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da bet esporte： O zagueiro Gabriel Xavier voltou a ganhar cada vez mais espaço na defesa titular do Bahia nesta temporada. Depois de terminar 2022 em alta, o defensor figurou entre os onze iniciais em cinco dos últimos seis jogos e tem sido um dos destaques na zaga do Tricolor de Aço.

Após perder a pré-temporada por conta de uma lesão muscular, o jovem de 21 anos comemora as oportunidades recebidas pelo técnico Renato Paiva.

– Essas oportunidades que tenho tido estão sendo muito importantes para a minha evolução, ainda mais vindo de uma lesão e de não ter jogado nenhuma partida no ano. Eu estava precisando dessa sequência e vou seguir trabalhando para continuar nessa mesma pegada – disse o zagueiro.

Agora, o próximo compromisso do time tricolor é diante do CRB pela Copa do Nordeste. Gabriel enxerga o jogo de suma importância para a evolução da equipe, já pensando nas finais do Baianão contra a Jacuipense.

– Infelizmente já estamos fora da Copa do Nordeste, mas o nosso pensamento como equipe não muda, queremos ganhar para continuar no nosso processo de evolução de equipe, e com certeza chegarmos bem para os dois jogos das finais que iremos ter – frisou.

Bahia e CRB se enfrentam nesta quarta-feira (22), às 21h30 (de Brasília), na Arena Fonte Nova, pela oitava e última rodada da fase de grupos da Copa do Nordeste. Pela final do Baianão, o Tricolor tem pela frente a Jacuipense, no domingo (26), às 16h, pelo jogo de ida da decisão do Estadual.

RelacionadasAtlético MineiroElenco do Atlético-MG ganha folga antes de mês decisivo; confira o calendário de abrilAtlético Mineiro21/03/2023CruzeiroCruzeiro renovou empréstimo de Bruno José ao Guarani para ter o zagueiro Luciano CastánCruzeiro21/03/2023Futebol InternacionalMessi recusa proposta de time da Arábia Saudita, diz jornalFutebol Internacional21/03/2023

Big picture: 4-1 or 3-2?

After three run-fests, Raipur finally provided an even contest between bat and ball as India sealed the five-match series with a game to go. But expect the runs to start flowing again, and with some intensity, as India and Australia travel to Bengaluru for the fifth and final T20I.A turnaround time of under 48 hours isn’t ideal but the Australians, Travis Head and Tanveer Sangha, in particular, might not complain. The duo are the only ones in the current squad who have been in India since the start of the ODI World Cup – Head as part of the 15-man squad, Sangha as travelling reserve – and will keenly be looking forward to going back home.Australia have tried as many as 19 players so far in the series, ringing in the changes in a bid to give some of their exhausted players a break. They made five changes for the Raipur T20I but the reinforcements coming in failed to level the series. While they’ve taken the fast bowlers to the cleaners consistently, the Australian batting has been found wanting against the spin duo of Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel.Related

• Five-horse race – who will open for India at the 2024 T20 World Cup?

• Axar, Bishnoi, Rinku give India series win

• Axar and Bishnoi's spin charge leaves Australia with little answers

They could, however, expect some respite from the Bengaluru pitch, which has historically not aided spin as much as some of the other surfaces they’ve played on as Australia look to end their tour of India on a high.While India haven’t been as clinical, what would please Suryakumar Yadav the most is the individual players standing up under pressure. Jitesh Sharma, playing his first game of the series came in and smashed a 19-ball 35 in Raipur while Rinku Singh showed that he was not just a finisher and had the technique to set up a total as well.The fast-bowling unit is probably one area where the boxes haven’t been ticked, but Deepak Chahar’s return after an injury layoff will give India reasons to be happy. He didn’t have the best of starts to his spell but came back well later and struck two important blows. The team management will hope for a more rounded show from the fast-bowling attack come Sunday.

Form guide

India WLWWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Australia LWLLWYashasvi Jaiswal has a powerplay strike rate of 174.62 in the series so far•Associated Press

In the spotlight: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Aaron Hardie

Barring the third T20I, Yashasvi Jaiswal has given India a quick start in every game this series, but is yet to make it out of the powerplay. No other batter in the series has scored more runs in the first first six overs than Jaiswal while his strike rate of 174.62 during this phase is only second to Head’s 194.11. However, the Indian management might want him to convert his starts into something more substantial. Jaiswal has had a terrific start to his T20I career – two fifties and a century in 11 innings. Bengaluru gives him a chance to add to those numbers.Aaron Hardie hasn’t set the T20I stage on fire yet, but the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is probably one venue where he will feel most at home. He likes pace on the ball and the ball coming onto the bat, and the conditions in Bengaluru are likely to provide him with that. Hardie had a tremendous 2022-23 BBL season, finishing as the top run-getter. He hasn’t fully shown that big-hitting potential in the two T20Is that he has batted this series, but the surface in Bengaluru and the boundary dimensions could help him unleash some of those hit-through-the-line maximums. A few wickets with the ball, and Hardie could well be the player to watch out for.

Team news: Expect more changes

India made four changes to their side for the fourth T20I, and with the series in the bag could well make a few more for the final game. They might be tempted to give Washington Sundar a game in place of one of Axar or Bishnoi, while Tilak Varma could also get a game, in case the team management wants to rest any of the players in the top order. India went with Mukesh Kumar, Chahar and Avesh Khan as their fast-bowling options in Raipur and are unlikely to make any changes on that front.India (probable): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 3 Shreyas Iyer/Tilak Varma, 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 5 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Axar Patel/Washington Sundar, 8 Deepak Chahar, 9 Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Avesh Khan, 11 Mukesh KumarAustralia don’t have the scope to make a lot of changes, considering they have only 13 players in the squad left. They could consider bringing in one of Kane Richardson or Nathan Ellis in place of Sangha.Australia (probable): 1 Josh Phillippe, 2 Travis Head, 3 Ben McDermott, 4 Aaron Hardie, 5 Tim David, 6 Matthew Short, 7 Matthew Wade (capt,wk), 8 Ben Dwarshuis, 9 Chris Green, 10 Jason Behrendorff, 11 Tanveer Sangha/Nathan Ellis/Kane Richarson

Pitch and conditions: Another run-fest in the offing

Runs, runs and runs have been the theme at the Chinnaswamy Stadium of late. With short boundaries and a placid surface, another run-fest could well be on the cards on Sunday. In the IPL this year, scores in excess of 180 were breached in nine of 14 innings, and even in the ODI World Cup batters enjoyed their time here.While the overhead conditions are likely to remain cloudy, there is no threat of rain with the temperature expected to hover around the 18 to 22 degree mark on the Celsius scale.

Stats and trivia

• Yashasvi Jaiswal has scored all his runs (117) in this series in the first powerplay, at a strike rate of 174.62.
• Jason Behrendorff has the best economy rate of all bowlers – 5.75 after three matches. He has also picked up four wickets.
• Rinku Singh has scored 49 runs off 20 balls in the death overs in this series, striking at 245.00.
• Suryakumar needs just 20 runs to reach 2000 runs in T20Is. If he gets there on Sunday, he will be the quickest Indian to the mark.

Quotes

“Throughout the series, he has been bowling very well. And our partnership has also been great. He’s bowled in the powerplay so have I, and that combination has been good.”

When it comes to Arsenal’s best-ever forward, there is only one answer: Thierry Henry.

The French magician joined the club in 1999 and, alongside Arsène Wenger and some other sensational players, helped to define an era of English football.

In all, the former Les Ulis-born phenom racked up a tally of 228 goals and 96 assists in 37 appearances for the Gunners, and while no striker has been able to replace him in the years since, the club have had at least a few stand-out centre-forwards.

However, Arteta might well have had his own version of Henry had Edu Gaspar and Co not sold a highly-rated youngster for what now looks like pennies on the dollar in the summer.

Arsenal's best strikers since Henry

It would be fair to say that the first seriously successful striker Arsenal had in the years after Henry’s departure was Robin Van Persie.

The Dutchman might be persona non grata at the Emirates today because of his transfer to Manchester United in 2012, but during his final two campaigns with the club, he was simply unstoppable, amassing a tally of 22 goals and seven assists in 33 games in 2010/11, and then 37 goals and 11 assists in 48 games the following year.

Following the departure of the Rotterdam-born poacher, Wenger and Co signed Olivier Giroud from Montpellier for just £12m, and while he was never as prolific as RVP, he did enjoy a reasonably successful career in North London.

For example, in 253 appearances, across five and a half seasons, the World Cup winner scored 105 goals, provided 37 assists and won three FA Cups.

However, in January 2018, the Chambéry-born marksman was sold to Chelsea to facilitate the signing of Borussia Dortmund star Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, who for some time was arguably the Gunners’ best forward since Henry.

Appearances

253

Goals

105

Assists

37

Goal Involvements per Match

0.56

The Gabonese international hit the ground running, becoming the fastest player in the club’s history to reach 50 Premier League goals in July 2020 and then playing a pivotal role in the club’s record 14th FA Cup triumph a month later.

However, after signing a blockbuster new deal that September, the wheels started to come off, and following lacklustre form and fallings out with the manager, he was allowed to join Barcelona for free in early 2022.

Since then, Arteta has used Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz up top, and while both players have had their moments, the former has suffered far too many injuries and the latter still hasn’t done enough to quell calls for the club to sign a new striker.

Unfortunately, Arteta might have already had his answer to those calls in a player compared to Henry had Edu and Co not sold him in the summer.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

The former Arsenal gem compared to Henry

Now, comparing a young forward to a player as sensationally gifted as Henry could be seen as unfair, but that was exactly what Sun journalist Jon Boon did with Mika Biereth in July 2021.

It was in the aftermath of Arsenal poaching the young talent from Fulham’s academy that Boon suggested he ‘might just be the next Thierry Henry.’

While that might sound a little ridiculous, he did so because, in just 27 appearances for the Cottagers’ youth sides the season prior, the young Dane had scored 22 goals and provided 13 assists, and at that point, no Arsenal forward had hit double figures for goals and assists since the great Frenchman, until Bukayo Saka did a couple of years later.

The youngster would spend the following season with the Gunners’ youth sides, and then, in the 22/23 campaign, he was sent out on loan for the first time to Dutch side RKC Waalwijk, but with just two goals in 12 appearances, it was not a successful stint.

Fortunately, last season went far better for the young forward, as, across two spells, first with Motherwell and then with Sturm Graz, he racked up a brilliant tally of 15 goals and nine assists in 37 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.54 games, and was enough to convince the Austrian side to spend £4m to make his move permanent.

The “crazy” talent, as dubbed by former GOAL reporter Robin Bairner, picked up where he left off at the start of the campaign and, by January, had already scored 14 goals and provided five assists in just 25 appearances, which tempted AS Monaco to spend £10.8m plus £1.75m in add-ons on the young Dane.

Since moving to the French Riviera, the former Arsenal prospect has gone from strength to strength and now looks like one of the most in-form strikers in European football, scoring 11 goals and providing three assists in 12 appearances, totalling 860 minutes, which works out to 1.16 goal involvements every game, or one every 61.42 minutes.

Appearances

25

12

Minutes

1971′

860′

Goals

14

11

Assists

5

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.76

1.16

Minutes per Goal Involvements

103.73′

61.42′

That means the player Edu let go for a pittance in the summer has managed to score 25 goals and provide eight assists in just 37 appearances across two teams, which is a level of output that Arteta could have used this year.

Ultimately, while the club might have felt like Biereth wasn’t going to be good enough to play for Arsenal in the long term, it surely would have been a smart idea to have at least given him a chance this year, as his form at Monaco suggests he has what it takes to thrive in a top five league.

Saliba 2.0: Arsenal prepare bid for "one of the world's most talented CBs"

The incredible prospect could be a star at Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 20, 2025

A Ben McDermott half-century guided Hobart Hurricanes to a convincing seven-wicket win over Sydney Thunder to kick off 2024 at the BBL

AAP01-Jan-2024

Ben McDermott has returned from concussion to steer Hobart Hurricanes to a confidence-boosting seven-wicket BBL win over Sydney Thunder.McDermott, who missed two matches after a training mishap, top scored with an unbeaten 53 from 34 deliveries as his side chased down a target of 151 with 11 balls to spare at Blundstone Arena on Monday night.Related

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The victory, Hobart’s second of the season from five matches, lifts them to fifth spot on the ladder, two points outside the top four.McDermott shared an 85-run partnership with the in-form Macalister Wright, who fell late in the chase for 34 from 25 balls.Wright’s knock came on the back of an impressive 36-ball 63 against Renegades and 33 from 19 against Stars.The pair took 22 runs from the two-over power surge taken in the 13th over to get the chase down to roughly a run a ball.Thunder are long odds to make the finals, with just one win from six starts in a 10-games-per-team competition.Earlier, captain Chris Green gave Thunder’s innings a late boost with an unbeaten 33 from just 17 deliveries after coming to the crease at 92 for 6.Thunder lost regular wickets throughout, including English import Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who was run out without facing a ball. Kohler-Cadmore, who has a career strike rate of 140 at an average of almost 30, unsuccessfully took on the arm of Wright in the deep in the fourth over.Chris Jordan, Nikhil Chaudhary and Patrick Dooley shared the spoils for Hurricanes with two wickets each.The experienced Jordan picked up an economical 2 for 20 from four overs, including the wicket of the dangerous Oliver Davies (20 off 17) during the power surge.Chaudhary (2 for 26 from four) had opener Cameron Bancroft (21 from 20) caught and bowled with his spin, then returned in the 15th over to trap Nathan McAndrew lbw.Caleb Jewell (31 from 20) got Hurricanes’ chase off to a strong start but was out in the eighth over to a low outfield catch by Daniel Sams, ruled by the third umpire to have been held just above the grass.

Lewis Goldsworthy marks season’s first appearance for hosts with 78

ECB Reporters Network04-Aug-2023Ed Barnard’s career-best List A score of 94 guided Warwickshire to a four-wicket Metro Bank One-Day Cup victory over Somerset at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.The home side were bowled out for 230 inside 47 overs after losing the toss, Lewis Goldsworthy marking his first appearance of the season with a top score of 78, while George Bartlett contributed 74. Left-arm spinner Jake Lintott claimed 3 for 43.In reply, Warwickshire made 233 for 6, winning with 6.2 overs to spare. Barnard led the way, facing 111 balls and striking 11 fours. Ireland all-rounder Curtis Campher finished with 3 for 47 on his first Somerset appearance.On a cloudy afternoon in front of a 4,500 crowd, the hosts soon plunged into trouble. George Thomas fell to the third ball of the game, caught at slip by Rob Yates off Barnard without scoring.It was 12 for 2 when Andrew Umeed edged Oliver Hannon-Dalby to second slip and 24 for 3 when James Rew had his stumps scattered by the same bowler.Somerset’s new one-day captain Sean Dickson cover drove his first ball from Hannon-Dalby for four, but had made only 15 when nicking a back foot shot off George Garrett through to wicketkeeper Michael Burgess.Bartlett also hit his first delivery for four, but from 64 for 4, he and Goldsworthy had to play with care, rotating the strike with plenty of singles.Goldsworthy has had a frustrating summer confined to second XI cricket. He survived a couple of early inside edges past the keeper, but grew in confidence to reach fifty off 72 balls with eight fours.Bartlett went to his half-century off 66 balls and the fifth-wicket stand was worth 96 in 19 overs when Goldsworthy miscued an attempted slog sweep off Lintott and was caught by Kai Smith running in from deep mid-wicket.Campher’s first innings for Somerset lasted only five balls, ending when he drove a delivery from Lintott straight back at the bowler, who did well to hold a sharp return catch.Bartlett’s attractive 83-ball knock concluded when he was caught at short fine leg by Hannon-Dalby the ball after depositing Craig Miles over mid-wicket for his second six.Danny Lamb, making his Somerset debut on loan from Lancashire, hit four fours, including two ramp shots off Hannon-Dalby, in his unbeaten 28. But Ned Leonard was stumped advancing down the pitch to Lintott and Jack Brooks run out by a smart piece of fielding by Barnard at backward point before last man Shoaib Bashir edged a catch behind off Garrett.Somerset’s total looked below par on the fast-scoring ground. Warwickshire openers Yates and Barnard batted positively to take the score to 33 in the eighth over when Yates edged a catch to wicketkeeper Rew off Brooks.Barnard looked in good touch from the start, striking 8 fours in moving to a fluent 55-ball half-century, and finding an equally aggressive partner in skipper Will Rhodes as they confidently added 78 for the second wicket in 13 overs.Rhodes scored at almost a run a ball in his 41-ball innings of 38 before pulling a ball from Campher to mid-wicket where Bartlett held a good low catch to make it 111 for 2.Burgess had made only three when Campher penetrated his defence to bowl him and left-arm spinner Goldsworthy quickly followed up by having Brookes caught at cover off a skyer to leave Warwickshire 126 for 4 at halfway.Hamza Shaikh lofted Goldsworthy over long-on for the first six of the innings before a two off Campher took Barnard past his previous best List A score of 85 not out, made for Worcestershire against Hampshire at Southampton.Shaikh pulled another six over deep square before departing for 38 to a fine boundary catch by Brooks, who then ended Barnard’s match-winning contribution by having him caught behind.By then, Warwickshire were within 29 of their target and Smith and Lintott completed the job.

Liverpool have gone from strength to strength under Arne Slot, with the fight for the Premier League title beginning to look like a procession.

13 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal, the Reds are no doubt loving life with the Dutchman at the helm, but this is a team assembled by Jurgen Klopp, and FSG need to get it right in the transfer market this summer to maintain their current level of dominance.

That’s not to say Slot is riding on his predecessor’s coattails; he’s an elite-minded tactician who has defied expectations in establishing Liverpool as Europe’s team to beat in 2024/25.

Alas, signings will be needed during the off-season, for Liverpool are expected to part with several first-team stars.

Liverpool's most expensive sales of all time

Some great players have departed Anfield for huge money.

ByHenry Jackson Oct 9, 2025 The players who might be leaving Liverpool

It’s March. Liverpool are flying high. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk still haven’t extended their contracts on Merseyside, and are out of a job in just four months.

Transfer guru David Ornstein revealed recently that the industry consensus is that Salah and Van Dijk will stay. However, Trent’s future is far more worrying given Real Madrid have a vested interest in bringing him to La Liga.

Other Redmen could be on the move. Most prominently among them is Darwin Nunez. The Uruguay striker simply isn’t kicking on. It’s a shame, he’s affable and entertaining, but 6 goals from 36 games this season isn’t good enough for an £85m club-record striker.

However, he’s not the only one, with Joe Gomez potentially on the move after a prospective switch to Newcastle United broke down last year.

While Gomez hasn’t enjoyed the most productive of seasons under Slot’s wing, his sale would make signing a new centre-back imperative this summer, for Jarell Quansah would be the only recognised option at the club outside of regular starters Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.

Elsewhere, Liverpool will need to figure out what to do with Luis Diaz, a valued and impactful member of the team but perhaps part of that crew of sellable stars.

Why Liverpool should sell Luis Diaz

Only Salah (30) and Cody Gakpo (16) have scored more goals for Liverpool this season than Diaz, who has equalled last season’s tally of 13 having played over 1,000 fewer minutes.

It’s a measure of Slot’s tactical brilliance, and how he has effectively insinuated himself and his teachings into this talented Liverpool squad.

Diaz, 28, has been at Liverpool since January 2022, leaving Porto for an initial £37m to join Klopp’s cause, and he’s had his ups and downs, but there’s no question he’s one of the most valuable members of the outfit, crucial as the title charge continues.

However, he’s about to step into the penultimate year of his £55k-per-week deal and it may be more practical to cash in while his stock is raised, especially since Barcelona retain a long-standing interest.

Were Liverpool to sell both of Diaz and Nunez, FSG would bank quite the pretty penny. For sure, both players would need replacing with first-class forwards, but Anfield has become one of the leading platforms for a player’s career growth over the past decade, and this is something transfer targets will consider with disc-like eyes upon receiving the call.

By the time Diaz’s current contract expires in 2027, he will be 30 years old. There’s no doubting his ability, having been hailed as “one of the best wingers in the world” by Liverpool U21 star Luca Stephenson.

But is he indispensable? For a forward of Diaz’s talent, his numbers leave something to be desired, especially from a creative standpoint. He’s a “livewire” – as dubbed by journalist Peter Hall – but there are yawning holes to his game.

2024/25

38 (28)

13

4

0.45

2023/24

51 (42)

13

5

0.35

2022/23

21 (15)

5

3

0.38

2021/22

19 (14)

4

4

0.42

As a reference point, Diaz’s ostensible predecessor, Sadio Mane, scored 120 goals and supplied 39 assists from 269 appearances for Liverpool, equating to a rate of 0.61 goal involvements per game.

His goals this season have been crucial to Liverpool’s success. Indeed, Diaz has selflessly played in an unconventional focal striker’s role for the good of Slot’s side, but now decisions must be made pertaining to his long-term future.

According to CIES Football Observatory, the world’s leading football statisticians, the Colombian is currently worth about £60m in the modern market – a figure that FSG would surely consider were it lodged during transfer season.

Should Barcelona be willing to act on their intrigue and bring him to Camp Nou, it would be Liverpool’s biggest sale since allowing Philippe Coutinho to head off for pastures new.

In fact, perhaps it could have a similar effect. After all, Liverpool would be selling a silky South American player to the Spanish giants for a hefty sum – with the banked funds then directed toward new impactful signings.

It’s unlikely Liverpool will claim the same sort of money as they did when La Blaugrana last came calling, with a £142m proposal presented to the Anfield side for their Brazilian playmaker, who left just as Klopp’s dynasty was taking off.

The money collected was redirected to Van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson Becker, making a telling comment on Liverpool’s ability to recognise an opportunity and act on it.

Though Coutinho was the bright spark during that backwater period between the gripping 2013/14 campaign and Klopp’s arrival, it quickly became apparent that he wasn’t expendable, for Liverpool went on to lift all the biggest honours with a complete and rounded team.

With 28-year-old Diaz heading into the penultimate year of his contract, some important conversations must be held.

Maybe Liverpool won’t want to sever too large a chunk from their frontline with Nunez seemingly headed for the exit, too. However, if the right opportunity comes along, this would be the perfect time to cash in for a lucrative figure, with Diaz then able to leave as a proud Premier League champion.

Sold for £15m: Klopp’s Liverpool star is playing like a £100m Salah heir

This former Liverpool star could have been a valuable asset in Arne Slot’s system.

ByAngus Sinclair Feb 28, 2025

Also says India need to play fearless cricket to overcome pressure of home World Cup

PTI and ESPNcricinfo staff09-Sep-2023AB de Villiers feels that India batter Suryakumar Yadav, the world’s No. 1 T20I batter, needs a slight tweak in his mindset in order to replicate his success in the 50-over format.Suryakumar, who has managed to hold onto his spot in India’s squad for the upcoming World Cup, averages only 24.33 in ODIs, with only two half-centuries in 24 innings with a strike-rate of 101.38. Suryakumar himself has referred to these numbers as “really bad”.Related

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“You guys know I’m a big fan (of Surya). He plays in a similar manner to how I used to play, but in ODIs, he hasn’t cracked it yet,” de Villiers said on his YouTube channel. “It is a tiny little mind switch that he’s got to make, and he’s got all the ability and capabilities that he needs to do that.”I am very relieved to see SKY in the World Cup squad, I’m very happy about it. I hope he gets this opportunity in this World Cup. Looking at the balance of the Indian squad, he might not start, but a World Cup is a long tournament. So let’s see what happens then.”

‘Home pressure will be India’s big obstacle’

De Villiers also said that the best way for Rohit Sharma’s team to approach the World Cup is to “go fearless” in their bid to replicate their 2011 home ODI World Cup win.”I think India’s squad is incredible, really, really strong,” he said. “The only worry I have for India is playing at home. They played in India, they won. There will be huge pressure. That’s the only big obstacle in my opinion.”But if they can get rid of that and just free themselves up, I see no problem for India. Control what you can control. But go fearless. Fearless is the word I’m looking for the Indian squad. If they can do that, they’ll go a long way and most probably lift that trophy.”Asked about Sanju Samson’s exclusion from the World Cup squad, De Villiers said: “I don’t have to say much about him. We know what he’s capable of.”I’ve been on the receiving end for Royal Challengers Bangalore, watching him score 92 not out at the Chinnaswamy. The ball was flying all over the place. He’s also got the conventional cricket game and technique where he plays with a straight bat, plays the ball nicely. He’s got a good pull and hook shot.”He’s got everything in his bag. It’s all in the mind and it’s a matter of adapting to ODI and game plans and the World Cup and the pressure thereof. So yes, two great players.”

She shares 167-run opening stand with Phoebe Litchfield in Women’s Ashes warm-up

Valkerie Baynes17-Jun-2023Annabel Sutherland scored a century opening Australia’s second innings as their three-day warm-up for the Women’s Ashes against England A ended in a draw.Phoebe Litchfield, who is tipped to open for the Australians when the Ashes kick off with next week’s Test at Trent Bridge, also enjoyed some valuable time in the middle, scoring 68 in a 167-run stand with Sutherland, who made 116 from 138 balls.Litchfield had taken the wicketkeeping gloves for just one ball first thing in the morning as Australia rested their regular keeper and captain for this Tour, Alyssa Healy, after she suffered a knock to her finger the previous day. Healy did not bat in the second innings either and Beth Mooney, who would normally take over behind the stumps in Healy’s absence, was spared those duties after scoring a century in the first innings. Litchfield made an excellent fist of the assignment with a catch to remove last batter Sarah Glenn off the bowling of Georgia Wareham on the first ball of the day.England A ended up on 562, a first-innings lead of 278 before Sutherland and Litchfield helped Australia to 361 for 7 at stumps. Tahlia McGrath made 44 batting at No. 4 while Mooney came in at No. 6 and was 35 not out in the second innings. With Healy wishing to drop down the order, Mooney is expected to open with Litchfield, who was delighted at the prospect after their successful pairing in the ODI series against Pakistan in January.Related

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Mooney locks in Test opening role with warm-up century

Tammy Beaumont double-century helps England warm up with 500 runs in a day

“Such a level head,” Litchfield said of Mooney. “Always knows what to say and an awesome human so it’s a pleasure to share the crease with her and she’s definitely doing good things for my batting.”Litchfield, who added that she had a “whole circus” of family and friends heading to England to watch this tour, was also full of praise for allrounder Sutherland, who pressed her case for inclusion in the XI for the Test starting on Thursday.”Class,” Litchfield said of Sutherland’s innings. “She looked so good out there and it was a real pleasure to watch form the other end for most of it and it was awesome for her to bring up three figures.”Left-arm spinner Kirstie Gordon, managed to prise out five of Australia’s top-six batters in this match – Litchfield, Sutherland, McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner and Wareham – on her way to figures of 5 for 49.Meanwhile, England’s senior side drew their match with an Australia A side captained by Test squad spinner Jess Jonassen, who was 173 not out in their second innings.England had taken a 390-run lead on the back of Tammy Beaumont’s double-century on the second day, but Jonassen – batting up the order at No. 4 – guided Australia A to 361 for 7 at the close, helped by Courtney Webb’s 79.Seamer Lauren Bell was the pick of the England bowlers on the final day with 3 for 31, while Kate Cross, Issy Wong, Sophia Dunkley and newcomer Dani Gibson took one wicket each. Lauren Filer, the only other uncapped player named in England’s Test squad went wicketless for the match, bowling 19 overs across both innings.

Time took him away, but for a moment he was here again, brining the crowd to their feet. The real MS Dhoni was here

Alagappan Muthu11-Oct-20211:57

Manjrekar: Dhoni reminded everyone why he’s an all-time great in white-ball cricket

The walk is the same. Slow and loping. The bat trailing behind him. The old lion on the prowl. Except, he isn’t king of the jungle anymore. He admitted it himself. “I’ve not done a lot in the tournament.”The first ball doesn’t go well. Avesh Khan beats him. And though it is only a moment in time, within it is a whole story.Over the last few seasons, he has come face to face with a limitation that stalks all men. Time. It had already begun shaping the way he bats. The upstart with long hair and big dreams had been able to defy it. Echoes of the shots he played are still powerful enough to bring goosebumps even now. In those days, it seemed like he was invulnerable.Related

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The bowlers certainly thought so. They dreaded going one-on-one. He relished it. He thrived on it. He became a legend off it. And then he got older.Time. It got to him. Force of will can only fight a force of nature for so long.October 10, 2021. It is nearly 17 years since he first came into our lives. This isn’t him though. There are too many lines on his face and too much grey in his beard. There are nudges where there were once punches. Nurdles where there were once whole flippin helicopters.

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Avesh is uncapped in international cricket. He used to devour bowlers like that. He weaponised their inexperience. He made them feel all alone at a time when everything was on the line. And then, he beat them.But this isn’t him. The calmness is still there. The belief is still there. But his body is not. The reflexes are not. Time. It got to him.And so the matches came and the matches went. Hopes rose and hopes fell. While he was re-tooling his game, the others were picking it apart. Slower balls. They stole his power. Short balls. They made him hop. Spin. Any kind of spin. Kept him quiet. Ninety-six runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 95.This isn’t him. But they’re screaming for him.Avesh runs in again. And he disappears. Over midwicket. Six. And the echo. The echo is familiar. It rings around the ground. It brings people to their feet. It sows fear into the bowler.This is . Time is standing still and he is breaking free.And again. It’s Tom Curran now. Wilting. Feeling alone. Getting beaten. He’s here. He’s come back. He’s in the final.Chennai Super Kings only had a 27% chance of winning this game when he went out to bat. Through the course of a six-ball innings he took that figure all the way up to 100%.With a biff over midwicket, a slap through extra cover, an inside edge past the keeper and a whack through square leg, he was a hero again. And in the end, all anyone wanted to know was how he does it. How he does it.”Watch the ball, hit the ball,” he said. “I’ve not done a lot in the tournament. So we had to get that out of the system, saying if you’re batting well in the nets just look for the ball, what are the variations, what the bowler may look to bowl. So other than that there was nothing much in the mind because if there are too many things floating around it becomes difficult to watch the ball.”It’s been a really long time since he came out and played like this and it had an effect on everybody.

Anddddd the king is back the greatest finisher ever in the game. Made me jump Outta my seat once again tonight.@msdhoni

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) October 10, 2021