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O treinador Gerson Gusmão foi um dos principais nomes no Operário na escalada da equipe até a segunda divisão do futebol nacional. A equipe estava na Série D quando foi assumida pelo comandante em 2016. Foram quatro anos e seis meses à frente do Fantasma, que renderam ao treinador os grandes números de 168 jogos, 86 vitórias, 45 empates e 37 derrotas.

RelacionadasFutebol NacionalFora de casa, Operário supera o Botafogo no encerramento da Série BFutebol Nacional29/01/2021Operário PRAtacante Rafael Oller recebe sondagens de clubes da Série A e do exteriorOperário PR27/01/2021

>Tabela dos confrontos da Copa do Brasil

Entretanto, Gerson acabou deixando o cargo da equipe em meio à campanha da Série B de 2020 após uma derrota para o Cruzeiro, comandado na época por Felipão.

Hoje sem clube, o técnico já recebeu sondagens de equipes da Série B e Série C do Campeonato Brasileiro, mas o negócio acabou não se concretizando. O profissional de 46 anos de idade ainda falou sobre como tem aproveitado o tempo disponível para evoluir e o que aprendeu após deixar um trabalho de anos.

– A gente consegue fazer uma análise mais precisa, mais ajustada de tudo que está acontecendo no futebol. Então estou procurando acompanhar bastante, assistir bastante jogos, ver algumas situação de posicionamento, estrutura de equipe, para que a gente possa estar sempre aprendendo e melhorando. Então esse tempo está sendo importante para que eu possa aprofundar meus conhecimentos, meus conceitos, para que depois sim que eu estiver trabalho conseguir ajustar algumas coisas – disse.

Atualmente comandado por Matheus Costa, o Fantasma joga pela próxima vez na Copa do Brasil (o Paranaense ainda tenta conciliar sua agenda com as prefeituras que autorizam a disputa de jogos em seu território) contra o Juventude Samas-MA no próximo dia 17 de março às 15h30 (de Brasília).

Buttler scores second-fastest England ODI ton as Pakistan fall just 12 runs short of giant target to give hosts 1-0 series lead

George Dobell at the Ageas Bowl11-May-2019

Jos Buttler brings out a baby-rocking celebration for this hundred•AFP

Eoin Morgan praised Jos Buttler as “the difference between the teams” as England won a run-drenched match at the Ageas Bowl.Buttler thrashed a 50-ball century – the 10th quickest in the history of ODI cricket – to help England to their seventh-highest total in this format of the game.England plundered 74 from the final five overs of their innings (and 101 from the final eight) to register their 14th score in excess of 350 in 85 innings since the 2015 World Cup. To put that in perspective, they had made 350 twice in 640 innings before that tournament. Despite Pakistan achieving their highest ever second-innings score in ODI cricket – their coach, Mickey Arthur referred to it as a “valiant” chase – England held on to win by 12 runs.Buttler has never broken into the top 10 of the ODI batting rankings but, in form like this, you wonder if England would swap him for anyone. So much time does he have, so quick are his hands, so wide his range of strokes, that he can make bowlers look utterly impotent. Pakistan attempted yorkers, bouncers, width and to cramp him, but to no avail with Arthur admitting he wasn’t sure what the answer was.”I don’t know how you bowl to him,” he said after the game. “I’ve just asked the bowlers the same thing and they didn’t have an answer either. But I don’t think we’re going to stop him, so we’ve got to try to get him out.”Morgan, who added 162 in 14.5 overs with Buttler, agreed. “He seems to have a gear that not many of us have,” he said. “I was in prime position to see the whole innings and his freakish knocks seem to be getting closer and closer together, so that’s a good sign for us moving forward. He was brilliant and the difference in the two teams. We are very fortunate to have him in our side.”Indeed they are. And while few will remember the outcome of this series in years to come – we are, in reality, already in World Cup warm-up territory – it’s hard to avoid the sense that Buttler could be on the verge of something quite special. For it is global tournaments that define reputations and, at 28 years old, he is about to stride across the biggest stage of all in his home nation. He does so imbued with the confidence of succeeding in the IPL and in the international game, and relaxed and happy on and off the pitch – on reaching his hundred, he celebrated by rocking his bat, in tribute to his new-born daughter, Georgia.”I’m maturing age-wise as well,” Buttler told Sky Sports afterwards. “I’ve learned a lot about myself and what works for me. I just think I’ve had some great experiences in the last few years which you can always use [in any given situation].”He is already, arguably at least, the best white-ball batsman England have ever had and, as he crashed six after six into the stands against Pakistan, you could be forgiven for wondering if he was on the brink of entering an altogether more exclusive league of destroyers: a league populated by the likes of Viv Richards and AB de Villiers.If that sounds hyperbolic, it is worth reflecting on some statistics. Buttler has now hit five of England’s 10 quickest (in terms of balls faced) ODI centuries – including the quickest two – and averages 69.50 deliveries in reaching his eight ODI centuries. Nobody else (with at least eight ODI centuries) averages better than de Villiers’ 81.90 balls. Buttler also averages 51.55 (at a strike-rate of 125.46) since the 2015 World Cup and, according to CricViz, scores at a rate of 181.20 in the last 10 overs since that tournament. The next highest (of players who have scored at least 500 runs) is Glenn Maxwell, at 160.55. In conditions like this, where the bowlers have nothing to work with, he represents a daunting proposition for the fielding side.But, amid the carnage, David Willey emerged with credit. When he returned to the attack, Pakistan had six wickets in hand and required 69 from the final seven overs. For perhaps the first time, they were favourites. But so accurately did Willey bowl his wide yorkers, so well did he execute England’s short-ball plan of attack against the left-handers (and Imad Wasim, in particular) that he conceded only 17 runs from his final three overs and picked up two important wickets.It was a definitive moment in this match and may well be enough to secure Willey’s World Cup place. On the sort of surface that could drive bowlers to despair – only once has an ODI in England (or Wales) resulted in a higher aggregate of runs – his economy rate of 5.70 runs per over was outstanding; apart from Haris Sohail, who delivered only three overs, every other bowler conceded more than a run a ball.”He bowled beautifully,” Morgan said. “He normally bowls a couple more overs up front when it swings a bit more but today it didn’t actually swing for more than six or seven balls.”In the last four years, Willey and Liam Plunkett in particular have reacted when they have been put under pressure. You ask them to do more and they respond really well. They probably don’t get the praise that they should.”But I thought that all of the bowlers, including Dave, were brilliant, because they reacted really well. It was a belting wicket and probably got better as the day went on.”All the bowlers are all pushing each other. It’s like our batting unit in the last two or three years. Unfortunately, a couple of guys will miss out and it will be a tough decision because of what they have contributed over a long period of time.”Morgan denied the suggestion that, at some stages of the Pakistan innings, he wished he could call upon Jofra Archer, who was rested from this game. But he could have been forgiven if he did wish for him or Mark Wood. For even without playing, Archer’s reputation seemed to improve.He has only taken two ODI wickets but, as England’s bowlers were thrashed around the Ageas Bowl, it was tempting to conclude that it was Archer they were missing the most: the pace, the bite, the incisiveness he adds. Without him they looked, at times, to have no answer to Pakistan’s batting here.David Willey celebrates a key breakthrough•Getty Images

It may well be a simplistic conclusion, though. This match was played on the flattest of surfaces that offered little to bowlers of any description. There is no guarantee that Archer, for all his promise and skill, would have fared any better. One of the great truisms of the game is that players’ reputations often improve in their absence.Whether Archer’s emergence or Willey’s excellence drags Chris Woakes back into the selection mix remains to be seen. But since the start of the Caribbean series, Woakes has bowled in four ODIs and claimed two wickets at a cost of 119 apiece, conceding 7.93 an over in the process. Tom Curran and Plunkett are probably more vulnerable, but Woakes still seems to be struggling to recover the pace or confidence he enjoyed for so long. Joe Denly might feel he was fortunate to miss bowling in this game. It remains remarkable that he is on the brink of going into a World Cup campaign as a spin-bowling all-rounder, having claimed one ODI wicket this decade. And that came from a wide.There may be some concerns over Wood, too. It is now more than two months since he bowled a ball in anger and it seems unlikely he will play in Bristol, either. While the England management insist there is no serious problem, his history of ankle problems mean some question marks linger.At full strength, England will find room for Wood and Archer. As Arthur suggested, on these surfaces – and there will probably be some very flat surfaces during the World Cup – it is essential to take wickets to contain batting units to manageable totals. England need the bite those two provide. They can’t always rely on miracles from Buttler to save them.

Brazil and Barcelona legend Ronaldinho has been mobbed by supporters after making a surprise appearance in London.

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Fans thrilled by Ronaldinho appearanceBrilliant Brazilian make surprise London visitWatches budding players show off their skillsWHAT HAPPENED?

Ronaldinho went down a storm after rocking up in a pink Rolls Royce in Shepherd's Bush. The Brazilian was in town to launch Nike's new 'Mad Brilliance' pack and delighted supporters who were thrilled to see the former Barcelona star in person. Ronaldinho was escorted through rowdy crowds and onto a five-a-side pitch where budding superstars then tried their very best to impress the 44-year-old.

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Ronaldinho announced his retirement from football in 2018 but remains a huge draw after a dazzling career where he wowed fans all over the world with his magical skills. The brilliant Brazilian won two La Liga titles and the Champions League with Barcelona, a Serie A crown with AC Milan and the World Cup in 2002. Ronaldinho also picked up the Balon d'Or in 2005 and is known for being one of the most flamboyant players ever to grace the game.

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR RONALDINHO

Fans will be able to see Ronaldinho back in action again soon. The Brazilian is due to take part in an Over-35s World Cup hosted in England this summer alongside other stars such as Thierry Henry and Francesco Totti.

It has been an interesting festive period for Arsenal this season, as despite sitting atop the Premier League table on Christmas day, it would be hard to describe the following week as anything other than a disappointment.

Mikel Arteta's men followed up on their impressive draw away to Liverpool by losing at home to West Ham United and then away to Fulham to end the festive period in fourth place.

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What makes those losses all the more galling (especially the first) is that the Gunners had chances to win both, but poor finishing from their frontline ultimately cost them.

However, the latest player touted for a move to the Emirates could help solve the club's finishing problem and supercharge Martin Odegaard's creative numbers in the process: Napoli's Victor Osimhen.

Arsenal transfer news – Victor Osimhen

According to Italian outlet TuttoJuve, Arsenal are keen to bolster their attacking options this winter and are now 'considering' signing Napoli's superstar striker, 'this month.'

The Nigerian international has been an integral part of the Partenopei's recent resurgence in Italian football and was the team's leading goalscorer when the Neapolitan side claimed just their third-ever Scudetto last season.

His impressive performances have made him one of the most sought-after players in world football, and the Gunners would have to compete with the likes of Chelsea should they want to bring the former Lille man to N5.

That said, the competition from other sides is likely to be the least of Arsenal's concerns, as the most significant barrier to completing this deal is likely to be the price, with the Independent claiming Osimhen has a release clause of £120m in his contract.

Victor Osimhen could supercharge Martin Odegaard

Now, just a couple of seasons ago, the idea of Arsenal dropping over £100m on a single player would have been farcical, but since the £105m signing of Declan Rice in the summer, all bets are off.

Edu Gasper and co have shown a willingness to spend big on the right players, and given the side's struggles in front of goal this season, a striker as deadly as Osimhen would undoubtedly fit the bill.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

The 25-year-old "hitman", as described by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored seven Serie A goals this season from an expected goals number of just 6.7, whereas Gabriel Jesus has just three Premier League goals to his name from an expected goals figure of 4.8, per FBref.

The lack of clinical finishing in the Arsenal squad is made more glaring by the mercurial genius of Odegaard, who regularly produces brilliant creative numbers but never seems to get the assists he deserves.

The Norwegian "talent", as described by Jacek Kulig, has averaged 8.44 progressive passes per 90 this season, created 6.10 shot-creating actions per 90 and maintained a passing accuracy of 84.7%. Yet, he has produced just three assists in the league.

Progressive Passes per 90

8.44

Shot-Creating Actions per 90

6.10

Passes into Penalty Area per 90

2.81

Passing Accuracy

84.7%

Assists

3

All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 Domestic Season

While no individual star can single-handedly take a team to the title, Victor Osimhen, a player that Italian agent Andrea D'Amico described as "even better than Haaland", would surely help Arsenal get closer, especially with the creative might of Odegaard behind him.

As such, not only would bringing in a prolific centre-forward help to revitalise the front line, it could also allow Arteta to once again get the best out of his majestic skipper.

أدلى مدافع فريق مانشستر سيتي، روبن دياز، بتصريحات صحفية وذلك عقب مباراة فريقه أمام إنتر ميلان في منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وتعادل مانشستر سيتي مع نظيره إنتر ميلان بنتيجة 0/0، خلال المباراة التي جمعت الفريقين على ملعب “الاتحاد”.

اقرأ ايضاً.. رجل مباراة مانشستر سيتي وإنتر ميلان في دوري أبطال أوروبا

وقال روبن دياز في تصريحات لـ “TNT Sports”: “لقد كانت مباراة شديدة للغاية ضد خصم قوي، كنا نعلم ما سيأتي، إنهم فريق كبير”.

وتابع دياز: “كنا نعلم أنهم يمكن أن يشكلوا خطورة في العديد من السيناريوهات المختلفة، لديهم أشخاص يعرفون جيدًا كيفية الاحتفاظ بالكرة، وأيضًا في التحولات يمكن أن يكونوا خطيرين للغاية”.

وواصل: “نحن نعرفهم جيدًا، خاصة منذ نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا الذي لعبناه ضدهم، كنا نعرف الطرق المختلفة التي يمكنهم من خلالها إيذاءنا، لكن في النهاية نحن ما نحن عليه، لعبنا المباراة التي لعبناها، وتعاملنا مع الأمر”.

وأضاف دياز: “إنتر معتادون على الفوز، وكان بإمكاننا أيضا التسجيل، وسنحت لنا الفرص، ولكن هذه هي كرة القدم، لقد انتهى الأمر بعدم التسجيل”.

وأشار: “لقد قدم الفريق أداءً رائعًا، وكنا قريبين جدًا من التسجيل، لقد نجحنا في المضي قدمًا، لقد كان اختبارًا جيدًا بالنسبة لنا”.

وعن مباراة أرسنال، أكد دياز:”سنكون هناك، سنكون مستعدين لهذه المباراة بشكل جيد للغاية”.

West Ham United are "now in talks" to sign an "exceptional" player for manager David Moyes, according to Sky Sports this morning.

Hammers yet to make January signing

Despite the club being linked with a new midfielder and attacking additions, West Ham are yet to do any business so far this month, but that could be about to change very soon.

Fabrizio Romano says West Ham could sign club captain if Benrahma leaves

The east Londoners are admirers.

ByEmilio Galantini Jan 18, 2024

The Hammers' transfer plans have changed after injuries to the likes of star midfielder Lucas Paqueta and striker Michail Antonio, who recently suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee problem.

While star winger Jarrod Bowen could be back to face Sheffield United this weekend, Paqueta's long-term absence and Antonio's unreliability hand Moyes real squad conundrums.

West Ham's lack of depth behind their traditional eleven has been somewhat exposed, and Mohammed Kudus being at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana is also leaving Moyes pretty short of options – both in the middle of the park and further forward.

West Ham are being linked with a number of attacking stars, including the likes of Santiago Gimenez and Serhou Guirassy, but it's believed they have a serious interest in Man City outcast Kalvin Phillips for the midfield area.

West Ham enter negotiations to sign Phillips

West Ham are touted as contenders to sign the 28-year-old, who has found game time very difficult to come by under Pep Guardiola since joining City from Leeds in 2022.

Dropping a Friday update, Sky Sports have shared some breaking news "this morning", and they claim West Ham are "now in talks" to sign Phillips and offer him a way out of Eastlands.

"What we're hearing this morning, West Ham are now in talks with Manchester City over a move for Kalvin Phillips", said the broadcaster.

They add that the England international, lauded for his "creativity" by Paul Robinson to Football Insider, is being chased by a host of clubs both in Europe and abroad – but it's West Ham who are making the first moves.

Moyes has publicly expressed his admiration for Phillips before, so it is little surprise the Scotsman is attempting to take advantage of the player's dwindling City career.

"I'm a big admirer of Kalvin Phillips and have been for a long time," said Moyes in 2021.

"Every time I went to watch Leeds, and when I was out of work and they won the Championship, I was always thinking he looked a really influential player and a real prospect.

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"I think he has stepped up really quickly, I think he got into the England squad when maybe other people were suggested in front of him but I think he's done well."

On a reported £135,000-per-week wage packet (Sky Sports), it will be interesting to see if West Ham manage to whittle down his salary and still sway him to east London.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are closing in on making their first January signing under Gary O'Neil and are in the advanced stages of tying up a deal for a talented gem, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.

Wolves eyeing January deals

Wolves have enjoyed an encouraging Premier League campaign despite initial doubts from som over their capabilities at the beginning of this term and will now break off from English top-flight duty to face Brentford in the FA Cup third round on Friday evening.

Nevertheless, incomings and outgoings will be on the mind of O'Neil and his counterparts at Molineux as the 40-year-old looks to trim some areas of his squad in order to add quality reinforcements.

Of course, Portuguese outcast Fabio Silva has already left the building this month and will spend the rest of the season on loan at Scottish Premiership side Rangers, and could be joined in his departure by fellow striker Sasa Kalajdzic, who is being courted by Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.

Most fans will be concerned more with where shiny new arrivals may arrive from over the course of January and West Ham United star Said Benrahma is said to be a target for the Old Gold; however, Fulham and Olympique Lyon are also keen to sign the Algeria international, as provided by Foot Mercato.

Arnaut Danjuma is also believed to be of interest to the latter and it remains to be seen whether their move for the Everton loanee would rule them out of a move for Benrahma. Nevertheless, the Old Gold now look to be close to making their first signing of the January window, according to new developments detailed by Romano.

Noha Lemina update

Taking to social media platform X, transfer guru Romano has shared that Wolves are now close to signing Paris Saint-Germain youngster Noha Lemina, brother of current player Mario, on loan for the rest of the campaign, with a deal now in the advanced stages.

The 18-year-old is currently on loan at Sampdoria and his spell there will be terminated in order to facilitate a move to Molineux, while the Old Gold are also likely to have an option to buy him outright, potentially prolonging his stay in the West Midlands if things go well.

Gabon-born former France Under-17 international Lemina didn't make a single first-team appearance during his time at Sampdoria; nevertheless, featured ten times in total across various underage competitions, scoring twice in the process (Lemina statistics – Transfermarkt).

Noha Lemina's versatility (Transfermarkt)

Positions played in

Right winger

Left winger

Attacking midfielder

Despite his youthful complexion, the prodigious talent could now have an opportunity to stake his claim for regular minutes at Molineux and potentially win himself a permanent move to England.

India vs Pakistan in the World Cup in front of a capacity crowd at Old Trafford. One cricket writer exulted that he felt at the centre of the sporting world. Ajinkya Rahane often imagined he would share in the most overwrought occasion that cricket can deliver. Instead, he was making do in a County Championship match at Chelmsford.It would have taken a world record to provide much consolation for Rahane because there is nothing more certain to fire the imagination of an India cricketer than a match-up with Pakistan. Instead, a second-ball duck afforded no release and by the time he entered the Hampshire dressing room he was probably wondering how he could catch up with India’s innings without it appearing that his priorities lay elsewhere. He was 225 miles away from Old Trafford; it must have felt like a million.Rahane survived the first ball from Jamie Porter in routine fashion, defending a rising ball into his body. An over to reflect at the non-striker’s end and he faced Porter again. A full ball was eminently driveable – not to have driven it in a World Cup tie would have sent India’s selectors into emergency session – but he pushed forward warily and Adam Wheater, back behind the stumps after injury, took the catch. He was part of Hampshire’s slump to 8 for 3 in the first 5.3 overs, a position from which they never recovered.His #SaturdayThoughts on Twitter had told his 5.41m followers “for positivity in life, you need to have a positive mind!” It wasn’t sure if the message was to himself or to India, but if it was to himself it didn’t work out too well. For his Sunday thought, he played safe and stuck to #Father’s Day and didn’t even chide his Dad for not perfecting his off drive.The last of Rahane’s 96 ODIs was against South Africa in Centurion 16 months ago. He averaged 35 over five matches but his strike rate was only 76.92, a touch below his career average. Even England in the bad old days scored faster than that. There were no vacancies at the top of the order and India wanted more destructiveness in the middle. He was dropped, but even in February he was striving for optimism, saying that “playing the World Cup is a dream that every cricketer cherishes”.Rahane made a century on debut for Hampshire against Nottinghamshire, replacing Aiden Markram, but as he enters his fourth Championship match the sense is of a waning Hampshire title challenge. They lie 26 points behind Somerset, but England’s summoning of James Vince and Liam Dawson for the World Cup squad (both as yet unused) will test their resources.On the opening day against Essex they were feeble. They already trail and were blown aside for 118 in 34 overs on a Chelmsford pitch that offered hope to the new-ball attack and to the offspinner Simon Harmer, who finds purchase on most surfaces, and who collected 5 for 23 in 11 overs with embarrassing ease. He now has 35 Championship wickets at 19.4, the most in the Division alongside Warwickshire’s Jeetan Patel and Somerset’s Lewis Gregory. Essex had rested Peter Siddle because of a few niggles and his replacement, Aaron Beard, never got a go.All five of Harmer’s wickets came after lunch in an hour and a quarter of growing resignation. Short leg was set from the outset and was soon joined by a second. Three were lbw to balls that turned – Keith Barker, the left-hander, could regard his decision as a marginal – another left-hander, Rilee Rossouw, was stumped having a swipe and James Fuller was caught at short leg.It is questionable whether they should even have been batting. Hampshire had opted for a toss and chosen to bat first, in defiance of a showery morning. By doing so, they avoided facing Harmer in the fourth innings, but the first innings turned out to be disastrous enough. Adi Birrell, Hampshire’s coach, insisted: “The stats were the reason we batted first. We can’t get away from the fact we didn’t bat well.”Rossouw’s 34 from 32 balls represented Hampshire’s chief resistance, but he is an explosive cricketer and when his furtive edge sneaked past first slip for four, the need to dominate welled up inside him. Harmer tossed the next higher and closer to leg stump and the ball turned sharply past a flailing bat as he failed to launch him towards the thumping sounds emanating from Essex Pride across the river.Essex closed the first day at 147 for 3, 29 ahead, and although they had the benefit of a sunlit evening they still put the pitch into perspective. Nick Browne and Alastair Cook raised 50 before both were lbw in successive overs and Tom Westley missed a work to leg, confounded by the angle of the left-armer Barker around the wicket. Barker was the most insistent of the Hampshire attack.That left Ravi Bopara to make a relaxed half-century. On a pitch where Harmer had prospered, Hampshire’s legspinner, Mason Crane, bled four overs for 30. Bopara’s dismissive yet somehow kindly straight six with four overs remaining took Essex into the lead and encapsulated a final hour that shifted the game firmly into Essex’s favour.

Alisha Lehmann has participated in a bizarre sporting spectacle that saw her take to the field on a car roof, before scoring a goal from inside it.

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Season over for Swiss forwardOne last performance to put onImpressive ball control behind wheelWHAT HAPPENED?

The Switzerland international has reached the end of her 2023-24 campaign with club and country. The Aston Villa forward has been in Euro 2025 qualification action since seeing the WSL season in England come to a close.

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After taking in a trip to Brazil with partner Douglas Luiz, Lehmann has been back on European soil. Before heading off on her holidays again, the 25-year-old has taken in a bizarre show that mixes football with motor vehicles.

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Lehmann was introduced to the crowd at that event when riding the roof of a car onto the pitch. After stepping down and strapping herself in, the Swiss proceeded to show that she can find a way to the back of the net by any means possible – even when her feet are pushing pedals, rather than kicking a ball.

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Lehmann’s friends and family were in attendance to watch her take part in a unique indoor performance, with impressive ball control on display despite being stuck behind a wheel. She is not due to be back in action outside of a car until July 12, when facing Turkey in another European Championship qualifier.

Coach plays down speculation about Henry Nicholls moving to top of the order

Melinda Farrell27-Jun-2019Gary Stead is backing Colin Munro and Martin Guptill at the top of the order as New Zealand aim to bounce back from their first loss of the World Cup, against Pakistan.The openers have struggled to make runs since their first match of the tournament and there has been speculation that one of them could make way for Henry Nicholls against Australia at Lord’s on Saturday.But Stead played down the chances of any changes, pointing to Nicholl’s relative inexperience opening the batting. Nicholls has batted in the middle order for most of his ODI career, although he opened in four matches earlier this year against India and Bangladesh.”He’s definitely an option but Henry hasn’t done a lot of [opening] either,” said Stead. “But Henry’s definitely an option we’ll consider.”We’ll review it again when we get down to London but there are only 15 players here and you pick people to do certain roles as well. We have to balance up current form with, I guess, the roles that we are trying to play with the guys.”An unbroken Guptill and Munro partnership successfully chased 137 against Sri Lanka at the start of New Zealand’s campaign but since that match the returns have been comparatively slight. Guptill has made two ducks and a total of 65 runs in five innings since that and Munro’s numbers have been similar; one duck and 67 runs.”Look it’s no secret, Colin and Martin got away to a great start in the Sri Lankan game and runs have been a bit scarce since then,” said Stead. “But they’re not the only openers in the competition that haven’t got runs and we only have 15 players in the squad. So you start weighing up what does that look like in terms of changing too much in the team and that’s something we certainly don’t want to have, wholesale changes everywhere in our order.”There is no disputing Guptill’s value at the top of the order – he averages a tick under 43 in 175 ODIs – and while Munro averages a more modest 24.92, his explosive hitting in the Powerplay has given New Zealand rapid starts in the past.”There’s no doubt that if he does do that then he can change the game really quickly,” said Stead. “So again that’s part of our thinking and our hope that can be the case. You saw against Sri Lanka what Colin and Martin can do if they get in.”It’s getting later on in the tournament and it hasn’t happened regularly but that’s cricket. We can’t have everything go our way, the way we want, because if they batted very well you wouldn’t be able to see the skills of Kane Williamson on order either.”That last comment was made with tongue-in-cheek humour, of course, but New Zealand have relied on Williamson and Ross Taylor to shore up the innings after early losses several times throughout the tournament. Stead said the openers weren’t trying to be overly aggressive rather than set up a solid base.”We are trying to do that we are trying to get a base,” said Stead. “But sometimes you get good balls or you’re a little bit out of form and those things happen in cricket.”Colin hasn’t got off to lightning starts in any of the games, he’s just trying to play good cricket shots and that’s just all our guys try and do all the time.”New Zealand has yet to cement a semi-final berth and next face Australia, a side very much on a roll, before taking on what could be a desperate England side, fighting for a place in the top four.”I never expected we’d go through the whole tournament, play and be unbeaten,” said Stead. “There’s only one team that’s like that at this stage and that’s India and they are a very good team as well so I think when you play nine games in a round robin and you look at the numbers, there’s maybe five or six games you need to win, that’s ultimately our target first up.”A defining feature of Australia’s victory over England at Lord’s was their decision to play and open with two left-arm quicks, a masterstroke that paid off with Jason Behrendorff taking five wickets and Mitchell Starc collecting four. Stead expects Australia will also take note of Pakistan’s successful tactic of opening with left armers Mohammed Amir and Shaheem Afridi, who bowled a particularly destructive new-ball spell.”In some ways it’s good because Pakistan had three seamers against us and we probably expect, after Behrendorff’s success at Lord’s as well, that he’s likely to play again,” said Stead. “We certainly won’t take that for granted but we’ll plan to have two left armers play against us. But it’s good we’ve had that, I guess, exposure to left armers, in the last game. But this is a completely new wicket and a different surface and part of what we try to do is adapt to different situations and hopefully we can do that in this next game.”I also think that our bowlers have done a really, really good job for us so far and the talk here before we came into this tournament was that they were all going to be 350 wickets and we haven’t had one close to that so I think your bowlers are the guys who will keep us in the game and if we play well as a team then we think we are every chance against Australia.”