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All Mitchell Starc wanted was some eggs to start his morning, but another hotel guest wanted to share a few words with him

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jun-2019Mitchell Starc’s day started with a sledge over breakfast and finished with him having notched another entry in his World Cup hall of fame with a delivery for the ages to castle Ben Stokes.Hours before Starc speared the swinging yorker under Stokes’ bat, to remove England’s last hope of chasing down Australia’s total, he had his morning briefly interrupted at the team hotel by a guest who had a few words to share about some strapping on his elbow and his choice of food: three poached eggs.WATCH on Hotstar (India only) – England’s wicketsStarc’s wife, Alyssa Healy, mentioned the breakfast chat on Twitter – thanking the person in question, later confirmed to be English, for firing him up – and Starc laughed it off after the match as all “good fun” saying he was “still half-asleep” when it happened.”Someone was having a go at my strapping tape and having a go at my bowling,” he said. “I was just hungry. He was just having a laugh at my strapping tape and what I was eating. It’s all been good fun throughout the tour around the crowds and at the hotel. It’s just part and parcel of a World Cup.”

High fives to the English bloke who fired up Mitch with some banter at breaky….. onya legend!!

— Alyssa Healy (@ahealy77) June 25, 2019

It was no surprise that Starc was in jovial mood having bagged 4 for 43 to take his World Cup haul to 19 wickets at 18.26 and a strike-rate of 20.4. He is now eighth on the list of World Cup wicket-takers with 41 wickets in just 15 matches at an average of 13.92, comfortably ahead of those above him in the list, and won’t have bowled many better deliveries than the ball to remove Stokes four years after the pair had been involved in Stokes’ obstructing the field dismissal on this ground.”We had a bit of a laugh that I think the last time we played one another at this ground was that one that came back at him,” Starc said. “He’s a fantastic player and he’s one of their key batters. Watching that game against Sri Lanka, he nearly got them home there with that 80-odd he scored. We knew while he was batting that we couldn’t just rest up, we couldn’t cruise. We had to try and take that wicket [and] fortunately got one through the gate but he was batting fantastically well today.”I’ve got a pretty simple one-day plan and it’s all about execution. To execute that ball exactly how I wanted to was pleasing for me, but just pleasing to get the result.”Australia are now safely in the semi-finals with two group games remaining, the next of which is on Saturday against local rivals New Zealand who are unbeaten in the tournament.”They are playing some fantastic cricket, they have really gone under the radar,” Starc said. “No one has spoken too much about them and they keep winning games. They’ve got a strong side batting and bowling, Kane Williamson is their linchpin in the middle there and they’ve got bowlers who swing the ball.”It’s another big game for us, obviously we have cemented our spot in the semis now, we want to try and finish as high as we can and play some really good cricket headed towards the finals series. They’re very important for us.”

Cristiano Ronaldo united with Neymar and had a laugh with Anthony Joshua as they prepared to watch Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia.

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Sporting icons sat together by boxing ringFront-row seats to Fury vs UsykNeymar also spotted as Saudi Arabia eventWHAT HAPPENED?

Two sporting icons collided as Ronaldo took his seat next to boxing heavyweight Joshua ringside ahead of the highly-anticipated Fury vs Usyk fight in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom has become a second home for both athletes in recent years, with Ronaldo playing his football at Al-Nassr while Joshua has fought several times in Riyadh. The former Real Madrid star was also spotted chatting to Al-Hilal star Neymar.

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Both stars are proving to be a huge draw for Saudi Arabia as they continue to grow their influence in the sporting world. Ronaldo remains the cover star for the Saudi Pro League while Joshua has returned to his best form in the boxing ring and could face the winner of the Fury vs Usyk fight at some point in the next year.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO AND AJ?

Ronaldo is due to close out the SPL season by the end of May. Al-Nassr have two games left to play against Al-Riyadh and Al-Ittihad. Joshua, is expected to return to the ring in September and face the winner of winner ofDaniel Dubois' fight against Filip Hrgovic on June 1.

Jurgen Klopp called it time on his stint with Liverpool earlier this year and the German has revealed his plans for the future.

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Klopp says an emotional goodbye to LiverpoolTargeted by multiple top clubs for moveReiterates that he will take a hiatus from managementGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

On Sunday evening, Klopp got the farewell of a king from Liverpool players and fans at Anfield as he led the side for the last time during their 2-0 win over Wolves. During his departure announcement, the German had already made it clear that he would not be joining another club at least for another season as he wanted some much-needed rest from football.

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Speaking to the media, Klopp said [via ESPN]: "I don't know exactly why nobody believes I probably will not be a manager again. But I understand because obviously, it seems to be a drug – it looks like that because everybody comes back and everyone works until they are 70-something.

"I always had the idea that I would not do that that long. Look, other people are smarter, other people can do it in different ways. I have to be all-in, I have to be the spark, I have to be the energy, I have to be all these kinds of things and I'm empty. That's it.

"My biggest worry today was that [goalkeeper coach] John Achterberg was coughing all the time next to me and I thought I would wake up and I'm ill because he did his coughing in my direction!

"I have to start with the rest now and then we will see. But it's not now that I feel already and [think about] maybe the next opportunity.

"You only have to look outside which clubs are obviously available and stuff like this. There will be opportunities, but I don't sit here and think, 'Maybe in a year's time I take that.' At this moment, it's see you later.

"I love all and everything about the club, but it's time for me to go. But look, it's not burning behind me and that gives me a good feeling."

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Klopp will leave the Merseyside club after a gruesome nine years at the helm. The German only won eight trophies during the tenure, however, he leaves the club as a fan favourite having transformed the club's dwindling fortunes to a standing where they can compete for trophies over the coming few years, even without him.

WHAT NEXT FOR KLOPP?

The German had been linked with multiple clubs when he announced his exit, however, he has doubled down on his decision to leave the management course for the foreseeable future and will only make a return if he wishes to some time in the future.

Botched rain-rule scenarios, brainless run outs, dropped bats, dropped catches, contrived collapses, a missed DRS review – it’s a painful list

Andrew Fidel Fernando at Edgbaston20-Jun-2019David Miller is avoiding stares. He stands half-bent at the non-strikers’ end, flashing bail by his right boot. The opposition’s key batsman puffing a few metres away. Kane Williamson should be heading towards the dressing room. He should have been run out by half-a-metre. Instead mid-off picks up the ball that Miller had failed to catch before he broke the stumps. When there could have been celebrations, a hush.It is likely the throw Miller was attempting to gather took an unfortunate bounce, but five overs before that, it had been him who swooped on a ball from midwicket and produced an off-target shy at the stumps. Had he hit, Colin de Grandhomme would have been out for 14. Two overs after that, de Grandhomme would have been out again had Miller held a half-chance to his left, leaping up from short midwicket – the batsman having miscued a shot off Imran Tahir.Much later, when Miller sprints around from deep midwicket and fails to intercept yet another aerial shot from de Grandhomme, his quarry falling short, bouncing over him, and dribbling into the boundary, it almost seems as if the ball, having a mind of its own, is taunting him. Each time, the wicket slips through Miller’s fingers, like a ghost.How much can one fielder be haunted?WATCH on Hotstar (India only) – South Africa’s missed chances****In the 1992 World Cup, South Africa were vexed by the old rain rule. In the semi-final against England, they had needed 22 off 13 when the rains came. Then 22 off one ball when play resumed – that old rule removing the runs scored off the two cheapest overs in England’s innings, from South Africa’s target (there had been two maidens, on this occasion). The Duckworth-Lewis method was introduced following this farce, but 11 years later, South Africa would terrorise themselves with the very rule their torment had occasioned. Needing seven to progress to the semi-final off two balls in a rain-shortened match against Sri Lanka, Mark Boucher hit a six, then blocked out the final ball, believing that one fewer run than was actually required would see his team through.In 1999, the infamous run out of Allan Donald lost South Africa the semi-final, at Edgbaston. In 2011, the run out of AB de Villiers ruined them in Mirpur.In 2019, something new. Williamson batting on 76, his team still 70 runs out. Tahir bowling a hard-spun legbreak, the batsman flashing, ball thudding into wicketkeeper’s gloves, bowler appealing. Tahir is animated, but Quinton de Kock is not, so captain Faf du Plessis barely considers the review.A minute later, on television, the truth is revealed. On Ultra Edge, just the hint of a spike. Only a murmur, really. The rustle of leaves on a windless night. A billowing of curtains. Williamson later tells du Plessis he didn’t feel it on his bat. A batting poltergeist.What next? If at the next World Cup, matches are played on covered grounds, will a South Africa batsman be denied a potentially match-winning six by the stadium roof, have that delivery be deemed a dead ball, then hole out immediately after?How much can one team be haunted?ALSO READ: Masterful Williamson keeps calm and carries on****Already in this campaign, South Africa had been hounded by history. Where in that 1999 semi-final Shane Warne had bedevilled them, bowling Herschelle Gibbs and Gary Kirsten with legbreaks that leapt out of Edgbaston footmarks on his way to that transcendental 4 for 29, in Southampton 2019, Yuzvendra Chahal claimed a four-for of his own. A legspinner, plus the spectre of legspin against them, another South Africa top order, devastated.Now, three times in three tournaments, New Zealand have been their vanquishers. In 2011 in Mirpur, New Zealand doggedly defended a middling score, setting in motion a harrowing collapse. In 2015, Grant Elliott was dropped when JP Duminy and Farhaan Behardien collided in the outfield, when either of them could comfortably have taken that catch. Later, Elliott thumped the six to seal that game, off a poorly-conceived length ball, with the smallest boundary in cricket to defend. In 2019, after events had contrived to keep the match alive into the final over, after the key batsman could have been out twice, Williamson thumped another, effectively secure this one, off a poorly-conceived cutter, after South Africa’s quicks had already delivered a predictable series of slower balls to him at the death.Ghosts at Edgbaston. Ghosts from New Zealand. Wristspinning ghosts. Botched rain-rule scenarios, brainless run outs, dropped bats, dropped catches, contrived collapses, a missed DRS review, each footfall raising new spirits, another trauma to be thrown atop a swaying pile, all of this raising the question whether it will ever happen for them, because how much really can South Africa be haunted?

Jude Bellingham is fully adjusted to life at Real Madrid, with the England star proving as much when speaking Spanish during title celebrations.

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England star on the move in 2023Productive debut campaign enjoyedStill in the hunt for major silverwareWHAT HAPPENED?

The 20-year-old midfielder become another ‘Galactico’ at Santiago Bernabeu when completing a €103 million (£89m/$111m) transfer from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2023. His debut campaign in Spain has been a memorable one, with prestigious Kopa Trophy and Golden Boy awards collected along the way.

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He has broken through the 20-goal barrier, after being given the freedom to get further forward, and has added Spanish Super Cup and La Liga title honours to his collection. Bellingham and Real are now counting down the days to a Champions League final clash with Dortmund on June 1.

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Bellingham is in high spirits ahead of that game and told jubilant supporters at Real’s title-winning celebrations – as he showed that language lessons in the Spanish capital have been progressing positively: “Thank you for your love and support. One more great game at Wembley, we’re going to win. Hala Madrid!”

Afghanistan powerless to resist after being rolled aside for 160, as England win with more than 32 overs to spare

Hemant Brar27-May-2019After stumbling against Australia in their first warm-up game, England returned to winning ways on the back of three-wicket hauls from Jofra Archer and Joe Root, and a blazing half-century from Jason Roy as they trounced Afghanistan by nine wickets at The Oval on Monday.Right from the toss, everything went England’s way. Under cloudy skies, their seamers took out Afghanistan’s top order, before Root and a couple of run-outs took care of the middle and the lower order. And despite Mohammad Nabi’s 44, Afghanistan were bundled out for 160 in 38.4 overs.A target of 161 was never going to challenge one of the strongest ODI batting line-ups of all time. And as expected, England romped to victory in just 17.3 overs, with Roy leading the way with an unbeaten 89 off just 46 balls, with 11 fours and four sixes. In all, it was a perfect outing for England, and a bit of a reality check for Afghanistan after their win against Pakistan last week.Jason Roy carves another boundary through the off side•Getty ImagesEarlier, in the absence of Mohammad Shahzad, who was rested, Noor Ali Zadran opened the innings with Hazratullah Zazai and it looked as though luck was on his side. In the second over of the innings, Noor Ali dabbed Chris Woakes towards backward point and set off for a single, but a brilliant stop by Roy had him stranded halfway down the pitch. But fortunately for him, Roy missed the direct hit. On the very next ball, he was given caught-behind but got the decision overturned as replays confirmed the ball had only brushed his elbow.At the other end, Zazai had little answer to Archer’s pace and bounce, with the batsman invariably shuffling towards the leg side to deal with his 140kph-plus offerings. Taking his eyes off the ball, he top-edged a bouncer to fine leg for four, then dispatched the next ball, once again a touch short, over cover-point for another boundary. But in his next over, Archer switched to around the wicket, Zazai went for the pull but the angle meant the batsman was cramped and the top edge was pouched by Moeen at mid-on.Another short ball from Archer, a legcutter, brought an end to Rahmat Shah’s innings as he failed to execute the pull and Liam Plunkett accepted the dolly at mid-on.With all the short stuff from the other end, Noor Ali failed to get forward to a pitched-up delivery from Ben Stokes. Stuck on the crease, he was late to get his bat down as the ball clattered into the stumps off the inside edge. Afghanistan were 49 for 3 in the 12th over.It was then Root’s turn to roll his arm over. Primarily an offbreak bowler, Root sent down quite a few legbreaks and reaped the rewards as well. Asghar Afghan survived against Stokes and Tom Curran but as soon as Root was introduced, he tried to cut loose. Root’s first ball was a full toss which was gently pushed down the ground. The next one was a dipping offbreak. Asghar looked to smash it over long-on, only to hit it straight to Roy.A few overs later, Root came back to dismiss Rashid Khan for a first-ball duck with a legbreak. In between the two dismissals, Hashmatullah Shahidi and Najibullah Zadran were run out, and captain Gulbadin Naib fell to Moeen Ali. Root then accounted for Aftab Alam as well to reduce Afghanistan to 127 for 9.Coming in at No. 8, Nabi once again showed how good a player of spin bowling he is. He smashed Moeen down the ground and over deep midwicket, while Adil Rashid was lofted inside-out over extra cover, all three hits clearing the boundary line with ease. He eventually fell to Archer while trying to cut one over third man but Jonny Bairstow kept his calm despite a bit of juggle, stepping over the boundary line and back again, to complete the catch to end Afghanistan’s innings.In reply, Bairstow and Roy attacked from the first ball and took 32 from the first three overs. In absence of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naib turned to Rashid as early as the fourth over of the innings. Roy cut Rashid’s first ball past point for four, the legspinner going for nine in his first over.Of late, especially in the IPL, Rashid has found it difficult to take wickets at the rate he is used to. And that proved true today as well. He conceded 32 from his five overs, without picking up a wicket.Nabi replaced Rashid and almost bagged Roy with his very first ball, but Dawlat Zadran put down the catch at mid-off. Later in the over, Roy smashed the bowler for a four and a six. Nabi though responded by having Bairstow stumped in his next over, off an arm ball, to break a 77-run opening stand that had spanned a mere 44 balls.Roy kept going for his shots and took the side to 100 in ten overs. Root also had a decent stay at the crease, scoring 29 off 37, and the two men carried England to a comfortable win.

Argentina star Angel Di Maria has been linked with a sensational Stateside move to Inter Miami, where he would link up with Lionel Messi.

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Di Maria linked with Miami moveArgentine currently at BenficaWould be fourth ex-Messi teammate at MLS sideWHAT HAPPENED?

ESPN Argentina reported Thursday that the Benfica winger, whose contract expires in June, is being targeted by the South Beach MLS side.

The 36-year-old would bolster their attack, while bringing veteran leadership alongside Messi and Suarez, too.

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Di Maria and Messi are longtime friends on the Argentina national team, but the duo also played together at club level with Paris Saint Germain.

The winger has 138 caps for La Albiceleste from 2007 onward, whereas Messi has 171 since 2004.

The Argentina would likely not join the ranks at Miami until the conclusion of this summer's Copa America, though.

DID YOU KNOW?

Di Maria would be the fourth ex-teammate of Messi's to join him at Inter Miami. The Argentine would join the likes of Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba at South Beach

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI AND DI MARIA?

The Herons clash with the New York Red Bulls this weekend in MLS action. As for Di Maria, though, Miami will reportedly look to pursue negotiations to secure his services so that he will be able to join the MLS side following the conclusion of Copa America 2024.

It's unknown whether or not Di Maria would be a Designated Player, Targeted Allocation Money or General Allocation Money signing – but he will require an international slot.

“I don’t think we want to play on wickets like these because it becomes too low-scoring and it becomes slightly difficult for our batters to get going,” the Super Kings captain said

Deivarayan Muthu in Chennai09-Apr-20192:33

Dasgupta: Chepauk conditions shouldn’t have been alien to KKR

Weeks after expressing his displeasure over the slow, low Chepauk track in the season opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni was once again critical of the pitch following another low-scoring match, against Kolkata Knight Riders.After Super Kings inserted Knight Riders, keeping the dewy conditions in Chennai in mind, the visitors laboured to 108 for 9 in 20 overs, with only Andre Russell passing 20. Super Kings’ spinners Imran Tahir, Harbhajan Singh and Ravindra Jadeja bowled 15 dots each and ended with combined figures of 12-0-53-5.Super Kings’ batsmen themselves struggled to get going in the chase, but opener Faf du Plessis ushered them home with seven wickets and 16 balls to spare.Super Kings and Knight Riders played on the same pitch that was used for the hosts’ fixture against Kings XI Punjab on Saturday. Dhoni likened the pitch to the opening game of the season that produced a mere a 141 runs. The spinners accounted for 10 of the 13 wickets to fall in that game.”Well, again, it became like the first game,” Dhoni said at the post-match presentation on Tuesday. “We were cribbing about the track but we ended up winning the game. And [after] losing Bravo, it’s slightly difficult for us to get the combination right because we’re missing an allrounder and David [Willey] is not here, so it can’t be a straight swap.”So, if you look it looks a good wicket to us. But, I don’t think we want to play on wickets like these because it becomes too low-scoring and it becomes slightly difficult for our batters to get going. And also what happens is that it’s slightly more difficult if you’re batting first. As the dew comes in, it becomes slightly easier in the second half.”ESPNcricinfo LtdSeamer Deepak Chahar, who claimed 3 for 20, echoed his captain Dhoni’s thoughts and said Super Kings want a “better” pitch at home. He put down the sluggish nature of the pitches down to the extreme heat and humidity in Chennai.Ahead of the matches and during practice sessions, the groundstaff have shielded the playing square from getting to dry under the blazing Chennai sun by setting up a tent-like structure.”I’m happy I performed well, but obviously we’re looking for a better wicket,” Chahar said. “Nobody wants this type of a wicket. It’s [because of] the soil and heat and you can’t help it. It’s very hot here and the pitch curators are doing their best job to give us a good track. But, at the end of the day you can’t help it.”

There was likelihood of play for at least an hour in the evening session, but that was just the cue for another spell of rain

The Report by Mohammad Isam in Wellington09-Mar-2019Rain continued to play havoc with the Wellington Test with two full days now washed out. The call-off came at 4.30 pm local time after umpires Ruchira Palliyaguruge and Paul Reiffel had conducted their third inspection.It probably didn’t help that there was no wind all day – which is ironic since this is the windy city – ensuring dark clouds kept hovering over Basin Reserve.Unlike the first day however, both the Bangladesh and the New Zealand players turned up at the ground at around 4 pm and there was likelihood of play for at least an hour in the evening session. But just after the groundstaff had completed most of their work, another spell of rain came by and ruined everything. There is more forecast of rain on the third day too.Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes said it was a frustrating time for his team but probably best that neither side had to bat for such a short period in the third session.New Zealand’s batting coach Craig McMillan said, “Three days is a long time. Conditions are challenging for the batsmen. All three results are possible in this game. We have to be switched on tomorrow and ready to go.”The last time there was no play over the first two days of a Test in New Zealand was in 2001 – the Hamilton game between the same two teams.

Zinedine Zidane has been heavily linked with Bayern Munich, but Dietmar Hamann has explained why he will not be taking charge of Harry Kane and Co.

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Current coach preparing to step downFrench icon linked with prominent postDemichelis considered to be better optionWHAT HAPPENED?

The German giants have known since February that they will require a new manager for next season, with Thomas Tuchel announcing his intention to step down in the summer. Change is on the cards as Bayern have surrendered the Bundesliga crown to Bayer Leverkusen and have left the Champions League – where they are due to meet Real Madrid in the semi-finals – as their only route to silverware in 2024.

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Various names have been linked with Bayern, from Xabi Alonso to Jose Mourinho, and there has been talk of World Cup winner Zidane agreeing to take the reins. Hamann, though, doubts that the iconic Frenchman will be appointed, with there a former fan favourite at the Allianz Arena currently impressing with River Plate that may be a better option to lead the club into a new era.

WHAT HAMANN SAID

Ex-Bayern star Hamann, speaking in association with , has told GOAL when asked who will be calling the shots in 2024-25: “They have said that they want someone who speaks English. They don’t need to speak German, but they need to speak English. Apparently Zidane doesn’t speak any English, so that’s him out of the equation. I would give that a miss. There is talk about [Martin] Demichelis now, who is doing well in Argentina – former player, managed the second team at Bayern Munich until three seasons ago. There is still talk about [Roberto] De Zerbi. I would probably lean towards Demichelis at the moment. But they have got to make a decision at some stage because the players you bring in want to know who the manager is. There are a lot of people talking in Munich. Sometimes you can talk about things for too long and you can find positives and negatives about anybody and everybody. At some stage, someone has to make a call. They have got to the stage where they have to make a decision and commit to somebody. Whether it works out or not, you only know when they are there.”

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN?

Zidane has been out of work since bringing his second spell in charge of Real to a close in 2021. De Zerbi is currently tied to Premier League side Brighton, while Demichelis is working on a contract at River until 2025. Bayern are expected to make a big future call soon, though, as they want to lift the cloud of uncertainty that is doing nobody any favours.