Juventus are plotting a double Premier League swoop as they look to refresh their squad options after a disappointing campaign.
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Leeds the scene for Jofra Archer, Haris Rauf comebacks – so long as the weather plays ball
Danyal Rasool21-May-20241:29
Can Kirsten get the best out of Babar?
Big picture
The last time England played Pakistan in this format, nearly 90,000 people turned up to watch, with a global audience potentially in the hundreds of millions. It came at the MCG in the 2022 T20 World Cup final, and as the Pakistani tears and wild English celebrations demonstrated, what was on the line mattered.That won’t quite be the case at Headingley on Wednesday, and not only because the Yorkshire weather might put paid to the possibility of a game altogether. A lot has happened in the following year and a half, and little of it has served to bolster these sides’ credentials as World Cup champions and runners-up. The two have won a combined two T20I series out of a possible nine, each boasting sizeable losing records since they played at the MCG. They were both eliminated from the following ODI World Cup at the first hurdle. England’s match-winner from that warm Melbourne night isn’t currently a part of the T20I setup, while Pakistan’s captain was briefly dethroned before inexplicably having the crown handed back to him a few months later.It’s risky to judge a team solely on T20I results in bilateral games; even this series, after all, serves almost entirely as a warm-up to the T20 World Cup less than a fortnight away. But given their struggles in T20I cricket, both teams would benefit from a series win and are duly taking the series extremely seriously.Related
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England haven’t played a T20I all year, though they did take on upcoming World Cup co-hosts West Indies in a five-match T20I series in December. What Jos Buttler’s side want to avoid is a repeat of their calamitous ODI World Cup with a similarly disjointed T20 World Cup defence. England were so keen to get their full squad together they risked the ire of the IPL by recalling them well in time, and Jofra Archer has been managed in a way to allow him to return for his first T20 game in over a year just in time for the lead-up to the World Cup.Pakistan’s frenetic administrative setup and impassioned fanbase mean they never quite have the luxury of not taking any international seriously, but with the World Cup around the corner, a bilateral T20I series could scarcely matter more. Pakistan, after all, remain the only one of 20 teams not to have announced their World Cup squad yet; they will wait as long as possible – until after the first game of this series – to make it official, ensuring they make decisions based on maximum information.And that World Cup, ultimately, is the direction every aspect of this series will be slanted towards. That night at the MCG assures both teams they have what it takes to stand atop the mountain, and though Leeds isn’t close to that peak, it may well be an important stepping stone.Jos Buttler is set to take the gloves against Pakistan•Getty ImagesForm guide
England LWWLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan WWLWLIn the spotlight
A year since his last T20, and four since his last international game on English soil. Jofra Archer will be the unquestionable star attraction at Leeds after captain Jos Buttler confirmed he would make a much-anticipated return in the first game. After a prolonged injury nightmare, it appears England have finally managed to nurse Archer back to full fitness, and the way his team-mates talk about him, he’s as formidable a prospect as he ever was. Sam Curran mentioned the value of the “fear factor” his extra pace instills in the opposition, and an overcast Headingley may well be the ideal occasion to ease him in.Pakistan, too, have an express pace bowler returning from injury who is expected to start in this game after an extended layoff. Haris Rauf has had a tumultuous last six months, beginning with a board dispute that saw him lose his central contract, followed by a shoulder injury during the PSL, and ultimately the reinstatement of aforementioned central contract. He was part of the group that travelled to Ireland but wasn’t fit enough to get a game. By all accounts, his injury has healed faster than the initial prognosis, and a pace-off between two of cricket’s most fear-inducing bowlers is worth tuning in for.Team news
England will not rush Liam Livingstone back as he recovers from a minor knee issue. Mark Wood has not played since March and will be managed through the series due to a knee niggle of his own, which is not considered serious. Buttler has confirmed that he will keep wicket.England: 1 Jos Buttler (capt & wk), 2 Phil Salt, 3 Will Jacks, 4 Jonny Bairstow, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Moeen Ali, 7 Sam Curran, 8 Chris Jordan, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Reece TopleyHaving eschewed the opportunity to include Mohammad Haris in the squad, Saim Ayub’s return to form cannot come soon enough with this game the last Pakistan play before the official squad announcement. Rauf is expected to return, making this potentially the first time since the Asia Cup that he has featured alongside Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah.Pakistan: 1 Mohammad Rizwan, 2 Saim Ayub, 3 Babar Azam (capt), 4 Fakhar Zaman, 5 Azam Khan (wk), 6 Iftikhar Ahmed/Shadab Khan, 7 Imad Wasim, 8 Shaheen Afridi, 9 Haris Rauf, 10 Mohammad Amir, 11 Naseem ShahPitch and conditions
The biggest question mark concerns the weather. It was overcast in Leeds on Tuesday, and the forecast suggests rain through much of Wednesday.Stats and trivia England won more T20I games at the 2022 World Cup (5) than they have in the 18 months since (4). Babar Azam has 46 wins as T20I captain, more than any other international captain. Both captains are close to approaching personal batting milestones. Babar is 45 runs away from becoming the second player to 4000 T20I runs, while 73 more would see Buttler become the first Englishman to 3000. Quotes
“That pride was obviously dented and it was a really disappointing competition. But life moves on: it’s a chapter in the book and there’s lessons you learn but we’re presented with a new opportunity, a different format. We go to the West Indies and want to give a better account of ourselves.”
“We’re looking forward to facing him. He’s coming back after about a year. As a team we are excited to play against him. We’ve played well against him in the past and I’m sure it’ll be a good contest in the coming games. We have that pace of bowlers in Haris Rauf and Shaheen, so I wouldn’t say we’re fearful, but we are excited.”
Arsenal have reportedly agreed personal terms with Noni Madueke, as the Chelsea winger closes in on a move across London to the Gunners.
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Gunners close in on MaduekePersonal terms agreed with playerWill be second signing from Chelsea this summerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Reported by Fabrizio Romano on X, the Gunners have agreed a five-year deal with Madueke and his camp and a formal proposal is reportedly imminent as the two clubs prepare to negotiate a transfer. Mikel Arteta would like to add the versatile winger to his ranks as he looks to strengthen his attacking options ahead of the new season.
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What had been a quiet start to the summer transfer window for Arsenal has now burst into life. Martin Zubimendi has been announced in a deal worth near £60m from Real Sociedad, while personal terms have reportedly been agreed with two players in one day, in the shape of Madueke and Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres. Getting both deals over the line would go a long way to solving the Gunners' lack of firepower in forward positions for much of last season.
DID YOU KNOW?
Arsenal have made quite a habit of signing players from London rivals Chelsea in recent times. Madueke could become the fifth player to swap blue for red in the capital since 2023, following Jorginho, Kai Havertz, Raheem Sterling and, most recently, Kepa Arrizabalaga. It can be argued that none of the above were a resounding success, though Jorginho was an effective squad player and Havertz still has time on his side. Kepa put pen to paper in a £5m deal to move to the Emirates earlier this week and 23-year-old England winger Madueke could soon follow.
AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MADUEKE AND ARSENAL?
Arsenal head off for their pre-season campaign in Asia on July 19 and Arteta would likely hope to have the bulk of his transfer business completed before then. Chelsea are still competing in the Club World Cup and will likely hold off on selling Madueke until it is over, with the final taking place on July 13. But all parties are believed to be open to the deal.
Liverpool are reportedly ready to offer Scottish winger Ben Doak as a makeweight to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace this summer. The Reds are planning to sign a central defender after Jarell Quansah decided to join Bayer Leverkusen. The English champions will face competition from Newcastle United and Manchester United in the race to sign Guehi.
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Liverpool ready to let winger departWant to sign Guehi from PalacePalace keen on signing DoakFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
According to , Palace are keen on signing Doak this summer after his impressive performance in the Championship last season, while on loan with Middlesbrough. He scored three goals and provided seven assists as Boro finished 10th in the second division.
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Despite the FA Cup winners' interest in Doak, Liverpool might find it difficult to include the winger in any deal for Guehi, who is rated by his club at £50 million ($68m). The England international is entering the final 12 months of his existing deal and will be willing to run down his contract if he is not sold this summer.
DID YOU KNOW?
Despite winning the English top-flight title for a record-equalling 20th time last season, Liverpool have been extremely active in the summer window as they have already completed the signings of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Freddie Woodman.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?
Arne Slot's men will reconvene in the first week of July before playing their first pre-season friendly against Preston on July 13. They will then head to Hong Kong and Japan for a couple of friendly matches before returning to the UK.
أكد خالد الغندور، نجم الزمالك السابق، أن كرة القدم تُحسم بالعطاء داخل الملعب وليس بالأسماء أو القيمة السوقية للاعبين، مشيدًا بروح محمود حسن تريزيجيه وتواضعه في التعامل مع جماهير الأهلي.
وقال خالد الغندور عبر “أون سبورت”: “أعلم أن فكرة زيزو تثير حساسية، لأنه سيُقال: ماذا سأقول عن زيزو وأنا زملكاوي؟ وسيُقال إنني لا أحب اللاعب، بالنسبة لي، الفريق هو جماعية في الأداء، والأهلي يعتمد على الجماعية في الأداء والروح”.
وتابع: “النادي الأهلي فاز على سيراميكا كليوباترا في أهم وأصعب مباراة، بينما خسر مباريات سهلة وأسهل بكثير من مباراة سيراميكا، وكان زيزو موجودًا، وإمام عاشور أيضًا كان موجودًا في مباراة إنبي، إذًا كرة القدم ليست بالأسماء، وقد قلتها لكم من قبل: كرة القدم بالأداء”.
طالع أيضًا | خالد الغندور يرد على غضب جمهور الأهلي منه.. وخلافه مع سيد عبد الحفيظ وثنائي الزمالك
وأضاف: “الكابتن أبو الدهب قال كلمة مهمة، قال إن اللاعب الذي يساوي 100 مليون يجب أن يلعب، نعم، هذه حقيقة، لكن كرة القدم لا يوجد فيها شيء اسمه لاعب بـ 100 مليون، وإنما لاعب بـ 100 مجهود، النجوم في السماء، والنجم نجم بأدائه في الملعب”.
وأشار: “تريزيجيه شخصية محترمة للغاية، ومهذبة ومؤدبة جدًا، لو عرف الناس تريزيجيه في الحقيقة، سيجدونه متواضعًا وجدعًا، وهو دائمًا إنسان طيب جدًا، قد يتأثر إذا وجه إليه أحد شتيمة أو كلمة غير لائقة”.
واستطرد: “في المباراة الماضية أشار للجماهير بأن يصمتوا، أما في مباراة سيراميكا عندما هتف الجمهور: يا تريزيجيه ارفع يدك، جمهور الأهلي هو سيدك، الطبيعي والمنطقي أن أي لاعب لو كان يعيش في دور النجومية لقال: مع السلامة، أنا النجم، من أنتم؟ لقد لعبت في الدوري الإنجليزي، لكن تريزيجيه ذهب إلى الجمهور وقال لهم: أنتم على رأسي من فوق”.
واختتم: “فماذا كانت النتيجة؟ كرّمه الله مباشرة بهدف، وليس أي هدف، بل الهدف الذي جلب للأهلي ثلاث نقاط كاملة بعد سلسلة من التعثرات، وليس مجرد هدف ضمن أربعة أهداف مثلًا”.
Despite years of spin bowling being reduced to a chore of not letting batsmen get under the ball, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav are inviting them to do exactly that
Sidharth Monga in Centurion04-Feb-20181:02
‘Kuldeep and I always look to bowl slow’ – Chahal
David Miller’s dismissals in both the ODIs look different, but there is a common thread to them. And it not the bowler, who was Kuldeep Yadav in both cases.In Durban, Miller hit Kuldeep straight to short cover; in Centurion, the dismissal was more comprehensive: caught at slip as Miller drove. In both cases, though, Miller met the ball far in front of his body. These balls didn’t drop on Miller alarmingly, he had finished his bat swing by the time the balls arrived. Consequently he didn’t play them under his head, and failed to control the shots.Look at a typical speed pitch map of India’s wristspinners, who have now sounded out a major warning to all the teams in the world, especially after doing well in South Africa too. Hardly any ball bowled by Kuldeep and Yuzvendra Chahal is faster than 55mph. They usually range between 48.5mph and 54.5mph. Imran Tahir, by contrast, swings between 53mph and 63mph. Sometimes Tahir’s slowest ball in a spell is the same as India wristspinners’ fastest.Turns out, in this world of heavy bats, thick edges and small grounds, this slowness is a problem for the batsmen.”I’m actually pretty amazed by how slow they can actually bowl,” Dale Benkenstein, South Africa’s batting coach, said after India took a 2-0 lead in the series. “And obviously if you’re a wristspinner and you bowl slow, then it turns on any surface. But I think because of the slowness, there are also scoring opportunities. I’d rather that we look at that than just plodding around.”The challenge lies in the fact that they bowl very slow. Our spinners bowl very fast. On domestic wickets, we bowl pretty quick, and it’s so much easier to get runs. To be fair, in South Africa we don’t get a lot of spin. So, this is obviously an issue. And I think it’s time to try and introduce into our normal everyday practices to keep playing spin. They’re obviously very confident against the seamers. I guess it might take a little bit of time.”Despite years of spin bowling being reduced to a chore of not letting batsmen get under the ball, Chahal and Kuldeep are inviting them to get underit. They back themselves to do enough with the ball to induce mis-hits and get wickets. And wickets is what they, and their captain, are after.Yuzvendra Chahal in his delivery stride•BCCIChahal, who claimed his maiden five-for in the Centurion ODI, has trained himself to bowl slow against some of the biggest hitters of the ball at the tiniest graveyard for bowlers; Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. However, he sees it more as changing the pace rather than just bowling slow.”Playing on flat tracks, you have to vary your pace,” Chahal said. “You cannot bowl at one pace. There is bounce available on these pitches. If you bowl fast, the ball won’t turn and it will come on to the bat. That’s why Kuldeep and I vary our pace.”Especially on these grounds and wickets, you have to bowl a little slower. The ground is very small, and they have big hitters. As spinners you can’t bowl faster, otherwise they will play you as medium pacers. There are times when we have to bowl fast, but that depends on the situation. We have to read the situation.”The slowness is a means to an end. The idea is to pick up wickets in the middle overs, which is what India missed before Chahal and Kuldeep were introduced to replace the two best – at that time – Test bowlers in the world. “Whenever Kuldeep or I come on to bowl, we are only thinking about taking wickets,” Chahal said. “That’s why we are in the team, to take wickets in the middle overs. We don’t mind giving away 65-70 runs in 10 overs but if we can take two-three wickets that’s more helpful from our point of view. If we take wickets in middle overs then only the other team will be under pressure.”Virat Kohli’s unflinching belief in them helps. Kohli said he didn’t expect the pitches for ODIs to have any seam movement – which hardly happens anywhere – and he backed his spinners to turn the ball on any hard surface. Both Chahal and Kuldeep say they have been told by the management that runs don’t matter, that they have to go for wickets. ” [show me how to get hit for a six],” as the wicketkeeper tells you in all the in India.”I go for wickets, I flight the ball,” Chahal said. “I know it can go for six too, but when your captain and your team back you, it gives you the confidence to do it. Virat [brother] lets us take the field we want. He tells us it doesn’t matter if we are hit for a six, we must bowl to our strength. If your strength is to flight it, then flight it. When your captain tells you that, you don’t have to worry even if you have been hit for two or three sixes.”It’s easier said than done, though. When you are being hit for boundaries, it is easy to forget these principles. “This is a routine for me,” Chahal said. “In IPL, if I go for 40 runs in four overs, even then I should feel that I have been hit on good balls. It shouldn’t be that I am bowling to escape cheaply. That is my strength, and that is why I am in the team.”These two delightful spinners are almost a forced gift from India to world cricket. When there was clamour for wristspinners well before Champions Trophy, India kept on going with reputation and possibly didn’t want to give out a debut in the Champions Trophy. In times when aggression can easily be mistaken for posturing and only pace, these India spinners are being aggressive with their slowness. And they have full backing from the management.
Month-long red-ball tour will coincide with start of England men’s five-match Test series in India
ESPNcricinfo staff13-Dec-2023England Lions have announced a 15-man squad for their red-ball tour of India in the New Year, designed to run parallel with the men’s five-match Test series at the start of 2024.Hosted entirely in Ahmedabad, the Lions will play a two-day warm-up match against India A, followed by three four-day matches against the same opponents at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The group will be in situ from January 12 to February 4, coinciding with the first Test in Hyderabad (starting January 25) and the first half of the second Test in Visakhapatnam (February 2).The squad will ultimately shadow the main tour and as such has more of a “second XI” feel than the spin and allrounder heavy group who recently completed a three-week training camp in the UAE. Recent Test openers Alex Lees and Keaton Jennings are part of the 15, along with internationally capped fast bowlers Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts and Matt Fisher.Related
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Uncapped Lancashire batter Josh Bohannon, long considered the next cab off the ranks, will captain after leading the County Championship Division One run charts last summer with 1,257 at an average of 59.85 with four centuries. Sussex off-spinner Jack Carson and left-arm orthodox Callum Parkinson, who has moved from Leicestershire to Durham, are also included. Both were shots for the main tour before Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum picked precocious Somerset spinner Shoaib Bashir. James Coles (Sussex) and Dan Mousley (Warwickshire) are the two other slow bowlers in the travelling party.England Men’s performance director Mo Bobat said: “Playing a series in India at any level is a challenge to get excited about, it’s one of the truest tests for any cricketer. It’s great that our Lions team can experience that challenge and have the opportunity to showcase their skills in those conditions.”The squad has a strong core of players in it that were out in Abu Dhabi recently for the training camp, with some of those players already selected into the Test squad. There’s also a return for some more experienced players which aligns with supporting England’s more immediate needs.”England Lions squad: Josh Bohannon (Lancashire, captain), Kasey Aldridge (Somerset), Brydon Carse (Durham), Jack Carson (Sussex), James Coles (Sussex), Matt Fisher (Yorkshire), Keaton Jennings (Lancashire), Tom Lawes (Surrey), Alex Lees (Durham), Dan Mousley (Warwickshire), Callum Parkinson (Durham), Matt Potts (Durham), Ollie Price (Gloucestershire), James Rew (Somerset), Ollie Robinson (Durham)Schedule12-13 January: England Lions v India A, Narendra Modi Stadium – Ground B, Ahmedabad17-20 January: England Lions v India A, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad24-27 January: England Lions v India A, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad1-4 February: England Lions v India A, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Mikel Arteta faces being without an Arsenal star until 2026, with the Spaniard dealt a serious blow after an injury update from N5.
The Gunners are already having to face the notion of this Premier League title race possibly being over, considering Liverpool are now 13 points clear after what has become a disastrous week for Arteta’s side.
£130k-per-week striker dreams of playing for Arsenal as Ayto prepares bid
The Gunners are chasing a centre-forward this summer.
By
Emilio Galantini
Feb 25, 2025
Liverpool travelled to English champions Man City and secured a vital victory at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday before easing past Newcastle on Wednesday evening, taking full advantage of Arsenal’s fumble at home to West Ham followed by a 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest.
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Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League games |
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Man Utd (away) |
March 9th |
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Chelsea (home) |
March 16th |
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April 1st |
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Everton (away) |
April 5th |
Arsenal’s lack of a striking option was on full display once again on Wednesday as they failed to break Forest down time and time again, with makeshift front man Mikel Merino registering their only shot on target after Riccardo Calafiori had hit the post.
Arteta’s best hopes of winning a first piece of major silverware since their FA Cup triumph in 2020 lie in Arsenal’s Champions League campaign, with interim sporting director Jason Ayto planning summer recruitment ahead of a potentially more successful Premier League title challenge next term.
Following long-term injuries to both Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, some reports have even suggested that Arsenal could look to sign two strikers before 2025/2026.
RB Leipzig starlet Benjamin Sesko is apparently a top target for Arteta, with a move for Newcastle United star Alexander Isak appearing too difficult, while it is also believed that Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins remains on Arsenal’s radar after their failed January bid.
Now, according to journalist Steve Kay, the need for a new centre-forward or two is made all the more prevalent by the extent of Jesus’ injury. The £265,0000-per-week striker was just hitting a rich vein of form, before rupturing his ACL during Arsenal’s FA Cup third round defeat to Man United, and it appears he could be out for the foreseeable.
Kay, speaking on KS1 TV, says that Jesus could be out injured for Arsenal until 2026, with the Brazilian facing a leave of absence for the rest of this calendar year in a major blow for the Gunners and Arteta.
“Yeah, with Ollie Watkins. I had a conversation today with the main man, and Arsenal aren’t going away from Ollie Watkins,” said journalist Steve Kay.
“Because of the injury to Gabriel Jesus, he may not be expected back until possibly into 2026, maybe November, late, late. I’ve been told that Ollie Watkins is still on the agenda because they need two strikers.
“That £40m will stay on the table and if Watkins is happy to come, he will come. I’ve also been told this will not affect going in for a main striker like a Sesko. It won’t be any more than £40m. £40m is the only number I know of, it may be a bit lower than that because it’s another year.”
Former New Zealand batter Lou Vincent can resume being involved in domestic cricket or any level below that with immediate effect, after the ECB revised the life ban imposed on him in 2014 for corruption.In a media statement on Friday, the ECB’s Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) said it was revoking the life ban having received from Vincent “compelling evidence demonstrating the very highest levels of contrition and remorse and the very best efforts to make amends wherever possible”.The CDC’s decision comes in response to a “clemency” appeal by Vincent. In 2014, the ECB had imposed a life ban on Vincent barring him from playing cricket at any level, entering any cricket ground, or coaching the game in a professional capacity after he admitted in an open letter that he was a “cheat”. Vincent had been handed 11 life-bans relating to events that occurred during his time at Sussex in 2008 and seven offences committed at the 2011 Champions League Twenty20.Related
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Vincent deserves clemency for speaking out, says McCullum
Vincent's letter: 'My name is Lou Vincent and I am a cheat'
Gerard Elias, representing the CDC, said that it had heard not just Vincent before it’s decision to revise the ban but also the ICC, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and the ECB. Elias said that “cogent and compelling” reasons were needed for the life ban to be downgraded, something Vincent provided. “In particular, this decision was taken in the light of Mr Vincent’s conduct following his sanction,” Elias said, “Namely: full and frank admissions and the fullest disclosures; immediate and total co-operation with cricket and civil authorities in various parts of the world; and, participation in anti-corruption education programmes for NZC and the ECB. I am satisfied that these factors justify an amelioration of the original sanction at this time.”In his first reaction to the relaxation of the life ban, Vincent, who’s now 45, said he was “very fortunate” to be able to return to cricket. “I made a terrible mistake many years ago, which I’ll deeply regret for the rest of my life, and I remain very sorry for the harm I caused,” Vincent said in a statement issued by NZC. “Being able to return to the cricket environment means the world to me and I feel very fortunate to again have that opportunity.”In the years after being banned, Vincent, who last played for New Zealand in 2007, started a new life as a builder in the small town of Raglan, a surfing destination in the Waikato region of New Zealand. Now, one of the things Vincent said he will look forward to is attending cricket matches with his family, something he was barred from during the life ban.Vincent thanked NZC and the New Zealand Players Association (NZPA), as well as his lawyer Chris Morris, for providing support and paving the way for his return. Heath Mills, the NZPA CEO, said Vincent had played a big hand in educating players in all sports about the evils of match-fixing, something the CDC had recognised. “The penalties have been particularly hard on Lou and he’s shown a lot of humility in owning his mistakes and setting about making amends,” Mills said. “I’m pleased the authorities have recognised his contribution to the fight against match-fixing and, also, his ongoing efforts to educate players and administrators around the world on anti-corruption.”NZC CEO Scott Weenink said though Vincent had “made a mistake… he’s given a lot to the game, not least in helping spread the anti-corruption message over the past decade, and it’s good and right that he can be more involved again.”
New Zealand are looking to make it three wins from three and will have captain Kane Williamson back against Bangladesh
ESPNcricinfo staff12-Oct-20231:39
Moody: This Australian team is far from the previous champion sides
–Fixtures | Squads | Points table | Tournament IndexTop Story: Quinton de Kock leads South Africa’s rout of AustraliaIf South Africa really do want to move through this 2023 World Cup under the radar, they must do better than this. Because in wiping the floor with Australia in Lucknow, winning by a mammoth 134 runs for their second victory in as many games, they have put out one hell of a statement that is impossible to ignore.As ever, Quinton de Kock made the most noise, crashing 109 up top as South Africa put up 311 for 7 having been asked to bat first. Australia’s decision at the toss, and the moves to reinforce their batting with Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis drafted in for Alex Carey and Cameron Green, came to nothing. A lack of impetus with the ball and errors in the field spilled into their chase – dead and buried as early as the 18th over at 70 for 6. Two straight defeats mean they can afford little room for error in the remaining seven games of the league stage.Click here for the full reportMatch analysis: Flying under the radar or not, South Africa seem to have figured themselves outSouth Africa were not strongly tipped heading into the World Cup but things are clicking for them•Getty ImagesSouth Africa are also demonstrating qualities of adaptation that are needed in a long tournament across various venues. In Delhi, they picked four seamers and a spinner, in Lucknow, they opted for a three-two combination on a surface that was expected to, and did, offer some turn. By the time Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi were called on, the bulk of the damage was already done and there may still be questions over how quickly they cleaned up the Australian tail. For Kagiso Rabada, South Africa played ‘pretty much the perfect game.”Over the last seven years, they have an exceptional record against Australia and had beaten them in 15 out of 20 ODIs before today, including winning a recent home series 3-2. That was the only competitive cricket South Africa played between April and this World Cup.Australia, on the other hand, have competed in an Ashes, a white-ball series in England and South Africa and played ODIs in India before the tournament and could, understandably, be spent. Their fielding performance suggested as much and the crowd kept a tally of their missed chances and displayed them on a banner to remind them how much they were getting wrong. It would also be that given the recent results, South Africa have figured Australia out. But there’s another option here. It could also be that South Africa have finally figured themselves – the squad that came to this World Cup – out.Read the full analysis from Firdose Moonda in LucknowMust Watch: Dissecting the Steve Smith lbw1:51
Should Smith worry more about the type of dismissal than the decision itself?
News headlines Australia were left asking questions of the third umpire after two controversial decisions in their crushing defeat against South Africa. They were left shocked by Steve Smith’s lbw and confused as to how Marcus Stoinis had been given caught behind.
Chris Woakes has revealed he has been working on a new set of slower deliveries to ensure he is as effective as possible in Indian conditions.
What is going on with ticket sales at this World Cup? Answers have been hard to come by.Match previewBangladesh vs New Zealand, Chennai (2pm IST; 8.30am GMT; 7.30pm AEST)5:38
Kane Williamson on his ACL rehab: ‘A series of really small steps’
The New Zealand juggernaut rolled into Chennai but in typical Kiwi fashion, it was a quiet entrance. New Zealand comfortably knocked over England and Netherlands, and will now take on a Bangladesh side smarting from a big loss against England. The only saving grace for Bangladesh is a Chennai pitch that is likely to help the spinners, but many of the New Zealand players have IPL experience to count on, so they will know what to expect at this venue.Bangladesh’s big defeat against England undid a lot of their good work against Afghanistan in the first match. The pitch certainly differed between the two games in Dharamsala, but Bangladesh didn’t really adapt to the conditions. Their insistence on bowling outside off stump hurt them as they went wicketless going for that bowling line. Taskin Ahmed bowling just six overs, Shakib Al Hasan finishing his ten early and the overuse of offspin against left-handers were the sort of rigid tactics that Bangladesh will not want to repeat.Full previewTeam newsNew Zealand (probable): 1 Devon Conway, 2 Will Young, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Rachin Ravindra, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 6 Daryl Mitchell, 7 Glenn Phillips, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Mark Henry, 10 Lockie Ferguson/Ish Sodhi, 11 Trent BoultBangladesh (probable): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Litton Das, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 5 Towhid Hridoy, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 7 Mehidy Hasan, 8 Mahedi Hasan, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Mustafizur Rahman/Nasum AhmedFeature: Just like that, Williamson is back, bringing the warm glow of the familiarNew Zealand have brought to this World Cup a squad that allows them to bat differently in different conditions, and they’ll be thrilled at the timing of Kane Williamson’s return. They won their first two games while rattling away at well over a run a ball on flat surfaces in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, but Chennai promises to be different. It’s here, perhaps, that they will most need Williamson’s skillset.You don’t need reminding of all the times Williamson’s staying power has won New Zealand World Cup games, but here’s a recap anyway. Auckland, where Mitchell Starc looked all but unstoppable. Birmingham, where Williamson masterminded a seesawing chase of 242. Manchester, where he turned 7 for 2 into a total of 291. Manchester, again, where he scrapped away in seaming conditions to give New Zealand a total they could bowl at.Read the full feature from Karthik Krishnaswamy