“Everyone backs everyone, it doesn’t matter which XI is playing”

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jun-2021

On a high after their emphatic series win at Edgbaston on Sunday, New Zealand will now have plenty of selection headaches to deal with for the World Test Championship final against India starting June 18 in Southampton. With a combination of injuries and their decision to rest a few players, New Zealand made six changes to their playing XI for the second Test, and still showed enough depth in both batting and bowling to beat England by eight wickets.If most or all of their injured players recover, New Zealand will have numerous options for only a few spots available. How are some of their players on the fringe of a permanent spot in the playing XI coping with that competition?”I try not to put any pressure on myself,” spinner Ajaz Patel, one of the six inclusions for the second Test, said. “Faith is a big factor for me, which allows me to stay grounded and be comfortable with whatever is thrown at me. I make sure I’m still working hard, developing my game and continuing to grow so when the opportunity does come, I make the most of it.Related

WTC final: Ajaz Patel primed to add new chapter to 'a hell of a story'

New Zealand pick Ajaz Patel ahead of Mitchell Santner in final 15 for WTC final

Stats – NZ's first series win in England since 1999

New Zealand demonstrate bench strength ahead of World Test Championship final

Tom Latham sets sights on WTC final after historic series win

“There is no added pressure, whenever I put the cap on, I look at it as a privilege. [I] try and have fun because that’s why we play cricket. It’s still reliving a childhood dream, representing New Zealand and putting that black baggy on. We take a lot of pride and privilege in that. Every time I get the opportunity, I try to put out there what I’ve been working on while I’ve been away. Sometimes you have to take a back seat, and sometimes you’re thrust in the front.”New Zealand’s incredible discipline on the field, and subsequent success, has roots in the culture that the team has bought into over the last few years.”It was probably six or seven years ago, the leadership group sat down and thought we want to play a brand of cricket that was true to us as Kiwis,” New Zealand’s stand-in captain Tom Latham said. “Something that we could hold our head on. The change came around that World Cup time in 2015. To try and enjoy cricket, enjoy each other’s company. That’s something we hold true to this group.”Patel also alluded to that culture as an influential reason in New Zealand’s recent success. “The culture around this team is very good. Everyone is quite positive, there is no negativity, and that breeds so much success we have. Everyone backs everyone, it doesn’t matter which XI is playing. Everyone has been putting in a 100% and it was from the guys that weren’t playing to the guys that were in the playing XI.”I was carrying drinks last week, there was a different group carrying drinks this week. We had a lot of seniors players carrying drinks and they still did the job for the team and I think that shows our team culture and how we go about our cricket, and what it really means to be a part of this team for everyone. There’s no ranks in here and everyone does what they need to which is a great environment to be in.”Even though the Ageas Bowl in Southampton favours spin as the match progresses, New Zealand will probably have to choose between Mitchell Santner and Patel for the WTC final. “We have some good conversations about spin, a lot of in-depth analysis and tactics that we can use while we’re out there. We have a good healthy competition but at the same time, we work well together as well. Competition is always good, we’re growing together,” he said.”I’ve done my part, my preparation. Now it’s up to the selectors. My foundation of faith allows me to be at peace with whatever happens. For me, it’s about preparing and whatever happens from there, happens from there. I wouldn’t want to be a selector right now because there are some pretty tough decisions. It has been highlighted in the last couple of games how much depth we really have.”Patel took four wickets at Edgbaston, while also performing the role of a holding spinner. He bowled eight maidens in 23 overs with an economy rate of well under three in both innings, and chipped in with the bat as well in the first innings with 20 useful runs at No. 10 which helped New Zealand in taking an 85-run lead.”I tried to make use of whatever was out there. Being able to bat, that was fun. Mark Wood bowling some serious pace, trying to take your block off isn’t the most amusing. It’s something I’ve been working on, it was nice to showcase that. But also doing a job in the second innings where conditions start favouring you a bit more.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Anunciado no dia 31 de agosto, o lateral-direito João Pedro fez a sua estreia em campo pelo Corinthians entrando no segundo tempo da derrota por 2 a 1 para o Ceará, nesta quinta-feira (25), no estádio do Castelão, em Fortaleza, pela 35ª rodada do Brasileirão.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansWillian reclama de gols sofridos pelo Corinthians no fim: ‘Não é o primeiro jogo que acontece isso’Corinthians25/11/2021CorinthiansATUAÇÕES: Corinthians toma gols após falhas de Cássio e João Pedro e perde para o Ceará no CastelãoCorinthians25/11/2021CorinthiansEm jogo dos atrasos, Cássio falha, ‘lei do ex’ entra em ação e Corinthians perde para o CearáCorinthians25/11/2021

O camisa 2 entrou no lugar de Fagner, que tinha cartão amarelo e perigava ser expulso, aos 37 minutos da etapa final. No momento, o Timão perdia por 1 a 0, mas um minuto depois da entrada do lateral empatou o jogo com Róger Guedes.

Contudo, aos 43 do segundo tempo, o Ceará volta a frente do placar em um lance em que João Pedro falhou na cobertura e deixou Yony González subir de cabeça com liberdade e definir o placar favorável ao Vozão.

Foram 86 dias entra o anúncio de João pelo Corinthians e a primeira entrada em campo, ainda que durante oito mintos mais os acréscimos. Neste intervalo, o defensor foi relacionado para oito partidas, das 17 que o Timão disputou desde a chegada do jogador.

João Pedro é agenciado por Paulo Pitombeira, que também cuida da carreira do atacante Róger Guedes, contratado quatro dias antes do lateral-direito após uma vasta operação para que ele se desligasse do Shandong Taishan, da China.

Sheffield United welcomed ten new signings over the summer but could still look to the free agent market to bolster their squad, and Football FanCast have looked into three possible free agent targets for the Blades.

Sheffield United make unbeaten start

Having been relegated from the Premier League last season, the Blades will be aiming to secure an instant return to the top flight this season, and have begun in strong fashion.

Though six points off the early pace set by Regis Le Bris and Sunderland, they have taken six points from their four games and are yet to taste defeat. It has left them sitting eighth in the Championship and Chris Wilder's side are only likely to improve as their new additions bed in and gel with one another.

With purse strings tight at Bramall Lane, Wilder has played down the prospect of promotion, explaining: “Just because a club comes out of the Premier League, it is expected to be up there straight away. We’re not Burnley, Leeds or Luton.

“There’s a hell of a lot of changes that we have made this pre-season. Sometimes, from me, I am going to protect those players as I should and hopefully we, as a football club, will recognise that. Sometimes, you have to suffer little backward steps."

However, with some stars available as free agents right now, they could well strengthen their squad without a single penny spent on transfer fees, with these three looking the most tempting.

Cheikhou Kouyate

A player who has spent several seasons in the Premier League, Cheikhou Kouyate's time at Nottingham Forest came to an end this summer, and he is yet to find a new club.

The 34-year-old can play either in the heart of defence or, as is more likely needed at Bramall Lane, at the base of midfield. With 92 caps for Senegal and almost 300 Premier League appearances he would add plenty of experience to Wilder's ranks, which would only help the likes of Harrison Burrows, Alfie Gilchrist and Ollie Arblaster, all of whom remain in the infancy of their careers.

Championship Table: Latest standings for the 2024/25 season

Latest English Football League Championship standings 2024/25.

ByStephan Georgiou Apr 22, 2025

Though only making 12 appearances for Forest last season, a step down a division may be the perfect solution for Kouyate should he wish to continue his senior career, while the Blades would be adding a versatile and experienced leader to their dressing room.

Alireza Jahanbakhsh

The other key area that the Blades require cover is on the wing, with only the young Jesurun Rak-Sayki as a recognised option in the wide areas, though Callum O'Hare can also feature there.

That is an issue they could rectify through the addition of former Brighton winger and Iranian international Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who finds himself without a club as it stands, despite racking up 17 goals in 84 Iran caps.

Remembered fondly on the south coast for a stunning overhead kick against Chelsea, the 31-year-old was most recently at Feyenoord but was let go at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

Alireza Jahanbakhsh in English football

Games

61

Goals

4

Assists

2

Minutes per goal/assist

443

Capable of playing on either side of attack, he could be a shrewd addition on a free transfer to add some much needed firepower to the Blades' attack.

Ivan Cavaleiro

Speaking of shrewd additions, Ivan Cavaleiro could be another that fits the bill. The 30-year-old was released by Lille over the summer, and is yet to find another club. But he brings experience of English football, having played for both Wolves and Fulham in stints which saw him make 59 appearances and score on six occasions.

A right-footed winger, he is most comfortable on the left-hand side but, like Jahanbakhsh, can play on either side of the frontline if required. Could he lend his talents to the Blades to help them back into the Premier League?

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke is hoping to successfully mastermind a promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking.

The Whites were relegated from the top-flight at the end of the 2022/23 campaign and brought in the German boss to plot a route back to the big time last season.

He led them to a third-place finish in the Championship, just behind Ipswich Town and Leicester City in the automatic promotion places, and then lost to Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley.

Farke won two Championship titles during his time with Norwich City and will now be hoping that he can secure a third trophy in the division this season.

His squad has been damaged by the departures of Archie Gray, Glen Kamara, Crysencio Summerville, and Georginio Rutter this summer, but he has been able to bring in Joe Rothwell, Largie Ramazani, Manor Solomon, Joe Rodon, Jayden Bogle, and Alex Cairns.

The summer transfer window is still open until Friday night and the German boss could want to make further additions to his squad, with a Championship attacking midfielder said to be on his wishlist.

Leeds interested in Championship playmaker

According to the Daily Mail, Leeds are interested in signing Sheffield United playmaker Gustavo Hamer before the deadline passes later this week.

The report claims that the Whites submitted an offer of £13m to snap the Dutch maestro up from Bramall Lane and were rebuffed by the Championship side.

It states that the Blades are not looking to cash in on the 27-year-old magician in the final few days of the window, despite the 49ers' efforts to tempt them into selling.

An offer of £13m was not enough to convince Sheffield United to part ways with a player they paid £15m to sign from Coventry City last summer, following their promotion to the Premier League.

It now remains to be seen whether or not the Whites will go back in with an improved offer for the talented attacking midfielder, as the report does not reveal what their plan is with the £30k-per-week gem going forward.

Dutch outlet TransferWatch claims, though, that personal terms have already been agreed between Farke's team and the ex-Coventry star, with it now being down to the two clubs to agree a fee.

Leeds and the Blades look set to compete with each other in the battle to secure promotion to the Premier League this season and Chris Wilder's side may not want to strengthen one of their potential rivals, whilst weakening their own team, with a few days to go before the deadline.

Farke, however, could unearth his own version of former promotion hero Pablo Hernandez at Elland Road by securing a deal for Hamer this week.

Pablo Hernandez's Leeds magic

The Spanish maestro was a versatile midfield player who could operate out wide on the flank or through the middle as an attacking midfielder for the club.

He thrived under Marcelo Bielsa in the Championship and provided immense quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the West Yorkshire outfit, particularly in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 campaigns.

The right-footed wizard was a superstar for the Argentine head coach in the 2018/19 season, after Bielsa was appointed in the summer of 2018.

As you can see in the table above, Hernandez was directly involved in 24 goals in 39 appearances for the Whites as they missed out on promotion via the play-offs.

He provided consistent quality as a scorer and a creator from a midfield position and followed that up with another impressive season as Leeds won the title in the 2019/20 campaign.

The Spanish ace produced nine goals and nine assists, with another season of a symmetrical spread of goal contributions, in 37 Championship games for the club.

These statistics, along with his overall stats as shown in the graphic above, show that Hernandez was a constant threat to opposition defences during his spell at Elland Road.

He was a mercurial talent who could win matches with his quality at the top end of the pitch and Farke could now land his own version of the talented ace.

Why Gustavo Hamer could be Pablo Hernandez 2.0

The Dutch magician is a proven Championship performer who could provide a similar presence to Hernandez in the final third with his ability as a scorer and a creator of goals from a number ten or wide position.

A central or attacking midfielder usually, Hamer has started the current campaign as a winger for Sheffield United and this shows that Farke could use him in a wide role or in behind Mateo Joseph.

The 27-year-old, who was described as a "beautiful" player by journalist Josh Bunting, has been on fire in the first three games, with a return of two goals, one assist, and two 'big chances' created in three appearances, and that comes after his tally of four goals and six assists in the Premier League last term.

Prior to his move to Bramall Lane in the summer of 2023, Hamer showcased his attacking quality in the Championship during his time with Coventry.

As you can see in the table above, the talented playmaker provided a huge threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals for Mark Robins in the 2022/23 season.

His return of ten assists from 16 'big chances' created also suggests that his teammates let him down at times with their wasteful finishing in front of goal.

Including an outing against Leicester at the start of last season, Hamer has produced 11 goals, 12 assists, and 21 'big chances' created in 45 Championship games since the start of the 2022/23 campaign.

Leeds could land “exciting” signing for Joseph in late move for EFL star

The Whites are reportedly interested in signing the attacking midfielder this week.

By
Dan Emery

Aug 26, 2024

These statistics suggest that Farke could unearth his own Pablo Hernandez by signing the Blades star, due to his ability to be a difference-maker on a regular basis from a midfield position at Championship level.

“Cricket administrators must collaborate if cricket is to survive the risks and costs of Covid-19,” says Ricky Skerritt

Nagraj Gollapudi18-Jun-2021In a shot in the arm for the BCCI and the IPL, the dates for the 2021 edition of the CPL have been revised; it will now be played in St Kitts and Nevis between August 26 and September 15. The CPL was originally scheduled to start on August 28, and end on September 19, but that changed after the BCCI began talks with Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the CPL immediately after it identified the September-October window for wrapping up the remainder of the postponed 2021 IPL.The revised dates will mean a tweaked match schedule for the CPL, and the challenge for both CWI and CPL is that there aren’t many free days in a packed home season comprising tours of the Caribbean by South Africa, Australia and Pakistan.Immediately after the ongoing series against South Africa, which ends on July 9, West Indies play a white-ball series comprising five T20Is and three ODIs against Australia, which will end on July 24. Three days later, the Pakistan series kicks off with a five-match T20I series followed by two Tests, scheduled to end on August 24.Related

Defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders to face Guyana Amazon Warriors in CPL 2021 opener

BCCI to conduct remainder of IPL 2021 in Sept-Oct in UAE

Gayle returns to Patriots; Shakib back with Tallawahs

Tridents pick Morris in CPL 2021 draft, Hasaranga goes to Patriots

Russell retained by Tallawahs; Bravo, Rutherford go to Patriots

The BCCI wanted the CPL to bring forward the start of the tournament for two key reasons: Firstly, there are several players as well as coaching staff that are involved with both IPL and CPL franchises, and also, the owners of two of the IPL franchises – the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Punjab Kings – own teams in the CPL too – the Trinbago Knight Riders and the St Lucia Zouks respectively. Secondly, the BCCI wanted the IPL-bound contingent to move sooner from the Caribbean to the UAE, where the remainder of the IPL will be played.”Both IPL and CPL are important to CWI, to our cricketers and to fans,” Ricky Skerritt, the CWI president, told ESPNcricinfo. “CWI’s role was to facilitate arrangements for a non-overlapping and smooth transition from one tournament to the next. Cricket administrators must collaborate if cricket is to survive the risks and costs of Covid-19.”The 2021 CPL comprises 33 matches, all of which will be hosted at Warner Park. In April, Pete Russell, the CPL chief executive officer, had said this edition would be open to crowds but attendance would be capped at 50% of the ground capacity.Skerritt explained that the CPL would also soon be finalising the guidelines for the franchises to be part of the bio-secure bubble. “Any bubble-related decisions are made by the local St Kitts health authorities and CPL medical advisors (same as CWI), in the context of the local Covid-19 situation,” he said. “Just four weeks ago, St Kitts recorded community spread for the first time. For over a year, all cases were imported, identified, quarantined, and recovered. The first local Covid-19 (related) death happened just two days ago.”

Celtic are set for a busy transfer deadline day, with several deals still on the table for Brendan Rodgers' side before the window slams shut on Friday evening, and they have been in talks to sign another midfielder in the final hours.

Two new faces set to join Celtic

After a relatively slow summer at Parkhead, the Scottish Premiership champions have burst into action in the wake of the departure of midfielder Matt O'Riley.

The club's Player of the Year last season, O'Riley joined Brighton in a deal worth in excess of £25m, a move which made him the club's record sale but left a gaping hole in the Celtic squad.

Celtic's record sales (Transfermarkt)

Player

Fee

Matt O'Riley

€29.5m

Jota

€29.1m

Kieran Tierney

€27m

Moussa Dembele

€22m

Odsonne Edouard

€16.3m

The midfielder was instrumental last season, grabbing 13 goals and 11 assists in the top flight to help his side clinch the title, and while Celtic are unlikely to find a like-for-like replacement, they are keen to reinvest the money across the squad.

Rodgers' side are closing in on a pair of late deals made available by O'Riley's exit, with Auston Trusty set to join the club in a deal worth £6m from Sheffield United, a move which will bolster the options in the heart of defence following the departures of Gustaf Langerbielke and Yuki Kobayashi this summer.

They are also ready to add to their midfield ranks, having agreed to sign Augsburg midfielder Arne Engels in a move that represents a record fee for the Bhoys. Engels will pen a four-year deal at Parkhead, and will likely be tasked with replicating the performances of O'Riley.

But their recruitment drive is not set to stop there, and they are eyeing up yet another addition before the window closes.

Celtic make offer for midfielder

Now, it has emerged that the Bhoys are chasing a move for Alvyn Sanches as they look to add another midfielder to their ranks.

As per The Daily Express' Charlie Gordon, Rodgers' side have tabled a £2.5m bid for the midfielder, who currently plies his trade for Swiss outfit Lausanne-Sport.

However, the Swiss side are holding out for closer to £3m, and have knocked back the offer, though the difference in asking price suggests that a deal may not be off the table altogether.

Celtic reach agreement for "ambitious" star who was Rodgers' first choice

The medical has been booked…

ByTom Cunningham Aug 29, 2024

It is added that Sanches is "expected to leave" before the end of the transfer window amid interest from across Europe, though no one has met the asking price to date.

The 21-year-old Swiss U21 international has been touted as a potential future star, with Youth Scouting explaining on X that the youngster is "a technically secure midfielder that retains possession positively", while he is also "an agile, nimble, close-control dribbler".

With time ticking down, Celtic may have to stump up the whole fee to beat other clubs to his signature and prise him away from Switzerland in the final hours of the window should they want to land their man.

India clinched a four-wicket win in the final over of the rain-curtailed third ODI of the multi-format series against England in Worcester courtesy Mithali Raj’s unbeaten 75, Smriti Mandhana’s 49 and Sneh Rana’s cameo, after Deepti Sharma’s three-for helped bowl the hosts out for 219.Needing six of the final over, Raj, who earlier in the day became the leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket surpassing Charlotte Edwards, hit the winning four after she and No. 8 Jhulan Goswami scored two off the first two deliveries. Piercing the off side with a square drive off Katherine Brunt, Raj helped overhaul the 220 target with three balls to spare, becoming the most successful captain in women’s ODIs with an 84th win in the format leading the side.India needed 38 off the last 30 balls in the 47-overs-a-side contest, with Raj and Rana in the middle. No. 7 Rana, making a vital 22-ball 24, kept Raj company as the duo accelerated with two fours in a 12-run 44th over, delivered by Natalie Sciver.Related

• Mithali Raj says Sneh Rana a key allrounder for India's future

• Stats – Mithali's international landmarks

• Record-breaking Mithali Raj becomes leading run-scorer in women's international cricket

Brunt conceded six singles in the next over, leaving India 14 to get off the final 12 balls. With Sciver taken off the attack, Sophie Ecclestone, bowling her 10th over having given away just 28 up to that point, was hoicked for four by Rana off the fourth ball just inches past Kate Cross at the midwicket rope. However, with four runs coming in the over – off two singles and a two prior to that boundary – and the equation down to six required off eight, Rana’s failed attempt to go big over deep square saw her being bowled.Raj, though, ensured the chase was sealed without any further drama, her third straight fifty helping India add two points to take their tally to four against England’s six, the teams having split the four points on offer for the one-off Test in Bristol last month.Playing her usual anchor role at No. 4, Raj struck eight fours, pivoting fifty stands with No. 5 Harmanpreet Kaur and Rana, and a 33-run fifth-wicket stand with Sharma. Veering from her typical reluctance to take the aerial route, though, Raj lofted Cross off just the fourth ball of her innings. Exuding similar intent, she unleashed a second pick-up drive en route to 16 off 32 balls, the shot – a four down the ground off Sciver in the 24th over of the run-chase – lifting her to the top of the run charts in women’s international cricket.Though India started their pursuit promisingly, Raj’s arrival at the crease came about after the visitors lost opener Shafali Verma and No. 3 Jemimah Rodrigues inside 16 overs with 154 still required to avert a 0-3 clean sweep in the ODI leg of the tour.Verma’s laboured 29-ball 19 culminated in her trying to clear Cross over the in-field on the off side, instead spooning it to Knight at cover, off the last ball of the reduced nine-over powerplay. India scored 46 for 1 in that period, Mandhana making 25 of that tally at a run a ball.Rodrigues chewed up 21 balls for her four runs on the day, half her tally from her previous innings. She had two lbw dismissals – off Ecclestone – overturned by the DRS. Following the second instance, though, she chopped on the very next delivery while trying to cut crouching low.By the time Rodrigues fell, Mandhana had marched to 40 off 45 balls, riding on an eye-pleasing array of drives, cuts to the third rope, short-arm swipes, and full-blooded pulls. A failed swipe off legspinner Sarah Glenn, however, cut short her innings as she was adjudged lbw one shy of a fifty.The departure of Kaur, who, too, was given out lbw, was in part down to India not reviewing the umpire’s call. Struck on her pad trying to reverse-sweep Knight, replays showed the impact to have been outside off. Raj was at the non-striker’s end at the time.Deepti Sharma and India celebrate the wicket of Amy Jones•Getty Images

Earlier, Sciver’s 49 and Heather Knight’s 46 headlined England’s performance with the bat. No. 11 Cross’s unbeaten 9-ball 16 somewhat rained down on India’s parade after their six-bowler attack, each of whom picked up at least a wicket, threatened to restrict the hosts to a less formidable score.Seamer Shikha Pandey made early inroads after India opted to bowl at New Road following a rain delay of over an hour and half. Opener Tammy Beaumont, playing across the line to an incoming delivery from outside the off stump that also kept low, was trapped in front in the second over.Conditions remained overcast and a touch windy as Lauren Winfield-Hill and Knight, who took her 50th ODI wicket in Kaur and reached the 3000-ODI-runs milestone on the day, steadied England after the in-form Beaumont’s departure. The duck was Beaumont’s her first scoreless innings in ODIs since November 2016 and fourth overall in the format.After surviving a soft lbw appeal in the first over and later a stumping opportunity off a wide ball in the third over – both off Goswami – Winfield-Hill carted Pandey for three fours in the eighth over, the costliest in the innings, clubbing drives square of the wicket and down the ground.Raj introduced a double change after the completion of the powerplay that saw England make 44 for 1. Sharma and Poonam Yadav’s spin replaced the pace of the Goswami-Pandey tandem and gave away 23 runs for a combined seven overs leading up to the 17th.In Knight’s company, Winfield-Hill brought up the team fifty in the 13th over and strung together a second-wicket partnership worth 67. Rana’s introduction as the third spinner, though, saw Winfield-Hill, reprieved on 24, sweep down Pandey’s throat at deep midwicket for 36 as India’s tactful field placements bore fruit.Knight then steered the rebuild, helped in no small part by Sciver’s brisk scoring. Sciver’s belligerence forced Pandey’s second spell to last only one over as Raj turned to spin again. It took Kaur five balls to break the 42-run third-wicket stand as she forced a rare mistake from Knight, who swept hard only to find Pandey at midwicket.Sciver scored nearly at a-run-a-ball for the most part of her stay. Goswami then returned for her second spell, having gone for just 15 of her five-over first spell. By keeping a tight leash on the scoring, commendably supported by Yadav and Sharma for the most part, she stopped England from scoring a boundary between overs 28 and 43.Amy Jones, playing her 50th ODI, fell victim to the mounting pressure. Coming down the track, cramped for space, she swung half-heartedly, at a loopy Sharma delivery only for substitute Radha Yadav, on for Kaur, to gobble it up at short midwicket.Kaur took at least two trips off the field, limping in the second of those instances after having jagged her knee into the ground while fielding, and was kept company by the physio in the Indian dugout for some time. She returned 1 for 24 in her three overs.While Sophia Dunkley kept the scoreboard ticking with her laps and scoops, Poonam’s googly had her partner Katherine Brunt stumped in the 41st over. Dunkley, coming off unbeaten scores of 74 and 73 in her last two innings, added 14 and 15 with Brunt and No. 9 Sophie Ecclestone respectively before Goswami had Ecclestone pinged on her front pad.Dunkley’s 35-ball 28 ended with Sharma picking up her third wicket as the ball took the leg stump in the 45th over. A tenth-wicket 13-ball 22 stand between Cross and Glenn then injected some final-overs impetus in England’s innings, with Cross hitting 4, 6, 2, 1 off Sharma’s 10th, and the innings’, last over.

كشف المدرب المساعد السابق لنادي روما، إيمانويل مارا، مدى قوة علاقة محمد صلاح أثناء وجوده في الذئاب مع الملك، فرانشيسكو توتي، قبل الرحيل والعودة إلى الدوري الإنجليزي.

ولعب محمد صلاح موسمين مع روما بعدما قضى فترة إعارة في فيورنتينا، سجل الفرعون المصري خلال تواجده مع الذئاب 34 هدفًا في 83 مباراة، لينتقل بعد ذلك إلى ليفربول مقابل 36.5 مليون يورو.

اقرأ أيضًا.. توتي: كنت فخورًا باللعب بجوار أفضل لاعبي العالم محمد صلاح

وتحدث مارا عن علاقة محمد صلاح وتوتي القوية في روما، وقال في تصريحات لإذاعة “Serie A” الإيطالية، وقال: “لاعبان كان لي الشرف بتدريبهما، توتي ومو”.

وتابع: “في نهاية أحد التدريبات كانا يتواجدان في الحمام للاستحمام ويراوغان بالكرة، كانت هناك حالة من التفاهم بين الثنائي وهو ما يعكس مدى الشغف والحب الذي يكنه كل منهما لما يفعله”.

وأضاف في النهاية: “بالتأكيد، لم تكن مراوغاتهما تحت الماء بالكرة قد ساعدت في تحسين أسلوبهما، لكنهما قاما بذلك ببساطة لأنهما يحبان الكرة”.

Arsenal have reportedly jumped ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea in the hunt for Eintracht Frankfurt superstar Omar Marmoush

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Marmoush in top form with FrankfurtArsenal ahead in race to sign forwardEgyptian forward could leave in JanuaryFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Marmoush has been in excellent form for Eintracht Frankfurt under Dino Toppmoller as the Bundesliga side sit third in the standings. The Egyptian forward has scored 18 goals and provided 11 assists in 24 matches in all competitions.

AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

A number of top European clubs including Premier League giants Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have shown interest in signing Marmoush either in January or the summer. As per CaughtOffside, Mikel Arteta's side are now 'ahead' in the race to land the signature of the Egyptian forward.

AFPDID YOU KNOW?

Marmoush has a contract with Eintracht Frankfurt until the summer of 2027 and the Bundesliga side are expected to demand a transfer fee of close to €60 million (£50.1m/$63m) for their forward in January.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT NEXT FOR MARMOUSH?

The Egyptian forward will be back in action when Eintracht Frankfurt return to action after the winter break. Their next game is against FC St. Pauli in the Bundesliga on January 11.

Shamim Hossain, in his second T20I, is under pressure. Three fruitless slogs in the 18th over later, Bangladesh need 25 off 15 balls. The game has wildly swung both ways until this point. Dion Myers had conceded just three off his first three balls; Sikandar Raza’s move to bowl him seemed a gamble that could pay off.Shamim is possibly thinking of his dismissal in the second T20I after he gave Bangladesh hope through his 13-ball 29. Here he was again, in a situation that was even more tricky. There was a series to be won. He simply had to strike.And strike he did. He thumped Myers for three fours: a forehand smash through covers, a reverse bunt past a diving short third man and a fierce pull over midwicket. Then, he kept his head through Blessing Muzarabani’s penultimate over to all but seal the contest. He then finished the game off by hitting the winning runs. He remained unbeaten on 31 off just 15 balls, hitting six fours, five of which came in the last three overs.”I was hungry to finish the game after being unable to do so in the previous game,” Shamim said. “I was looking for that opportunity. I am feeling really well having done that. I am happy that we won the T20I series, which happened to be my first international series. When Soumya (Sarkar) bhai and (Mahmudullah) Riyad were batting together, things were in our favour. While sitting in the dressing room, I told myself that we must win this game.”The match had already started to turn in Bangladesh’s favour during the third-wicket stand between Mahmudullah and Soumya Sarkar, but it needed a final push from the Mahmudullah-Hossain partnership, after Afif Hossain’s dismissal.”Riyad told me that we can get ten an over if we can hit a six or a four every over,” he said. “It will get us close to their target. I maintained my process during this situation.”Soumya Sarkar, whose 68 set up Bangladesh’s push towards the big chase, was impressed with Shamim’s desire. “He played an important innings,” the senior batter said. “He was very positive. I really liked how hungry he was to win the game. This was only his second international match, but finished the game very well.”Shamim made a mark during Bangladesh’s victorious Under-19 World Cup campaign last year. The senior team’s selectors and team management had a better look during this season’s Dhaka Premier League T20s. But despite doing well at these levels, Shamim said that his short crash course of international cricket during these T20Is told him what is needed at this level.”I have figured out how tough international cricket is, playing here,” he said. “I have so far played Under-19 cricket and the Dhaka Premier League, but this is different. One gets fewer bad balls. One has to hit the good balls for boundaries, but at the same time, keep sticking to your process. One has to play with more responsibility at this level.”An altogether different challenge awaits Shamim when Bangladesh take on Australia in the five T20Is from August 3 in Dhaka. The hunger can easily be replaced by a sense of accomplishment, and that’s one very critical area that Shamim needs to guard himself against.