All posts by h716a5.icu

A look at the 2023 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy teams, key matches and players to watch

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Apr-2023Diary datesApril 22: Season starts with all eight teams in action. Sunrisers, winless over the three-year history of the competition, take on two-time champions Southern Vipers at the Ageas Bowl, Thunder host South East Stars, defending champions Northern Diamonds are home to Western Storm and The Blaze, the newly named Nottinghamshire side which has replaced Loughborough-based Lightning, welcome Central Sparks.
July 22: Southern Vipers vs Northern Diamonds. We’ll have to wait until well into the competition before these sides meet for the first time since the 2022 final, in which Diamonds prevented a Vipers three-peat. By then we’ll have a good idea of where each side stands this year. Diamonds are unlikely to lose as many players to England duty through June and July. These sides play each other again immediately after the August pause for the Hundred.
September 21: Play-off between the sides placed second and third after the group stage to determine who faces the top side in the final.
September 24: The final. Will it be another Vipers-Diamonds clash, as has been the case over the first three seasons, or will another team break into the reckoning?
Key signingsCentral Sparks have secured Australian batting allrounder Erin Burns from May until the start of August, bolstering their addition of left-arm quick Katie George (Western Storm) and top-order batter Chloe Brewer (South East Stars) during the off-season.Diamonds have lost a lot of experience with Linsey Smith going to Vipers and Nat Sciver-Brunt to The Blaze. They added batter Rebecca Duckworth to their line-up from Thunder but it is Chloe Tryon, the South African batting allrounder, who looms as the biggest fillip during a substantial stint from April-August.South East Stars have brought in allrounder Paige Scholfield from Vipers after Eva Gray’s move to Sunrisers.Southern Vipers welcome back Smith, their Kia Super League OG, from Diamonds but have lost wicketkeeper Carla Rudd (retired), Scholfield and Tara Norris (Thunder).Sunrisers received a much-needed boost when they managed to sign Dane van Niekerk, the hugely experienced former South Africa captain, following her international retirement. She will be with them from May until late July, when she joins Oval Invincibles for the Hundred, while Gray bolsters the bowling stocks.The Blaze Along with Nat Sciver-Brunt, Blaze have added legspinner Sarah Glenn and South Africa allrounder Nadine de Klerk after an impressive off-season recruitment drive.Thunder have also been active in the market, securing former Vipers left-arm quick Norris while retaining former West Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin. Naomi Dattani and Fi Morris have also joined from Sunrisers and Western Storm respectively.Western Storm have handed Academy product Sophia Smale her first professional contract after a breakout season in the Women’s Hundred, where she was Oval Invincibles’ leading wicket-taker.Players to watchCentral Sparks: Grace Scrivens, England’s captain, may have taken the clutch wicket that edged her side past Australia and into the Under-19 T20 World Cup final, but that narrow victory was set up by legspinner Hannah Baker’s 3 for 10 which allowed England to defend a paltry total of 99 and showed she has plenty of gumption.Diamonds: Fast bowler Lizzie Scott was also part of the England U19 team which finished as T20 World Cup runners-up to India in January, building on her performance in last year’s final where she took the important wicket of No.3 Georgia Elwiss in just her third RHFT appearance.South East Stars: Tash Farrant’s season was ruined by a back stress fracture last year, just as she had worked her way back into the England side, so it will be interesting to map her return.Southern Vipers: Opener Ella McCaughan played a couple of excellent knocks in 2022, including a half-century against Lightning and 47 in a 98-run stand with opening partner Maia Bouchier their play-off victory against Stars.Sunrisers: Grace Scrivens is a player the Sunrisers can build their hopes of winning some games on and the confidence she has gained from leading her country at U19 level could see her take the next step sooner rather than later.The Blaze: Grace Ballinger, the 21-year-old left-arm seamer, was joint-leading wicket-taker for Lightning last season alongside the experienced Kirstie Gordon and has been awarded her first full professional contract this year.Thunder: Left-arm swing bowler Tara Norris, who represents United States, won wider international recognition as the first player to take a five-wicket haul at the WPL, although Vipers fans are familiar with what she can bring to a side after she finished 2022 as the competition’s third-highest wicket-taker with 12 at 19.75 and an economy rate of 4.08.Western Storm Experience gained from the Hundred and England’s runner-up finish at the Under-19 T20 World Cup stand Sophia Smale in good stead to make the next, exciting step in her career.

With the World Cup impetus and increased revenues, Garber said there's 'no reason why our league can't be a dominant league'

Says 2026 World Cup to eclipse record-setting 1994 eventGarber identifies youth development as a key priority"MLS can be one of the top leagues in the world"Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED

With the 2026 World Cup less than 10 months away and MLS celebrating its 30th season, Don Garber outlined his vision for maximizing next year's tournament – co-hosted by Mexico, Canada and the U.S. – for positive effect on soccer in North America.

The MLS Commissioner underscored the importance of channeling the energy and excitement around the tournament into permanent improvements in the American soccer ecosystem. Noting that the 1994 World Cup sparked the formation of MLS, Garber said 2026 edition will surpass its predecessor's record-setting metrics.

“I think it's more interest overall in the game, right?” Garber said on the US Soccer podcast. “Whether it's the men’s World Cup or the women's World Cup, we still as a sport are trying to find our way. Where are the big moments that can break through, so that, you know, we're talking about culturally. In the late night talk shows, or at the water cooler or throughout social media and MLS. Or when it's a women's World Cup – I’m sure the NWSL will feel the same way – well, we're the center part of that conversation.

“So I don't think there's any shortage of interest in the game, where the '94 World Cup was the most successful World Cup of all time, and it'll be eclipsed by the '26 World Cup. But how do we connect all that with those that are really trying to build the game for a better future? Better opportunities with professional players, more opportunities for youth players, perhaps less pay to play, better infrastructure, both of the youth level and at the professional level."

Garber said the best measure of achievement will be the halo effect, converting temporary enthusiasm into permanent growth for domestic leagues, particularly MLS.

“I think the overall interest in the World Cup is going to help drive that," he said. "All the research we've done is every time there's been a World Cup in the modern era…. those domestic leagues have grown by 15 to 20 percent in overall interest…. I expect people will become more interested in MLS, but how do we get somebody who's engaging with a national team celebration to now be a fan of one of our clubs?

“And that's just work. We've got to do the work. We've got to have great fans-fests. We've got to have great contact. We've got to link our players that are playing for their national teams. We have to put MLS in the middle of the conversation. And if we do that, I think overall the league will ultimately benefit. And it won't be a Taylor Swift concert. I worry about that – you just don't want it to be something big. You want it to be something big, long-lasting and legacy-making and meaningful.”

AdvertisementWHAT GARBER SAID

Speaking about long-term objectives, Garber evaluated MLS's current position against international rivals and identified strengths established within the North American soccer landscape. He referenced the massive attention MLS and LAFC have benefited from after the recent signing of former Tottenham legend Son Heung-Min.

“I do believe that MLS can be one of the top leagues in the world, if not top league of the world," he said. "You see what's going on now, just signing Son… you know some of the better players in the world want to be here. Question is, when do we have them here? Some of the best young American players, young Canadian players coming up, want to be here. Some of them stay, some of them get sold on, just like the rest of the world. Our facilities are among the best in the world."

Garber said a major factor in the league's evolution will be continued investment and revenue generation. 

“So what we're really missing is, how could we compete on the field against the best clubs in the world?  And that's really just about money. It's just about how big an MLS be from a business perspective to generate enough revenue to be able to do what all leagues do, which is pay players the vast majority of the money you earn.

“And if we're able to do that, able to create a dynamic where MLS is a much bigger enterprise, I think just based on how good it is to live in our country, how popular our culture is…. I see no reason why our league can't be a dominant league. I really don't. I think the only thing holding us back is our ability to fund salary budgets that they could fund at the top levels in the five, six top European leagues. "

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The formation of Major League Soccer was directly tied to the United States' bid to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup. MLS has since expanded to 30 teams, making it one of the biggest leagues in world soccer.

Getty Images SportWHAT’S NEXT?

MLS is considering a schedule shift to better align with FIFA's international calendar. At last month's MLS All-Star Game, Garber indicated that there is increasing momentum. The league had previously said no change would take affect until at least 2027.

"If it's going to happen, it's going to happen after the 2026 World Cup," Garber said. "So making this change is seismic. It's not something we should do lightly. We obviously have teams across multiple climate zones, multiple time zones, unlike any other league in the world. And if we do make the change, we're not going to go back on that decision.

"There are a number of key benefits to it. Aligning with the world standard, we think, is important for our brand as we try to continue to engage as one of the important, influential leagues in the world. We want to align with on the calendar to be able to be even more engaged on the player transfer market."

The home side has a potentially fragile batting line-up and it is to be seen how long they can persist with their attacking outlook in the face of adversity

Ian Chappell03-Jun-2023Yet another Ashes series is looming, a continuation of the long-running cricket rivalry between Australia and England but this time with a difference.While this Ashes series will see five hard-fought Tests played again, they are crammed into just six weeks with an unusual July finish. This is physically and mentally demanding for all players but especially the faster bowlers. As the bulk of England’s genuine pace bowlers are suffering injury, it is a schedule that favours Australia.If, as expected, England bat ultra-aggressively, the question is whether they will continue to play in this manner if they experience failure. This is a fascinating proposition, because England will face fast bowlers who are difficult to attack if Australia are able to select their best trio.A fully fit Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are accustomed to opposition batters wanting to attack. Their vast experience will place a lot of pressure on an English batting line-up that can be fragile, especially at the top of the order. If England collapse early, will they have the nerve to maintain their attacking philosophy?Related

Can England maintain their tactics under an Australian assault? That will decide the result of the Ashes

My life through the Ashes: from Deadly Derek to Warnie to Stokes' boys

Flying under the radar, Travis Head could play decisive hand for Australia in England

Khawaja learns from past Ashes failures ahead of 'toughest' challenge

Lyon urges calm in the face of Bazball

Equally, if the English method pays dividends and they win convincingly, will Australia be tempted to retaliate? If England were to win a match or two convincingly, it would present Cummins, the Australia captain, with a big decision. It’s unlikely he will be stampeded into a drastic change of tactics, but the possibility makes for an interesting encounter.Australia play their best cricket when the team is purposefully aggressive. This policy worked spectacularly in the last Ashes series and over the long haul has proved superior to England’s more conservative methods. However, Ben Stokes’ attacking captaincy and England’s drastic change of batting tactics in recent times adds drama to an already potentially spicy series.If Australia hold their nerve, they have fewer questions to answer than England.England’s openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, tend to be either brilliant or brittle. Facing a strong Australian pace attack, they are in danger of being the latter, which would place enormous pressure on Joe Root. Ollie Pope is a good player but if he is in early, it will benefit Australia.

If the attacking English method pays dividends and they win convincingly, will Australia be tempted to retaliate? It’s unlikely Cummins will be stampeded into a drastic change of tactics, but the possibility makes for an interesting encounter

Then there’s Harry Brook. So far Brook has excelled in Test cricket but Australia could challenge him with some accurate short-pitched deliveries. The inclusion of Jonny Bairstow ahead of Ben Foakes as keeper is an indirect admission that England prefer an aggressor in the middle-order.The concerns over Stokes’ bowling are a major worry for England in view of the devastating loss of Jofra Archer’s pace and skill. Without Archer, England will rely heavily on the fitness and speed of a willing but injury-prone Mark Wood, and possibly the inexperienced Josh Tongue.An attack of Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson is viable in English conditions. However, age issues and a similarity of style among those three bowlers will encourage Australia to plan on playing long first innings against such an attack.The Australian batting line-up has a more settled look than England’s but it still relies on Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne to amass big scores. Travis Head, and to a lesser extent Usman Khawaja, have to establish their English credentials, while Cameron Green faces a tough test in the conditions.The big unknown, and the player who, if he succeeds, could tip the balance in Australia’s favour is David Warner. Despite his struggles in England in the past, Warner is a dangerous batter because of his tendency to score quickly. If he succeeds, Australia will be boosted but if Broad continues to have the edge over Warner, the series is wide open.Nathan Lyon is a superior spin bowler to Jack Leach and if England are unable to dominate Lyon, he will provide excellent variety to Australia’s powerful pace attack.In normal circumstances the odds slightly favour an Australia series victory. However, this is not a normal Ashes and the fact that the Tests are crammed close together, plus England’s desire to bat dynamically, make this a tantalising series.

Neser left the hosts reeling at 18 for 3 on a green-tinged surface but the duo turned the match on its head

Tristan Lavalette08-Oct-2024Captain Sam Whiteman and Josh Inglis scored brilliant centuries under pressure to lift three-time Sheffield Shield defending champions Western Australia out of major trouble against Queensland on day one at the WACA.WA started the season disastrously when Test aspirant Cameron Bancroft fell off the first ball of the match to trigger a remarkable opening spell from quick Michael Neser on a green-tinged surface.Neser claimed Jayden Goodwin on the next delivery and soon added Mitchell Marsh to leave WA reeling at 18 for 3. But Whiteman, who was made permanent skipper this season, survived the onslaught and combined in a 203-run fifth-wicket partnership with Inglis to turn the match on its head.Related

'Feels like we're in rarified air' – WA face their toughest test in pursuit of history

Khawaja, Labuschagne, Head and Marsh named for first round of Shield

Mature McSweeney making his mark in South Australia

Harris and Handscomb make statements with twin hundreds

Teen prodigy Konstas posts maiden Shield century for NSW

Inglis was in a typically aggressive mood, pummelling 122 off 117 balls before falling to the part-time spin of Matthew Renshaw late in the day. Whiteman was more sedate, but equally effective to bat almost the entire day’s play.Neser, for some time on the Test fringes, inspired a late rally with the second new ball to claim Whiteman and Matthew Kelly. He finished with 5 for 48 from 22 overs.After Queensland skipper Marnus Labuschagne elected to bowl, all eyes were on Bancroft who last played Test cricket in 2019 but has re-emerged in the selection frame given the uncertainty over allrounder Cameron Green’s back injury.But Bancroft, the leading run scorer in the Shield over the past two seasons, was not even afforded a sighter from a pumped-up Neser, who was on the money from the get-go with a trademark back of a length delivery that had him nicking off.Some of the smattering of fans had not even nestled into their seats when Goodwin badly misjudged a delivery and was bowled by Neser on the next delivery.Green and his team-mates on the team balcony looked ashen-faced, while a number of WACA staffers quickly scurried after gathering on the ground’s famous grassbanks for the start of play.Marsh, playing as a specialist batter, scampered to the middle much earlier than expected but did manage to defy Neser’s attempts at a hat-trick. WA did not hit the scoreboard until the fourth over before Marsh decided to counterattack only to fall for 13 to Neser when he was caught on the crease and edged to third slip.Josh Inglis celebrates his century•Getty ImagesUnder overcast skies, Neser was almost unplayable from the Lillee-Marsh end and had the spectacular figures of 3 for 8 from six overs. But Whiteman found a willing partner in Hilton Cartwright, who broke the shackles with a huge six off legspinner Mitchell Swepson that landed in the ground’s construction area and caused a five-minute delay.As the sun broke out, batting became easier in the second session but Cartwright could not cash in after playing on to Swepson. Inglis was in glorious touch from the outset, stroking boundaries all around the wicket as he raced past Whiteman despite facing 100 deliveries less.Desperate for a wicket, Labuschagne resorted to himself as he unleashed a short-ball tactic with his seamers. But it didn’t rattle Inglis, who powered to his sixth first-class century off just 93 balls.Queensland’s attack struggled other than Neser, but first-class debutant Tom Straker bowled a lively initial spell. Part of Australia’s U-19 World Cup title team earlier this year, the athletic Straker’s run-up and smooth action had echoes of former quick Jason Gillespie.Both teams have entered the season with numerous injury concerns. WA’s depth has been tested with stars Aaron Hardie, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson and Joel Paris working their way back from injuries.Allrounder Cooper Connolly, fresh off his international debut during Australia’s recent tour of the UK, was picked ahead of veteran Ashton Turner, who missed most of last season due to a knee injury.Queensland are without quick Xavier Bartlett due a side strain he picked up during the UK tour.

New Manchester United signing Benjamin Sesko has revealed which iconic Red Devils player is his role model.

Sesko signs for Man UtdReveals who is role model isHopes to take after iconFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Following his £74 million ($100m) switch from RB Leipzig to United, Sesko has revealed former Red Devils striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was his childhood idol. The Swede scored 29 goals in 53 appearances for the club and helped them win the Carabao Cup and the Europa League in 2017. Now, the 22-year-old is eager to emulate the ex-AC Milan star at Old Trafford.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT SESKO SAID

He told United's website: "He’s been my role model since I’ve been small. I've been watching him, like every single YouTube video that I can find, because he's just amazing for me, you know. We don't have the same, let's say, character. But I like to see him, the way he plays, the way he enjoys football, because that's when all the joy comes, you know. If you enjoy football, then everything works. And I think this is the most important. It's probably also one of the parts that just makes me love him so much, you know what I mean? So maybe one day to meet him, that would be great. He's my idol."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Ibrahimovic went on to become one of the greatest strikers of the 21st century, so if Sesko has a career anything like the big Swede, he will have done very well. For the time being, the 6ft 5in player has been tasked with reigniting United's lukewarm attack as he tries to make them a force again.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Slovenia international Sesko, who signed a contract until 2030 with Ruben Amorim's team, could make his United debut when they host old adversary Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday in their first game of the Premier League season.

Scrappy contest sealed in final over as Pakistan rue lack of urgency with bat

Firdose Moonda19-Feb-2023There’s always that point at a World Cup when the trophy becomes secondary to the smaller goals teams have set for themselves, and for West Indies and Pakistan this encounter was it. They both targeted their match against the other as the one that would prove they are moving in the right direction.For West Indies, beating Pakistan would add an 11th victory to their tally over them, from 17 meetings, and underline a dominance they don’t have over any other side. For Pakistan, a win would continue a World Cup record in which they have beaten West Indies in the last two major tournaments – the 2020 T20 World Cup and last year’s 50-over World Cup.Only one of them got what they wanted, in a scrappy, low-scoring affair that should never have become the thriller it did after West Indies managed only 116 for 6. Hayley Matthews assessed the total as being “at least 20 runs” too short. There were times when Pakistan made it look that much too many.They made much harder work of the chase than they should have, even given the slowness of the surface and the quality of the West Indies spinners. Pakistan went from needing less than a run a ball at the start of the chase, to eight an over after 11 overs, to 10 runs an over for the last three and 18 runs off the last over.Asked if it left her with too much to do, Aliya Riaz, who came in with 57 runs needed off 41 balls, conceded that it was probably a stretch for her when her captain Bismah Maroof was dismissed. “We were a little bit slow early on, and the wickets also fell fast. The way (Nida) Dar was playing and was set, she could have taken it well, but unfortunately, she got out there. But my whole effort was to take the match with Bismah and then Bismah got out. If we had played a little bit faster, then maybe we would have won.”In hindsight, Pakistan may look at their best partnership – of 44 runs between Maroof and Dar which took 8.5 overs at a scoring rate of 4.98 – as the passage of play where the chase went wrong. Bismah’s strike rate of 78.78 in this match will be scrutinised, especially as she also hit two fours, which means that she scored 18 runs off the remaining 31 balls she faced, and Pakistan’s overall ability to rotate strike should be in their post-tournament analysis.While West Indies faced 48 dot balls and hit nine fours, Pakistan saw off 51 scoreless deliveries and hit eight fours. Given the margin of defeat, you may point to the boundary count as the difference but a closer look at the match will tell you that Pakistan had many chances to pick off the four runs they needed for victory. Their running between the wickets was too hesitant too often and there were several occasions where they had the opportunity to turn a single into two, but refused.Aliya recognised there is work to be done in that department. “There was a bit of miscommunication. The calling between the batters could have been better,” she said. “And the strike rate can be improved. The target was not so high and it could definitely have been chased.”Matthews agreed and said West Indies knew “Defending 116 was never, ever going to be easy,” but reminded her team of the importance of this match. “We really wanted to win this game against Pakistan, not taking away from any of the other games. We knew walking into this tournament, this was one of the games where we knew if we really put our head down, we had a serious chance,” she said. “After being disappointed in that first innings with the total we put up, everyone knew that the 70% we might have given with the bat, we had to take that extra 30% and give it in the field. That’s what really motivated us.”Related

Left out of the WPL party, Maroof & Co look for joy at the World Cup

Relieved Hayley Matthews breaks West Indies' cycle of woe

Tahlia McGrath answers the call when it matters to drive Australia to knock-outs

Hayley Matthews keeps West Indies alive with narrow win over Pakistan

West Indies achieved that and have completed their allotment of group matches, and while progression to the knock-outs is not impossible (they need England to beat Pakistan and Ireland to beat India by approximately 59 runs or with 47 balls to spare), it’s unlikely. So while they spend the next two days “sitting back and waiting and seeing what the other results go like in this tournament,” they will soon have to turn their attention to the future and how to catch up to teams like Australia and England.For Matthews, the key may lie in franchise leagues like the WPL, where she is the only West Indian player in the mix, the Hundred and the WBBL. “A lot of people look at these leagues as negatives taken away from international cricket, but for a team like West Indies that may not have the best domestic system, these leagues can be very fruitful and very helpful for us,” Matthews said. “I know they certainly helped me from a young international player growing up and I can only hope that for the rest of the team, the girls get the opportunity to do the same things. And you know, I experienced playing cricket all over the world and learning from it as well.”Pakistan’s players are entirely excluded from the WPL and have to wait until September for a WPSL to kick off, but they still have something to play for in this tournament. They take on England in their last match on Tuesday and like West Indies, it seems the tournament could end for them there. Unless they beat England and Ireland beat India, Pakistan will exit at the group stage, but that is not as much of a concern for them as making one last statement after failing to do so against West Indies.”We will try to finish the tournament on a good note,” Aliya said. “The way we played the first two matches – attacking cricket, with the same strike rate, fast and quick, we will play that match in the same way.”

“Don’t see any reason as of now why Shakib should not play in Bangladesh in the home series [against South Africa],” Shahriar Nafees says

Mohammad Isam24-Sep-2024The BCB is confident that Shakib Al Hasan won’t have any problems returning to Bangladesh – for the first time since the fall of the Awami League government, of which he was a part – for the Test series against South Africa next month.Shakib, Bangladesh’s most celebrated cricketer, was among 147 people named in a murder case in Dhaka last month. He had become a member of parliament in January this year. When Sheikh Hasina resigned as the prime minister on August 5 following massive anti-government protests in Bangladesh and fled the country, Shakib was playing in the Global T20 League in Canada. After that, he has travelled to Pakistan for a Test series, then played a county match for Surrey, and is now in India for another Test series. He was not in Bangladesh at any point during the protests or since. The case in question relates to the death of Mohammed Rubel, who was wounded in the firing during the protests on August 5 and died two days later.Shahriar Nafees, in charge of the BCB’s cricket operations, said on Monday that the country’s caretaker government had clarified that Shakib would not be “harassed”.Related

Shakib on Bangladesh protests: 'To those of you who were hurt by my silence, I sincerely apologise'

Official says govt will provide Shakib with security on Dhaka return

'Shakib's security is not in the board's hand,' says BCB chief

Shakib trials strap around neck as head-positioning tool in Chennai

Spotlight on off-colour Shakib amid injury murmurs

“I think the honourable chief adviser, law adviser and sports adviser have spoken very clearly regarding Shakib Al Hasan,” Nafees said. “There is a clear message from the Bangladesh government that no one will be harassed unfairly in the cases that have been filed. We believe the interim government has made its position very clear on Shakib. Unless there is an injury problem or a selection-related issue, I personally don’t see any reason as of now why Shakib Al Hasan should not play in Bangladesh in the home series.”Last month, Bangladesh’s law adviser, Asif Nazrul, had also said that he hoped Shakib would not be arrested in connection with the case. “There’s only a case filed against Shakib. I hope he will not be arrested. I have come to know that the police forces have been asked to show as much restraint as possible in case something incredible happens.”Soon after the news about him being named in the case surfaced, Shakib had received support from his Bangladesh team-mates, who had posted messages on their respective social-media accounts. But his silence during the student-led mass protests in July and August has also led to criticism. Many of his national team-mates have, at various points, spoken about the protests and the loss of lives, especially of students, but Shakib hasn’t.Bangladesh, who are currently in India to play Tests and T20Is, are scheduled to play two home Tests against South Africa in October. CSA’s security team completed its evaluation of Dhaka and Chattogram, where the Tests will be played, on Monday and is expected to inform the BCB about its decision later this week.

Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has reportedly been left disgruntled after failing to make manager Ruben Amorim’s newly formed six-man leadership group. The squad hierarchy, headed by club captain Bruno Fernandes, also includes Harry Maguire, Noussair Mazraoui, Lisandro Martinez, Diogo Dalot, and veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton.

Shaw upset over leadership snubAmorim believes disappointment may motivate himYoro & Heaton preferred over the veteran left-backFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to Shaw's reaction to the snub has been one of deep frustration, with Amorim aware of the player’s unhappiness. The Portuguese coach is hopeful that the defender will channel his disappointment into improved displays ahead of the new campaign. However, early signs during pre-season training have reportedly raised concerns, as Shaw has not been performing at maximum intensity. A visible drop in his commitment levels has been noted, raising questions about his readiness for the challenges ahead.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Adding to the tension, 19-year-old French centre-back Leny Yoro was believed to be on the verge of joining the leadership group. However, he narrowly missed out on a spot in the final selection as Amorim ultimately decided to leave him out for now, but insiders claim the manager views him as a central figure for the club’s future. The teenager is already being spoken of as a potential pillar of the United backline for years to come, with comparisons being drawn to past defensive greats.

DID YOU KNOW?

Shaw’s omission is all the more surprising given his long-standing association with the club. Arriving at Old Trafford in 2014, he has been a mainstay throughout the turbulent years following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. As the longest-serving member of the current squad, his experience and understanding of the club’s culture are widely recognised. Despite this, his place in the team has come under scrutiny due to recent defensive lapses and positional errors that have undermined his reliability on the pitch.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR SHAW?

Shaw has two years left on his lucrative £180,000-a-week deal. But questions about his defensive discipline have led to suggestions that younger, more dynamic options like Patrick Dorgu might soon challenge him for a starting berth. 

Sunderland are looking to potentially hijack a move for an attacking star in the summer transfer window, according to a new transfer claim.

Le Bris excited about Sunderland signing Sadiki

The Black Cats have completed the signing of Noah Sadiki, with the midfielder arriving at the Stadium of Light on a five-year deal from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.

Regis Le Bris is clearly in positive spirits about an exciting piece of business for Sunderland ahead of their imminent return to the Premier League next month, assessing the capture of the 20-year-old.

It’s now a case of Sunderland building on the signing of Sadiki and bringing in more signings before the current window slams shut at the end of August, and a promising new update has now emerged regarding their transfer situation.

Sunderland pushing to hijack £17.2m signing

According to Foot Mercato, Sunderland are in the mix to sign Lens midfielder Neil El Aynaoui this summer, with the 24-year-old valued at more than €20m (£17.2m) by the French club.

Breaking: Sunderland agree quick-fire deal to sign exciting £20m winger

It’s been a statement-making summer from the Black Cats.

ByTom Cunningham Jul 5, 2025

The Black Cats are joined by a host of top clubs in the tussle to snap him up, as they look to steal him from under the noses of the likes of Roma, Juventus and AC Milan.

El Aynaoui could immediately improve Sunderland as a team if they managed to get a deal over the line, adding quality in the middle of the park, as highlighted by the calibre of clubs interested in him.

The midfielder is a one-cap Morocco Under-23 international, while journalist Mohamed Toubache-Ter has described him as a “highly-talented” footballer, so he would be a signing of real intent.

It is clearly going to be tricky for Sunderland to sign El Aynaoui, given the level of interest in him from some of the biggest clubs in Italy, but they are now back in the Premier League, which is a major attraction for so many players around the world.

Hopefully, Le Bris can sell him the idea of moving to the Stadium of Light, being a key starter instead of a potential cog in the machine elsewhere, as he looks to give his side the best possible chance of survival next season.

The home team have admirably prioritised run-scoring and wicket-taking, making Pat Cummins go defensive

Ian Chappell30-Jul-2023Pat Cummins and Ben Stokes have different captaincy styles but they both possess the same admirable trait of seeking victory from the opening delivery.One of the big differences between the two is Stokes’ desire for his batters to attack, which has forced Cummins to employ some defensive strategies. It’s not desirable to give good players an easy single at the start of an innings, and you are trusting luck by trying to dismiss a sensible batter with a bouncer barrage. These were tactics Cummins employed at different times during the series, and while they were dubious ploys, the question applies: “Why did senior players allow him to continue using such repetitive tactics that weren’t working?”One aim of a good cricket team is to make the opposition change their tactics, whether that be a team strategy or an individual one. England achieved that aim, but because they made some poor selection choices, they still trail in the series.Related

Ben Stokes' positive aggression is England's new mantra for success

Switch Hit: Ashes to Splashes

Cummins feels heat as Australia struggle to keep pace with Bazball

The Ashes have highlighted England's selection failings again

Let's all bask in Mark Wood's climate of optimism

There were critics of Stokes’ decision to declare at Edgbaston and bat on at Old Trafford. These are smokescreens; his tactics were right and were both aligned with Stokes’ stated desire to always push for victory. Any captain who calculates a declaration according to a weather forecast – as was suggested of Stokes at Old Trafford – is asking for trouble.What has to be queried is England’s poor record at the selection table. This series they have mistakenly plumped for Jonny Bairstow, a recognised batter, ahead of the far superior wicketkeeper Ben Foakes. They opted to court Moeen Ali, an offspinner who bats but even at his peak didn’t relish the challenge of playing Australia. England also preferred a seam attack that lacked variety before belatedly unleashing a genuine speedster against Australia in the third Test. England then failed to give Mark Wood the advantage of using a hard new ball.These are all errors that are difficult to overcome, even when accompanied by an admirable desire to prioritise run-scoring and wicket-taking. This is especially the case when England’s captain and coach have a considerable say in selection.

If a batter hits a boundary, he is still facing the next ball, but a single frees him from the strike and lets him enjoy the safety of the non-striker’s end

Defensive fielders highlight a desire among modern captains to protect boundaries, thereby allowing easy singles. There are times when this is a questionable policy despite the dramatic improvement in modern bats. If a batter hits a boundary, he is still facing the next ball, but a single frees him from the strike and lets him enjoy the safety of the non-striker’s end. A captain who disperses the field with no close catching men and the bulk of the fielders on the boundary is greatly reducing the effectiveness of an attacking bowler. If a captain places nine men on the boundary, any self-respecting bowler is entitled to say: “You want that field then you bowl to it.”Captaincy is subjective; there is never universal agreement on tactics, especially when a game is lost. A captain must hold his nerve and expect good, positive suggestions from his senior fielders. I liken captaincy to a computer – others can provide an input, but it’s the captain who has to make the final decision.Both Cummins and Stokes have been the right choice as respective leaders. In Cummins’ case he’s a good captain and deserves to retain the position. However, he may be listening to too much advice, not all of it from people qualified for the job.Critics would do well to recall that under Cummins’ captaincy Australia hold both the World Test Championship title and the Ashes urn.Cummins displayed his worth in The Oval Test by learning from past mistakes. After sending England in on a pitch that had some life for the bowlers, Australia dismissed their opponents for a reasonable total despite some sloppy fielding.The Test is now poised to end in a one-innings shootout with the series finishing – as it began – in a sprint for victory. Whatever the respective merits of the two captains, the teams have provided ample entertainment and a series to be remembered.