A victory is always a positive result, but it’s often paved over the cracks for Manchester United this season, with a handful of performances not warranting three points.

This was the case against Everton on Saturday at Old Trafford, as although Erik ten Hag’s team won 2-0, there were large alarm bells ringing from a defensive perspective.

The Red Devils faced 23 shots against Everton, which is one more than what Manchester City conceded in their last three Premier League games prior to the Liverpool draw, for context.

In fairness, there were a few standout performers who impressed, but one player who stood out for the wrong reasons was Casemiro.

Casemiro’s 23/24 season in numbers

After enjoying a successful first campaign in Manchester following a £70m move from Real Madrid, Casemiro hasn’t quite been living up to his price tag.

The 32-year-old has featured 15 times this season out of a possible 28 Premier League matches, with an injury in October making him miss 17 matches.

Since his return, Casemiro has been off the pace, struggling with the tempo on the ball while also finding it difficult to match the speed and physicality of opposition players.

The Brazilian’s performance against Luton Town last month served as evidence of that, as he lost seven duels, was dribbled past twice, and received a yellow card, which ultimately led to his substitution at half-time.

Unfortunately, he was exposed once again against the Toffees on Saturday afternoon.

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Casemiro’s performance against Everton

The number 18 started his ninth game in a row against Sean Dyche’s team, partnering Kobbie Mainoo in the midfield of a 4-2-3-1 formation.

The defensive midfielder's performance can be summed up by his 5/10 rating by the Manchester Evening News, with journalist Samuel Luckhurst writing:

“So careless he had his hands on his hips during one stoppage, possibly in disgust at his own performance. Will need to raise his level next week.”

Casemiro vs Everton
Stats	Casemiro
Touches	87
Passes completed	53
Pass accuracy	76%
Long balls completed	1/4
Possession lost	17
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see by his 76% pass accuracy and the fact that he lost the ball 17 times, Casemiro provides absolutely zero control to the midfield, which often allows the opponent to transition quickly.

The lack of dominance that United had at the weekend can be highlighted by Everton having more possession than the hosts in the second half, which is poor considering they average the second-lowest possession per game in the league this season, and unfortunately, a decent amount of that falls on the shoulders of the tenacious tackler.

Casemiro's inability to cover space and stop transitions also played a part in Everton having so many shots, but football creator Liam Canning recognised this issue in September, stating:

"McTominay, Eriksen and Casemiro can’t defend transitions. They do not offer anything. Players run past them like they’re not there. A joke."

As well as his declining performances, there’s also some concern regarding his wage and contract, which sees him earn £350k-per-week, the most at United, until the summer of 2026.

Therefore, this is just another reason why Man United simply have to sell Casemiro in the summer before he continues to bleed the club dry.

A clutch of prospective England batsmen and spin bowlers will embark on a specialist training camp in Mumbai this week in an effort to hone their skills in unfamiliar conditions.On the day England fell to an innings defeat in New Zealand, the ECB announced that batsmen Will Jacks, James Bracey, Dan Lawrence, Keaton Jennings and Sam Hain would travel to India with spinners Dom Bess, Mason Crane and Amar Virdi for a three-week camp starting on Tuesday.Jacks, the 21-year-old Surrey batsman, produced a jaw-dropping 25-ball century during a pre-season T10 clash with Lancashire in Dubai in March and, on the other end of the spectrum, Jennings is hoping to resurrect his international career having played the last of his 17 Tests against West Indies in February.The batsmen will work with Surrey assistant head coach Vikram Solanki, while the spinners will train under the guidance of Gloucestershire head coach Richard Dawson and former Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath.The camp encompasses a series of so-called “Individualised Programmes” of training for players aimed at “delivering better prepared players” to England head coach Chris Silverwood, according to ECB Performance Director Mo Bobat.”The Individualised Programmes are a great opportunity for some of our best young cricketers to focus on specific areas of their game in unfamiliar and challenging conditions around the world,” Bobat said. “Some of the players involved are in England’s immediate plans, while others will be working on areas that will benefit the national team’s medium and long-term needs.”The ECB also confirmed that Jonny Bairstow would attend a training camp in South Africa from December 1-14, working with former England batsman Jonathan Trott in his bid to return to England’s Test squad. Bairstow, who averaged 23.77 during the Ashes, was dropped for the two-Test tour of New Zealand. He was briefly called back into the Test squad during the T20 series against New Zealand as cover for Joe Denly but returned home when Denly recovered from an ankle injury in time for the first Test at Mount Maunganui.Earlier this month, Ashley Giles, the managing director of England’s men’s cricket, revealed that James Anderson would take the next step in his return from injury at the camp in Potchefstroom. Anderson will be joined by fellow quicks Mark Wood, Olly Stone, Craig Overton and Ollie Robinson.Anderson and Wood have been undergoing intensive rehabilitation with ECB staff with a view to being available for selection for England’s tour of South Africa starting next month.Anderson has been sidelined since he broke down after bowling just four overs in the first Ashes Test in August with a recurrence of a calf injury he suffered while playing for Lancashire in early July. Wood was ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering a side strain during the World Cup final and he has since had surgery on his right knee. Stone, meanwhile, is recovering from a stress fracture to his back.

أعلن مجلس إدارة اتحاد الكرة برئاسة جمال علام، عن تعيين النجم الدولي السابق إسلام الشاطر مديرًا لمنتخب الشباب مواليد 2005، وذلك في إطار سعي الاتحاد لتعزيز الجهاز الفني للمنتخب وتوفير كل الدعم اللازم للاعبين الشباب.

ويأتي تعيين الشاطر في هذا التوقيت لتعزيز الاستقرار داخل الجهاز الفني لمنتخب الشباب، خاصة مع اقتراب موعد دورة شمال أفريقيا المؤهلة لكأس الأمم الأفريقية.

ويمتلك الشاطر خبرة كبيرة في عالم كرة القدم كلاعب وكمحلل رياضي، مما يجعله إضافة قيمة للجهاز الفني بقيادة البرازيلي روجيرو ميكالي.

طالع أيضًا | خاص – ميكالي يطالب بـ”منظومة واحدة” لمنتخبات مصر العمرية

ويسعى الاتحاد من خلال هذه الخطوة إلى بناء جيل جديد من اللاعبين قادر على تحقيق الإنجازات للكرة المصرية في المستقبل.

وشهدت جلسة تقديم الشاطر للجهاز الفني حضورًا لافتًا من أعضاء مجلس إدارة الاتحاد والمدربين والجهاز المعاون لمنتخب الشباب، وقد رحب ميكالي بالوافد الجديد، مؤكدًا على أهمية الدور الذي سيقوم به الشاطر في دعم الجهاز الفني واللاعبين.

وفي سياق متصل، يستمر منتخب الشباب في معسكره التدريبي المكثف استعدادًا للمشاركة في دورة شمال إفريقيا. وقد لوحظ ارتفاع الروح المعنوية لدى اللاعبين وتنفيذهم الجيد للتعليمات الفنية.

West Ham United are approaching the business end of the campaign with much to fight for, sat in the lowest European spot in the Premier League – seventh – and preparing for a Europa League quarter-finals clash in April against high-flying German side Bayer Leverkusen.

David Moyes cannot seem to shake the polarity from his position in the dugout but he really has done so much for this club, clinching the Europa Conference League last season and bringing the squad to a fresh level of quality despite Declan Rice's £105m sale to Arsenal.

Whatever happens, it's clear that the Hammers will need to sign a striker in the off-season. Michail Antonio is ageing and persistently hampered by injury, Danny Ings has flattered to deceive at the London Stadium and Divin Mubama, aged 19, is clearly not trusted with a starring role, yet to start in the Premier League.

West Ham eyeing statement signing

According to Football Insider, West Ham are plotting an audacious swoop for Brentford centre-forward Ivan Toney, emboldened by suggestions that Arsenal have cooled their interest in the England international.

It's claimed that the Hammers want to make a 'statement signing' during the summer, and with suitors Chelsea also facing issues relating to financial regulations, the prospect of him moving to east London is becoming more palpable.

The Bees hope to cash in on their talisman in a deal approaching £100m. Candidly, it's hard to envisage a world where West Ham meet such staggering demands, but Toney wants to leave and the cogs might fall into place.

Why Ivan Toney would be perfect for West Ham

Toney is a proven marksman in the Premier League, scoring 20 goals from 33 top-flight fixtures last season before his lengthy suspension for breaching FA betting rules.

Having returned from his suspension in January, the 28-year-old bagged four goals from his first five Premier League matches of the current campaign, though he has plateaued across recent weeks as Thomas Frank's side nosedive, out of form and sinking closer toward the relegation zone.

Quite simply, he would be the dream acquisition for West Ham, an exceptional goalscorer with a combative attitude, deceptive link-up play and phase-building qualities. His tally of 12 big chances created in the Premier League last season was bettered only by Harry Kane's 14.

Moreover, he ranks among the top 1% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for interceptions, the top 9% for clearances and the top 16% for aerial duels won per 90, as per FBref.

If West Ham were to succeed with this unlikely 'statement signing' it would be a portent of further riches in east London, perhaps even convincing current club-record £51m signing Lucas Paqueta to remain with the squad.

Paqueta is a maestro, multi-faceted and not shy to get stuck in and contribute defensively. West Ham have missed the mark on many occasions with high-cost acquisitions but they certainly didn't misfire with this one.

The Brazil international has been brilliant in the Premier League this season, scoring three goals and supplying five assists across 22 matches, creating nine big chances and averaging 1.5 key passes, 2.4 tackles, 6.8 ball recoveries and 8.1 successful duels per game, as per Sofascore.

He's elite, and as such, some of the big boys have noted his performances, with Manchester City prepared to pay £80m for his services last summer before a move was scuppered by an FA investigation into betting breaches.

With Paqueta

22

12

1.8

Without Paqueta

7

0

0.4

It wouldn't be a surprise if the 26-year-old was at the centre of intense transfer speculation again in several months, with Pep Guardiola's side reported to be 'ready' to return for the midfielder, as per reports from this month.

With a star striker like Toney chucked into the mix, a real "monster" as described by his Brentford manager, West Ham would underscore their desire to thrive at the forefront of the European game and it might just be the perfect move to convince Paqueta to stay.

Liverpool are going to see a lot of change in the months to come. Michael Edwards has returned as FSG’s new CEO of Football, with Richard Hughes in tow as Anfield’s new sporting director, but that is only the tip of the iceberg.

Jurgen Klopp, revered, adored, is leaving the club after over eight years of service, bringing the eminence back to the red half of Merseyside and winning major honours such as the Champions League and Premier League; the latter could yet be gleaned for a second time before the current campaign is over.

The future is painted in obscurity but Klopp is leaving Liverpool in a fantastic position, having replenished the first-team ranks and built up the academy to churn out teenage talent at a prodigious rate.

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Of course, replacing an iconic and irreplaceable manager might seem an impossible task, but there is cause for optimism heading into the unknown, with the rotating of the cogs behind the scenes paving a new road. Expect one or two exciting player acquisitions.

Liverpool's summer transfer targets

According to football correspondent Artur Petrosyan, Liverpool are showing “keen interest” in signing creative midfielder Heorhiy Sudakov from Shakhtar Donetsk, with Juventus and Arsenal also hot on the trail of the 21-year-old.

Considered one of Ukraine’s brightest talents, Sudakov was the subject of a failed €40m (£34m) offer from Serie A champions Napoli in January, and while Liverpool will be tentative to overpay for a relatively untested commodity, Reds scouts have been dazzled by his qualities over the past year.

Who Liverpool welcome to the dugout may well determine whether intrigue becomes something more in the months to come, but the interest is long-standing and he could be shaped into a world-class talent down the line. That £128m release clause may well be problematic, however.

Heorhiy Sudakov's style of play

Sudakov is young but he has already cultivated a weight of expectation after some stellar showings in his homeland. He operates in midfield pockets but bends and contorts opposition lines and wreaks havoc with a multi-functioning, many-faceted attacking tool kit.

This season, the dynamic midfielder has scored five goals and created two assists for his teammates across all competitions, including scoring a fine strike against Barcelona in the Champions League.

In the Ukrainian Premier League this term, he’s been spellbinding. Breathtaking. If midfield creativity was an art, he’d be Picasso. As per Sofascore, he has posted three goals and one assist from 14 matches, but this is not a skill set constrained by goals, by assists. No. This is a player of elite calibre, recognised for the glittering diamond within, entombed in rock.

His 87% passing accuracy denotes his crisp and composed distribution, his 1.5 key passes per game highlight a flow of supplementation for the forwards.

Moreover, Sudakov averages four ball recoveries, 6.7 successful duels and 3.1 successful dribbles per game, the latter coming in at a staggering 80% success rate.

Liverpool is the perfect club to nurture his talents to the fore, currently guiding a rich crop of midfield players and an exciting wave of academy potential.

As per FBref, based on Champions League performance only, Sudakov ranks among the top 21% of midfielders for shot-creating actions and the top 18% for progressive carries per 90, showcasing his energetic and creative quality against the continent’s best.

He’s not the most combative of players, but then that’s not his role. Harvey Elliott is not the most combative of midfielders either but that does not negate the 20-year-old’s pedigree as a high-class prospect.

Sudakov is two-footed but tends to roam toward the left attacking side, infrequently deployed as a left winger. While there is little doubt that his attributes shine brightest when playing centrally, pushing and prodding toward the final third, Edwards could find that he repeats his brilliant Mohamed Salah acquisition by snapping up this talented player.

Why Edwards could repeat Mohamed Salah deal

To be clear: Sudakov is not cut from the same cloth as Salah. They are actually positionally opposed, but there’s no doubt that there are similarities and Sudakov could be a signing to lift Liverpool in the early phase of a new era, much like Salah did way back when.

Liverpool, with Edwards as the sporting director, signed Salah from Roma for £34m back in 2017 in the early years of Klopp’s reign, with the transfer raising a few eyebrows within the Premier League after the Egyptian failed to succeed at Chelsea.

He’s long put any such doubts to bed, having scored 207 goals and added 89 assists for Liverpool over 337 fixtures, instrumental in the silver-laden success of many campaigns.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored and touches in the attacking penalty area, the top 1% for assists and the top 20% for progressive passes per 90.

All-time Premier League Scorers

Player

Goals

Scoring rate

Alan Shearer

260

0.59

Harry Kane

213

0.67

Wayne Rooney

208

0.42

Andy Cole

187

0.45

Sergio Aguero

184

0.67

Frank Lampard

177

0.29

Thierry Henry

175

0.68

Robbie Fowler

164

0.43

Jermain Defoe

162

0.33

Mohamed Salah

154

0.61

Stats via Premier League

He is also endowed with elite athleticism and holds a mastery of the ambit of facets needed to succeed as a high-class winger.

He was purchased in the fledgling phase of his brilliance and so too could Sudakov be welcomed to Anfield with the raw attributes needed for a great career in the Premier League.

Sudakov is also, as mentioned, more than capable on the wing, with his relentless dribbles, fierce striking ability and expert creativity bearing semblance to Salah when he burst onto the scene, the 31-year-old averaging 2.2 key passes and dribbles apiece during his historic 2017/18 Premier League campaign, as per WhoScored.

Liverpool must take a punt on Sudakov; while there’s work to do until he’s operating at top level, he could be the club’s next “sensation” – as he has been called by talent scout Jacek Kulig – succeeding Salah.

MatériaMais Notícias

Herói do título de 2019 e maior artilheiro do Flamengo na Libertadores, o atacante Gabriel Barbosa faz seu melhor início de Copa, em número de gols, vestindo o Manto. São seis gols nas cinco rodadas realizadas e, nesta quinta-feira, o camisa 9 rubro-negro buscará terminar a fase de grupos da Copa como artilheiro isolado. O confronto com o Vélez Sarsfield, da Argentina, será às 21h no Estádio do Maracanã, e contará com transmissão em tempo real do LANCE!.

Além de Flamengo e Vélez e LDU e Unión La Calera, pelo Grupo G, dois jogos do Grupo A encerram a fase de grupos nesta quinta:Palmeiras e Universitario, em São Paulo, e Defensa y Justicia e Independiente Del Valle, na Argentina. Confira a situação de todas chaves e as equipes já classificados para as oitavas de final!

RelacionadasFlamengoFlamengo x Vélez Sarsfield: prováveis times, desfalques, onde ver e palpitesFlamengo24/05/2021FlamengoArrascaeta está na pré-lista do Uruguai para a Copa AméricaFlamengo26/05/2021FlamengoRodrigo Caio se prepara para estrear na Libertadores, e Flamengo pode ter dupla de zaga inédita na temporadaFlamengo26/05/2021

OS ARTILHEIROS DO MOMENTO

Antes dos jogos desta quinta, três atletas dividem a artilharia da Libertadores: Gabigol, do Flamengo, Hulk, do Atlético-MG, Borja, do Junior Barranquilla. O Galo já disputou as rodadas da fase de grupos e está classificado para as oitavas de final da Copa, enquanto o time colombiano não conseguiu a vaga.

Christian Ortíz, do Del Valle, está na briga para encerrar a fase de grupos como artilheiro. São cinco gols do meia, que deve estar em campo contra o Defensa y Justicia, mas o clube equatoriano já não mais chances de classificação na Copa.

2021 DE GABI SUPERA INÍCIO DE EDIÇÕES PASSADAS

Em sua primeira Libertadores pelo Flamengo, em 2019, Gabigol foi o herói e artilheiro do Bi da América com nove gols, sendo dois na final contra o River Plate, em Lima. Contudo, a fase de grupos do atacante não foi tão boa: dois gols – um contra o San José e outro contra a LDU – em cinco partidas. No mata-mata, o camisa 9 brilhou, com gols diante do Emelec, Inter, Grêmio e River.

Já na fase de grupos de 2020, Gabigol fez quatro jogos e apenas um gol, contra o Barcelona de Guayaquil, no Maracanã. Em 2021, são seis gols em cinco jogos.

SACA pledge no strike action during England tour, but off-field problems mounting for hosts

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Dec-2019The ECB remain confident that that the forthcoming Test tour of South Africa will go ahead as planned, despite another day of administrative chaos that culminated in the suspension of Cricket South Africa’s chief executive and the loss of the team’s title sponsor after a 30-year association.England are set to announce their Test squad on Saturday, and are due to depart next week for a four-match series which begins with the first Test at Centurion on Boxing Day. Several potential members of England’s party – including James Anderson, Mark Wood and Jonny Bairstow – are already in the country at a training camp in Potchefstroom.However, the rest of the squad will be flying into a febrile atmosphere, amid an ongoing stand-off between Cricket South Africa and its players over image rights that could yet escalate into strike action – although not, according to SACA, the players’ association, during the England series itself.An ECB spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo that the board was keeping a “watching brief” on developments in South Africa, but added that they were not concerned about the existing arrangements at this stage.On Friday, Thabang Moroe, CSA’s CEO, was suspended due to allegations of misconduct, while Standard Bank, whose association with cricket in South Africa dates back to 1998, announced it would not be renewing its title sponsorship of the national team due to “long-standing problems which have damaged Standard Bank’s reputation”.Cricket South Africa have yet to appoint a director of cricket, with Graeme Smith, the former captain and favourite for the role, withdrawing his interest last month due to a “lack of confidence” in the administration. Earlier this week, five journalists had their accreditation temporarily revoked because the board was unhappy with the light in which it was being portrayed.ALSO READ: Crisis in South African cricket – Full coverageIt is an uncomfortable backdrop for South Africa as they begin a high-profile home summer, and attempt to arrest a run of five Test defeats in a row – most recently a 3-0 series loss in India in October. That tour was the first outing for the new team director, Enoch Nkwe, whose role was created after Ottis Gibson stood down as head coach following the team’s disappointing showing at this year’s World Cup.With South Africa facing a period of transition on the field too, following the retirements from Test cricket of Dale Steyn and Hashim Amla, the issue of selection is another bone of contention for South Africa. Last week the board faced further criticism for refusing to reveal the names of the “technical team” that will name the squad for the England series.In response, SACA has called for a “clear and transparent structure” to be installed around the team as soon as possible, involving “experienced, credible and reputable cricket people”.”In the England series across three formats which starts in three weeks time, the Proteas will be facing one of the best teams in the world” said Tony Irish, SACA’s chief executive. “We know that the players will give 110% for South Africa on the field but it is critical that a proper professional structure is in place around the team. The way in which CSA has dealt with this to date, and the fact that nothing is in place, is totally unacceptable. It is ludicrous to expect players to be selected by unknown selectors.”Industrial action, Irish added, should be seen as a “last resort”, and acknowledged the critical financial importance of the England tour to a cash-strapped board. CSA is expected to lose between 654 million (USD 45 million approx) and 1 billion (USD 69 million approx) in the next four-year cycle, a figure that may now rise with the loss of revenue from the Standard Bank deal.”We also wish to reassure cricket fans, and other cricket stakeholders, that SACA will not embark on industrial action with the players during the upcoming England series,” said Irish. “We are very aware of the importance of this series to the Proteas and to England, to the many fans from both countries and to the media and commercial partners.”

Maxine Blythin says she has received huge support on the cricket field and in everyday life

Valkerie Baynes26-Nov-2019

Maxine Blythin in action for Kent•Kent CCC

Maxine Blythin, the transgender cricketer who was recently named as Kent Women’s Player of the Year, has revealed she was shocked by the negative reaction towards her.Blythin, who was born with a condition that meant she failed to go through male puberty as an adolescent because her testosterone levels were too low, won the award in late September without major fanfare. But when controversial columnist Katie Hopkins responded negatively on Twitter earlier this month, it sparked a raft of vitriol on social media against Blythin.While the furore did not necessarily surprise Blythin, it was all the more shocking to her given the support she had received from friends, family and many in the cricket community.”From obviously reading media stories you know that that kind of mentality is out there,” Blythin told Sky Sports. “There are people who just don’t like you because you’re different or you don’t fit into their binary norms that they see.”You get a lot of hate mail, some more extreme than others. It’s probably the hardest thing, I think, for someone like me to experience because because it’s someone saying, ‘you are not valid, I get to decide who you are, not you’, without any understanding of the biology behind it, the science behind it, and just in general how your brain works.”My friends have all been accepting. My family, with some time, were very accepting. At work I’ve never had any issues, on the sporting field, not a single comment, no issues. In just general life, going to the shops, going anywhere, not a single issue at any stage. I’ve just been living my life being a normal human, going to work, going to the shops, paying taxes.”Blythin paid tribute to Kent captain and England opener Tammy Beaumont, who was quick to throw her support behind Blythin in a series of Tweets aimed at Hopkins, including one which said: “Personally I’m proud to call her my team-mate and my friend. So please attempt [sic] don’t speak for me or my ovaries.”Blythin said she had spoken with Beaumont since to tell her how much she appreciated her support.”Having someone who openly shows her support despite knowing what backlash you could get from it, from people who just don’t know anything about the story, anything about biology, anything about who I am or what I’m doing, is very brave of Tammy and something I appreciate a lot,” Blythin said. The story did raise more nuanced debate surrounding possible physical advantages Blythin may possess over other women competing with or against her, especially that she is more than six feet tall. As an opening batsman, she helped Kent win the Women’s County Championship this year, finishing her debut season as the county’s third-highest run scorer.Asked whether she had any physical attributes which might prove to be an advantage, Blythin said: “Nothing particularly, only the differences you get in humans in general.”There are girls in my team who are a lot stronger than I am, there are girls with longer arm spans than I do, girls with bigger hands than I do, just in my own team, never mind the teams I play with or against. I’ve just got some naturally good bits, ie. tall is beneficial for some things, but I’ve got very thin arms.”In my family I’m not considered abnormal. I’ve got a tall dad, a tall mum. I’m quite normal sized for my family. My sister is pretty tall as well.”While the ECB’s playing regulations allow Blythin to play women’s cricket simply by identifying as transgender, she would have to meet the ICC’s more rigorous standards if she were ever selected to play for England, which includes a limit on testosterone levels. However, she said she would welcome the opportunity if it came along.”If I was invited to, it would be the biggest privilege of my life,” she said. “Speaking to people who have played at that level, even if it’s just for one game, it’s one of the biggest occasions of their sporting lives. I’d 100 percent say yes. I’m not expecting it but I would say yes.”Blythin also has a condition called gender dysphoria, where a person experiences discomfort or distress because their biological sex does not equate with their gender identity and she remembers feeling that way “before I can remember other memories”.”The first thing I can remember as a kid is thinking that way,” Blythin said. Throughout my adolescence, my childhood, I always had that feeling of being different but without the way to articulate, without the knowledge to know where I stood.”Back then, parents weren’t given that kind of information, that kind of story was not easily accessible. You didn’t have trans role models, you didn’t have anything like that, so being able to articulate who you are was not easy.”Describing her experience of gender dysphoria, Blythin told Sky: “It’s a feeling of disgust, a really hurtful feeling … my best way is to ask what makes a man. If you come back and tell me it’s what’s in your trousers, you’ve not grasped what being a man is.”You have to look inside yourself and really think. Now, imagine you’re a man in a woman’s body – but you’re still thinking about what makes you who you are. To then have that body stare back at you in the mirror… that’s the easiest way to explain it.”Asked to describe herself, Blythin said: “A woman, simple as. I always have felt that way, I’ve always wanted to articulate it as such.”

Peter Siddle has announced his retirement from international cricket after a career that spanned 11 years.Siddle, 35, played 67 Tests taking 221 wickets at 30.66, his last match coming in the final Test of this year’s Ashes series in England. He was brought back into the squad for the current Test against New Zealand and told coach Justin Langer on Boxing Day that he was bringing the curtain down on his Australia career before informing his team-mates of his decision before play on the fourth day.In white-ball cricket he played 20 ODIs, earning a surprise recall earlier this year, and two T20Is.”It’s always hard to know what the right time is, it was sort of the Ashes – that was the main goal – to try and get on that touring party and be a part of that series,” Siddle told Fox Cricket. “Once I’d ticked that off, I’d been chatting with JL and Painey throughout that series, I could have done it there, but the chance of maybe getting one last crack if it came up in Australia, do it at home would have been nice. But I can be content, 67 Tests, to think as a young kid that I wouldn’t get a chance I’m very happy and a bit sad.”As a young kid I wasn’t super talented so I had to work hard for it. Just to wear baggy green, walk out with it, represent Australia. Chatting to three fast bowlers who are playing this Test, I played in all their debuts so to see all them go about it now, that’s part of the reason, they are a lot younger than me and you see how good they are. Every time I stepped out was amazing.”Tim Paine, Australia’s Test captain, said: “Sids has been the heart and soul of the team for a long time. I remember coming up through with him through the academies and even back then he was one of the great team men, something he has continued to this day.”He has a massive heart and is a fantastic bowler. He’ll be very much missed around the group. He’s been unbelievably good for our younger fast bowlers over the last 18 months and been a great support for me during that time, as well.”Siddle started out as a tearaway, turning heads in the 2008 Sheffield Shield final for Victoria, hitting Gautam Gambhir on the helmet and dismissing Sachin Tendulkar on his debut at Mohali later that year, and taking his famous birthday hat-trick at the Gabba against England in 2010. Around this time he was one of then captain Ricky Ponting’s go-to men – they were both vocal supporters of the North Melbourne AFL club, too.Peter Siddle celebrates a wicket•Getty Images

But Siddle needed to add subtlety and consistency to his game. Something he did alongside Craig McDermott around the time he also changed his lifestyle, giving up alcohol and meat, in 2011-12. From then until 2014, he was one of the best and most challenging bowlers to face in world cricket, claiming 110 wickets at 27.77 and a strike rate of 57.80 over a 30-match period. During the 2013-14 dual Ashes series, he was consistently successful against Kevin Pietersen.After that season, Siddle was dropped on account of losing pace, and one of the most unfair periods of time for him was being ignored by selectors during 2015 Ashes until it was too late. But not to be deterred by that or subsequent injuries, Siddle took up a deal with Essex, proving himself as a highly effective seamer with the Dukes ball, and when Australia were desperate for experience after the Newlands scandal, he found his way back.And while he did not play every Test, suffered from dropped catches and was injured in the final match at The Oval, Siddle’s expertise and experience were critical to Australia retaining Ashes in England for first time since 2001. His spell on the final day of the first Test at Edgbaston, piling on pressure from one end while Nathan Lyon cut through England at the other, was described by Langer as “the best wicketless spell I’ve ever seen”.After news of Siddle’s retirement was confirmed, Langer said: “The year after I retired from playing, Matty Hayden and Ricky Ponting were raving about this guy called Peter Siddle. If it came from them, you knew it was right and so it proved throughout his brilliant international career.”He is an unbelievable bloke and an extremely good cricketer. He is the everything of what a team player is. He has given his heart and soul to the Australian team and the game of cricket.”We’ll always be thankful to him for what he’s given to the national team, and for the critical role he played in helping us retain the Ashes in England this year. He’s going out when he’s still playing well which, in a perfect world, is something every athlete wants to do.”As for the future, Siddle has already set that up. Often pigeonholed as a red ball specialist, he is now one of the most skilful and effective BBL pacemen, helping the Strikers to the 2018 title and proving an expert closer this season in a tight victory over the Melbourne Stars. He has also indicated he will keep playing for Victoria and Essex.

West Ham have announced the signing of Germany international Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund.

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• Fullkrug joins for £27m
• Joins Kilman & Summerville among arrivals
• Aaron Wan-Bissaka could be next

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  West Ham have announced the signing of Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund on a four-year deal. The Hammers have reportedly paid £27 million ($34m) for the 31-year-old Germany international, who joins Luis Guilherme, Wes Foderingham, Max Kilman and Crysencio Summerville among the Premier League club's summer signings.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Fullkrug provides experience at the highest level, having played in the Champions League for Dortmund and in the World Cup for Germany. West Ham fans got a glimpse of their new striker at Euro 2024, where Fullkrug scored two goals for his country en route to the quarter-final. He works hard and should benefit from the service provided by Summerville, Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen.

• WHAT FULLKRUG SAID

  The 6ft 2in striker told the club's website: "I’m delighted to be here, and I can’t wait to get out on the pitch with my new teammates. I think the Premier League is the best league in the world, and for me it is the right time to move over to England and play for a big Club like West Ham.

  "The chance to play under the Head Coach [Lopetegui] is also really exciting. His playing style is important for me, and I am confident that under him I will be able to perform at my best, and score lots of goals."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WEST HAM?

  Manchester United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka could be next through the door at the London Stadium. The Hammers have been linked with the English right-back and are reportedly pushing to complete the deal.