in what would be the best batting conditions of the match.The Australia Under-19s product Josh Philippe, wicketkeeper Josh Inglis, D’Arcy Short and Marcus Stoinis all connected with a handful of big hits to quickly ensure a successful chase for WA, leaving the Warriors five points clear on top of the table in a competition where all six teams qualify for the finals regardless.
Paul Skenes was really happy a young fan pulled his incredibly rare Topps baseball card.
Earlier this month, an 11-year-old in California opened a pack that included a one-of-one Skenes card featuring an MLB debut patch and an autograph. Topps announced the card would be released in November, and fans had desperately been seeking it for months. The Pirates put out a compelling bounty for the card that the fan declined, taking the card to auction.
On Tuesday night, Skenes appeared on and discussed his feelings about the card being found.
When Meyers asked the Pittsburgh Pirates ace how excited he was that an 11-year-old kid pulled the card, he said, "Super. Super excited."
Skenes then said the worst outcome would have been a 50-year-old collector finding it.
The fact that a young kid found the card and not one of the thousands of collectors out there is truly one of the best stories of MLB's offseason.
Skenes won National League Rookie of the Year for his performance in 2024 where he went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP and 170 strikeouts in 133 innings. The 22-year-old is widely considered the best young pitcher MLB has seen in years.
The card that 11-year-old pulled is only going to go up in value as Skenes's career progresses.
Nineteen-year-old fast bowler impressed against Australia with South Africa grooming him for the future
Firdose Moonda11-Aug-2025
Kwena Maphaka impressed with a four-wicket haul in his ninth T20I, against Australia on Sunday•Getty Images
Kwena Maphaka is the youngest player to represent South Africa but that doesn’t mean he has the least to say. Quite the opposite, in fact, which he showed when he also became the youngest bowler from a Full Member country to take a four-wicket haul in a T20I, against Australia in Darwin.Australia were off to a flying start at 71 for 4 in the powerplay when Maphaka was brought on and the left-arm quick responded with the wicket of Mitchell Owen. The danger man, Tim David, had scored 18 off the first seven balls he had faced, including two sixes, and wanted to take Maphaka on. The first ball David faced from Maphaka was short and slow and he pulled it for one. The second was shorter, strayed down leg and was called wide. And the third was better directed, at David’s chest. He could only splice it to point and at the height it came, David thought Maphaka needed to bowl it again.”He went to the umpire and he was asking about it,” Maphaka said the day after the match, which South Africa lost. He also revealed that he was having none of David’s complaints. “I just told him to let the umpires deal with umpiring the game and he must focus on batting.”Related
Rabada excited by the new generation of South African players
David, Hazlewood star as Australia make it record nine T20Is wins in a row
David took those words to heart. He went on to score 83 runs off 52 balls, including 13 off 11 balls from Maphaka but he was the only batter to send the 19-year-old to the boundary. Maphaka’s four overs cost only 20 runs, he was the most economical bowler of the match and David was among the batters he dismissed in a career-best haul. After what he called “a few bad performances in Zimbabwe,” where Maphaka picked up three wickets for 92 runs in 10.5 overs, he showed he belongs at this level.”It feels really good, coming off a few bad performances in Zimbabwe and just building up, playing some more professional and competitive cricket in the past few months, it feels really good to put in a good performance for the team and make history while doing it,” he said.Maphaka opened the bowling in the second match South Africa played in the Zimbabwe tri-series last month and bowled two overs in the powerplay that cost 19 runs. He was used at first change in two matches after that, including the final, and both times also bowled in the powerplay. But against Australia, with Kagiso Rabada back in the South African XI after a rest, Maphaka was only called on after the fielding restrictions were lifted and that seemed to suit him better, though he was cautious not to see it as an attempt to shield him.Kwena Maphaka showed he belongs at this level•Getty Images”It may have been a tactical ploy, but I think it’s also just about giving me a little bit more freedom,” he said. “I’m a guy that likes to take wickets in the middle and I think the team understands that. It was really just a tactical ploy in terms of getting wickets through the middle rather than protecting me as a player.”With Australia going as hard as they could upfront, South Africa needed someone to slow them down. Maphaka and left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy provided that. In the four overs after the powerplay, they gave away only 17 runs and took two wickets between them, which left Australia 88 for 6 at the halfway stage.”When a team is coming out all guns blazing, there’s a few more opportunities to take wickets so it’s about being smart and understanding what you have to do when you’re faced with those situations,” Maphaka said. “Sometimes you go to a yorker, a bumper or a slower ball. It’s all about reading the game and understanding what you need to do at that moment and keeping your plans as simple as possible, really.”
“It’s not about trying to over-complicate things or make it seem like it’s a game of 20,000 deliveries. Just go to your best ball.”Kwena Maphaka
All of those variations were on display as Maphaka was also given the job of bowling the penultimate over, where he took two wickets and mixed up his lengths well. He had David caught off a full delivery and dismissed Adam Zampa with a short ball and backed his skills to limit Australia to 178 at the end.”It’s not about trying to over-complicate things or make it seem like it’s a game of 20,000 deliveries,” he said. “Just go to your best ball at a particular moment in time and back your plans. Belief is a massive part in performance, and I think I might have been a little bit short on belief in Zimbabwe, so that’s probably one of the big takeaways from that series.”Before the Zimbabwe series, Maphaka had played five T20Is, two ODIs and a Test for South Africa, all before he had turned 19. Though his returns had been relatively modest, he would have had no doubt that South Africa see him as a key player in their future. Already, he has learnt how to manage that expectation.”The most important part is just really accepting the fact that you’re going to have bad days, you’re going to have good days, and it’s just sticking to your game plan and sticking to whatever you do best. I’m not going to be the best player in the world overnight, and I understand that,” Maphaka said. “It’s all about growing as a player day by day, and just keeping focused on the grind and what I have to do to make myself better on a daily basis.”He has also learnt not to shy away from speaking about his aims to fulfil every ounce of his potential. “I’ve always been pretty confident and a real competitor,” he said. “I never like losing. I always want to come out on top of the fight. It’s something that’s been instilled in me since I was really young.”Some would say, he still is.
Also, why didn’t the Capitals try to knock the Royal Challengers out?
Alagappan Muthu02-Nov-2020What is the secret to Devdutt Padikkal’s success this IPL?The basics. A tall left-hand batsman with quick feet and outstanding timing, he has made 472 runs in 14 matches so far. No uncapped Indian in his debut season has made more.Padikkal’s success is built on his off-side play. And in case anyone’s forgotten, bowlers still target the top of off stump with the new ball, even in T20 cricket.Anrich Nortje tried to do that and was lofted for a one-bounce four over cover point. The shot brought Virat Kohli up to his feet, his eyes bulging out of his head. It was hit that cleanly.No left-hander has made more runs (236 at a strike rate of 136) through the off side than Padikkal. His weight transfer into the ball, his balance at the crease and his timing are all great assets for him going forward.Why didn’t Capitals try to knock Royal Challengers out?If you make the playoffs, wouldn’t you rather play a team that didn’t have Kohli and AB de Villiers in it?And when all you need to do for that is score 153 in 17.3 overs – that’s a run-rate of 8.7 – it seems a worthwhile pursuit.But remember, the Capitals were coming off four back-to-back losses. A theme of those losses was their batting malfunctioning badly.They couldn’t afford that in this must-win game. They had to ensure their own qualification first. And to do that, they simply had to win the game.That’s why they never really went after the target with the intention of knocking their opposition out of the IPL.Is the outswinger a weakness for Prithvi Shaw?His game is about hitting the ball on the up. When he is in form, he simply times the ball. When he is not, he looks like he’s trying to hit it too hard. And that’s where the problems begin.Since Shaw likes room to hit through the off side, he usually stays leg side of the ball. Since he’s more of a back-foot player, he can also at times be stuck on the crease. And with his bat starting around second or third slip as it comes down, he also has a tendency to get squared up.The outswinger can exploit all of these tendencies, whether it is by getting a nick through to the keeper or by beating the edge and knocking back the off stump as Mohammed Siraj did in the second over of the chase.According to ESPNcricinfo’s data, he has made 21 runs off 20 outswingers this season and lost his wicket to them three times. That translates to an average of 7 and a strike rate of 105.ESPNcricinfo LtdAre there better end-overs options than the wide yorker?On a slow pitch? Possibly.There was an offcutter that Daniel Sams bowled to Padikkal in the 15th over that didn’t just grip in the pitch. It almost refused to go to the other end.Eventually it did, but only so it could give the batsman three different headaches. Extra bounce. Lack of pace. And turn like a Muralitharan offbreak.Padikkal tried to scoop it, but the ball popped out to where short square leg would have been.Given that evidence, Sams should have been concentrating on hitting just back of a length with his slower balls. So long as he didn’t give any room, he would be golden. Instead he went for those wide yorkers in the 18th over and got whacked around by de Villiers and Shivam Dube for 18 runs.
Los Xeneizes are now winless in 11 straight matches, facing a full-blown football crisis both on and off the pitch
| Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱 |
da prosport bet： Tottenham Hotspur have now submitted an enquiry over a deal for an “explosive” star, who is expected to cost in excess of £40m this summer, according to a report.
Tottenham eye new midfielder amid doubts over Bentancur's future
da betway： While Tottenham secured Champions League qualification via their Europa League triumph, their Premier League performances in the 2024-25 campaign left a lot to be desired, and new manager Thomas Frank will be hoping to oversee a major turnaround.
During his first interview as Spurs boss, Frank singled out James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur and Dominic Solanke as three players he is excited to work with, indicating the Dane is happy with the attacking midfield options at his disposal.
However, should Bentancur refuse to sign a new contract, the Uruguayan could be moved on this summer, with a move to Atletico Madrid deemed a possibility, meaning Frank may be tasked with bringing in a replacement.
Levy now ready to smash Tottenham record by signing "unbelievable" £68m star
Spurs are willing to make a huge bid for a player who has been identified as a prime target for Thomas Frank.
ByDominic Lund Jun 29, 2025
As such, according to a report from The Boot Room, Daniel Levy and Co could look to raid one of their Premier League rivals, having now submitted an enquiry over a deal for Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, who is expected to cost in excess of £40m this summer.
Elliott is ready to leave the Reds, given a lack of game time last season, and first-team opportunities are likely to be even more limited in the upcoming campaign, considering Florian Wirtz’s arrival from Bayer Leverkusen.
There is widespread interest in the 22-year-old, however, which could pose a problem for Spurs, with nearly half the Premier League submitting enquiries of their own, while Jurgen Klopp is also looking to take his former player to RB Leipzig.
"Explosive" Elliott leads England U21s to glory in Slovakia
England U21s secured a second consecutive European Championships title with a 3-2 victory over Germany on Saturday, and manager Lee Carsley has the Liverpool midfielder to thank, given that he played a major role in the triumph.
The 22-year-old picked up the Player of the Tournament award, courtesy of scoring five goals en-route to glory in Slovakia, while he has also impressed Arne Slot in the past, with the Dutchman saying: “He’s so explosive with the way that he moves and with his end product. We are very lucky to have him.”
Not only that, but the former Fulham man places ranks in the top 1% for non-penalty goals per 90 by players in his position over the past year, and the 86th percentile for assists, showcasing the attacking threat he poses.
Elliott is now at an age where he needs to be playing regular football, and his exploits for England U21s indicate he could flourish at Tottenham, so a fee of around £40m seems very reasonable.
MatériaMais Notícias
da cassino： O Palmeiras encara o Deportivo Pereira nesta quarta-feira (23), na Colômbia, em jogo válido pela ida das quartas de finais da Libertadores 2023.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasNotíciasComo foram os últimos jogos do Palmeiras na Libertadores?Notícias22/08/2023PalmeirasCinco pontos de atenção que o Palmeiras precisa ter com o Deportivo Pereira na LibertadoresPalmeiras22/08/2023PalmeirasPalmeiras goleia o Atlético de Madrid em torneio sub-17 no México, e goleiro comemora: ‘Impusemos nosso jogo’Palmeiras21/08/2023
da gbg bet： + Veja tabela e classificação da Libertadores-2023 clicando aqui
Grande surpresa entre os oito melhores do continente em 2023, o time de Pereira tem um elenco modesto e que vale muito menos do que muitos clubes que disputaram a atual edição da competição continental.
+ Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00. Bebida gelada nos 90′ de jogo do Verdão!
Segundo o site ‘Transfermarket’, o elenco do Deportivo Pereira somado hoje está avaliado em 12,95 milhões de euros, cerca de quase 70 milhões de reais na cotação atual.
continua após a publicidade
Já o do Palmeiras, um dos mais valiosos do Brasil e da América Latina, vale um pouco mais de 12 vezes o valor da modesta equipe colombiana.
O time de Abel Ferreira está avaliado em 162,8 milhões de euros, o que daria cerca de 875 milhões de reais na cotação atual.
+ Cinco pontos de atenção que o Palmeiras precisa ter com o Deportivo Pereira na Libertadores
Somente em termos de comparação, Endrick, o jogador mais caro do atual elenco do Verdão, vale duas vezes mais do que todo o elenco do Deportivo Pereira.
Apesar da grande diferença de jogadores e de estrutura, o Verdão precisa de muita concentração para não ser surpreendido pelo time do técnico Alejandro Restrepo.
continua após a publicidade
No início desta temporada, o Palmeiras sofreu uma lição importante que pode ser muito bem comparada com o duelo desta quarta-feira pela Libertadores.
+ 24 anos depois, Palmeiras encara um colombiano em mata-mata de Libertadores
Na final do Paulsitão 2023, o Palmeiras encarou o modesto Água Santa, e com uma folha salarial 22 vezes maior do que o time de Diadema, acabou sendo derrotado por 2 a 1 no primeiro jogo da decisão. Por competência do alviverde imponente, a segunda decisão foi uma goleada por 4 a 0 e o Verdão ficou com o bicampeonato Estadual.
Deportivo Pereira e Palmeiras se enfrentam nesta quarta-feira (23), a partir das 21h30 (horário de Brasília), e o jogo terá transmissão da Rede Globo e dos Canais ESPN.
Having already won the series, India could give a chance to Ravi Bishnoi, Tilak Verma, Jitesh Sharma and Harshit Rana
Mohammad Isam11-Oct-2024
Mahmudullah was the only Bangladesh batter to make a substantial score in the second T20I•AFP/Getty Images
Big picture: Bangladesh’s last chance to salvage prideAfter winning the Test series 2-0, India will be keen to stretch their dominance against Bangladesh to the absolute by carrying their T20I form from Gwalior and Delhi into Hyderabad, in the third T20I. It is the final match of a tour where Bangladesh have batted woefully, and bowled well only in certain periods. That was not good enough as India displayed their heightened T20 skills.In the second T20I, the home side posted their highest total against Bangladesh even after losing three wickets in the powerplay. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rinku Singh added 108 for the fourth wicket before Hardik Pandya and Riyan Parag struck meaty blows at the death. A target of 222 was overbearing on the visitors who could manage only 135 for 9. India now have the option to test the rest of the squad after going unchanged in the first two games.The only solace for Bangladesh in the series so far has been that their seamers have performed satisfactorily. Taskin Ahmed took 2 for 16 in Delhi while Mustafizur Rahman was wily as usual and Tanzim Hasan Sakib showed his growing skills. The spinners, though, couldn’t find their right lengths and let them down.Related
Taskin urges BCB to prepare better pitches at home
Reddy arrives with a bang and a 'promise of more'
Bangladesh’s top order, too, hasn’t given them the best of starts. Litton Das and newcomer Parvez Hossain Emon went too hard at the bowling without the desired results, while captain Najmul Hossain Shanto looked good in patches before caving in quickly. Top order and spinners must get their act together for the visitors to have one last chance to at least threaten the hosts on this tour.Form guideIndia WWWWW (last five T20Is, most recent first)
Bangladesh LLLLLIn the spotlight: Nitish Kumar Reddy and MahmudullahNitish Kumar Reddy has slotted right into India’s template of being an attacking batting unit. During the second T20I in Delhi, he struck seven sixes in his 34-ball 74 after his side had slipped to 41 for 3 in the sixth over. Even Rinku, a big-hitter himself, played second fiddle to Reddy for most of their partnership. Reddy has plenty of shots in his arsenal, including the ability to rotate strike. India will be equally interested in how he develops his medium-pace bowling in the long run.Nitish Kumar Reddy showed a lot of promise during the second T20I•BCCI
While Reddy is just starting out, Mahmudullah will be playing his last T20I for Bangladesh. The veteran of 140 matches announced his retirement from the format before the Delhi game. It wasn’t a huge surprise, given Mahmudullah’s age and lack of form of late. Although he top-scored with 41 for Bangladesh in Delhi, it was yet another example of a fire fighting than taking the attack to the opposition. Bangladesh have a long discussion ahead of them to replace Mahmudullah in the T20I side, but Hyderabad will be the occasion to bid him goodbye.Team news: India to test bench strength?Ravi Bishnoi, Tilak Verma, Jitesh Sharma and Harshit Rana warmed the bench in the first two T20Is but could get a run in Hyderabad, especially with the series already decided.India (probable): 1 Sanju Samson (wk), 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 4 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 5 Rinku Singh, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Riyan Parag, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Varun Chakravarthy/Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Mayank Yadav/Harshit RanaBangladesh may bring in Mahedi Hasan in place of Jaker Ali.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Parvez Hossain Emon, 2 Litton Das (wk), 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 7 Mahedi Hasan, 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 11 Mustafizur RahmanPitch and conditions: Rain could interrupt playIn IPL 2024, the three sides who made 200-plus batting first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium won the game. However, there’s a forecast of rain in Hyderabad on Saturday.Stats and trivia: India extends home domination India stretched their unbeaten run in the bilateral T20I series at home to 16 after beating Bangladesh by 86 runs in Delhi. In a streak that goes back to September 2019, they have won 14 series and drawn two. In IPL 2024, Abhishek Sharma struck 284 runs, including three fifties, at a strike rate of 249.12 in Hyderabad. In Delhi, India used seven bowlers and each took at least one wicket. Bangladesh’s spinners conceded 14.75 runs per over in Delhi, their most expensive collective performance in a T20I when they bowled a minimum of five overs.