Tag Futebol

The exploits of the eight Indian players at the Women’s Big Bash League this week

Annesha Ghosh29-Oct-20211:39

Sophie Molineux: ‘To have Harmanpreet Kaur standing at mid-off is pretty handy’

Jemimah Rodrigues
A new week brought two new opening partners and a maiden WBBL fifty for Melbourne Renegades opener Rodrigues, who smashed a scintillating 75 not out, the third-highest score of the season, to sink Sydney Thunder. Having made 33, 14, and 13 in her three previous appearances, Rodrigues reached her half-century in 37 balls, adding 84 for the opening stand with Josephine Dooley. Shuffling across her crease, sweeping with ease, and often making room to free her arms, Rodrigues struck nine fours in her 56-ball knock, propelling Renegades to a winning total of 142 in a fixture that saw four Indians locked in a battle of one-upmanship.Related

• Indians at the WBBL: Shafali Verma blows hot and cold, and Poonam Yadav rediscovers her mojo

Harmanpreet Kaur
A batter historically susceptible to lbw owing to the iffy nature of her front-foot defense, Renegades’ in-form No. 4, Harmanpreet, was trapped in front in a copybook dismissal, having added just three in a 14-run stand with Rodrigues against Thunder. Failure with the bat, however, didn’t deter the allrounder from making an impact on the game, for she knocked the wind out of Thunder’s innings by bowling set batter Smriti Mandhana in a critical phase of their chase and also helped effect the run-out of the middle-order batter Anika Learoyd.That Renegades had won their previous game was also down to Harmanpreet’s all-round brilliance. Her 4-0-17-2 against Sydney Sixers included the wickets of Ashleigh Gardner and Alyssa Healy. She was involved in the dismissal of Shafali Verma as well. And when it was her turn to bat, she capitalised on a lifeline received when she was 20 and pummeled back-to-back sixes in the 17th over to seal Renegades’ 119 chase.Player of the Match Harmanpreet Kaur has a light moment with her India team-mates Radha Yadav (L) and Jemimah Rodrigues (R)•Sarah Reed/Getty ImagesSmriti Mandhana
Three single-digit scores preceded a maiden half-century in Thunder colours for Mandhana even as the defending champions remained winless after five matches this season. Early dismissals to pace meant the opener had to depart for 9 and 3 in chases against Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Stars, before a change of personal fortunes came about, in Thunder’s quest of 143 against Renegades. Though her 44-ball 64 featured an array of trademark lofted shots and a deceptively effortless assortment of pulls, it wasn’t quite enough as her team fell short by nine runs.Deepti SharmaThunder shunted Deepti between Nos. 5 and 8, and she responded with a run-a-ball 20 against Scorchers, 44 not-out off 48 against Stars (a personal best at WBBL), and an unbeaten 10-ball 23 against Renegades. In all three innings, Deepti was either the side’s top-scorer or second most successful batter, but in the absence of sustained support at the other end, her efforts often went in vain. With the ball, the offspin-bowling allrounder picked up two wickets in her three outings this week.Richa Ghosh top-scored for Hobart Hurricanes•Getty ImagesRicha GhoshSlotted below her designated position throughout the opening week, Hurricanes batter Ghosh made 4 and 24 not out at No. 5 and 22 at No. 6. The highest of those scores came in a chase of 145 against Stars. Four fours, including the match-sealing one, underpinned her 16-ball innings. With 119 runs in six innings at an average of 23.80, she holds the eighth position on the highest run-scorers list, three places below Rodrigues.Ghosh also had her first brush with the gloves in the WBBL this week, stepping in for the injured Rachel Priest one over into Heat’s chase, and picking up a smart, low catch to dismiss opener Georgia Redmayne.Poonam Yadav
The wristspinner remained wicketless in her two outings this week. In the rain-curtailed 11-overs-a-side contest against Adelaide Strikers, she leaked 19 off just two overs, 13 of which were plundered by Dane van Niekerk alone. Two days later, Poonam, operating in two spells outside the powerplay, kept the leash on the Hurricanes with 11 dots in 3.4 overs that cost only 16. But the final two deliveries of her spell sullied her figures a touch as Ruth Johnston carted her for a six and a four.Radha Yadav
In Sixers’ only completed game of the week, against Renegades, Radha could have forced the opposition into a tough spot even in a chase of 119 if Healy had not botched a stumping. Harmanpreet, the eventual match-winner, was enticed out of her crease by a flighted delivery in the 16th over but the wicketkeeper failed to collect it cleanly. One ball later, Radha took a return catch to dismiss Courtney Webb and finished with 1 for 12 off two overs. She also helped effect the run out of Rodrigues with a throw from the deep.Shafali Verma
Sixers opener Shafali stumbled to a second straight duck in the WBBL as her oscillation between two extremes continued this week. Her scores so far in the tournament: 0, 0, 57 and 8.

Longevity will determine where he sits vis a vis Gilchrist and the rest, but there’s no doubt he’s already in the debate

Sidharth Monga23-Dec-2022Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni’s true successor as wicketkeeper-batter for India, went past a Dhoni record in Mirpur. Dhoni was out five times in the 90s, the most by a wicketkeeper in Tests until Pant went past him on Friday.Some might call it unfortunate, but add his five hundreds, and Pant has now made 11 scores of 90 or more in just 55 Test innings, an astonishing rate of once every five attempts.Related

Pant 93, Iyer 87 help India wrest back control

Pant is already India’s best wicketkeeper-batter by a distance, having scored Test hundreds in England, Australia and South Africa. On form he is the best batter in the current Indian side. By extension, leaving romanticism and the virtues of pure wicketkeeping skills aside, he is already India’s greatest wicketkeeper. And he isn’t a shabby keeper either.But the Pant comparisons can no longer be restricted to just India players.Not before long, Pant will be discussed among the greatest wicketkeepers ever, and will likely surpass them, but it is not too early to try and place him in the pantheon. In terms of sheer runs, Pant is now the 30th-highest run-getter among wicketkeepers with 2262 at an average of 44.35. His longevity will be tested, but among those who have kept long enough to score 2000 runs, Pant’s average is behind only AB de Villiers, Andy Flower and Adam Gilchrist.Pant is not like a lot of other keepers, though. This is not to suggest Gilchrist would have done any less batting higher in the order, but he mostly batted at No. 7 and didn’t perform a specialist batter’s duties. Among keepers who have batted in the top six, Pant is already the ninth-highest run-getter, averaging 49.67 for his 1540 runs there. De Villiers, Dhoni, Flower, Gilchrist and Les Ames average higher than him in these positions, but this is elite company.Pant hardly gets to score declaration runs. He is playing in a bowling era where you hardly get flat pitches outside Pakistan, and the attacks are fitter and deeper than ever before. He is also part of a batting line-up in transition, and has batted alongside veterans going through their worst patches. He often finds himself in crisis situations where there are no tired bowlers to take advantage of. Because he bats in the top six, these aren’t usually nothing-to-lose situations either.People talk lightly about certain batters’ presence. For proper presence, look no further than the field settings when Pant comes out to bat even when India are struggling. At 48 for 3 and 72 for 3 in the two Tests in this series, Pant has walked out with long-on and deep midwicket in place. On both occasions, Taijul Islam had been bowling beautifully, getting the ball to dip, not letting batters go on the back foot, but not letting them play attacking drives either. This had allowed him to be in a position to benefit if the pitch did something.Pant, though, completely changes the game. To be fair, the in-out fields were an attacking ploy for him when he came into the side back in 2018. It worked for a while with Moeen Ali getting him caught in the deep. Now Pant just picks up the singles and manipulates the field in other areas. Once he is on, those fielders cease to matter. His power-hitting has come a long way too: even if he gets too close to the ball, he can impart enough power to hit flat sixes. Among wicketkeepers, only Dhoni and Gilchrist have hit more sixes than Pant.With Pant, you can sometimes get a loose waft if the right kind of seamer angles, seams or swings the ball across him, but that is hardly unusual. Every batter will have some weakness, but batting is all about what you do around that weakness. The fields set for Pant tell you that the pitching zone for what qualifies as a good ball is smaller for him. And when you have to aim at a smaller target, you miss more often. He can cut and drive just as well as he can slog and reverse-ramp James Anderson. Okay that reverse-ramp might not be as high-percentage as the other shots, but you get the drift.Any wicketkeeper will tell you what a physically taxing job it is; how far Pant moves up among the handful of all-time greats will come down to his longevity, but it is sure he is already one of them.

Manchester United and Chelsea are struggling to bridge the gap in their valuations of Alejandro Garnacho as the Blues continue their pursuit.

Chelsea eyeing GarnachoWinger valued at £30 million ($41m) by BluesUnited want closer to £50m ($68m)Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Per , United and Chelsea remain locked in talks over a deal for Garnacho, but there is a significant gap in the two clubs' valuations of the player. Chelsea would like to pay £30 million ($41m)  for the Argentina international, but United want closer to £50m ($68m). Bayer Leverkusen made a bid worth around £30m in January, which was rejected.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Garnacho is reportedly keen on the move and has asked United to sell him to the Blues. Chelsea have been in talks with United for some time, and the Red Devils' valuation has already dropped from £70m ($95m), suggesting there may be even more leeway in talks. 

DID YOU KNOW?

Garnacho, who was recently spotted with a vape in his hand, has reportedly passed the Blues' background checks, with any concerns over his temperament and discipline brushed aside by the west London giants.

AFPWHAT NEXT?

Chelsea face Crystal Palace on Sunday in their opening game of the Premier League season, while United play Arsenal. Exiled Garnacho won't be involved in the latter.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is a real fan of one Aston Villa star, and the Lilywhites are reportedly prepared to offer him something key which could well tempt him to north London.

Real Madrid "now expected" to make concrete move for £165k-a-week Tottenham star

Xabi Alonso’s side are big fans of the player.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 3, 2025

Spurs are poised to make J League sensation Kota Takai their second summer signing after a permanent deal for Mathys Tel, with the 20-year-old expected to undergo his medical at the club next week (Luca Bendoni, Sky Italia).

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

The centre-back was identified by technical director Johan Lange, and there is hope within Tottenham that Takai could eventually replicate the journeys of Lucas Bergvall, Destiny Udogie and Pape Sarr as promising young players who are now crucial to the first team (Alasdair Gold).

Tottenham will pay a record fee for a Japanese player from the J League, around £5 million, but supporters will be hopeful that they could sign a few more senior players as well.

Frank’s side will be competing in the Champions League next season, and they’re in dire need of proven reinforcements to bolster their Premier League squad ahead of another congested fixture calendar.

Tottenham are known to be in talks for West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus, as reported by trusted transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano and other reliable media outlets, with the Ghanaian also apparently keen on a switch to N17.

However, Kudus is not the only Premier League ace garnering their attention.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank wants Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey

Speaking to Football Insider, former Spurs scout and Daniel Levy employee, Mick Brown, has shared information on their interest in £40 million Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey.

Spurs have been linked with a move for the Englishman in the last few days, but Brown says Frank is a personal admirer of Ramsey, and Tottenham are prepared to offer him more top-flight minutes, which could turn his head.

“Jacob Ramsey has to make a decision,” said Brown.

“In his own mind, he’ll weigh up whether he thinks he’s going to be a regular in the Villa team. If that’s not the case, he has to ask the same question about whether he would be at Tottenham.

“From what I hear, Spurs would be prepared to offer him more minutes from the start of games than he is currently getting at Villa. If that is the case, I’m sure he would be happy to make that move.

“He’s had doubts about whether he’s going to be a regular starting XI player at Villa, or if he’s going to be better served moving somewhere else. So a move to Tottenham would be a fresh start and a new environment for him. There have been a few questions about what his future at Villa might look like, because the manager isn’t certain he’s going to be a big part of the plans.

“That opens the door for Spurs, because Thomas Frank rates him, and he’s one they’ve been interested in for a while.”

The versatile 24-year-old has made 167 senior appearances for Villa already, and possesses that unique blend of both youth and experience. Taking this into account, Ramsey could be an excellent option to reinforce Frank’s midfield whilst providing first-teamers with more competition for places.

Strength in depth will be vital for Frank next season, so this is a move which could tick a few boxes.

دافع تييري هنري، أسطورة نادي آرسنال والكرة الفرنسية، عن نجم ليفربول، محمد صلاح، وذلك على هامش الانتقادات التي يتعرض لها الدولي المصري خلال الفترة الأخيرة من هذا الموسم.

وانهالت الانتقادات على محمد صلاح هذا الموسم، وذلك في ظل عدم تمكن الدولي المصري من تقديم المستوى المطلوب مع ليفربول وتراجع مردوده بالفعل.

ولم يستطع محمد صلاح سوى تسجيل هدفين فقط في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز خلال 8 مشاركات مع ليفربول هذا الموسم.

ويرى هنري في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “ديلي ميرور”، أنه من الصعب أن يكون اللاعب نجم الفريق، موضحًا أن محمد صلاح يتحمل انتقادات زائدة عن الحد بالنسبة له.

طالع .. كوكي عن إلغاء مباراة برشلونة وفياريال في أمريكا: طالبنا بالشفافية فقط

وقال هنري: “ليس من السهل دائمًا أن تكون اللاعب الرئيسي ونجم الفريق، لأنه من الواضح كما ترون عندما لا يسجل محمد صلاح، يخسر ليفربول أيضًا، لكن بعض اللاعبين قد يظهرون أحيانًا بشكل جيد وليس بالضرورة أن يكون صلاح دائمًا في الصورة”.

واختتم هنري في حديثه عن محمد صلاح: “لم يكن دائمًا يسجل، ولكن في أغلب الأحيان يسجل ثم يفوز ليفربول، انظر إلى النتائج، لقد سدد محمد صلاح في القائم ثلاث مرات هذا الأسبوع، كان من الممكن أن يكون الأمر أفضل بالنسبة له، إن الأمر بالتأكيد ليس سهلًا عليه ولا على الفريق”.

ليفربول يستعد اليوم الأربعاء لخوض مباراة مرتقبة أمام أينتراخت فرانكفورت، وذلك لحساب منافسات الجولة الثالثة من مرحلة الدوري في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويسعى ليفربول لتحقيق الفوز على فرانكفورت ومصالحة جماهيره، بعدما خسر الفريق في أربع مباريات متتالية بكافة المسابقات، وهو أمر لم يحدث منذ عام 2014.

da bet nacional： Oliver Glasner is now pushing Crystal Palace to sign a “warrior” centre-back as a possible replacement for Marc Guehi, according to a recent report.

Crystal Palace’s transfer plans beginning to take shape

da apostaganha： The Eagles still remain in the dark about whether or not they will be able to play in the Europa League next season. Due to issues around multi-club ownership, UEFA may make the decision to remove Palace from the Europa League, which would be a huge blow not only on the pitch but in the boardoom, limiting what business takes place this summer.

Related Crystal Palace now keen to hijack 21 y/o gem who's the 'next Upamecano'

The Eagles could get one over on their rivals.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Jun 7, 2025

But while Palace wait to find out the verdict, club chiefs are continuing to work hard behind the scenes to identify players who they think will help them compete both in the Premier League and Europe. Indeed, it came to light over the weekend that Palace have made an ambitious approach to sign Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP.

The South Londoners have made an enquiry to get an understanding of a potential deal, with the Portuguese club said to be looking to get around £40 million.

As well as looking at Diomande, Palace are also lining up ways of strengthening their midfield, and it’s been claimed that Kalvin Phillips is now a genuine target for the Eagles. Phillips is looking to leave Manchester City this summer, but his wages may be a stumbling block.

Glasner wants Crystal Palace to sign Pavlovic

The Eagles are not keeping their defensive options just down to Diomande, as according to The Sun, Crystal Palace are also looking at signing Strahinja Pavlovic from AC Milan.

The report states that Glasner is a big fan of the defender, and the boss believes Pavlovic would be an ideal arrival for European football next season.

It is claimed that Milan value the centre-back around the £40 million mark, but were Palace to make a move this summer, they would look to start the bidding on the cheap, at around £25 million.

Not only could Pavlovic’s arrival at Selhurst Park be seen as adding more competition, but he could also be seen as a player who could replace Guehi. The England defender has been linked with a move away for the last 12 months, and commenting on Palace’s own links to Diomande, reports in Lisbon believe Newcastle are now close to signing Guehi.

Strahinja Pavlovic’s 24/25 Serie A stats

Apps

24

Starts

21

Goals

2

Assists

1

Touches

67.8

Passing accuracy per game

50.0 (89%)

Clean sheets

7

Interceptions per game

0.7

Tackles per game

2.2

Balls recovered per game

2.8

Dribbled past per game

0.9

Clearances per game

3.3

Palace value Guehi at least the £50 million mark, so his departure would likely pay for the arrival of Diomande or Pavlovic, who has been dubbed a “warrior” by scout Jacek Kulig, standing at 6 foot 4. The Serbia international has played 19 times in the Champions League and 10 times in the Europa League in his career, so he would be bringing European experience with him should he move to Selhurst Park.

While Arsenal have plenty of talented players in their squad, there is one star who most fans would now class as their best: Bukayo Saka.

The Hale End icon has become a lean, mean output machine in recent seasons, as even though he missed over three months of action this year, he ended the campaign with a sensational haul of 12 goals and 14 assists in 37 games.

Unfortunately, Mikel Arteta’s options for off the left have not been nearly as effective, with Gabriel Martinelli chalking up 16 goal involvements in 51 games and Leandro Trossard doing marginally better with 20 in 56 games.

So, with that in mind, it’s hardly been a surprise to see the club linked with a host of brilliant left-wingers in recent weeks, with one of the most notable links being to Rodrygo – although recent reports have now touted a player compared to the Brazilian and Saka for a move to Arsenal this summer.

Arsenal transfer news

As mentioned, the last few weeks and months have seen Arsenal linked with many talented left-wing options, from the versatile Xavi Simons at RB Leipzig to the soon-to-be free agent of Leroy Sané.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Yet, one of the names that has caused the most excitement among the fans, and understandably so, has been Rodrygo.

The 24-year-old has won all there is to win in the club game with Real Madrid, and according to most reports from the last month or so, could be available for around £85m unless something changes with new boss Xabi Alonso.

However, with the required fee being so high, it’s unsurprising to see the club continue to be linked with other options, and now someone who has been compared to Saka and the Brazilian has reentered the frame in a big way.

According to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal have retained their intense interest in Nico Williams.

In fact, the report has now revealed that the Gunners are ‘very close to signing’ the Athletic Bilbao star, despite the La Liga side’s desire to keep him for another season.

The report has revealed that for the North Londoners to get their man, whom Arteta has made ‘a priority,’ they’ll have to pay his release clause, which, according to stories from earlier this week, stands at about £50m.

While it would be a lot of money to spend on a 22-year-old, it would be more than worth it thanks to his ability and the comparisons to Saka and Rodrygo.

How Williams compares to Saka & Rodrygo

So before addressing the other reasons why Arsenal might want to sign Williams this summer, it’s important to examine these comparisons to Saka and Rodrygo and where they come from.

In both cases, they stem from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, and then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each.

In this instance, it was concluded that the Brazilian was the most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Spaniard across the last 365 days, while the Englishman was the tenth most similar.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.35

0.32

Non-Penalty G+As

0.45

0.51

Progressive Carries

5.32

5.28

Shots

2.43

2.52

Shots on Target

0.86

0.93

Expected Assists

0.19

0.20

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.31

1.21

Shot-Creating Actions

5.05

4.95

Blocks

0.90

0.84

The best way to understand how these conclusions were reached is by looking at the underlying numbers in which the players rank closely, which, in the case of the Real Madrid star, include metrics like non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive carries, shots and shots on target, passes into the penalty area and more, all per 90.

For the Gunners’ gem, the metrics in which he’s incredibly similar to the Bilbao star include things like tackles won, clearances, carries into the penalty area and non-penalty goals per 90, suggesting he can do some of the defensive work the Englishman so often carries out for the Gunners.

Non-Penalty Goals

0.23

0.26

Tackles Won

0.81

0.78

Clearances

0.41

0.42

Carries

31.4

32.7

Carries into the Penalty Area

2.61

2.66

Aerial Duels Won

0.50

0.52

On top of these flattering and incredibly encouraging comparisons to two of the best wingers around, Arteta and Co should also be going all out to sign the 22-year-old “level-raiser,” as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, because he’s a reliable source of goals and assists.

For example, since the start of last season, the Pamplona-born dynamo has scored 19 goals and provided 25 assists in 82 appearances, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.86 games.

Ultimately, while some fans may prefer the bigger name in Rodrygo, it looks like Arsenal are on track to sign one of the most exciting wingers in the game in Williams, and given his age, there is plenty of scope for him to get even better.

Their answer to Cherki: Arsenal close in on first summer signing for £38m

The incredible prospect could be sensational at Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 5, 2025

Ian Bell, who last played for England in 2015, proved to be a surprise pick, while Shahid Afridi found a new home and Brendon McCullum was overlooked

Umar Farooq20-Nov-2018If Pakistan’s fourth-innings implosion against New Zealand on Monday was a poor warm-up, the Pakistan Super League 2019 draft lost much of its sheen to the PCB’s case against the BCCI being dismissed by the ICC dispute panel on Tuesday. However, the semblance of attention the draft received, as the glittery ceremony unfolded in Islamabad, came via its most celebrated pick – AB de Villiers – going to Lahore Qalandars, followed by the ‘Sixth Team’, formerly Multan, snapping up the banned Australia batsman Steven Smith.Aside from de Villiers and Smith, the focus was on veterans Shahid Afridi and Misbah-ul-Haq, as both had been released by their former franchises, making it tough for both players to remain relevant. Although Afridi’s chances of recruitment had been slim in the lead-up to the draft, the Sixth Team bought him in the Platinum category – the highest-paid bracket. Misbah reneged on his agreement with Islamabad United as a mentor to make himself available to be picked up Peshawar Zalmi in the Diamond category.The 36-year-old Ian Bell, who last played for England in 2015, proved to be the most surprising pick, by Islamabad United. A prolific season in county cricket was perhaps one of the factors that clinched the deal for Bell. Although thin on T20 experience in England colours, Bell flourished in the format in the last three years, amassing 1551 runs in 50 matches, at an average of 37.83 and a strike rate of 131. He has also played in the Big Bash with Perth Scorchers. ESPNcricinfo understands that Bell was seen as a like-for-like replacement for JP Duminy, given his ability to accumulate runs in a largely risk-free manner, in a team otherwise replete with power-hitters.Until last night, Lahore Qalandars were faced with a difficult choice between de Villiers and Smith – both red-hot picks of the season. They went with de Villiers, but later in the opening Platinum round, also picked Mohammad Hafeez, who was released by Peshawar Zalmi. They have retained spinner Yasir Shah, who was also part of the side through the last three seasons. They bolstered their legspin contingent with the addition of Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane, in the Gold category.The biggest omission from the top five categories was Pakistan batsman Ahmed Shehzad, who is currently serving his doping ban but is set to return to action later this month. He was classified in the Gold category but was overlooked by all teams, before being relegated to the Silver category, where, too, his fate remain unchanged. However, Quetta Gladiators, who released him for the third season, picked him in the supplement category among four extra players.Abdul Razzaq and Imran Nazir, both on a quest to revive their careers, entered the draft but remain unpicked, as were Umar Gul and Salman Butt. The major miss, however, was former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum. Among the younger lot, 20-year-old Ibtisam Sheikh, a legspinner who was originally released by Pesawar Zalmi, made it back to their squad.

Also: Has anyone lost more Tests at an overseas venue than Tendulkar has at the MCG?

Steven Lynch21-Jan-2020Marnus Labuschagne did not bat, bowl or take a catch in his first one-day international – yet Australia won it by ten wickets. Has anyone else managed this feat? asked Andrew Balding from Australia
I was quite surprised to discover that Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne, against India in Mumbai last week, became the 37th player to finish on the winning side in his first one-day international without batting, bowling or taking a catch. The list is headed by none other than Viv Richards, who had a quiet time for West Indies against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford during the first World Cup in 1975. The list also includes Jeremy Coney, Mark Waugh, Jonty Rhodes, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Mushfiqur Rahim.Only one of the other 36 instances, though, ended in a ten-wicket win (Richards’ was by nine, as were four of the others). By a remarkable coincidence, the man concerned in that one – South Africa’s Martin van Jaarsveld – was, like Labuschagne, born in Klerksdorp, about 100 miles from Johannesburg. In van Jaarsveld’s first ODI, in Benoni in 2002-03, South Africa beat Bangladesh by ten wickets. He did, however, effect a run-out in Bangladesh’s innings.For the full list of the players who finished on the winning side in their first ODI without batting, bowling or taking a catch, click here.Mark Wood hit five sixes in the third Test, but scored only 12 other runs. Was this the lowest Test score to include five sixes? asked William Green from England
Rather surprisingly perhaps, Mark Wood’s 42 for England in Port Elizabeth last week comes in only third on this particular list. The record was set just two months ago, also against South Africa: Umesh Yadav clouted five sixes in Ranchi, but was out for 31 (from just ten balls). Two months before that, Kemar Roach belted five sixes in a defiant 38 for West Indies against India in Antigua.Umesh Yadav smashed five sixes in his 10-ball 31 against South Africa in Ranchi last year•BCCIThe recent ODI at Rajkot featured nearly 650 runs but no individual hundreds – was this a record? And what would be the equivalent record without a half-century? asked V Siddhesh from India
The match aggregate of 644 runs in last week’s one-day international in Rajkot, in which Shikhar Dhawan and Steve Smith both fell just short of centuries, stands fourth on this particular list. Top is the 656 runs in the match between South Africa (326 for 3) and Australia (330 for 7) in Port Elizabeth in 2001-02, when the highest individual score was Ricky Ponting’s 92 (Darren Lehmann made 91).The others to shade the Rajkot game were India (329 for 7) v England (320 for 8) in Bristol in 2007 (649 runs, including 99 by Sachin Tendulkar), and England (351 for 9) v Pakistan (297) at Headingley in 2019 (648; Sarfraz Ahmed 97). In all, there have now been 23 ODIs that featured 600 or more runs but no individual centuries.The most runs in an ODI without a half-century is 468, by England (243) and West Indies (225) in Chennai during the 2011 World Cup, when the highest individual score was 49 by Andre Russell.Sachin Tendulkar lost five Test matches at the MCG. Is this the highest number of defeats for a player at one venue overseas? asked Nirad from India
Sachin Tendulkar is one of 11 players who have had the misfortune to lose five Tests at a single overseas venue. The England pair of Jack Hobbs and Tom Hayward also lost five in Melbourne, while Willie Bates, Johnny Briggs, Wilfred Rhodes, Herbert Strudwick and Frank Woolley (all England) lost five in Sydney, as did South Africa’s Jacques Kallis, whose tally includes the Super Series Test for the World XI at the SCG in 2005. Two early Australians, Jack Blackham and Syd Gregory, finished on the losing side five times at The Oval.But the great Surrey and England opener Jack Hobbs leads the way here, as he lost six Tests in Sydney – in 1907-08 and 1911-12, and twice each in 1920-21 and 1924-25. Hobbs did, however, finish on the winning side five times in Melbourne – a record matched for overseas Tests only by Johnny Briggs, with five wins for England in Sydney. It should be pointed out that Ashes tours down under until the late 1920s usually included two matches in both Sydney and Melbourne.Following on from last week’s question about the most balls faced by a batsman in a T20 match, what’s the record for a one-day international? Has anyone faced more than Rohit Sharma’s 173? asked Ninad Parab from Canada
Rohit Sharma faced 173 balls in making his ODI-record 264 for India against Sri Lanka in Kolkata in November 2014. That was the longest innings in a 50-over ODI, beating the previous record by one – Ashish Bagai made 137 not out from 172 balls for Canada against Scotland in Nairobi in 2006-07.However, there were four longer innings (and another of 173 balls) in the days when an ODI innings lasted 60 overs rather than 50. On the opening day of the inaugural World Cup, in 1975, Glenn Turner batted for 201 balls in making 171 not out for New Zealand against East Africa at Edgbaston. Turner also lies second on this list, with 114 not out from 177 balls a week later, against India at Old Trafford. For the full list, click here.Use our feedback form or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Third fifty of this campaign sees her side home by six wickets at Lord’s

ECB Reporters Network06-Jun-2024

Paige Scholfield on her way to fifty•Getty Images

South East Stars 118 for 4 (Scholfield 50*, Grewcock 2-18) beat Sunrisers 116 for 8 (Miller 39*, Jones 2-13, Stonehouse 2-17) by six wicketsPaige Scholfield continued her rich vein of form as South East Stars cantered to a six-wicket win over hosts Sunrisers at Lord’s to remain unbeaten in this season’s Charlotte Edwards Cup.The South African-born allrounder – currently only able to bat because of an ongoing niggle – and who had made two half-centuries already in the campaign, made her third in finishing 50 not out, reaching the landmark with the winning hit, her eighth four.In truth, the chase for 117 was not an arduous one, Sunrisers having earlier been restricted to 116 for 8, Emma Jones with 2 for 13 and Alexa Stonehouse with 2 for 17 the principal wicket takers, while teenage starlet Tilly Corteen-Coleman got a wicket with her first ball of the game for the second time in the tournament. Flo Miller produced the only resistance with 39 not out from 45 balls.Sunrisers were soon in trouble. Shortly after steering the first boundary of the innings through third, skipper Grace Scrivens slashed one from Stonehouse straight to point.Corteen-Coleman bowled Alice Macleod and Sunrisers’ leading scorer in the tournament Jo Gardner then spooned Stonehouse to Sophia Dunkley at cover to depart for only 1.Mady Villiers sparkled briefly with two fours and a five from an overthrow in her 14, but when she chipped Jones to Phoebe Franklin at midwicket the hosts were in disarray at 27 for 4.That they mustered any sort of score was largely down to Miller, who played the only of innings of substance, sending a full toss from Franklin to the fence before later pulling a short one from Jones down to the Tavern boundary.Others came and went. Jodi Grewcock contributing to her own downfall with a sloppy piece of running which saw her run out by Corteen-Coleman’s direct hit, while Jones picked up a second wicket with a caught-and-bowled to see the back of Eva Gray.Dunkley (24) was quickly into stride, caressing one through the covers in the opening over of the Stars’ reply before dancing down the pitch to strike the spin of Villiers back over the top.Skipper Smith, scratchy at first, caught the mood, twice depositing short balls from Gray to the midwicket boundary. However, both departed in the same over from Grewcock, Dunkley stumped by Amara Carr as she again ventured down the wicket, while Smith nicked one through to the keeper.Jones, promoted to four, should have departed in the next over, only for two fielders to collide meaning a simple catch at mid-on was grassed. The Cambridge University student of veterinary surgery failed to profit from the life, holing out in the deep soon afterwards.Stars, though, were ahead of the rate and simply needed a steady hand on the tiller and not for the first time in the campaign that proved to be Schofield, who swept and pulled with authority in another sparkling knock. And while Phoebe Franklin departed before the end, Stars sauntered home.