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Billy Stanlake was Tasmania’s bowling hero as they made it five wins in five in this season’s One-Day Cup

AAP15-Nov-2025Beau Webster will enter Australia’s Ashes Test squad in good batting form after guiding Tasmania to a four-wicket win over South Australia in a One-Day Cup match on Saturday.Webster didn’t bowl, letting an on-song Billy Stanlake do the damage as the Redbacks made just 195 in Saturday’s match in Kingston. He made his mark with the bat, though. Batting at No. 3 with authority, Webster’s 78 off 96 helped the Tigers home with more than ten overs and four wickets to spare.It was the Tigers’ fifth win from as many 50-over fixtures this year, pushing them well clear on the top of the table.Billy Stanlake celebrates a wicket with Riley Meredith•Getty Images

Webster fell with some work to be done, but Nikhil Chaudhary (19) and Nathan Ellis (20) guided them home.Earlier, Stanlake (3 for 31 from ten overs) made the most of the early movement to torment the Redbacks’ top order. He trapped Jake Fraser-McGurk on the crease for four and grabbed the key wicket of Jake Lehmann, bowled for 29.Nathan McSweeney (49 off 92) tried to steady the innings while Nathan McAndrew (40 off 29) provided some late fireworks.Webster will head west with the Australia team on Sunday, hoping there is room for him in the first Test XI.He’s made four fifties in 12 innings in his seven Tests, often arriving in tricky situations, while taking eight wickets at an average of 23. But he could be squeezed out if selectors opt to shift Cameron Green to No. 6, give opener Jake Weatherald a debut,. and reinstall Marnus Labuschagne at No. 3.

In addition to signing established players ready to make an immediate first-term impact last summer – the likes of James Maddison, Micky van de Ven and Brennan Johnson – Spurs also acquired a couple of teenagers with the potential to be starters for the club in the longer term.

19-year-old forward Alejo Veliz arrived from Argentine club Rosario Central, while 18-year-old centre-back Ashley Phillips came in from second-tier Blackburn Rovers. It looks as if Spurs may try to continue that two-timeline approach in January, this time with a move for Royal Antwerp's Arthur Vermeeren.

Even though he's only 18, Vermeeren has already established himself as a mainstay in the Antwerp side. He's not only started all 20 of their Pro League games this season, he's also completed the full 90 minutes in all but three. His domestic form has earned him a rapid call-up to the Belgian senior side, with two caps under his belt, and he's firmly in contention to feature at this summer's European Championships.

Man Utd rival Spurs for Vermeeren

According to Tottenham Hotspur News, Spurs have been pursuing Vermeeren, who has drawn comparisons to former Lilywhites player Christian Eriksen his "technical ability and range of passing".

However, they now face "serious competition" from Premier League rival Manchester United, who have identified Vermeeren as a "big target" for 2024. Manager Ange Postecoglou is "keen" for his side to come out on top, particularly because it would hurt to see him playing a direct competitor.

Vermeeren could be a transformative signing

Fabrizio Romano reported last month that Vermeeren is "set to leave" Belgium this year, if not in January, then definitely in the summer. The big question is where he ends up, with interest likely extend beyond the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Old Trafford.

Named in the best XI of players born in 2005 or 2006 by the CIES Football Observatory last year (Breaking The Lines), he's one of the premier midfield talents in Europe. Under-23 expert Antonio Mango has described him as a "gift to football", while talent scout Jacek Kulig has billed him a "sensation".

Vermeeren has took his chance to sign in the Champions League this season, scoring against Barcelona in the final group-stage match and becoming the third-youngest player to provide two assists in a Champions League game against Shakhtar Donestsk.

Indeed, the teenager is a player who can spot gaps in opposition defensive structures and thread the ball through, which is why he ranks as high as fifth in the Belgian top-flight for progressive passes this season (142). He was also right up there last season for take-on percentage (third with 76.2), emphasising his ability to evade pressure in the middle of the park, and tackles won (10th with 46), proving that there's a bite to his game too (FBRef).

When you combine all this with the fact that as, of January 1, he'd covered the most distance in the league (Zach Lowy), you can see how he's managed to make himself an indispensable player already. Vermeeren is an outstanding, all-round midfield package, and if Spurs win the race, his capture could be celebrated for a generation.

Batter joins Sri Lankan fast bowler Suranga Lakmal as the club’s overseas signings

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jan-2023Haider Ali, the Pakistan batter, will join Derbyshire for the 2023 county season.Haider, 22, has played 35 white-ball matches for his country, including two appearances at the recent ICC T20 World Cup, where Pakistan were runners-up to England. In 33 T20I appearances, he has scored 499 runs, including three half-centuries, one of which came against England at Emirates Old Trafford in 2020.Announcing Haider’s signing on Friday, Derbyshire recognised his red-ball abilities also, citing an average of 54.33 from 11 first-class appearances, including three centuries and four half-centuries. He will be available in all formats during the 2023 county season, subject to international commitments, and joins Sri Lankan fast bowler Suranga Lakmal as the club’s two overseas signings.Mickey Arthur, Derbyshire’s head of cricket and the former Pakistan coach, said: “Haider is an immensely talented young player who already has a wealth of international experience, which will be key for us in all formats.Related

• Shan Masood signs for Yorkshire on two-year deal

• County ins and outs 2022-23

• PCB's talks with Mickey Arthur to coach Pakistan fall through

“I spoke with him at the T20 World Cup, and again during the Lanka Premier League, and he’s so hungry to come to England and prove himself in all formats, that’s exactly the attitude we want in our dressing room. Of course, he still has a lot of developing to do, but I’ve outlined what I expect from him and I have no doubt Haider will succeed in county cricket.”Haider said: “I’ve seen over the last few years how many Pakistan players have improved their game by playing at a high standard in county cricket, and that’s something I think could really help my development.”Mickey Arthur is such a respected figure in world cricket and he’s still so highly regarded within the Pakistan set-up, so the opportunity to learn from him is one I’m so excited about… there’s a lot of good players here and Mickey wants to achieve something big with this club. Hopefully I can contribute a lot of runs in 2023 and entertain the Derbyshire crowd.”Haider’s move to Derbyshire comes after fellow Pakistan batter Shan Masood left the club where he scored 1,766 runs across formats last season for a two-year deal at Yorkshire, where he will be captain in 2023.

Manchester United are plotting a loan swoop for a “complete” £64 million player in January, according to a recent report.

Ruben Amorim completed his first training session as Man Utd head coach on Monday afternoon, as he prepares his new side to face Ipswich Town on Sunday, in what is his first game in charge of the Red Devils.

Man Utd transfer news

All focus around Old Trafford will be on that first game under the Portuguese and then the many other matches United face in the next few weeks. However, as the days and weeks go on, the January transfer window is getting closer and closer, and it seems United are slowly putting potential plans in place.

One player United could look to sign in January is midfielder Oihan Sancet, as the Red Devils have been linked with a move for the Athletic Bilbao midfielder. Sancet has a release clause of £67 million, but United are not the only team interested, as Unai Emery’s Aston Villa are also keen on signing the Spanish international.

Amorim now thinks he's found a £54m upgrade on Rashford for Man Utd to sign

Amorim wants United to sign a player he thinks is better than Marcus Rashford.

By
Brett Worthington

Nov 19, 2024

As well as Sancet, Man Utd have their sights set on AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic, as Amorim sees the USA international as an upgrade to Marcus Rashford. The winger has been in excellent form in Italy, and that has put him on the radar of the Red Devils as well as Arsenal and Liverpool. But Pulisic doesn’t come cheap, as a minimum offer of £54 million would be needed to get negotiations underway.

However, both these deals could be difficult to do, as United may have to settle for loan deals in January, and they have their eye already on one potential target.

Man Utd plotting January loan swoop for Randal Kolo Muani

According to L’Equipe, relayed by Fussball News, Manchester United are interested in signing Randal Kolo Muani on loan in January. The Paris Saint-Germain striker, who is used to a 3-4-3 formation from his time at Frankfurt, has been with the French giants since September 2023, but it has been a testing 18 months or so, as he’s yet to nail down a regular starting spot.

The 25-year-old, who has been labelled “complete” by Kylian Mbappé in the past, scored six goals in 26 Ligue 1 appearances last season. In this 2024/25 campaign, Kolo Muani has started just two of the 12 games he has played in all competitions, but he has scored two goals during that time.

This report states that United are thinking about a loan swoop for Kolo Muani, who is in the 90th percentiles for non-penalty XG per 90 minutes for forwards, in January, as their expensive summer business may mean they can only do loan deals in the New Year. So, the fact that Kolo Muani’s contract runs until 2028 allows the Red Devils to take the Frenchman on loan.

However, United could face a potential stumbling block as the striker, who cost PSG £64 million, has stated that he has not thought about leaving the French club. He said: “No, I never thought about it. You have to keep the mentality. It’s up to me to keep working so that the coach trusts me.”

Lamine Yamal received a special welcome at a WWE Smackdown taping in Barcelona on Friday, meeting legend Triple H and receiving a personalised belt.

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• WWE Champ Cody Rhodes poses for pic with young star
• Triple H heralded Yamal and Barcelona's bright future
• Wonderkid appeared with teammates Balde and Fort

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The WWE rolled out the red carpet for Barcelona's wunderkind on their first official televised event in the Catalonian capital. Yamal took the time to pose with Triple H, Drew McIntyre, and current Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Yamal attended the event alongside his Barça teammates Alejandro Balde and Hector Fort. The three youngsters received a rapturous welcome by the fans in attendance. Playing to the crowd, the 17-year-old gleefully flashed his new hardware while sporting a massive grin.

• WHAT TRIPLE H AND DREW MCINTYRE SAID

  Both Triple H and Mcintyre took to their own X accounts to brag about meeting the young star.

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR LAMINE YAMAL?

  Luckily, Yamal doesn't have to worry about defending his ceremonial belt. Instead his focus will turn to Barcelona's top-of-the-table clash with Atletico Madrid on Sunday night. Next week, he'll report for duty with Spain ahead of their Nations League double header against the Netherlands.

Mohammed Shami had broken the stumps with the Sri Lanka captain on 98

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jan-20232:58

Run-out controversy: should India have gone ahead with their appeal?

India captain Rohit Sharma defused a potentially controversial situation by withdrawing a run-out appeal against Dasun Shanaka, despite the Sri Lanka skipper being out of his crease at the non-striker’s end in the first ODI in Guwahati.The incident occurred in the final over of the game, when Mohammed Shami ran in to bowl but broke the stumps at the non-striker’s end before delivering the ball. Sri Lanka needed 83 off three balls at the time and Shanaka was batting on 98.

Watch on ESPN Player in the UK

WATCH the first India vs Sri Lanka ODI full replay

“I had no idea Shami had done that,” Rohit told Star Sports after the game. “When he went up in an appeal… Again, he [Shanaka] is batting on 98. The way he batted was brilliant. We got to give it to him. We cannot get him out like that. We wanted to get him out the way we thought we would get him out. But that was not something that we thought of. But again, hats off to him, he played really well.”Had Rohit not withdrawn Shami’s appeal, Shanaka would have been out, but the Sri Lankan captain was allowed to continue his innings and went on to finish 108 not out off 88 balls. India ended up winning the game by 67 runs, after Virat Kohli’s 113 off 87 balls – his 45th ODI century – had powered the hosts to 373 for 7 in 50 overs.After winning the T20I series 2-1, India have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. The teams now travel to Kolkata for the second ODI at Eden Gardens on January 12.

The international break looks to be coming at the best possible time for Aston Villa, who succumbed to a fourth straight defeat in all competitions away at Liverpool this Saturday.

It wasn’t quite the pasting they were handed on their travels to Tottenham Hotspur, with Arne Slot’s Reds having to dig deep to overcome Unai Emery’s men 2-0, but it was still a defeat at the end of the day that leaves the low on confidence Villans in eighth spot in the Premier League, which is a worrying ten points behind table-topping Liverpool.

There were various different Villa underperformers that failed to step up to the mark under the intense lights of Anfield, as Emery attempts to get more out of his team on the training ground between now and their next Premier League clash, knowing that a break could be what his team desires.

Main Villa underperformers at Anfield

Before he can get to work in this department, however, the stinging defeat versus Liverpool will be firmly on his mind, with the likes of Diego Carlos struggling at the back throughout to contain the hosts’ firepower up top.

The Villa defence were all at sea for Liverpool’s opening breakaway goal, which saw Darwin Nunez fire home after Mohamed Salah rampaged forward, but the game-deciding second strike from the Egyptian at the death saw the Brazilian centre-back inexplicably head it off the electric number 11, who then ran through unchallenged to confidently seal the win.

Away from the defenders having a shaky night, the attackers were also below-par, with Morgan Rogers giving possession away a costly 21 times across the course of the game.

Ollie Watkins also fired more blanks for the away team, as the usually potent 28-year-old’s barren patch in front of goal now stretches to five games in all competitions, with the former Exeter City wonderkid only managing six accurate passes away from missing a single big chance.

But, although Rogers and Watkins underwhelmed, they have shone for their team this season away from this match in isolation.

Whereas, across the campaign to date, Leon Bailey keeps mustering up weak performances and his outing at Liverpool unfortunately followed that trend.

Bailey's performance in numbers

It could be argued that Bailey was lucky not to receive a booking in the build-up to Nunez’s opener, having hauled down Salah viciously before the Uruguayan got the better of Martinez.

Away from that contentious moment, the Jamaica international barely got into the contest, with only 23 touches of the ball coming his way. Even the aforementioned Martinez managed more than that, with the busy Villa shot-stopper registering a heftier 36.

There are more numbers, when looking at the table above, that further demonstrate how passive Bailey was against Slot’s hosts, with only 11 accurate passes coming his way from a lack of touches, alongside only managing one shot the entire game before being substituted just after the hour mark.

Thankfully for Bailey, his replacement in Jaden Philogene-Bidace failed to also flicker into life – as the ex-Hull City winger only managed eight touches himself – but Emery will be searching for better alternatives down the right flank away from the former Bayer Leverkusen attacker during the break to come.

After firing home ten goals and picking up nine assists last season in the top flight, it’s hard to not ponder why Bailey’s form has taken such a sharp and sudden decline, with zero goals and two assists coming his way this campaign from ten Premier League clashes.

Handed a 5/10 match rating after the game by Birmingham Live’s John Townley, with the journalist simply stating that the Villa number 31 is ‘struggling for confidence’, the time could now be right for Bailey to be given a break from first-team duties, as Emery goes about reinvigorating his troops to bounce back from the sorry state they’re currently submerged in.

Aston Villa's "outstanding" loan ace is worth more than Rogers after exit

The Villa striker has excelled this season

By
Joe Nuttall

Nov 8, 2024

Sergio Conceicao heaped praise on Christian Pulisic as the American winger helped AC Milan register a comeback win in Serie A.

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• Pulisic hailed as 'very intelligent'
• Scored a brace in AC Milan's comeback win
• Milan beat Lecce 3-2 in Serie A

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Portuguese hailed Pulisic as a "very intelligent" player as the USMNT star scored twice in the second half to inspire AC Milan's 3-2 comeback win over Lecce on Saturday. With the Rossoneri down 2-1, Pulisic equalised from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute and eight minutes later, he scored the winning goal.

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• WHAT SERGIO CONCEICAO SAID

  Speaking to after the match, the 50-year-old said: "Starting from the wing, he feels very comfortable in the central corridor, then it depends on the game. Today he started on the left, he is a player with great technical qualities and very intelligent. He can play behind the striker or on the wings but coming inside is the best position."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The brace against Lecce took Pulisic's goal tally to 14 in the 2024-25 season across all competitions. He is now just one goal short of equalling his career best tally of 15 goals that he scored in his debut season in Italy last year.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR AC MILAN?

  Milan will be back in Serie A action next Saturday as they take on Cesc Fabregas' Como at home.

Big day for Ahmed Shah Durrani too, as he becomes second Afghan, after Pakteen, to be a TV umpire in a Test match

Sreshth Shah02-Mar-2021The first Test between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe had four players making their Test debuts. There was another Test first-timer on the field, too, 44-year old Ahmed Shah Pakteen, who became the first from Afghanistan to be an on-field umpire in a Test match. Aleem Dar, the veteran official from Pakistan, was the other on-field umpire for the game.Pakteen made his debut as an international cricket umpire in January 2017. He has previously stood in 15 ODIs and 20 T20Is. In March 2019, Pakteen had become the first Afghan to be a TV umpire during the only Test between Afghanistan and Ireland. Ten months later, in January 2020, he became the first Afghan umpire at an ICC main event when he officiated at the Men’s Under-19 World Cup in South Africa.While there is no Afghan representation in the 12-member elite panel of umpires (the highest category), there are four in the international panel: apart from Pakteen, there are Ahmed Shah Durrani, Bismillah Jan Shinwari and Izatullah Safi.The ongoing Test also marked a debut in Tests for Durrani, who became the second Afghan – after Pakteen – to be a TV umpire in the longest format. Durrani made his international umpiring debut in December 2016 and has been an on-field umpire 19 times in white-ball cricket.Pakteen’s debut now means that Ireland is the only full-member nation to not field an on-field umpire yet. Ireland have played three Tests so far, and the only official from their country has been Mark Hawthorne, who was the TV umpire in their debut Test, against Pakistan in 2018 .

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been the masters of the transfer market in recent years, which has helped them maintain their status as a Premier League club.

From signing prospects with plenty of potential to acquiring value-for-money players, every strategy has been optimised to the max.

However, it’s not just the buying of players that’s been a success, as the Molineux side also been able to sell their talents for large fees, notably Matheus Nunes and Diogo Jota.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at a former player who Wolves truly hit the jackpot on back in 2017.

What Wolves paid for Ruben Neves

In the summer of 2017, Wolves signed highly-rated Ruben Neves from FC Porto, reuniting with Nuno Espírito Santo.

The Portuguese prospect had already cemented himself as one of the best upcoming talents in Europe, having already owned the status of the youngest player to captain a side in the Champions League.

Although the fee paid for the midfielder wasn’t confirmed, it is reported to have been around £15m, making him one of the most expensive Championship transfers of all time.

During his first campaign, Neves’ quality and influence on the team were immense over his 42 matches, scoring six goals and helping Wolves win the title, ultimately seeing them return to the Premier League – the division they play in to this day.

The fee that Wolves sold Neves for

Throughout his time in the Premier League, the former Wolves number eight developed into an elite midfielder, playing 177 times in the competition and scoring 21 goals.

The 27-year-old even played a vital role in Wolves’ 2019/20 Europa League run, starting nine times and picking up two goal contributions as they made it to the quarter-finals.

Around this point, Neves’ value had skyrocketed, as according to Transfermarkt, he was estimated to be worth £43m, which is more than Matheus Cunha’s value today, for example, £36m.

Nonetheless, in the summer, Wolves parted ways with the Portugal international, as the departing hero was one of the many players to join the Saudi Pro League, becoming an Al Hilal asset in a deal worth £47m.

As you can see, this makes Neves the second most expensive sale from the club of all time, ranking just below Nunes and higher than Jota.

Selling the “superb” ace, as dubbed by journalist Nathan Judah, for such a high fee means that the club profited heavily, even selling the midfielder for 200% more than what they bought him for six years prior.

Not only did this enable Wolves to invest in the squad, but it meant that they could almost entirely fund their move for Cunha with the Neves sale, which has proven to be a masterstroke.

The Brazilian has been absolutely unbelievable in the Premier League this season, scoring 11 goals and providing six assists, and without him in the side, it’s almost guaranteed that Gary O’Neil’s side would be much worse off.

Today, Neves is currently enjoying his time in Saudi Arabia, helping his side to the league title with ten assists in 26 starts, but it’s clear that Wolves – and Nuno – absolutely struck gold by beating the competition to his signature back in 2017.

Wolves may have made a bigger mistake than Vitinha by selling Neto upgrade

Wolves may have endured a mistake by selling a current sensation for peanuts back in 2019…

By
Ross Kilvington

Apr 18, 2024