Grace Harris had cut loose for defending champions Brisbane Heat but it wasn’t enough while the second game of the day provided an upset
AAP02-Nov-2024
Danni Wyatt-Hodge set up Hobart Hurricanes’ chase•Getty Images
. “Just play attacking cricket but being smart about it. I thought that was probably about par. We knew we could chase that if we put our minds to it and get our heads down. Me and Lizzie just wanted to make the most of the powerplay and stick to our strengths … keep things simple and play aggressive cricket.”Lee’s dismissal for 38 failed to curb the momentum of Wyatt-Hodge, who struck six fours and three sixes in her game-changing innings. Heat removed Nicola Carey, victim to a sensational catch from Nadine de Klerk, and Wyatt-Hodge then continued to rally, leaving Hobart with a tricky equation of 33 runs from the final three overs.Legspinner Grace Parsons’ economical haul of 1 for 15 from four overs, including the all-important scalp of Wyatt-Hodge, gave Heat genuine hope of victory. But Elyse Villani’s reverse-swept boundary, her second four in a dramatic final over delivered by Charli Knott, secured the win.Courtney Webb led Melbourne Renegades’ chase•Getty Images
Melbourne Renegades’ comfortable triumph over Perth Scorchers could prove one of the shocks of this season. Beaten in both of their opening games and wooden-spooners last year, Renegades bowled superbly to have heavyweights Scorchers all out for 140.Sophie Molineux was particularly brilliant with a tournament-best 4 for 17 from her four overs, bowling Amy Jones and Chloe Piparo in the middle before helping clean up the tail.All 10 of the Scorchers’ wickets fell to spin, with Hayley Matthews, Alice Capsey and Georgia Wareham taking two each as the pressure continually told.Beth Mooney hit 36 up top for the Scorchers, but after she fell trying to scoop Capsey it was only Alana King (26 off 15) that truly got going.Renegades then made light work of the chase, with Courtney Webb hitting Chloe Ainsworth over the long-on rope in the first over and taking 12 off the next from spinner Lilly Mills.In her 79th WBBL match, Webb finished with her highest score of 61, dominating a 102-run opening stand with Matthews that helped Renegades to victory with 14 balls to spare.The result leaves Sydney Thunder top of the ladder ahead of Heat with two wins and one loss, while two-time defending champions Adelaide Strikers are last with a 1-2 record early in the shortened 10-round season.
تحدث ديكو، المدير الرياضي لنادي برشلونة عن أهداف الموسم الحالي للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بقيادة هانز فليك ومواجهة باريس سان جيرمان في دوري أبطال أوروبا.
وأجري ديكو حوارًا مطولًا مع صحيفة “لانس” البرازيلية، كشف خلاله أبرز ملفات فريق كرة القدم وتجديد اللاعبين ومدى ترابطهم بالمدرب هانز فليك وطموحات الفريق للموسم الحالي.
وقال ديكو عن أهداف الموسم الحالي في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو”: “هناك العديد من الفرق التي عززت صفوفها بشكل ممتاز، مثل ليفربول الذي تعاقد مع لاعبين جدد، وريال مدريد أيضًا، الفرق كلها أفضل، علينا أن نكون أقوياء للغاية إذا أردنا التأهل إلى النهائي”.
وأكمل: “باريس سان جيرمان فريق رائع، لقد نجحوا في بناء فريق قوي في السنوات الأخيرة، وأجروا التعاقدات المناسبة، ولديهم مدرب أحبه حقًا، يتميز بالتنافسية والجدية، وهم من أبرز المرشحين للفوز بدوري أبطال أوروبا مجددًا، ستكون مباراة جيدة وجذابة للجمهور لكنها أقرب إلى مباراة تأهيلية”.
وأردف: “علينا أن نتعامل مع كل مباراة على حدة، لا جدوى من الحلم بدوري أبطال أوروبا إذا لم نتجاوز دور المجموعات، إنها مباراة جيدة لكننا سنسعى جاهدين لحصد النقاط لتحقيق هدفنا وهو التأهل”.
وعن تغيير معايير دوري أبطال أوروبا والذي يسمح لأصحاب المركز الأول والثاني في مرحلة الدوري بالاحتفاظ بأفضلية اللعب على أرضهما حتى نصف النهائي: “أعتقد أن الموسم الماضي كان غير عادل في المباريات خارج أرضنا، لقد فُقدت ميزة التواجد بين أفضل 8 فرق لفترة”.
اقرأ أيضًا | ديكو يتحدث عن مستقبل دي يونج وليفاندوفسكي ويؤكد: لاعب برشلونة رحل من باب الامتنان
واستطرد: “لعبنا جميع مباريات الإياب تقريبًا من دور المجموعات خارج أرضنا مثل ربع النهائي ونصف النهائي، كنت أعتقد أن أفضل الفرق يجب أن تتمتع بهذه الميزة، لقد صححوا ذلك هذا العام لذلك هناك دائمًا مجال للتحسين لكنني معجب بهذا النموذج”.
وعن فترة تدريب تشافي للفريق: “كان مهمًا في عصره، فقد جلب الاستقرار وحقق الفوز، هذا الانتقال من تشافي إلى هانز، ربما كنا نعتقد آنذاك أننا بحاجة إلى شخص يتمتع بمهارات إدارية مختلفة لأسباب عديدة، أعتقد أنه كان مناسبًا تمامًا في النهاية، سارت الأمور على ما يرام”.
واستطرد: “هانز فليك مدرب عصري، عمل لفترة طويلة كمدرب مساعد في المنتخب الألماني، حقق نجاحًا باهرًا مع ألمانيا ثم مع بايرن، كان بايرن فريقًا يلعب بأسلوب لعب هجومي، وخطة لعب واضحة وهجومية، وهو ما يشبه إلى حد ما فكرة برشلونة”.
وأردف: “يمكن الجدال حول الجودة لكنك لا ترى فريقًا دفاعيًا، تمكن هانز من تحسين وتعظيم إمكانيات اللاعبين الذين كنا نملكهم، أعتقد أن هذا كان مفتاح نجاح الموسم الماضي”.
وعن دور تياجو ألكانتارا كمساعد لـ فليك: “عندما وصل هانز، ساعده لمدة تزيد قليلًا عن شهر، كانت تلك فترة انتقالية بعد رحيله وبفضل العلاقة التي جمعتنا، ضمه هانز إلى الجهاز الفني، وكان بالغ الأهمية في البداية”.
وأتم: “ثم لأسباب شخصية، لم يستطع، إذ كان لا يزال يقيم في إنجلترا، كانت هناك دائمًا إمكانية لعودته وهذا التزام المدرب، ونحن نحترمه، تياجو شخص يعرف النادي جيدًا، شخص جيد، وسيساهم بشكل إيجابي كثيرًا، أعتقد أن سلامة المدرب وراحته أمران أساسيان بالنسبة لنا والنادي يدعمه تمامًا”.
Fast bowler is understood to have made considerable progress in his recovery after an ankle surgery
Shashank Kishore09-Aug-2024India fast bowler Mohammed Shami has made considerable progress in his recovery from an ankle injury that has sidelined him from cricket since the ODI World Cup last November. The hope is that he will be ready to play India’s home season, which begins with a Test series against Bangladesh in September.The selectors have been apprised of Shami’s progress and a decision on whether he should play at least one of the Duleep Trophy matches, beginning on September 5 in Anantapur, to prove his fitness will be taken soon.Shami is currently in his final stages of rehab at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Last month, he had resumed bowling for the first time since his surgery and is understood to have slowly built up his bowling workload after being pain free.Related
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Prior to India’s departure for the tour of Sri Lanka in July, chief selector Ajit Agarkar had confirmed Shami had “started to bowl” and the first Test against Bangladesh starting on September 19 in Chennai “was always the goal” for his comeback.”We more or less know who the guys are, there are some injuries at the moment and hope they will be back up,” Agarkar had said. “Shami has started to bowl which is a good sign. September 19 is the first Test and that was always the goal. I don’t know if that is his timeline for recovery, will have to ask the guys at the NCA about that.”There are so many Tests coming. We will need some depth. Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj have been around for a while, these are the obvious ones. But there will be some conversation around it. Got a lot of first-class cricket coming up so we can build guys up like that.”Mohammed Shami was the highest wicket-taker in the 2023 ODI World Cup•AFP/Getty ImagesLate last month in Kolkata, Shami had expressed hope of playing for Bengal first before returning to the national team, while he took part informally in a few motivational and fitness sessions for the state players.Even if Shami misses some or all of India’s home Tests – two against Bangladesh and three against New Zealand – he still has enough time to build his bowling rhythm for the tour of Australia, for which the team will depart shortly after the third Test against New Zealand ends on November 5. There is the Ranji Trophy beginning in October, following the BCCI’s decision to split the first-class competition into two halves to prevent matches being affected by weather disruptions, especially during winter in north India. India’s A team will also play two first-class games in Australia from October 31, giving Shami plenty of opportunities should he need them.The ankle injury, which came to light soon after the 2023 ODI World Cup, was initially believed to be not so severe. Shami had been included in India’s Test squad for the two-match series in South Africa in December-January subject to fitness. He was subsequently withdrawn from the tour.Shami went back to the NCA in the hope of recovering for the home Tests against England in February-March, but was advised surgery after he experienced continuous swelling on his right ankle, forcing him to miss the series and IPL 2024 for Gujarat Titans.Shami was a key player in India’s run to the final of the ODI World Cup, taking 24 wickets in just seven games at an average of 10.70 and strike rate of 12.20.
Derby County face Blackburn Rovers in the race to sign a versatile midfielder with the same agent as Craig Forsyth, according to a new report.
Forsyth signs new Derby contract as Eustace targets attackers
Earlier this week, Derby announced that experienced defender Forsyth has signed a new two-year contract to remain with the Rams. The left-back’s contract was set to expire at the end of this month, but John Eustace, who was a teammate of Forsyth’s during his playing career, has decided to keep the 36-year-old at the club until 2027.
Derby County now want "fantastic" Blackburn star loved by John Eustace
The Rams could strike in a headline deal…
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Forsyth played 39 times for the Rams in the Championship last season, as they avoided relegation to League One. In those appearances, the defender managed to score an impressive three goals and grab four assists. This latest contract will see Forsyth extend his football career to 20 years, and this contract will also see Derby support him in getting his coaching qualifications.
As Eustace decides to keep valuable experience in his defence, in a fan forum held at Pride Park, the Derby boss has revealed that signing new attackers is a priority for the club this summer, given their lack of goals last season.
Derby County manager JohnEustace
Eustace said, via BBC Sport: “I’d love to play a back four, some exciting attacking wingers and two good strikers.”
This comes as the Rams have agreed a deal with Luton Town to sign striker Carlton Morris, who is set to undergo his medical once he returns from holiday.
Derby face Blackburn in race to sign Russell
The arrivals at Pride Park don’t look to be stopping there, as according to Football League World, Derby are keen on signing midfielder Jon Russell from League One side Barnsley.
It isn’t just the Rams looking at the 24-year-old however; Blackburn Rovers, Oxford United and Stoke City are also keeping an eye on the player’s situation ahead of a potential move.
Russell, who is a former Chelsea academy graduate, has been with the Tykes since January 2023, when he joined from Huddersfield Town.
The Jamaica international has been a key contributor for Barnsley in his two full seasons at the club – he played 31 times during the 2023/24 League One season, as Barnsley reached the play-offs. He then bettered that last term, as he played 40 times in the league, scoring an impressive 11 goals, as well as grabbing two assists.
Apps
40
Starts
34
Goals
11
Chance conversion
19%
Assists
2
Touches per game
38.9
Key passes per game
0.8
Big chances created
4
Duels per game (won)
4.0 (50%)
This report doesn’t claim how much the League One side would want for Russell, but given his contract expires next summer, Barnsley may have to consider cashing in on the midfielder now, before he leaves for nothing.
In further good news for Derby, they may hold an advantage in this race, as Russell, who can play in a defensive role as well as an advanced role in midfield, has the same representatives, Two Touch Agency, as Derby defender Forsyth, who they have of course recently concluded positive talks with.
Liverpool’s summer transfer window is beginning to form a coherent picture, with FSG acting quickly to tidy up the defensive flanks and get the mammoth deal for Florian Wirtz over the line.
The Bayer Leverkusen superstar gave curious Liverpool supporters a taste of his quality during Germany’s Nations League semi-final tie against Portugal this week, scoring during the 2-1 loss.
Florian Wirtz – Stats vs Germany
Stats
#
Minutes played
90′
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots (on target)
2 (2)
Accurate passes
32/42 (76%)
Key passes
0
Dribbles
3/5
Tackles
3
Duels won
9/16
Stats via Sofascore
His intelligence, tenacity and movement underscored the playmaker’s ability, having been utterly fantastic during his time in Leverkusen’s squad, winning the 2023/24 Bundesliga Player of the Year after triumphing as an invincible before claiming more Man of the Match awards than any other player across this term’s Champions League campaign.
We’re a whisker away from a positive development in Liverpool’s bid to secure a marquee deal, but it might be a case of one out, one in.
While the Wirtz deal won’t have any bearing on the potential sale of Luis Diaz, the Colombian’s departure is something to consider.
The latest on Luis Diaz's future
On Thursday, Liverpool rejected an approach from Barcelona for forward Diaz, who scored 17 goals and laid on eight assists for Slot’s side this year.
The 28-year-old, who is entering the penultimate year of his contract, will only be allowed to leave if Liverpool are offered a significant sum; the Saudi Pro League have known admirers of the South American talent.
Though the thought of Diaz and Wirtz combining in a new-look Liverpool frontline is exciting, there may well be an opportunity to secure a new, younger signature.
Liverpool forward Luis Diaz
FSG’s no-sell stance is laced with the undertow of an openness, should the right offer be tabled.
Especially when talks have been held for an almighty replacement on the left flank.
Liverpool hold talks for marquee signing
According to transfer insider Ben Jacobs, Liverpool held discussions concerning Real Madrid’s Rodrygo last month, their intrigue persisting after initially drawing him up as a Mohamed Salah successor, should the Egyptian have left this summer.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Arsenal would be Anfield’s most notable rival in the race, and though the Gunners have a vested interest, they have not yet launched an official bid for the Brazil forward.
Rodrygo, 24, has become disillusioned with life at Santiago Bernabeu, frustrated to be perceived to be in the shadow of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham.
For their part, Real no longer consider Rodrygo untouchable, but would only cash in if their €100m (about £84m) valuation was met.
What Rodrygo would bring to Liverpool
While the jury will remain out for a little while as Xabi Alonso’s plans at Real Madrid begin to shape up, it’s difficult to imagine the Spanish tactician will remove Vini Jr. from his left-sided berth.
This could lead Rodrygo to make the eventual decision to leave Los Blancos, having featured 267 times, posting 118 goal contributions, for the club since signing from Santos for a £39.5m fee when he was just 18.
However, most of those outings have come off the right wing, whereas the right-footed forward prefers the alternate side as he feels it is here he reaches his zenith.
Rodrygo – Real Madrid Stats by Position (24/25)
Position
Apps
Goals
Assists
Right winger
29
7
4
Left winger
12
6
6
Centre-forward
8
–
–
Stats via Transfermarkt
If the 2024/25 campaign has any say on the matter, it certainly looks like this is the case, which is why Liverpool could hit the jackpot in bringing Rodrygo over as Diaz’s heir.
Especially when considering the partnership that could be forged with Wirtz, the two starring in the Champions League and driving Anfield through the domestic campaign.
Wirtz brings so much to the game, astounding in his creative output and indeed willingness to take on his man and drive the ball into the danger area himself.
The German international ranked among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Bundesliga this season for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for progressive passes and progressive carries, and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.
For a gifted and technically crisp winger in Rodrygo, this could be a brilliant way to add intensity and fluency to an already thriving Liverpool frontline. Rodrygo, indeed, is a natural-born goalscorer, with his finishing once described as being “terrifyingly good” by journalist Sam Tighe.
Though he only managed to score six goals in La Liga this season, the “special” Rodrygo, as he has been praised by Carlo Ancelotti, only missed one big chance, as per Sofascore, highlighting the underlying data that Wirtz’s prowess would only enhance at Liverpool. Wirtz, in fact, created 17 big chances and supplied 12 assists in the Bundesliga this term despite only starting 25 matches.
Whether Liverpool act on their interest and launch a big-money bid for the star remains to be seen, but there’s no question he would be an incredible addition to one of the best teams in the world.
Bayer Leverkusen's FlorianWirtzreacts
For now, we will have to wait and see whether FSG accelerate their intrigue in the superstar, but with Arsenal keen and yet to show their hand in the transfer market, it would certainly help if sporting director Richard Hughes could draw rumours over Diaz’s future to a close.
If a suitable offer does arrive, Rodrygo might just follow Wirtz through the Anfield gates, consolidating Slot’s team as a goliath of the modern European game – here to stay.
Caicedo revenge: Liverpool can hijack Chelsea move for "England's best LW"
Liverpool winger Luis Diaz faces an uncertain future with firm interest in his signature.
Tottenham Hotspur are now eager to sign the Premier League’s “best” right-back, and they are expected to open agent talks soon, according to a report.
Spurs pursuing full-backs amid Udogie interest
Tottenham’s performances in the Premier League this season are a major cause for concern, but Destiny Udogie has done enough to attract the attention of Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola’s side pushing to sign the 22-year-old.
As such, Ange Postecoglou may be tasked with bringing in a new left-back this summer, should the 59-year-old remain in his post as manager, and AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez has now been identified as a key target.
There have also been suggestions that Spurs could look to strengthen on the opposite side of defence this summer, having opened talks to sign Flamengo right-back Wesley Franca last month, and a new target has now entered the frame alongside the Brazilian.
Kroos loves him: Tottenham keen to sign £8m midfielder who PSG also want
Spurs are in the race for a midfielder, who is also being targeted by Premier League rivals Chelsea.
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Dominic Lund
Apr 20, 2025
According to a report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are now eager to sign Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina, with the Nigerian’s performances this season catching the eye of a whole host of Premier League clubs.
Newcastle United, Liverpool and Chelsea are also named as potential suitors for the defender, so there could be fierce competition for his signature this summer, and there is also a chance he remains at the City Ground.
Ola Aina with Chris Wood for Nottingham Forest.
Forest are looking to offer Aina a new long-term contract, in a bid to ward off the interest from elsewhere, but it could be difficult to retain his services, with Spurs expected to open agent talks in the near future.
The right-back’s current deal is set to expire at the end of the summer, which means he could be available on a free transfer, should he fail to agree fresh terms with Forest.
Tottenham Hotspur’s upcoming fixtures
Date
Liverpool (a)
April 27th
Bodo/Glimt (h)
May 1st
West Ham United (a)
May 4th
Bodo/Glimt (a)
May 8th
Crystal Palace (h)
May 11th
Aina now among Premier League's "best" right-backs
The 28-year-old has enjoyed a steady rise to the top, spending time with Hull City, Fulham and Torino before establishing himself as a key player for Champions League-chasing Forest in the Premier League this season.
Having impressed for the Tricky Trees, the London-born defender has been described as “the best right-back in the Premier League” by former Nigeria international Julius Aghahowa, proving himself as “effective” in both defence and attack.
Pedro Porro has received criticism for some of his defensive performances at times this season, which suggests it could be wise for Tottenham to bring in a new right-back this summer, despite Djed Spence being one of their “best performers”.
Aina has proven himself to be one of the best options available, given the level of his performances this season, and his potential availability on a free transfer is an added bonus for Tottenham.
Arsenal are now readying a £30m bid for an attacking midfielder, who plays for one of their Premier League rivals, and there is a feeling it could be accepted, according to a report.
Gunners looking to strengthen in attack
As we edge closer to the end of the Premier League season, it is becoming more apparent the Gunners need to bring in reinforcements in attacking areas this summer, with Mikel Arteta once again having to make do without a striker yesterday afternoon.
Arteta’s side dropped another two points in the Premier League title race at Goodison Park, although Leandro Trossard did manage to get on the scoresheet in the 1-1 draw against Everton, which left them 11 points behind Liverpool.
A new striker is of particular interest to Arteta, and three centre-forwards continue to be linked with moves to the Emirates Stadium, namely Viktor Gyokeres, Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko.
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However, with Bukayo Saka’s absence exposing the lack of depth in the squad earlier this season, a winger could also be brought in by new sporting director Andrea Berta, with Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams now thought to be interested in making the move to north London.
According to a report from Spain, Arsenal and Berta may want to bring in another attacking midfielder and are readying a €35m (£30m) bid for Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss.
Leicester City's BilalElKhannoussin action
El Khannouss could be set to leave Leicester at the end of the season, with his side now looking very likely to be relegated from the Premier League, and the Gunners have seemingly offered him an escape route.
The north Londoners believe the Moroccan has great potential, and there is a feeling Leicester could be willing to cash in, given their difficult financial situation amid impending relegation to the Championship.
"Special" El Khannouss needs to leave this summer
It hasn’t been the best of debut campaigns in the Premier League for the 20-year-old, having picked up just two goals and one assist, however, it was always going to be a tall order to stand out in such a poor side.
With the Foxes set to be relegated, the Belgian-born starlet needs to move on this summer, and there are indications he could be a solid signing for Arsenal, having been lauded as a “special” player by some members of the media.
Freelance scout Ben Mattinson also speaks very highly of the attacking midfielder, which suggests his attacking numbers could increase dramatically if he played in a better side.
A new striker should be Arsenal’s priority for the summer, but it is promising news that El Khannouss is also being targeted, given the lack of depth in attacking areas.
Mining the talent pool is top of mind for both teams with an eye out for the T20 World Cup in 2026
Firdose Moonda26-Sep-2024It’s time for a fresh start in the shortest format for both Ireland and South Africa after they experienced contrasting fortunes at this year’s T20 World Cup. While Ireland (admittedly in a tough pool) lost all three matches they played – including one to Canada, South Africa went where they have never gone before and reached the final, only to fall agonisingly short of the trophy.Their snatching-victories-from-the-jaws-of-defeat run lasted eight matches and proved they can step up when the moment calls for it, but maybe not always otherwise. They were blanked 3-nil by West Indies either side of the tournament and while those defeats could be explained by South Africa not having their first-choice squads available, they also pose worrying questions about their depth.Mining the talent pool is top of mind for both teams as they look ahead to the 2026 edition of the T20 World Cup, which means there are certain boxes they’ll hope to tick in this two-match series.Related
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Ireland to host South Africa in Abu Dhabi
By the way, if you’re wondering why these matches are taking place in the UAE, and not in either of the two countries playing, it is because Ireland were due to host this series and had to come up with what their CEO Warren Deutrom called a “creative way to overcome infrastructure constraints,” which is another way of saying it’s more affordable to play in the UAE. If that sounds difficult to believe, consider that Ireland do not have a permanent home stadium and have to pay rent and bring in temporary facilities every time they play at home, and it’ll all add up. While Ireland are building a new stadium that will be functioning by 2028, the fact that Abu Dhabi is more economical as a venue currently tells you something.Will conditions be the great leveller?The almost-40 degree heat and slow, dry surfaces are foreign to both South Africa and Ireland, and could bring the sides closer together. As things stand, they are as far apart as two teams could on the T20I competitive scale as South Africa have won all five of the games they’ve played against each other. They also have the advantage of having been in the UAE for an extra week so the heat feels “a little bit more normal,” according to captain Aiden Markram.For their part, Ireland are not complaining about the lack of home comforts, as they see the importance of experience in conditions they will come across at the next T20 World Cup, hosted by Sri Lanka and India, in particular.”It helps for a number of reasons. We play a lot away from home now, so it’s getting used to new conditions again and we’re playing a lot on the subcontinent where huge competitions are going to happen in the future, and the next T20 World Cup is the main one,” Paul Stirling, Ireland’s captain said. “It has its advantages and I think as an organisation we need to get that balance right. You want to play in front of your home supporters and your home crowd but I think it’s okay if you occasionally play the odd away game, which is your home series.”Ireland exploring top-order options – and South Africa should tooAndy Balbirnie is Ireland’s leading run-scorer in T20 cricket this year, with 298 runs from 12 matches, but has been left out of these matches as Ireland focus on “introducing a new dynamic,” according to national selector Andrew White. Balbirnie’s strike rate of 113.74 from his 12 matches in 2024 suggests Ireland want more firepower upfront. Heinrich Malan confirmed that Lorcan Tucker, with a T20I strike rate of 123.32, will open the batting for the first time with Harry Tector, Curtis Campher and Neil Rock to come in at No.3, 4 and 5.Likewise, South Africa may find themselves at a crossroads with Reeza Hendricks, who has struggled through much of this year. He has only gone past 20 five times in fifteen T20Is and faces competition from Matthew Breetzke and Ryan Rickelton. The problem is neither Breetzke nor Rickelton, who have dominated run-charts at domestic level, have made the most of his international opportunities. Breetzke has a top score of 19 from six T20Is and Rickelton a top score of 27 from six T20Is. This is the series for at least two of three to make the opening spot their own.Some relief from spin for South Africa (or maybe not) Just last week, South Africa registered their second-worst performance against spin in any bilateral series where at least 40 overs of spin were bowled at them. Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Nangeyalia Kharote and Mohammad Nabi took 16 South African wickets between them in three ODIs. What was clear from the way the South African batters were dismissed was their struggles in reading the turn, especially against Ghazanfar, a mystery offspinner, who coach Rob Walter said they had not seen before.They won’t want to use the same excuse against Ireland and to a large extent, they can’t. South Africa have played against George Dockrell and Ben White and the other spinner Gareth Delaney, has not made the trip after suffering what captain Stirling called an “unfortunate accident,” in the last week. That leaves left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys, who has one T20I cap, and Gavin Hoey, who has flown in for the T20Is, as an unknown. And, no disrespect to Ireland, but this quartet is not expected to pose quite the same challenge as Afghanistan, even in what could be favourable conditions. This may be South Africa’s opportunity to re-find their confidence against spin and show that things are not quite as bad as they seemed against Afghanistan.Who’s got the variations?Seamers have been seen to suffer on surfaces in the UAE unless they have an adequate number of variations, and it will be interesting to see how they approach things in this series. Lungi Ngidi set the tone in the series against Afghanistan, in Sharjah, where he delivered a selection of offcutters and proved difficult to get away. South Africa didn’t use either of Ottneil Baartman or Lizaad Williams in those matches, but both are capable of doing the same and should be given a run in these games.Ireland are without left-armer Josh Little, who is at the CPL, and will lean on Craig Young and Fionn Hand, both swing bowlers who may be able to make things happen under lights but all eyes will be on Mark Adair. He enjoys the challenge of the death overs, has a wide range of deliveries in his arsenal and is a genuine wicket-taker, who last year became the sixth-fastest to 100 in T20Is. Expect some fireworks.
History will remember that they fell short by five runs in the semi-final but it was much, much more than that
Firdose Moonda24-Feb-20232:45
Baynes: Australia’s death bowling the difference
India arrived in South Africa with what seemed like a date with destiny. On the eve of the long-awaited WPL, with more money and interest in the women’s game in their country than ever before, they were expected to break Australia’s hegemony on the title and announce themselves as a new global powerhouse.History will remember that they fell short by five runs, but it was much, much more than that. From the start of the tournament, they were under unexpected pressure but every time they were knocked down, they found a way to come back. Until today.Their captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s best effort in the tournament was not enough to take India to a second successive T20 World Cup final as she journeyed on a winding path to an ultimately heartbreaking defeat. India land in South Africa to play a tri-series against the World Cup hosts and West Indies in preparation for the global tournament. Harmanpreet misses the first match with an injury, then struggles with a shoulder problem and picks up an illness too.Related
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Her team-mate Jemimah Rodrigues expressed her concern: “Harry , from the time she has come here, she has been falling sick. She has injuries. I have hardly seen her bat in the nets because something or the other was happening to her. Imagine the kind of thing she was going through, mentally.”Despite that, Harmanpreet played every match in the group stage of the World Cup. She didn’t score a lot of runs. She only crossed 20 once in four visits to the crease, but there was a sense she was saving her best for when it mattered most: the knockouts. Harmanpreet develops a fever.”I had to visit the hospital [on Wednesday],” she would reveal later. “We had some paracetamol there because at that time, my body temperature was going up and down. But I think it happens sometimes when the weather changes; in South Africa, sometimes it is very hot and sometimes it is very cold.”Harmanpreet Kaur’s bat got stuck in the pitch, leading to her run-out•ICC/Getty Images No one in the Indian team knows if their captain is well enough to lead them.”Honestly, until the team meeting, we didn’t even know whether she would play because she just kept it to herself,” Rodrigues said. “I had just stepped out of my room and I saw her carrying her own kit bag and I was like, ‘Yes, this is it.’An hour before play, Harmanpreet called her team into a huddle.”She said to us, ‘I am very proud of this team and I am very proud to lead this team’,” Rodrigues said. Rodrigues and Harmanpreet put on a 69-run stand for the fourth wicket and scored at a rate of more than ten runs an over. India were ahead of Australia in the chase but then Rodrigues was caught behind attempting to ramp Darcie Brown, and Harmanpreet’s bat got stuck in the ground as she tried to slide it into the crease while trying to complete a second run. After their captain’s run-out, India’s chase started falling apart.”A little bit here or there and the ball would have been over the keeper’s head. The shot was still on and the intent was there,” Rodrigues said of her dismissal. “And Harman was very unfortunate. It was not in our control.”As Harmanpreet walked off, she flung her bat on to the turf.
Later, in the mixed zone, Rodrigues is asked what she wants to do as soon as she gets back to her hotel. “I just want to cry,” she says
“It was a disappointment because the way I was batting, maybe that was the only way I could have got out. Otherwise, the way I was hitting the ball, I knew how to take this chase till the end,” Harmanpreet said. “From the Australian team’s body language, it looked like they had given up. But the moment I got out, the momentum shifted from India to Australia, I personally felt it was a turning point.”But India needed only 40 runs off 32 balls after Harmanpreet’s dismissal and there was a sense they could have got there.”To come out there and the way Harry played, it speaks so much about her mental strength and determination,” Rodrigues said. “She’s very passionate about the sport, very passionate about this team and very passionate about winning.”India spent the rest of the innings on the edge of their seats as they watched Deepti Sharma take them as close as she could but the evening ended in tears. At the post-match presentation, Harmanpreet wore sunglasses to hide hers. Later, in the mixed zone, Rodrigues was asked what she wanted to do as soon as she got back to her hotel. “I just want to cry,” she said.She was asked more questions, some about the WPL, others about whether this defeat brought back bad memories that she had hoped to shelve away. Eventually, a wearing Rodrigues told reporters it was “too soon for me to process everything” and she was “not in the headspace right now”, but that “every loss hurts”. For her, and every member of the squad.”In the change room now, everyone’s disappointed. Nobody’s even talking to each other. But at the same time, this is like a learning experience.”Harmanpreet Kaur, Yastika Bhatia and Shafali Verma are dejected after the loss•ICC/Getty ImagesIn the moments after one of their most painful setbacks, the last thing India wanted was to talk about it publicly, but such is the life of a professional sportsperson. Their every moment must be analysed and dissected – India’s fielding is one of the areas that will come under the microscope most starkly – and everything explained even if the players can’t quite come up with the explanations themselves.”I don’t know what to say,” Rodrigues said. “It’s important after such losses to give people space. That is most important. We feel for each other. Today also it was like we will go and give our life out there – that’s the kind of bond we have. But it’s also good to respect each other. I’m sure everyone’s going to vent when they go back to their room but for now, they are just trying to be strong for each other.”By the time you read this, India might have come to terms with their defeat. Harmanpreet may have done what she said she would in the press conference: “accept whatever happened”. She may even have moved past the point of puzzlement she found herself in after the game. “I don’t understand how this is going on,” she said. “I think we played good cricket. That’s all I can say.”But there is a silver lining. “This team shows a lot of promise,” Rodrigues said. “If you go see it, our average age is around 22 to 24. Imagine two years down the line, and this will be the team that will be dominating the world.”India leave this World Cup wounded but with a young squad and a shiny, new franchise league at their doorstep, they have the ingredients to go all the way next time, and many times after that.
Team faces questions around captaincy and fast-bowling combination ahead of IPL 2021
Sruthi Ravindranath02-Nov-20203:37
Aakash Chopra: Rajasthan Royals’ bowling attack didn’t have enough
Where did they finish?
They finished last, with six wins in 14 games and a net run rate of -0.569.What went right?
Jofra Archer’s brilliance with the ball – and at times with the bat – throughout the tournament, along with some outstanding individual performances from a few batsmen and spinners.An in-form Sanju Samson got their campaign off to a rollicking start with two big wins. Rahul Tewatia came along and produced the innings to remember from IPL 2020. They were on the top of the table one week into the tournament, and there were questions about whether they were missing Ben Stokes at all.However, their campaign derailed a bit from there, with four consecutive losses, before reviving with a superb chase led by the young Riyan Parag against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Later, there was a masterclass from Stokes against the Mumbai Indians in a tall chase. He played another match-winning innings against the Kings XI in their penultimate fixture.Royals have been a side known for promoting young Indian talent, and there was some of that time around too. Kartik Tyagi – whom they picked in the last auction – and Parag provided a glimpse of a bright futures.What went wrong?For one, they never got their batting order right. The inconsistency in their performances, to a significant degree, could be down to the constant chopping and changing. They never quite settled on an opening combination until the very end, trying five different combinations at the top.A few questionable captaincy decisions also hurt them at crucial moments in a few matches – for instance, bowling Jaydev Unadkat instead of Archer in the penultimate over against the Royal Challengers when the Royals had 35 to defend, and not giving Archer another over in the powerplay against the Delhi Capitals when he had picked up two early wickets. Steven Smith had a dull season with the bat, to boot, so having him as captain meant the other overseas options such as Tom Curran, David Miller and Oshane Thomas got few or no chances at all, especially after Stokes’ arrival.Key numbers
Archer finished with 20 wickets in the tournament while the other seven fast bowlers in the side tallied just 21
Tewatia finished the league stage as the only Indian player to score over 200 runs and get 10 wickets in IPL 2020
Star performersNeed early wickets? Want to rattle a set, experienced batsman? Want to keep the opposition quiet in the death overs? Call Jofra.Fast bowlers, in general, had a great tournament, but Archer was on a different level. He carried the team’s bowling load single-handedly, impressing in the powerplay and at the death alike. He bowled regularly in excess of 145kph, used the bouncer to full effect and nailed the yorkers consistently. He conceded just 4.34 runs per over in the powerplay – the best in the period this season; in fact, he has the best economy rate (5.35) for a fast bowler in this phase in the IPL overall (minimum 100 balls bowled).Tewatia was a revelation for the Royals this season. The superb comeback he staged in the match against Kings XI made oppositions wary of him in the games to follow. Still, he was the complete all-round package for the Royals – he was explosive with the bat and also had good returns with his legspin on a few occasions. He racked up 255 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 139 and finished with 10 wickets. After the Royals crashed out with a loss to the Kolkata Knight Riders, Smith conceded that there was not enough support for Archer and Tewatia, especially from the top-order batsmen.What needs immediate fixing?A change in captaincy – albeit unlikely – could possibly help them. If the mega auction does happen before the next season, they can look to rope in an Indian captain. They have one of the best overseas units in the tournament so having an Indian captain could help rotate and utilise their overseas options more effectively.They are also in need of an experienced Indian or an overseas fast bowler to bowl alongside Archer, especially at the death. Tyagi, although quite impressive at times, is a tad too inexperienced to share the load, while the likes of Unadkat, Ankit Rajpoot and Varun Aaron were expensive.