West Indies allrounder finishes off chase with time to spare despite Danni Gibson heroics for London Spirit
ECB Media01-Aug-2024
Hayley Matthews marshalled the Fire chase•Getty Images
Welsh Fire 151 for 4 (Matthew 78*, Gibson 2-28) beat London Spirit 150 for 5 (Gibson 41, Davies 2-19) by six wicketsWelsh Fire completed their highest-ever chase in the women’s Hundred to inflict a first defeat of this year’s competition on London Spirit at Lord’s. West Indies star Hayley Matthews did the damage with an unbeaten 78 from 46 balls – her highest score in the competition – as the visitors chased down Spirit’s 150 for 5 with five balls to spare.Former Spirit right-armer Freya Davies claimed 2 for 19, including the key wickets of Meg Lanning and Heather Knight, as the home side’s total was built on the back of powerful late hitting from Danni Gibson and Deepti Sharma.Matthews was the difference though striking 11 fours and two sixes in a match-defining innings after she had been dropped on the rope when on 36.Fire lost skipper Tammy Beaumont early, when Tara Norris trapped her lbw on review with her first ball. Gibson’s day then got even better when Sophia Dunkley tickled an edge behind before Norris held a sharp catch at backward point off her bowling to remove Sarah Bryce.With 69 needed from 40 balls the key to the game rested with Matthews, who was finding the boundaries regularly despite wickets at the other end. Eva Gray spilled a tough chance over the rope when Matthews was on 36, prompting some nervous murmurs from the home crowd, before Jess Jonassen slapped Sophie Munro into the stands.Matthews reached her half-century from 37 balls, hitting back-to-back boundaries off England legspinner Sarah Glenn, who arrested some of Fire’s growing momentum when Jonassen miscued to Cordelia Griffith in the deep. But by that stage it was the ‘Matthews Show’ as she crashed Sharma for a straight six, leaving 10 needed off nine, and fittingly won the game with another boundary to secure a second win of the competition for the Welsh side.It was a remarkable chase after Spirit had showcased their batting depth as they chased a third straight win to start the competition. Their improvement has been most significant in an all-star batting line-up with their three totals so far all sitting inside their five highest scores since the Hundred began.Spirit selected former Aussie captain Lanning with pick three in March’s draft and it already looks an astute piece of business as she clubbed 31 from 20 balls before being bowled by Davies.Davies had removed Knight two balls earlier, caught at cover, but Gibson and Sharma then added 67 in 41 balls. Gibson led the way striking six boundaries and a six in her 25-ball 41 to allow India star Sharma, in her first game since arriving from the Asia Cup, to get settled before unleashing her power late. Sharma finished unbeaten on 39 from 26 balls.
Since the summer of 2003, Chelsea have spent a staggering €3.86bn (£3bn) on transfers.
According to Football Transfers, this expenditure is the highest of any club across Europe. It’s no surprise, given Roman Abramovich and Todd Boehly’s penchant for splashing cash.
This money has been used to sign players who have gone on to win major trophies and become established Chelsea icons in the process.
Eden Hazard immediately springs to mind. The Belgian arrived in 2012 and helped the Blues win two Premier League titles and two Europa League crowns.
Eden Hazard
Cesc Fabregas and N’Golo Kanté are two midfielders who enjoyed plenty of success at Stamford Bridge, while defenders such as Ricardo Carvalho, Cesar Azpilicueta and Ashley Cole turned into some of their much-loved signings.
Notice, however, that there is a lack of strikers mentioned. Despite having an almost unlimited amount of cash to spend, the club have very rarely signed a centre-forward who has enjoyed much success in London.
Didier Drogba and Diego Costa are two who come to mind. But, players such as Fernando Torres, Andriy Shevchenko and Álvaro Morata struggled to win over the Stamford Bridge crowd due to their consistent finishing.
Could Liam Delap break the mould? Chelsea’s new number nine looks ready to become Enzo Maresca’s main man next season.
Why Chelsea signed Liam Delap
Following Ipswich Town’s relegation at the end of last term, a clause in Delap’s contract stated that he could move for a fee of just £30m.
“It’s going to be an incredible place for me to develop, and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies.” Said the youngster following his move to London.
Ipswich Town'sLiamDelapreacts
It comes after a campaign where he found the back of the net 12 times in 37 games for the Tractor Boys in the top flight.
While he has an undisputable eye for goal, the Englishman shone across other metrics in the Premier League this season.
Indeed, when compared to his positional peers, Delap ranked in the top 12% for successful take-ons (1.39) per 90, along with ranking in the top 23% for fouls drawn (1.77) and in the top 14% for penalty kicks won per 90 in the top flight last season, showcasing that he’s difficult to deal with for defenders.
Is the manager looking at bringing in another talented youngster this summer, however?
Chelsea’s search for a striker
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike is a player who has been routinely linked with a move to the club over the past few weeks.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It is a deal that Maresca looks keen on getting over the line, but there is another striker whom the Italian might make a move for.
According to Caught Offside, the Blues are now ready to step up their interest in FC Porto forward Samu Aghehowa this summer.
FC Porto's SamuOmorodioncelebrates scoring their first goal
The eagle-eyed Chelsea fans will remember that the club agreed a fee with Atletico Madrid last summer to sign the youngster in 2024, but the move collapsed at the last minute.
Might it be the second time lucky for the Blues this year? Porto are in no rush to sell one of their prized assets, and he has a release clause of €100m (£85m) inserted into his contract.
With Champions League football secured for next season, Maresca has money to spend in a bid to bolster his attacking options.
Signing Aghehowa this summer may break the bank, but in the long term, it would be worth it. Given his form throughout the 2024/25 campaign, the Spaniard would be an even better signing than Delap, that’s for sure.
Why Chelsea should sign Samu
In terms of debut seasons, Samu’s was incredible. Across 42 matches for the Portuguese side, the 21-year-old scored an impressive tally of 25 goals while grabbing three assists.
It may not have been enough to fire the club to a league title, but he has certainly put himself in the shop window with this current form.
Comparing Aghehowa vs Delap (Domestic stats only)
Metric
Aghehowa
Delap
Goals
19
12
Assists
3
2
Shots per game
2.7
1.8
Key passes per game
0.6
0.6
Goal conversion percentage
23%
18%
Scoring frequency
119
218
The Spaniard ended up registering a goal involvement every 1.5 games for Porto last season. Compared to Delap, who recorded a contribution every 2.8 games, it is clear who is the more effective frontman.
When compared to Delap domestically, the Porto striker further establishes his dominance across several key statistics.
Not only did the Spaniard register more goals and assists (22 vs 14) than Delap last season in their respective leagues, but he also recorded more shots per 90 (1.15 vs 1.01), won a higher percentage of aerial duels (52.1% vs 42.6%) per 90 minutes and took more touches in the attacking penalty area (137 vs 92) throughout the whole of last season.
He may cost more than Delap, but given the evidence, the 21-year-old is already better than his English counterpart and could be an ideal long-term solution to this problematic area for Chelsea.
Amid his excellent start to the season with his new club, football talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed the striker, saying: “Samu is maintaining his fantastic form for FC Porto. 20 years of age. Pace, physicality, aerial ability, bravery, shot power… Such a complete profile for a striker of his age. A true monster in the making.”
Lazio's Adam Marusic in action with FC Porto's SamuOmorodion
High praise indeed for the youngster and he has a bright future ahead in the game. A move to the Blues would allow the player to continue his development while playing Champions League football.
If Maresca can move on Nicolas Jackson this summer, having options such as Delap and Aghehowa would certainly constitute an upgrade by the Italian, no doubt about that.
Much will depend on how much the club are willing to spend on another centre-forward, but as mentioned, this area hasn’t exactly been a success for the Blues over the years. Might things change this summer? Only time will tell.
Chelsea eyeing £70m Ekitike alternative who's a bigger talent than Delap
Despite having already signed Liam Delap for £30m, Chelsea are interested in another “superb” striker to bolster Enzo Maresca’s attacking options.
Amid rumours that Rayan Ait-Nouri could be on his way to Manchester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers are now reportedly tracking an “interesting name” who could replace the left-back.
Man City advancing in Ait-Nouri deal
Having already lost Matheus Cunha to Manchester United, Manchester’s other club are now aiming to deal Wolves a second transfer blow. According to Fabrizio Romano, City are now advancing their deal to sign Ait-Nouri from the Midlands club with talks already held and the left-back already approving the summer switch.
Given that they spent a large part of the 2024/25 campaign flirting with relegation before Vitor Pereira’s arrival turned things around, there should be major concern around Molineux that Wolves could suffer their worst nightmare without Cunha and Ait-Nouri.
They must get things right in search of replacements this summer. Losing Cunha was always expected after his £63m release clause came to light, but whether Wolves had the same expectation in Ait-Nouri’s case is the big question.
Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matheus Cunha celebrate for Wolves.
Whether caught by surprise or not, they must commence the difficult task of replacing their influential left-back if he joins Manchester City in this summer’s transfer window.
Starts
37
Assists
7
Key Passes
46
Ball Recoveries
145
If the Algerian’s influence wasn’t clear, then his numbers should highlight just how important he’s been going in both directions for Wolves. Already without Cunha’s goals, Pereira may now have the task of replacing Ait-Nouri’s creativity and could yet turn towards an “interesting name” to do exactly that in the coming months.
Wolves actively tracking Clement Bischoff
According to Molineux News, Wolves chiefs are now actively tracking Clement Bischoff who sources described as an “interesting name” when speaking to the outlet about the Midlands club’s transfer activity.
The Brondby teenager may be one for the future, but his versatile ability to play as both a left-midfielder and a left-back mirrors that of Ait-Nouri’s. That alone should ensure that he’s among the top candidates to replace Wolves’ star defender in the event that he joins Manchester City.
Described as an “excellent” two-way dribbler when one-on-one by analyst Ben Mattinson, Bischoff looks set to be one to watch this summer. For Wolves, a deal to sign the teenager would represent smart business which considers the short-term needs of Pereira’s side as well as the long-term aim that the manager may have in place for his side.
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In terms of replacing Ait-Nouri’s output too, the fact that Bischoff has managed 10 assists in all competitions for Brondby this season suggests that he would be more than capable of replicating the Algerian’s influence.
Chelsea are leading the race for a £67m “monster”, and they are now pushing hard to get a deal over the line, according to reports.
Blues set sights on another striker after Delap
The Blues are looking to make improvements to their squad prior to the Club World Cup later this month, and they now appear to be closing in on an early deal for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, with the signing set to be announced imminently.
However, perhaps given that Delap is still relatively inexperienced, the Blues remain keen on bringing in another striker this summer, and they continue to battle it out for the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.
RB Leipzig centre-forward Benamin Sesko is another name to have regularly been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, and a report from Caught Offside has now revealed that Chelsea are leading the race for the Slovenian, alongside competition from Arsenal.
Leipzig are set to hold out for a fee of €80m (£67m) for Sesko, with the Blues among the frontrunners, having identified the 22-year-old as the perfect fit for BlueCo’s long-term project, given his eye for goal and raw power.
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The Gunners could provide competition for the striker’s signature, however, with Mikel Arteta believed to be a fan, and sporting director Andrea Berta has already held direct talks with the German club over a potential deal.
"Monster" Sesko could be fantastic signing for Chelsea
The deal for Delap may well be edging closer to completion, but it would not be a bad idea to bring in another top striker this summer, and the Blues are now believed to be pushing hard to get a deal for the Leipzig star over the line.
With Enzo Maresca’s side set to return to the Champions League next season, the manager could do with greater strength in depth, and the Slovenia international is held in high regard by scout Ben Mattinson, who described him as a “monster”.
The 6-foot-5 forward also maintained a solid record in front of goal throughout the 2024-25 campaign, regularly finding the back of the net in all the competitions he featured in for Leipzig.
Competition
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Bundesliga
33
13
5
Champions League
8
4
0
DFB-Pokal
4
4
1
As such, Sesko could be a fantastic signing for Chelsea this summer, as they look to build on the 2024-25 campaign and start competing for major trophies once again.
Crystal Palace have now joined the race to sign an “imperious” Premier League defender, who is set to be available on a free transfer this summer, according to a report.
Eagles eyeing defenders amid doubts over Guehi's future
Speculation continues to build over the future of Marc Guehi, who will have just one year remaining on his contract at the end of the season, meaning it will be Palace’s last chance to cash-in on the 24-year-old.
Chelsea are now adamant they will sign Guehi, but they are set to face competition for his signature, with Liverpool holding talks over a potential deal, while Tottenham Hotspur also remain in the race.
Unfortunately, it is now looking increasingly likely the centre-back will leave this summer, which means Oliver Glasner will be tasked with bringing in a replacement, and Celtic’s Cameron Carter-Vickers was named as a potential target last month.
Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis is another option for Glasner’s side, with the England international ready to leave Southampton, given that they are almost certain to be relegated to the Championship at the end of the season.
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A concern for those at Selhurst Park…
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According to a report from The Boot Room, however, Crystal Palace also have their eye on another Premier League player, with it being revealed they are now in the race to sign Manchester United’s Victor Lindelof.
Lindelof’s United contract is set to expire at the end of the season, which means the Swedish defender is set to be available on a free transfer, and a number of Premier League clubs could battle it out for his signature.
Everton, West Ham United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers are also keeping tabs on the 30-year-old, while several clubs from Germany and Italy have made contact with his representatives.
Crystal Palace’s upcoming Premier League fixtures
Date
Brighton & Hove Albion (h)
April 5th
Manchester City (a)
April 12th
Newcastle United (a)
April 16th
AFC Bournemouth (h)
April 19th
Nottingham Forest (h)
May 5th
"Imperious" Lindelof could be solid signing for Palace
The Sweden international has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford, making just eight appearances in the Premier League this season, although his campaign has been marred by a number of injury issues.
However, the centre-back has impressed for the Red Devils in the past, with journalist Dominic Booth previously lauding him as “imperious”, and he recently put in a solid performance in his side’s 3-0 victory against Leicester City, helping his side to a clean sheet.
The former Benfica man has a plethora of experience in the Premier League, having racked up 186 appearances in the competition for Man United, and the opportunity to sign a player of his calibre on a free transfer is an interesting opportunity for Palace.
Of course, any signing Palace bring in will likely struggle to hit the heights of Guehi, but Lindelof’s vast experience in England could make him a solid addition.
Pakistan hardly put on a clinic against Bangladesh, but the universe, it seems, can’t prevent the contest this competition has been destined for
Danyal Rasool26-Sep-20252:24
Aaron: Pakistan found right ‘mixture of calm and emotion’
Shaheen Shah Afridi is apparently a low-value wicket. So low-value, in fact, that Pakistan didn’t even use him with the bat against India last Sunday, which is objectively a high-value match. So low-value that even Bangladesh – impeccable in the field until then – appeared to momentarily forget it was still a wicket worth taking, and put down two fairly straightforward chances Afridi offered up. He had said on Tuesday after Pakistan’s victory over Sri Lanka he was willing to “give his life” for Pakistan, but no one seemed to take him seriously.But there hadn’t been much value from the batters Pakistan do set store by either. Within the first ten balls of the innings, Sahibzada Farhan had sliced Taskin to the backward-point fielder, and Saim Ayub had got his fourth Asia Cup duck after a heady two-game streak of getting off the mark.At this point, Hasan Ali had sprinted up to the middle – not, mercifully, to bat, though with Pakistan sticking and twisting with their order all tournament, you never could be too certain. He gave Fakhar Zaman a drink, and a message, as if Pakistan’s Plan B specifically covered being 5 for 2 inside ten deliveries.Related
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It’s unclear what Hasan said, though it didn’t seem to have helped Fakhar’s game much. He would spent his brief, tortured stay at the crease trying to charge Bangladesh’s quicks, his wild hacks connecting only with the desert air. By the time Rishad Hossain came to bowl after the powerplay, the 35-year-old was like the old family faithful that had fought to the very end, and had earned the right to give up. A weary slog off his 20th ball found long-off; his 100th T20I innings would also be his slowest in games where he had faced at least that many balls. The end of the powerplay had seen 24 dot balls, by that stage the highest for any side all tournament.When the innings’ halfway stage arrived, a bedraggled Pakistan had limped to 46 for 4, half of what they managed against India in their last game at this venue, and for the loss of three further wickets. Four days on from the perfect start to the one game Pakistan want to win most, the worst of Pakistan reared its head in the game they had viewed as a stepping stone to one last crack at beating India.
****
It is said in football that the most dangerous situation is a two-goal lead, even though every side wants to get themselves in that position. That is perhaps because momentum, or the perception of it, feels like it plays an outsized role in a sporting contest, like a tug of war contest where the exact position of each line doesn’t matter so much as the direction of travel.With Pakistan 51 for 5 after 11 overs, Bangladesh are ascendant; that wouldn’t have changed even if Nurul Hasan’s little goose-step to the left had been timed well enough to allow the ball to stick in his hand. But it doesn’t. Three balls later, another primitive smear from Afridi flies up into the Ring of Fire lights. Mahedi Hasan puts it down again. Within a couple of overs, Afridi has connected with two balls that are sent sailing out of Dubai. That two-goal lead doesn’t seem quite as secure anymore.1:49
Wahab: Additional pressure on India in the final
“We’ve won a lot of games in the last few months where we were far from owning the whole 40 overs,” coach Mike Hesson said after the game. “We had to fight back. But what I can say about this team is they are incredibly proud to represent Pakistan. Every single one had belief we could fight our way out of it. That’s what you want in a team representing your country. We’re incredibly proud of the way we fought. We don’t want to be 4 for 33 all the time, I assure you that. But the fact we can win games from that position shows the character in the group.”That belief may also have to do with Pakistan’s addiction to these situations. Hesson would say after the game that Bangladesh had prevented Pakistan from playing the perfect match, but Pakistan’s ultimate yearning has always been for chaotic glory, not structured success. High on their own supply of fateful triumphs past, Pakistan strut their way around the remainder of the innings in a manner that belies the position they are in, or the circuitous route they took to get here. This is merely the latest turn for Pakistan in a tournament that has taken on a sense of inevitable destiny for them.That is a force much too powerful for Bangladesh to resist, who will wistfully look back at the last three quarters of the game, and how they allowed themselves to be background characters in Pakistan’s madcap adventure. Hesson’s tactic of eschewing specialist fast bowling to squeeze every last bit of batting into Pakistan’s side always felt like a tactic in search of a situation, but as Pakistan closed out their innings, you imagined this was the kind of game he kept envisioning: nos. 6-9 score a combined 89 in 60 balls, the final nine overs producing 84, the second-highest in the Super Fours so far.Bangladesh supporters outnumber Pakistan’s by at least three to one, so the noise in the stands is a verdict of Bangladesh’s position in the game. As the scorching heat of Dubai relents, more seats are gobbled up. But the voices seem to go even quieter.3:15
Why do Bangladesh struggle in pressure situations?
The four sixes Bangladesh hit in the powerplay belie the leaden timidity they display for much of it. When the fielding restrictions are lifted, they have already outdone Pakistan’s tournament-high dot-ball count; they have played 25. The required rate is soon climbing, and the moment has overtaken them. While Pakistan can grow into these situations, Bangladesh have historically shrunk from them. It is the perfect cocktail to turn them into fodder for Pakistan’s juggernaut.There is no sense, even in that passage of dominance, that Pakistan are putting on any kind of clinic. Even with victory virtually guaranteed, there are moments of comic Pakistan frenzy. Haris Rauf over-exerts himself in the 18th over, falling to his knees in the delivery stride. He will not get up for six minutes as he receives extended treatment. But when he does, he’ll send the bails flying twice in the next three balls.With Bangladesh down to their last pair, Pakistan let them get uncomfortably close, dropping a catch before conceding 21 in ten balls. It leaves the chase a mathematical possibility right down to the last two deliveries. But the universe, it seems, simply cannot hold back the contest this competition was probably created to deliver as frequently as possible.An India vs Pakistan final may have been divinely ordained, but it needed Pakistan at its flawed, human best to take the tournament to that point. There may have been plenty lost in Pakistan cricket over the years, but as the small pocket of supporters who stayed back to dance to “Dil Dil Pakistan” on a muggy Dubai night reminded you, it is still anything but low-value.
The team lived down to expectations and now face the usual cycle of politicking and recriminations
Andrew Fidel Fernando09-Nov-20232:35
Maharoof: Sri Lanka’s batting has been a massive letdown
At no point in their final league match, against New Zealand in Bengaluru, did Sri Lanka seem like they could win it. At no point across this World Cup campaign have they seemed like serious contenders.It used to be true of Sri Lanka that they would frequently be under-rated ahead of major tournaments. In the years in which Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara formed the core of one of smartest attacks in white-ball cricket, theirs was the team that carved joyous arcs through the competition – Kumar Sangakkara its run-scoring engine room, TM Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene the batters who provided the high notes, Angelo Mathews a force in the lower-middle order.Related
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So much has passed in Sri Lanka cricket since then that those days feel like they were several lifetimes ago. In any case, this team arrived in India with expectations already low; the shellacking they had received at India’s hands in the Asia Cup final having sent what hopes there had been into a nosedive. And yet, they have still found ways to underwhelm, losing to teams they have never lost to in World Cups before, crashing to seven defeats in nine games.Unlike say for England, the reasons for whose unraveling takes a little investigation, Sri Lanka’s woes are more obvious. In no particular order: The top order has been fragile, with only two batters averaging more than 35. They have struggled to get middle-overs wickets, averaging 51.65 between the 11th and 40th overs, while conceding 6.19 runs per over; Maheesh Theekshana’s lack of penetration playing a serious part. They have been thin on death-overs firepower (a long-standing problem made more acute by the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga). They have dropped more catches than almost any other team this tournament, their completed catch percentage down at 70.21% – the worst for any team. They have had a rough time of injuries (but then when does a Sri Lanka team not?)As the men’s team slid to another deflating defeat, the news cycle at home was aflame with every kind of opinion, voiced chiefly by politicians. There were suggestions of pro-India conspiracies, opinions about how this team was being led, players that should be scoring more runs or taking wickets, selectors accused of favouritism.While a parliamentary session abounded with loud and emphatic evidence that Sri Lankan politicians know very little about cricket, there was also a reminder that this does not stop them from intruding on the sport. On Monday the sports minister sacked the entire cricket board and installed an interim committee led by Arjuna Ranatunga, yes, but which also contained two sons of politicians, with no known cricket or administrative experience. One day later, this committee was struck down by the courts, and the old board reinstated.For these kinds of people, Sri Lanka’s on-field losses serve only as opportunities to gain political capital. The same crowd has been jockeying for position for decades, board members forever in the laps of politicians, politicians making hugely publicised “interventions” when they feel the national mood will tolerate it.New ideas? A taking stock of global standards and a sober restructuring of domestic cricket to bridge skills gaps? A long-term strategy to spread the game more meaningfully in a country in which you basically have to live in Colombo to play senior cricket? These are topics frequently ignored in favour of self-serving speeches and comments.A tenth-wicket stand of 43 was Sri Lanka’s best of the innings against New Zealand•Associated PressSome have long said that we are witnessing the slow death of a once-great cricketing nation. The men’s team has not, after all, made a single ICC tournament semi-final since 2014, up to which point they had been a dynamic and steadfast presence in the knockouts.But to begin printing eulogies is also glib, because Sri Lankan cricket is not without signs of periodic regeneration. In this tournament, Dilshan Madushanka has broken out, as has Sadeera Samarawickrama and, to some extent, Pathum Nissanka. Between these three, plus the likes of Kusal Mendis, Hasaranga, Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage, Sri Lanka have the core of a team that could play one more ODI World Cup cycle, maybe two.More broadly, the women’s team has had its best year ever in 2023. An aging Chamari Athapaththu still carries them, but team-mates have begun to support her more readily.But we are in an era in which Sri Lanka fans have begun to subsist on the meagrest positives. A magic ball there, a spectacular innings here, a furious chase two months later. A couple of young players coming through, even though the team is failing. It’s not just the men’s team that is failing to match the excellence it once embodied; everyone’s standards have fallen.What it is that Sri Lankan cricket needs has been detailed on these pages on many occasions, the first and most important of which is a complete restructuring of domestic cricket, and far greater investment into the domestic game.What Sri Lanka is getting instead is a parliament that has lost the faith of its public (as polls have said outright and last year’s mass protests strongly suggested) quarreling over the running of SLC, which is an institution that inspires even less faith. Who will emerge in charge of SLC over the next few weeks remains to be seen. Right now, it is all a whirl.But the country’s cricket has been through enough cycles of this now, and it is difficult to be hopeful about meaningful change. The men’s team has just wrapped up its worst World Cup campaign of Sri Lanka’s professional era. But then they were never expected to make the semis anyway.
Struggles in seaming conditions in 2021 pay dividends as England let the moment slip
Andrew Miller14-Jan-2022Rumour has it that in the 2021 County Championship season, Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head were among the Australia overseas pros in a WhatsApp group named “Stevo’s gonna get ya”. The group was named in honour of Darren Stevens, the Grand Old Man of Kent, and sure enough, he frequently did, his ageless wobblers giving both men grief en route to a haul of 39 wickets at 18.58 at the age of 45.Twice in the space of a month, Labuschagne fell to Stevens in identical fashion: lbw for 11 on a Cardiff greentop in April on the eve of his birthday to boot, and lbw for 11 in a rain-wrecked rematch in Canterbury in May. In between whiles, Head was bowled for 20 in their solitary match-up in Hove.Ollie Robinson played in that latter game too, reeling off the impressive figures of 18-4-29-3 as Kent were rolled over for 145 in the first innings; so too Zak Crawley, whose criticism of county pitches made headlines on the eve of this Test. Whatever the vagaries on display in Sussex that week, he transcended most of them in making 85 from 144 in Kent’s second innings.And so too, in an extraordinary second-hour onslaught in Hobart did Labuschagne and Head, as they ripped the initiative back from a rampant England team in Ashes conditions that might have been spirited directly from the sort of Division Two tussle that is getting such a bad rap at present.For the first hour of this contest, delayed by a band of cold, polar-originating rain that might as well have been hovering over Old Trafford in 1997 or Trent Bridge in 2015, it was as if the 2023 Ashes had arrived a Test too soon. It could not have been further removed from the sort of sun-baked moonscape that England have invariably been routed on in Perth, the original venue for this contest. This surface was actually under water two weeks ago – New Road, eat your heart out.Shane Warne has barely let up about Robinson’s lack of pace throughout this series, but when the ball is offering up 1.2 degrees of seam movement – almost twice as much as on any other surface all summer – good areas are really all that matters, as Stevo’s latest contract extension will amply attest.And so it proved, as Robinson chugged to the crease with that cloud-snagging delivery point, dropping the ball on a perfectly full length – closing his eyes and whanging it down, as Matthew Hoggard used to say of his most productive spells, when the ball is on a string and the methods that you have honed over so many seasons are just surging to the surface.Travis Head helped Australia claim a share of the morning honours•Getty ImagesAt the other end, battle was rejoined between Stuart Broad and David Warner – the version of the battle that Broad had won so unequivocally with seven dismissals in the 2019 series, and which England had chosen not to rejoin at the outset of the series at the Gabba.The what-ifs abounded as Warner was pinned down for the longest duck of his career – tormented as ever by Broad’s around-the-wicket line but finally snagging Robinson’s angle across his bows to depart for his fifth Ashes zero, his first on home soil. Steven Smith then managed just two balls before snapping his trapdoor down late on an off-stump lifter, as inexorable as Mike Atherton succumbing once again to Glenn McGrath’s half-a-bat’s-width of movement.And in between whiles, Robinson should have made it three ducks for Australia’s three kingpins, only for Crawley’s spill at slip to add to Labuschagne’s burgeoning tally of reprieves in this series.And just like that, it was as if Labuschagne and Head had chosen to own all those indignities in English conditions, and throw them straight back at their suddenly emboldened opponents. Labuschagne in particular played an extraordinary innings – and though it ended in extraordinary fashion, bowled around the legs and floored in the same movement by a Broad straight ball – the punches he threw in his 53-ball stay were critical and initiative-seizing.In particular, he climbed into the man who has caused him more bother than anyone else in his Test career. “I’m ready for you, Woody,” Labuschagne was heard to say through the stump mic, as Mark Wood entered the attack for the final over before drinks.In terms of match-ups, Wood was the right man for the moment, having claimed Labuschagne’s wicket three times in as many innings of late; but in terms of the conditions, his skiddy pace slipped all too greasily off the deck and into the middle of an eagerly flung bat. Labuschagne greeted Wood with a sublime fifth-ball flick off the pads, then he and Head combined with a brace of boundaries to take 11 runs from his second over, and suddenly the mood had changed.A penny for James Anderson’s thoughts as he sat in the dressing room, filling out the crossword. He has spent 15 years traipsing around Australia, burgling his wickets through discipline, hard toil and an ability to seize on even the most fractional assistance on a litany of soul-sapping decks.Now he was sitting out of a contest that could not have been more tailor-made for his methods. You might have assumed Chris Woakes would be a handy understudy – his haul of 94 wickets in 25 home Tests has come at a better average of 22.63 than even Broad and Anderson. But Woakes’ first ball was a nervy half-volley, duly slammed away, as if his toothless displays at the sharp end of the series had drained him of any residual belief.And so Australia recovered from 12 for 3 after ten overs to 85 for 4 after 24 – hardly a position of authority by the standards of the series already gone, but more than just a toe-hold in the sort of circumstances that England, with their experience of such bowler-friendly combat, really should have had the weapons to boss from first ball to last.And the fact that Labuschagne and Head were able to claim a share of the morning honours suggests that that WhatsApp group may have had more value than mere banter exchange.
Com cinco gols nos últimos seis jogos do Corinthians, Yuri Alberto superou cobranças da torcida e um atrito com Mano Menezes e, através da terapia, retomou a boa fase no clube. Um dos primeiros atos de Augusto Melo na presidência do Timão foi contratar Anahy Couto, psicóloga que estava no São Paulo.
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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte
Yuri Alberto explicou que o acompanhamento psicológico começou na semana anterior ao duelo contra o São Bernardo, no qual Mano Menezes chamou o centroavante de “burro” durante a partida. O camisa 9 trata o episódio como página virada e não guarda mágoas contra o ex-treinador.
– Não, na verdade começou naquela semana e, em seguida veio o jogo. Não julgo ele ali, me explicou ali no momento pelo lance e tal. E tive uma atitude burra, mas ele foi infeliz na fala dele. Nossa relação era muito boa aqui durante os treinos e os jogos. Até no ano passado, quando meu momento não estava tão bom, ele tinha um carinho por mim de querer me ajudar muito. Mas infelizmente as coisas não ocorreram bem nos últimos jogos desse ano – disse o centroavante ao ge.
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➡️Brasileiro Feminino: coloque R$50 no Lance! Betting e leve mais de R$350 se o Fla vencer as Brabas!
Além da terapia, António Oliveira também tem papel fundamental na volta por cima de Yuri Alberto. Ambos trabalharam juntos no Santos, em 2020, e o camisa 9 destacou como o treinador português o ajuda a chegar menos pressionado dentro de campo.
– Estou muito leve, cara, sabe? Querendo não só agradar todo mundo, mas me agradar também. Foco em estar no meu melhor momento, respeitando as decisões que quero tomar dentro de campo e com leveza, sabe? Mas também com a responsabilidade que a camisa 9 do Corinthians tem. O António tem passado muita confiança também, e isso me ajuda bastante. Hoje eu brinco: “António, eu mato e morro por você” – disse.
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➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários da Sul-Americana
Yuri Alberto deve ser titular na partida contra o Racing (URU), pela primeira rodada da fase de grupos da Copa Sul-Americana, no dia 2 de abril.
RB Leipzig chief Oliver Mintzlaff has admitted that Timo Werner is "not an easy person" to manage, revealing that all of his previous coaches have struggled with the striker. However, he defended the forward's character amid his current exile under new manager Ole Werner, while the former Chelsea man reportedly eyes a move to MLS to join Inter Miami.
Mintzlaff offers blunt assessment
Werner finds himself completely frozen out of the first-team picture this season. The striker, who remains the club's all-time leading goalscorer, has failed to secure any significant minutes in the current campaign, leading to intense speculation regarding his future. Amidst this backdrop, Oliver Mintzlaff, the CEO of Corporate Projects and Investments at Red Bull, has offered a candid insight into the player's personality and his standing within the club.
Speaking to the , Mintzlaff addressed the awkward situation surrounding the 29-year-old. While expressing sympathy for Werner's lack of game time, the club chief conceded that the forward requires a specific type of management that can be taxing for the coaching staff. He admitted that even the managers who extracted the best football from Werner found him difficult to handle at times.
"I have a special, close, and good relationship with Timo Werner. Therefore, I'm probably not entirely objective," Mintzlaff stated. "I would have thought there might have been a way to give him a few minutes, especially since he had a decent preseason. But that's the coach's decision, that's what performance decides.
"Timo Werner is certainly not an easy person, undoubtedly not an easy character, but an extremely fine guy to whom we owe a great deal. Every coach has had his problems with Timo Werner, whether Ralf Rangnick or Julian Nagelsmann, but they've all played him."
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Struggles under Ole Werner
While Rangnick and Nagelsmann navigated the complexities of Timo Werner's character to unlock his prolific goal-scoring ability, current head coach Ole Werner has seemingly decided that the output no longer justifies the effort. Since taking charge in the summer, the new manager has been ruthless in his team selection, leaving the club legend watching from the sidelines.
The 2025-26 campaign has been particularly brutal for the former Chelsea forward. Despite being fit and available, he has played just one minute of competitive football this term, watching on as Leipzig compete in the Bundesliga and the Champions League. The "decent preseason" alluded to by Mintzlaff has not translated into competitive opportunities, signalling a complete breakdown in trust between the player and the current technical staff. It is a far cry from his first spell at the club, where his electric pace and finishing made him one of the most feared attackers in European football.
Failed MLS move and the Messi dream
Werner's isolation has inevitably led to him seeking an exit route, a process that began in earnest during the summer transfer window. It has been reported that the striker is keen to leave European football behind for a fresh start in the United States. However, a potential move to Major League Soccer (MLS) collapsed in the summer, leaving him in limbo in Saxony.
According to recent reports, Werner turned down a concrete approach from the New York Red Bulls. The rejection was reportedly due to the salary on offer, with the German on a healthy package in Leipzig. Instead, the striker has set his sights on a glamorous switch to Inter Miami.
Werner is reportedly enamoured with the idea of partnering Lionel Messi in Florida. The prospect of linking up with the Argentine legend and fellow former Barcelona star Luis Suarez appeals to Werner as the ideal environment to rediscover his love for the game. However, facilitating such a move is complex given the MLS salary cap regulations and Inter Miami's star-studded roster.
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What next for the Leipzig legend?
For now, Werner remains an RB Leipzig player, albeit in name only on matchdays. His contract runs until the summer of 2026, presenting a financial headache for the Bundesliga club who are paying significant wages to a player who is not contributing on the pitch. Mintzlaff's comments highlight the respect the hierarchy still holds for Werner's past achievements, but they also underscore the reality that his time at the top level with Leipzig appears to be over.
With the January transfer window approaching, all parties will be eager to find a resolution. Whether Inter Miami can make the finances work, or if Werner will have to lower his sights to another MLS franchise or a different European club, remains to be seen. Until then, the "not easy character" must continue to train, waiting for an opportunity that Ole Werner seems unwilling to grant.