Chetry is yet to make her ODI debut but has played four T20Is
ESPNcricinfo staff27-Nov-2024
Yastika Bhatia injured herself during the WBBL•Getty Images
Wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia has been ruled out of India’s upcoming ODI series in Australia due to a wrist injury she picked up during the ongoing WBBL. In her place, India have called up Uma Chetry, who is uncapped in the format.Chetry has played four T20Is, all this year. Her debut was against South Africa in July. Earlier this month, she was the second-highest run-getter in the domestic T20 Challenger Trophy with 231 runs at a strike rate of 154.00. She also scored the only hundred in the competition, a 122 off 71 balls.Chetry also has the experience of touring Australia, with India A side in August, even though her returns were underwhelming. In four matches across formats, she scored 7 and 11 in T20s, 16 in the one-dayer, and 2 and 47 in the four-day game.Related
Shafali dropped for Australia ODIs; Ghosh, Punia return
'Just go all out': Rodrigues looks to Australian mindset
Bhatia was the second-highest run-getter for Melbourne Stars – despite missing the last three games – scoring 154 runs in six outings at a strike rate of 104.76. Stars, however, finished at the bottom of the points table with two wins from ten matches.Before her WBBL stint, Bhatia played the three-match ODI series against New Zealand at home and scored 84 runs in three innings. She was part of the T20 World Cup squad but didn’t get a game.The first two ODIs against Australia will be played at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane, on December 5 and 8. The third and final match will be played at the WACA ground in Perth on December 11.India Women squad for Australia ODIsHarmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-capt), Priya Punia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh (wk), Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Minnu Mani, Priya Mishra, Radha Yadav, Titas Sadhu, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, Saima Thakor, Uma Chetry (wk)
The defending champions were 18 for 4 in their small chase before Hilton Cartwright and the in-form Josh Inglis guided them home
Tristan Lavalette23-Oct-2024
Cameron Bancroft made his fourth single-figure score of the Shield season•Getty Images
Cameron Bancroft’s bid for a Test recall took another hit after a fourth consecutive failure to start the Sheffield Shield season. But Josh Inglis continued to press his case while Hilton Cartwright capped a whirlwind few days to guide Western Australia to a six-wicket victory over Tasmania at the WACA.With WA chasing just 83 runs under sunny conditions early on the final day, Bancroft had a golden opportunity for a confidence boosting innings having scored just eight runs in his first three Shield innings.Related
Cartwright makes baby dash after Bancroft's lean start continues
Victoria steamroll New South Wales but Starc primed for India
'A right-handed version of Warner': Josh Inglis launched into opening debate
But he looked uncomfortable from the get go against probing new ball bowling from quicks Riley Meredith and Kieran Elliott. With the pressure building having scored just two runs from his first 15 deliveries, Bancroft decided to attack but miscued a pull shot off Meredith to fine leg and trudged off with his Test hopes to fill the vacant opener’s slot having seemingly nosedived.”He’s pretty good to be honest…keeping things really simple,” WA captain Sam Whiteman said of Bancroft. “I think it’s a matter of time. Each fail…he’s one closer to a big score. He’s a pretty positive guy.”The low target proved tricky for WA and the tension heightened among the sprinkling of fans when they slumped to 18 for 4 after Whiteman, Mitchell Marsh and Aaron Hardie fell to Elliott, who conjured movement from the grassy wicket.It was a quiet match for Marsh, who had scores of 9 and 6 as a specialist batter at No. 4. He had stated ahead of the match that he would build up his bowling loads, but a return with the ball has been put on hold.There appeared to be some tense scenes between Hilton Cartwright and Tasmania•Getty Images
Inglis and Cartwright steadied the ship with a quick half-century partnership to guide WA over the line. Having scored two game-changing centuries to start the season, Inglis again looked at ease to finish 26 not out from 36 balls.Cartwright remained unbeaten on 39 from 50 balls to cap a remarkable match after he had to dash from the ground at tea on day two when his wife went into labour. He returned on day three to resume his innings on 52 after the birth of his second child in the early hours. Cartwright needed Tasmania to agree for him to return to the crease.There appeared to be tension on the field on day four with Cartwright engaged in a war of words with Tasmania opener Jake Weatherald. They had a lengthy exchange while shaking hands after the match.Tasmania started day four in a forlorn position with a lead of just 80 runs and one wicket in hand. They only added two runs before quick Brody Couch claimed his fourth wicket of the innings after trapping Meredith in front of the creaseAfter a patchy performance in his WA debut against Queensland, Couch was outstanding throughout to finish with match figures of 7 for 83 and touching speeds of 143kph.
It is fair to say that it has been a frustrating summer for Tottenham Hotspur and new head coach Thomas Frank since the transfer window opened for business.
In terms of first-team additions, Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United is the only new player to arrive in the building, along with permanent deals for last season’s players Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel.
The Lilywhites did think that they were on course to seal a deal to sign Nottingham Forest star and England international Morgan Gibbs-White to bolster their options in the middle of the park.
However, the Tricky Trees prepared legal action after what they deemed to be an unlawful approach from Spurs, and they have now agreed a new contract with the player.
Along with missing out on Gibbs-White, Tottenham may also lose captain Heung-min Son this summer amid interest from MLS outfit LAFC, who are willing to pay £15m for the attacker.
A decision will reportedly be made on his future after the club’s pre-season tour of Asia, but the Europa League champions are open to cashing in on him.
Why it could be the right time for Spurs to sell Heung-min Son
Son turns 34 next month and is reportedly the highest-paid player at the club on a wage of £190k-per-week, which means that the club would save a lot of money if they were able to move on from him this summer.
Tottenham Hotspur'sSonHeung-minreacts
Due to his age, there has been a natural regression in his performances on the pitch for the Lilywhites. His return of 11 goals in all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign was his lowest goal tally since his first year in England in the 2015/16 season.
Heung-min Son’s goal returns for Spurs (all competitions)
Season
Appearances
Goals
24/25
46
11
23/24
36
17
22/23
47
14
21/22
44
24
20/21
49
21
19/20
41
18
18/19
48
20
17/18
53
18
16/17
47
21
15/16
36
7
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Son has consistently delivered in front of goal for the majority of his career in England, but his powers are waning and now may be the right time to move on from him.
The South Korea international may not be able to get back to scoring 20 or more goals a season at the age of 34, given his decline last season, which is why the club should consider accepting the £15m offer from LAFC this summer.
Whilst it would be sad to see Son move on from Tottenham after ten years of service, his exit would create room for new heroes to emerge, and one of those new heroes could be a controversial figure.
Spurs eyeing swoop for Arsenal forward
According to CaughtOffside, Tottenham Hotspur are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a potential move to sign £45m Arsenal centre-forward Gabriel Jesus.
The report claims that Inter, Milan, Newcastle United, Barcelona, and Spurs are all keeping tabs on his situation at The Emirates, with a view to a possible swoop for his signature.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It adds, though, that a move in the January transfer window may be more realistic for the Brazil international, because he is currently sidelined with an ACL injury and is not expected back until around October.
This would be a controversial move because Spurs have only ever signed two players from Arsenal at first-team level in their history, William Gallas on a free transfer in 2010, and Laurie Brown all the way back in 1964.
However, Jesus has the potential to be an exciting addition to the squad if Frank can get him fit and firing, as he could be a dream replacement for Heung-min Son.
Why Spurs should sign Gabriel Jesus
If it gets to January and the Brazilian forward is fit and available to step in and play immediately, it is a deal that could be worth exploring for the Lilywhites because of the quality that he can provide on the pitch.
Like Son, Jesus is a versatile right-footed attacking player who is comfortable playing through the middle as a centre-forward or as a winger on the left flank, which means that he could slot in and play in the two main roles that the South Korean star currently plays.
There will, of course, be concerns over the fact that he currently plays for the club’s biggest rivals, Arsenal, but if the player is willing to make the move then it should be welcomed, as he is a Premier League-proven attacker who can make a big impact when fit.
Jesus has scored 76 goals and provided 45 assists in 229 matches for Manchester City and Arsenal combined in his Premier League career to date, which shows that the forward can offer quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.
Gabriel Jesus’ Premier League career
Season
Starts
Goals
Assists
24/25
6
3
0
23/24
17
4
5
22/23
24
11
6
21/22
21
8
8
20/21
22
9
4
19/20
21
14
7
18/19
8
7
3
17/18
19
13
3
16/17
8
7
4
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the 28-year-old attacker has delivered 76 goals in 146 starts in his Premier League career, just shy of one every other start on average.
This shows that Jesus, who was once hailed as “exceptional” by Pep Guardiola, is a consistent and clinical goalscorer when fit and available, which is why signing him could be a worthwhile gamble for Spurs this summer or in January.
The Brazilian attacker could be Frank’s new Heung-min Son as another versatile attacking option who has the potential to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis when at his best.
At the age of 28, he is also almost six years younger than the South Korea international, which means that Spurs could get more out of him in the long-term if they decide to cash in on their captain in order to fund a controversial move for the Arsenal man.
Worth more than Gibbs-White: Spurs have struck gold on "unbelievable" star
Tottenham Hotspur have already shown their excellent business with the signing of one star.
ByEthan Lamb Jul 27, 2025
There may be a fair bit of opposition to this, due to the Arsenal part of it, but purely based on Jesus and his quality as a player, it could be a good move for Spurs as Frank’s next version of Son.
After being crowned champions of the world on Sunday, are Chelsea serious contenders to win the biggest prizes next season?
At the weekend, the Blues sprung a massive surprise by demolishing Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the Club World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium, with Cole Palmer scoring two, near-identical quick-fire goals, before João Pedro added a third on the cusp of half time.
After the win, club captain Reece James stated that the team’s ambition is to be “competing” to win the Premier League and Champions League next season, so could signing a highly-rated player from an historic rival help them achieve this?
Chelsea targeting another wide-forward
Going out the exit door this summer is Noni Madueke.
He left the Chelsea squad ahead of the final to fly back to London so he could undergo a medical ahead of a reported £52m move to Arsenal, which is reportedly set to be finalised this week.
So, as they search for a replacement, Laurie Whitwell of the Athletic is reporting that Chelsea ‘remain in contact’ with Manchester United over the possibility of signing Alejandro Garnacho.
Back in May, manager Rúben Amorim reportedly informed Garnacho “to find a new club”, hence why he’s currently exiled from first-team training at Carrington, alongside Marcus Rashford, Antony, Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho, recently of Chelsea of course.
After Chelsea paid a £5m penalty fee to not sign Sancho permanently, Jacob Steinberg of the Guardian reported that the Blues’ priority this summer was to sign a ‘right-footed winger capable of playing on the left flank’.
Jamie Gittens has already arrived from Borussia Dortmund for a reported fee of £48.5m, but already having options in a certain position has not stopped them in the past has it?
Garnacho has reportedly turned down the chance to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, so could the Argentine international be on his way to Stamford Bridge, available for as little as £40m, according to David McDonnell of the Daily Mirror?
How Alejandro Garnacho would fit in at Chelsea
As has been their want since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s takeover of the club three years ago, Chelsea have been busy in the transfer market, particularly when it comes to signing attackers.
João Pedro has been the headline arrival to date, bagging a brace against former club Fluminense in the Club World Cup semis, before also netting in Sunday’s final demolition of PSG.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Meantime, in terms of wide attackers, Kendry Páez, Estêvão Willian and Jamie Gittens will all arrive at Cobham once pre-season commences, meaning Enzo Maresca will have plenty of options.
Yet, it would appear the Blues aren’t content with their options, now targeting a certain Garnacho.
He impressed last season, despite playing for a generally dismal Manchester United team, with football content creator Liam Canning lauding him as a “superstar” – and Statman Dave asserting that he was one of the two “brightest young talents on the planet”, alongside Lamine Yamal; esteemed company to keep.
Meantime, Kurosh Moghtader of Total Football Analysis labels him an ‘outstanding ball carrier’, adding that he is a ‘constant threat in the final third’, while Andy Mitten of the Athletic believes he was one of Man United’s few ‘bright sparks’, particularly impressed by his ‘ability to beat players’.
So, let’s analyse his importance to Manchester United last season.
Garnacho’s 2024/25 statistics
Statistics
Garnacho
Man United rank
Minutes
3,571
5th
Goals
11
2nd
Assists
10
2nd
Shots
146
2nd
Shots on target
52
1st
Shot-creating actions
128
2nd
Attempted take-ons
136
1st
Progressive carries
204
1st
Carries into final third
103
1st
Carries into the box
107
1st
Progressive passes received
429
1st
All statistics courtesy of FBref.com
As the table outlines, Garnacho ranked first amongst his Manchester United teammates for all dribbling metrics last season, while second only to Bruno Fernandes in terms of goals, assists, shots and shot-creating actions.
Those metrics, notably carrying, make him particularly alike to the man he could replace in the shape of Madueke.
Yet, just how do they compare? We’ve crunched the numbers.
Garnacho vs Madueke 2024/25 Premier League
Statistics (per 90)
Garnacho
Madueke
Goals
0.3
0.4
Shots
2.3
2.6
Shooting accuracy %
55%
56%
Chances created
1.6
1.4
Shot-creating actions
3.4
3.5
Attempted take-ons
3.7
4.5
Take-on success %
32%
49%
Touches
52.4
47.4
Statistics courtesy of Squawka and FBref.com
As the table emphasises, Garnacho and Madueke’s statistics in the Premier League last season were remarkably similar, with the Argentine most notably coming out on top in terms of chances created.
He also produced a similar number of successful take-ons and was similarly prolific in front of goal.
Alejandro Garnacho
Madueke’s departure will make way for Estêvão to see some action on the right wing, but perhaps Maresca would like another option on the left, and Garnacho could be his man.
£80m Gittens upgrade: Chelsea have looked at signing "one of the PL's best"
Chelsea are hoping to make several more signings in the summer transfer market.
حقق منتخب مصر الثاني الفوز على نظيره التونسي، بهدف دون رد، في المباراة الودية التي جمعت بينهما، ضمن الاستعدادات لبطولة كأس العرب.
واستقبل ملعب هيئة قناة السويس بالإسماعيلية، مباراة منتخب مصر الثاني وتونس في إطار معسكر الإعداد لبطولة كأس العرب.
طالع.. فيديو | أفشة يُسجل هدف منتخب مصر الأول أمام تونس
ونجح محمد مجدي أفشة في تسجيل هدف منتخب مصر الثاني في الدقيقة 30، بعد تمريرة سحرية من مروان حمدي لينفرد بمرمى حارس تونس عبد السلام الحلاوي، ويسدد بقوة في الشباك.
ويستعد منتخب مصر لخوض بطولة كأس العرب، والتي ستقام على الأراضي القطرية في الفترة من 1 ديسمبر المقبل وحتى الـ18 من الشهر ذاته. موعد مباراة منتخب مصر الثاني وتونس وديًا
يستعد منتخب مصر الثاني لمواجهة تونس وديًا، من جديد يوم الثلاثاء المقبل، الموافق التاسع من شهر سبتمبر الجاري، في تمام الساعة التاسعة والنصف مساء بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will have a host of difficult decisions to make when it comes to the playing squad during the summer transfer window, which opened for business on Sunday.
As well as deciding on players to join the club this summer, with Kieran Tierney already one star who is set to join at the start of next month, the Hoops boss will also have to sanction exits from Parkhead.
It has been reported that winger Luis Palma is working with his agents to seal a permanent or loan exit from Glasgow this summer, after Olympiacos did not take up their option to sign him permanently.
The Honduras international spent the second half of this season on loan with the Greek giants, and is now set to look elsewhere to find a home for the 2025/26 campaign and beyond.
Palma has had his moments in a Celtic shirt, with ten goals and ten assists in 48 matches, but the Hoops are now looking to part ways with him this summer.
One player who has already been ruthlessly ditched by the Scottish Premiership giants this summer, though, is experienced goalkeeper Scott Bain.
How Celtic have reshuffled their goalkeeper ranks
With Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo the clear first and second-choice options for Rodgers between the sticks, Bain was set to be the third choice once again heading into next season.
The Scottish shot-stopper did not play a single minute across any competition for the club this season, and only played three times in all competitions during the 2023/24 campaign.
At the end of last month, the club confirmed that the 33-year-old had left the club, despite having a year left on his contract, as they mutually agreed to part ways.
It has since been confirmed that Bain has agreed a one-year contract to join newly-promoted Falkirk in the Premiership, which could give him a better chance of playing regular football next season.
Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph reported last month that Aberdeen goalkeeper Ross Doohan has agreed to join the club on a free transfer to replace Bain as the third-choice at Parkhead.
Appearances
15
Saves
33
Successful run-outs
20
Penalties saved
1/1
Duel success rate
100%
Clean sheets
2
As you can see in the table above, Doohan played 15 times in the Premiership this season and could be a decent enough option to call upon if Schmeichel and Sinisalo are both unavailable and the third-choice is needed.
The goalkeeping department is not the only area of the squad that should be addressed, though, as Rodgers should also ruthlessly axe Auston Trusty, after just one year in Glasgow, if there is enough interest in him from elsewhere.
Why Celtic should move on from Auston Trusty
At the end of the 2023/24 campaign, Liam Scales was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year for his performances in the left-sided centre-back position for the Hoops in the Premiership.
Despite the Ireland international’s form, and Cameron Carter-Vickers, Stephen Welsh, and Maik Nawrocki being in the squad, Rodgers opted to further bolster his options at the back by signing Trusty.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Celtic reportedly splashed out a fee of £6m to sign the USA international from English Championship side Sheffield United, which shows that they were willing to commit a significant portion of their budget to bring him to Parkhead.
Looking back, it was a slightly strange decision to spend so much money on another option in the left-sided centre-back position when Scales, who is only 26, played in 34 of the club’s 38 Premiership matches last season on his way to being in the Team of the Year.
This did not suggest that there was an imminent need for £6m to be splashed on a new centre-back unless they were a clear and significant upgrade on Scales.
Unfortunately, though, Trusty’s performances in his debut season in Scottish football were not of a high enough standard to prove that he is a better option, and the Irish central defender ended the campaign as the first-choice next to Carter-Vickers once again.
At the start of the year, Rodgers said that Trusty had to do better against Dundee and claimed that he contributed to the team being “a bit soft”, as he was beaten too easily in the air in the clip above to make it 3-3.
Appearances
26
22
Clean sheets
14
10
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.9
2.3
Dribbled past per game
0.2x
0.5x
Error led to shot
1
4
Error led to goal
0
1
Duel success rate
72%
64%
As you can see in the table above, the American flop made far too many errors at the back in the Premiership, making four more errors leading to shots or goals in four fewer appearances than Scales.
The Ireland international was also stronger in his duels and did not allow opposition forwards to get the better of him in dribble attempts, which suggests that he was more reliable for Rodgers.
Liam Scales
That could be why Scales ended the season as the first-choice left-sided centre-back, including starting the SFA Cup final, and that is why it has been a dismal first year in Glasgow for the £6m signing.
Nawrocki also caught the eye in his three rare Premiership outings, winning 65% of his duels and being dribbled past just once, as he did not make a single error that led to a shot or goal.
Rodgers must ruthlessly axe Celtic star who was meant to be his own Rodri
Celtic must move on from this star who was compared to Rodri before joining the club.
ByDan Emery Jun 3, 2025
Therefore, Rodgers should instantly and ruthlessly part ways with Trusty after just one year in Glasgow because Scales and Nawrocki appear to be more reliable and quality options ahead of him, which is why Celtic should attempt to recoup as much of the £6m they spent on him as possible this summer.
Leicester City will soon be back in the Championship and have now lined up a potential replacement for Ruud van Nistelrooy who would be open to taking over at the King Power Stadium.
Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy's uncertain future
Truthfully, Leicester City have struggled to adapt to the Premier League and their relegation against Liverpool earlier this month proved to be something of an inevitable end result.
Ruud van Nistlerooy has been unable to turn the tide since taking over from Steve Cooper, with a return of three victories, two draws and 18 defeats across all competitions certifying that his side will return to the EFL Championship after a year in the top-flight.
The former Netherlands international is under contract until 2027, but there are naturally some doubts over his position at the club following a dismal run of results.
Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl is said to be on the Foxes’ list and has been evaluated internally by their hierarchy. Meanwhile, England Under-21 boss Lee Carsley has also emerged as a potential candidate.
Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior could be targeted by Leicester City following his sterling work at the BlueCo-owned Ligue 1 outfit, though he is also attracting interest at Southampton, who have their own vacancy to fill.
Leicester City now eyeing Europa League striker with 10 goals this season
The Foxes have their eye on a 20-year-old forward who’s been on the scoresheet regularly this season.
By
Dominic Lund
Feb 20, 2025
The bigger picture in the East Midlands can be altered with the right appointment. Sales will happen this summer, but there is still the makings of a talented squad to work with for whoever is chosen to lead the Foxes in the Championship.
In light of this, another progressive candidate has come to the table and may be open to taking the job at the King Power over the next few weeks.
Leicester City set for tussle over top target Russell Martin
According to The Sun, Russell Martin is Leicester City’s first choice to fill their managerial vacancy, and he is now said to be keen on being installed as their new manager should an approach be made for his services.
On the flip side, Rangers have shortlisted the 39-year-old as a candidate to take over from Barry Ferguson, creating a scenario where whoever makes the first move could land the former Southampton and Swansea City boss.
Russell Martin’s managerial record – would he be a good choice for Leicester City?
Games managed
252
Wins
101
Draws
56
Defeats
95
Intriguingly, he has lost every match when in the dugout against Leicester City, but his promotion-winning campaign with Southampton last term may be of interest to the Foxes as they seek a return to the Premier League in 2025/26.
Neither themselves or Rangers are in an immediate rush to make an appointment, so it remains to be seen how things will play out for the former Scotland international, who has previously been praised by Pep Guardiola for his brave tactical framework.
Ultimately, timeframes aren’t important for Leicester City, they will take their time before coming to a conclusion over who is the right man to take them forward.
Manchester United have submitted a £64 million bid to sign a “powerhouse” player ahead of interest from Arsenal and Chelsea this summer, according to a recent report.
Ruben Amorim responds to Gary Neville's criticism
The Red Devils played out a 0-0 draw against rivals Manchester City on Sunday afternoon in what was a dull affair for a Manchester Derby. After the game, former United player and captain Gary Neville stated that United need as many as “five new signings” this summer to help Amorim.
Not just Bruno: Amorim's "key" Man Utd star just showed he’s undroppable
Man Utd played out a 0-0 draw against Man City
ByJoe Nuttall Apr 7, 2025
Neville told Sky Sports: “I do understand why Ruben Amorim’s done that today, with the players he’s got, because he hasn’t got the players to adapt. They need five new players straight away before you even think about the rest of it.
“The three up front are not good enough, and the two wing-backs, they’re not good enough. They need five players. They need to serve him with five players who are good enough in this system to be able to play his system the way he wants.”
Then, speaking in his post-match press conference, Amorim responded by stating that he knows Neville is “critical about everything”: “I understand that Gary Neville is critical about everything. I understand that we are having the worst season in history.
Manchester United manager RubenAmorimduring the press conference
“Manchester City won everything in the past, but this season they are struggling. So, we are not in the best of moments to give the best spectacle to fans. We are not fighting for the big things; it’s different.
“I understand the critical aspect of the players who played in this game in a different way because they were fighting every time for the titles. It’s a different context.”
Man Utd submit £64m bid to sign Viktor Gyokeres despite Arsenal green light
If – as Neville says – United need five new additions, INEOS could be working on one of those potential arrivals already. According to a report from Spain, Man United have made a £64 million bid to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP.
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokerescelebrates after the match
The report states that United have positioned themselves as one of the teams most interested in signing the Sweden international, but they face competition from Chelsea, as they have also tabled an offer for the striker. Both Premier League teams have made an offer worth 75 million euros, while the player himself has given the green light for Arsenal to sign him, although this report does not mention the Gunners making a bid.
The Red Devils will hope to have an edge in this race, as Amorim worked with Gyokeres at Sporting and seemed to get the very best out of him. United want to sign Gyokeres, who has been dubbed a “powerhouse” by analyst Ben Mattinson, as they believe he will be a huge uprgade on struggling stars Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.
Gyokeres
Hojlund
Apps
26
26
Starts
24
18
Goals
30
3
Goals per 90
1.24
0.17
Total shots
109
21
Shots per 90
4.51
1.22
Shots on target
60
9
Goals per shot
0.17
0.14
The potential arrival of Gyokeres at Old Trafford would surely spell the end for Hojlund, who, despite scoring against Leicester City before the international break, failed to make any significant impact in the Manchester Derby.
It is just three goals in 26 league games this season for Hojlund, who was subbed off on Sunday once again, and Amorim knows that if he has any chance of being a success, he needs to have a striker with a better success rate in front of goal, which Gyokeres has, given he’s got 30 goals in 26 league games.
There is more at stake for West Indies, who will want to boost their chances of qualifying for the 2027 World Cup
Abhimanyu Bose15-Nov-2025
New Zealand’s hot run of form
New Zealand have been enjoying a good run of form in ODIs: since the start of 2025, they have played three series at home and won all of them, losing just one of the nine matches. Their last two series at home – against Pakistan and England – were 3-0 whitewashes.In February, they had won a tri-series in Pakistan that also involved South Africa, winning all their games. That was a precursor to the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and UAE, where New Zealand finished runners-up, losing only their two games against India, including the final.
New Zealand’s pace threat
West Indies’ faced trial by spin in their recent ODI series in Bangladesh, but it will be a complete turnaround as they will now face a different challenge altogether.During New Zealand’s most recent ODI outing, also at home, England were bowled out under 225 on all three occasions, with fast bowlers taking 27 of the 30 wickets to fall.Blair Tickner, who came into that series as an injury replacement for Kyle Jamieson, led the charts with eight wickets while Zak Foulkes and Jacob Duffy took seven apiece.New Zealand will also be boosted by the return of their most experienced pacer, Matt Henry, who missed out the last two ODIs against England with a calf strain.While West Indies may feel more comfortable taking on quicker bowling than spinners, they will still need to be ready for a high-quality attack that will be raring to carry on the momentum gathered against England.Blair Tickner finished the series against England with eight wickets•Getty Images
Seales key for West Indies
With injuries to Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph and Jediah Blades, the responsibility will fall on Jayden Seales to lead a relatively inexperienced West Indies pace attack.Matthew Forde has played just 13 ODIs, while Johann Layne and fast-bowling allrounder Shamar Springer have received their maiden call-ups.Allrounder Justin Greaves has bowled in just nine of his 18 ODIs and picked just six wickets, so he will likely be expected to play just a holding role with the ball.With a batting line-up that is still unsettled, West Indies know the onus will be on the bowlers to a lot of the heavy lifting in the series.John Campbell is set to return to the ODI side after six years•Getty Images
Will the West Indies batters stand up?
It has long been the case for West Indies that they pick promising batters who show sparks at the international level, but fail to maintain consistency.Keacy Carty in ODIs has been among the ones to deliver on their promise, with four centuries and five fifties, but two of those centuries came against Ireland. He has not crossed fifty in his last seven innings.Alick Athanaze returned to the ODI setup in the Bangladesh tour after being dropped at the end of last year, and showed good application to get starts in testing conditions, but needs to begin converting those starts.Amir Jangoo began his ODI career with a century on debut, but failed in the three ODIs against Ireland and the one game he got in England.Captain Shai Hope is their Mr Dependable in the department, but he will need support from his team-mates. In an attempt to bolster their batting, West Indies have opted to give John Campbell another shot, after six years out in the cold in the format, in place of Brandon King.
Can he make an impact on his ODI comeback, like he did in Tests with a fine century against India?
South Africa’s capitulation at the Gabba was the latest in a year where they have averaged just 24.63 in Tests
Firdose Moonda21-Dec-2022Let’s get this out of the way up front: parts of this story could sound like excuses or justifications for South Africa’s poor batting. They’re not. Think of them as explanations of sorts, reasons, perhaps, and ways to ensure we’re not going over the same ground when we discuss what we have known for the last year: that their batting line-up has severely underperformed.In 2022, South Africa’s average per wicket is 24.63, the seventh-lowest for any team in a calendar year in which they’ve played a minimum of 10 Tests, and the lowest for South Africa in their history. They have no batters with Test averages over 40, though this year Temba Bavuma has averaged 41.25. Only four others average over 30 and one of them, Keegan Petersen, missed out on two of the four series they’ve played. Kyle Verreynne and Dean Elgar are the other two who have some runs to their name, but not nearly as many as South Africa would like.Almost every member of the South African squad has mentioned conditions as one of the causes, if not the main cause, of their lean patches and their newest cap, Khaya Zondo, has added his voice to the conversation. “I did think this was going to be a tough year of international cricket for the Proteas,” he said. “The first series was in New Zealand, then Bangladesh [at home]. Then we went to England and now we’re in Australia.”The last time South Africa visited those three countries in the same year was a decade ago, in 2012. They won in all three, with a batting line-up that included Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers. Of those, Kallis and de Villiers finished with Test averages over 50 and Smith and Amla just shy of that mark. Those players had also played together for the best part of eight years and at a time when Test cricket was more batter-friendly. A little under five years later, with Smith and Kallis retired and de Villiers on sabbatical, they won in Australia in late 2016, and New Zealand in early 2017 but lost in England, where Amla began to wane.Since then, South Africa have lost several more experienced batters including Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock and have found themselves in a situation where Elgar, with 80 caps and Bavuma, with 52, are the only batters who have even traveled to the places they are playing in now, before. And they’re not easy places to play, as Zondo expressed.New Zealand, England and Australia are the most challenging places to play fast bowling and all three nations boast some of the best executioners of swing, seam movement, pace and bounce we have seen. You could argue that South Africa have that too and it worked for them against India last summer, but the only other home series they’ve played this year was against Bangladesh with their frontline attack away at the IPL.Zondo made his debut in that series, as a Covid-19 substitute, and has since played in two Tests, both of which have only had two days’ worth of playing time. All he’d like is for the next match he plays to last at least three days so he can have more of an opportunity to see how he matches up. So far, Zondo has shown some promising signs, although it’s difficult to analyse too much given how low South Africa’s scores have been overall. While his first-class average of 31.47 may raise questions about his selection, he is learning fast.”Test cricket is played between the sets of stumps,” he said. “The guys are testing your technique, they’re making you play with a straight blade. The wickets have been tricky. It was a matter of making sure you defend your stumps, because that’s where the dismissals were happening. [In Brisbane], there was too much in the pitch for the bowlers to bowl short, and if they did they were wasting their time. But if they put the ball up to the bat and tried to get your pad or nick you off, there was a lot happening.”It was a matter of making sure that you watched the ball closely, and any movement off the pitch – whether it was up and down, or sideways – you were ahead of it so that you could adjust accordingly. In the first innings, the ball that nipped back for me hit me quickly. In the second innings I made sure I watched the ball more closely and moved quicker, in case it nipped or bounced or stayed low, so I could react.”Khaya Zondo was South Africa’s top-scorer when they got bowled out for 99 at the Gabba•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesAt the Gabba, Zondo was out for a duck off Scott Boland in the first innings, when he was given out on-field with the decision upheld on umpire’s call. He was not out in the second innings, with South Africa’s top score of 36. That’s not much to write home about, but considering their total was 99, it’s something.But these struggles with the bat are not an isolated incident. They have been bowled out for under 200 in their last six Test innings and even when conditions and quality of bowling are taken into account, the opposition have not been dismissed as cheaply. What else could be the issue?A lack of consistency in the top six is one problem, and that’s been driven by injury. In every series this year, South Africa have had one main batter unavailable: Petersen in New Zealand because of Covid-19; Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen for the Bangladesh series because of the IPL; Bavuma in England because of an elbow issue; van der Dussen for the last Test in England with a broken finger; and now Petersen again, with a torn hamstring.It means that the best-performing batters can’t always play together and there’s always someone new coming in. If they’re coming into a well-oiled line-up, that may not be too much of a problem, but they’re coming into a set-up that needs solutions and also expected to be the solutions. That’s too much pressure on a new player, too soon.Then, there are some obvious technical deficiencies which are concerning for batters at Test level, such as Sarel Erwee’s looseness outside off stump and Kyle Verreynne’s lack of footwork, which cannot always be compensated for by his good hands. But the general consensus is that the batters on tour are the best South Africa have.There is, of course, the issue of Ryan Rickelton, who is reeling off hundreds at home, but could not travel to Australia because he needs ankle surgery. Why then, you may ask, is Rickelton playing domestic cricket? Because he has postponed the operation in order to play the summer which includes also competing in the SA20, where he picked up a R1 million (USD 58,000 approx.) deal with MI Emirates. Cricket South Africa’s medical team advised against sending him to Australia for fear that the injury may worsen and necessitate a replacement.We’ve dissected the issues in the domestic system at length and several sources who spoke to ESPNcricinfo said they are being addressed. Pitches for domestic first-class games are being prepared a little less spicily than in seasons before and batters are getting big hundreds.Last summer, Rickelton excelled. This season Tony de Zorzi, Jordan Hermann and Heinrich Klaasen are bossing proceedings. Similar names pop every season and South Africa have rotated through several of them: Theunis de Bruyn, for example, is back for this Australia tour and Markram will doubtless be back in future.So the only other thing that can happen is that the current crop get as much experience at Test level as possible. Even there, South Africa are hamstrung. This is the last three Test series they will play until 2026, which makes the next four innings crucial – not just for them right now, but for the future of the Test team as well.Zondo seems to know it. “We must apply ourselves and get focused and make sure we’re present at the crease all the time,” he said. “A lot of guys are new to Test cricket, so there are new tricks and a different intensity they’re trying to get used to. You need to be really focused on the ball and have all of your soul and mind there.”The guys have their own challenges, and they’ve got to find a way to work through it. It will take us having stronger defences, making sure we keep the good balls out. There’s a lot of them in Test cricket. If they can’t get you out, you’ve got half a chance of scoring runs.”