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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is set to be backed over what is expected to be another eventful summer transfer window at Stamford Bridge, especially after their now-confirmed qualification for the Champions League next season.

Chelsea handed summer transfer boost with Champions League spot confirmed

While Maresca refused to get drawn into any questions about the summer window in his post-match press conference, there is little denying that Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday has seriously boosted the club’s recruitment strategy.

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Chelsea’s finish in the Premier League top five, courtesy of a second-half strike from Cobham academy graduate Levi Colwill against Forest, means BlueCo have been handed a significant potential windfall of around £64 million.

Race for Champions League qualification – Final standings

Rank

Team

Points

GD

3

Man City

71

+28

4

Chelsea

69

+21

5

Newcastle

66

+21

6

Aston Villa

66

+7

7

Nottingham Forest

65

+12

The Blues should earn around £48 million just from finishing fourth in the table, while Chelsea are also guaranteed £15.7 million from qualifying for the Champions League, even if Maresca’s side lose every game and go out in the league phase (Sky Sports).

Alongside the financial boost, Chelsea will also have far more player-pull in the market, given they’ll be competing in Europe’s most prestigious competition next term.

In an x-rated celebratory statement, following their Sunday heroics, Maresca sent a message to his critics after Chelsea’s place.

“I didn’t have any doubt about the players. The doubt was from outside. All the ones that have the answers or the ones that have the truth, they were saying that we are too young, we are not good enough, they were waiting for Aston Villa to drop points for us to achieve the Champions League,” said Maresca on Chelsea’s finish to the season.

“They were saying that we were not able to win on this pitch because we are too young, because we are not experienced. Unfortunately for them, they have all been wrong. All the ones that have the truth and have the answer to everything. So in English, how you say? F off to all of them, because the players deserve that. The effort they have been doing is fantastic.”

Chelsea could now sign two strikers with Liam Delap set for imminent decision

According to journalist Simon Phillips, their Champions League status now means that Chelsea could sign not one, but two, strikers this summer.

One of their key targets, Ipswich Town star Liam Delap, is set to decide on his next destination “this week”, and Chelsea are firmly in contention for the Englishman after holding talks with his camp (Fabrizio Romano).

However, Maresca’s side are keen on bringing in one of their two potential new centre-forwards before the Club World Cup, so given Delap’s desire to play at the Under-21 Euros with England, this could pose a slight issue.

In terms of other high-profile number nines who could join alongside Delap, it has been reported in the last two days that Chelsea are now “really pushing” for RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has suggested that he would like to extend his Everton contract, which is due to expire this summer, in comments which pertained to the excitement surrounding David Moyes’ budding project. BBC Sport report that a new deal is in the pipeline.

Injury-prone and inconsistent this season, some will feel the £100k-per-week star should depart, but keeping him on the books would lessen the urgency for a new number nine.

Thus allowing for signings across other areas, signing one new striker instead of two. It means Everton could move for their next Iliman Ndiaye, a player who has been nothing short of a revelation for the Toffees this term.

Iliman Ndiaye will be the key for Moyes

Ndiaye has proved this season that Everton do have the players to become a high-level attacking force while still being rooted in Moyes’ core defensive principles.

Joining from Marseille in a deal worth £15m last summer, the Senegal international has scored nine goals across 34 Everton appearances, a shining light for Dyche and one of the driving forces behind the Moyes-led resurgence, scoring three in a row before being unfortunately injured in February’s Merseyside derby.

He’s quite the player, this 25-year-old left winger, all electric pace and frightening directness, with Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp hailing him for his “dynamite” ability earlier in the campaign.

Matches (starts)

30 (27)

Goals

7

Assists

0

Shots (on target)*

1.1 (0.5)

Big chances missed

3

Pass completion

84%

Key passes*

0.6

Dribbles*

2.1

Tackles + interceptions*

2.2

Duels won*

5.5

It would take some beating to secure a signing capable of topping Ndiaye this summer, but The Friedkin Group are the harbingers of a new era, and they might just have their sights set on a real force.

Everton could seal their best signing since Ndiaye

Earlier this week, Football Insider revealed that Everton will explore the possibility of signing Gustavo Hamer from Sheffield United this summer, though a deal will likely hinge on whether the Blades qualify for the Premier League through the Championship play-offs.

Hamer, who last week was named the Championship’s Player of the Season, joined United from Coventry City in a £15m deal in 2023 and has since made 81 appearances, notching 29 goal contributions, with his technical quality and tireless work rate setting him apart from his positional rivals in England’s second tier.

This season, he’s been a fearsome presence off the left flank of Chris Wilder’s system, with journalist Ryan Dilks even going as far as to call him a “creative genius.”

Shifting beteen the left lane and a more central creative berth for his outfit this season, Hamer ranks among the top 20% of positional peers in the Championship for goal involvements, the top 6% for passes attempted, the top 1% for progressive passes and the top 4% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, underscoring his value as a high-class playmaker.

Given that he demonstrated his ability to thrive in England’s highest tier last year – and in an imperilled Blades team at that – by clinching ten goal contributions, creating 11 big chances and averaging 4.4 ball recoveries per game, as per Sofascore, there’s every chance that the 27-year-old could rival Ndiaye for that left-sided berth and potentially even elevate his game to the next level.

His playmaking prowess seems tailor-made for the success of a player like Ndiaye, and Calvert-Lewin, for that matter. It would be a fantastic signing and the perfect way for TFG to show to Moyes and the Blues fanbase that this new chapter could be one to remember.

The next Barkley: Everton considering move for "unbelievable" £15m star

David Moyes is looking to overhaul his Everton squad this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 2, 2025

Glasgow Rangers are set to miss out on the Scottish Premiership title for the fourth season running, and only an Ianis Hagi equaliser against Aberdeen prevented it from having already happened.

The Gers came back from 2-0 down against the Dons to secure a point away from Ibrox, when a defeat would have seen their city rivals crowned once again.

Rangers know that they have to improve significantly to compete for the title in the 2025/26 campaign, and that means that they will have to move on from some players who have failed to show their worth, including Ross McCausland.

Why Rangers should sell Ross McCausland

The academy graduate made his first-team breakthrough last season under Philippe Clement, but he has failed to kick on and establish himself as a key figure for the Gers.

McCausland, who was sent off for two yellow card offences against Aberdeen, has produced three goals and five assists in 42 appearances in the Premiership in the last two seasons.

The Northern Ireland international has as many red cards as goal contributions (one) in 13 outings in the Premiership so far this term, which illustrates his lack of impact at the top end of the pitch.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

This is why Rangers should finally move on from the 21-year-old attacker. However, he is not the only attacker who should be ruthlessly ditched by the Gers, as Oscar Cortes should also be on the chopping block.

Why Rangers should move on from Oscar Cortes

The Colombian winger is currently on loan to the club from Lens, as he has been since January of last year, but the Scottish giants have an obligation to make that deal permanent this summer.

Rangers have to sign him permanently at the end of his loan spell, and Football Insider recently reported that those inside the club now see that as a ‘gamble’, due to his lack of success on the pitch to date.

Cortes (£6k-per-week) earns even more than McCausland (£4.7k-per-week), as per Salary Sport, and has offered even less than the Northern Irish forward in the past 18 months.

As you can see in the table above, the Colombian flop – who pundit Michael Stewart claimed has a “heart the size of a pea” due to his lack of desire – has rarely been available to make appearances in the Premiership, playing just 14 times in almost a season-and-a-half.

Cortes, who has dealt with several injury issues this season, was given an opportunity from the start against Aberdeen last weekend and was withdrawn at half-time after losing five of his six duels in the first 45 minutes.

Like McCausland, the 21-year-old attacker has failed to prove that he has the quality, or the availability, to be a key player for a team that wants to compete for the title in the Premiership.

This is why Rangers must immediately, and ruthlessly, move on from Cortes as soon as they officially sign him on a permanent deal, whether that means loaning him out to another team to go and attempt to play regular football, or to another team on a permanent basis.

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By
Dan Emery

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Rangers need reliable players who can perform week-in-week-out to put themselves in contention for the biggest trophies, which is why McCausland and Cortes should be axed this summer.

This summer is a fresh start for Everton, having the opportunity to create a new era for the football club upon their move to the new Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium.

For the last couple of years, the side have been constantly in the bottom half of the Premier League table, often having to rely on last-day relegation battles.

However, David Moyes has returned to the club and turned their fortunes around, losing just twice in the league to Manchester City and Merseyside rivals Liverpool.

If the Scotsman is to take the club to the next level in 2025/26, the hierarchy desperately needs to hand him the funds he needs to make the changes he desires to the first-team squad.

With the summer transfer window just around the corner, it appears the board have wasted no time in identifying players to make the first season at the new stadium one to remember.

The latest on Everton’s hunt for new signings this summer

There’s no denying the striker role has been a constant issue at Goodison Park, with the Toffees desperately needing to address such an issue in the coming months.

Former Arsenal star Mika Biereth has emerged as one player on their shortlist, starring after his January move to join French outfit Monaco, scoring 12 times in his 13 league games since his transfer.

However, it remains unclear how much they will have to fork out for his signature, given he joined the Ligue 1 side for a reported £15m less than four months ago.

Another name has reemerged on their list of targets, in the form of Chris Rigg, who has starred in the Championship with Sunderland at the tender age of just 17.

According to Football Insider, the Toffees are leading the race for his signature, with the Black Cats demanding a whopping £38m to part ways with the talent this summer.

Why the £38m star could be Everton’s biggest star since Rooney

Wayne Rooney will remain one of the best talents to ever come out of Everton, after bursting onto the scene in the first-team as a 16-year-old back in 2002.

It was unheard of for a player of that age to make such an impact on the first team, scoring his first professional goal against Arsenal – in spectacular fashion too.

His first spell at Goodison Park saw him make 35 appearances, scoring eight goals, leading to a huge move to an English giant that would catapult him to stardom throughout his professional career.

Rooney eventually joined Manchester United for a fee in the region of £25.6m during the summer of 2004, before returning to his boyhood club for a second spell between 2017 and 2018.

However, a move for Rigg this window could allow the club to land a star who could be as talented as Rooney, undoubtedly set for huge things at the top level given his achievements as a teenager.

The Sunderland ace has already notched 67 appearances for the Black Cats since his debut in January 2023, cementing himself as a first-team regular in their hunt for Championship promotion.

He’s notched four goals and one assist in his 40 league outings to date, creating 1.2 chances per 90 for his teammates – showcasing the threat he poses in attacking areas.

Rigg has also completed 1.2 successful dribbles per 90, along with an 80% pass success rate, having the tools to transform their fortunes within the final third throughout 2024/25.

Chris Rigg’s stats for Sunderland in the Championship (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

40

Goals & assists

5

Pass completion rate

80%

Successful dribbles

1.2

Chances created

1.2

Duels won

5.1

Tackles won

57%

Stats via FotMob

Whilst he’s mainly an attacking player, he’s also starred out of possession, winning 5.1 duels per game along with a 57% tackle success rate – having the ability to improve massively in the future, given his tender age.

It’s been a long time since the Toffees have had a talent as good as Rooney, but Rigg could finally end their wait, having the skill set to be a key player on Merseyside for many years to come.

£38m may appear to be a mammoth fee for such a young star, but given the figures he’s produced coupled with his potential, it’s a risk worth taking, with Moyes reaping the rewards in the Premier League should he make the move in the coming months.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Apr 22, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers are on a four-match winning run in the Premier League, and they will hope to continue this when they face Manchester United this afternoon.

The Old Gold defeated the Old Trafford side 2-0 at the end of December to maintain their perfect start under Vitor Pereira, and hopes will be high that they can complete the double over the Red Devils.

Man United were taken to extra time by Lyon in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday evening and there will be a few tired legs among the squad.

This could give Wolves the advantage, while Pereira may make a few changes of his own ahead of the clash.

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde played against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, but it remains to be seen whether he will return to the starting XI after suffering a minor injury.

Why Pereira must axe Bellegarde for Man Utd trip

Bellegarde played 42 minutes last week against Spurs before being subbed off due to injury.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

While on the field, the attacking midfielder completed just six passes, failed with his only dribble attempt, lost possession six times and was dribbled past once.

He has been a solid signing for the Old Gold, that much is certain. Given the nature of the game, however, plus the fact that Matheus Cunha is ready to make his first start following his four-match suspension, it makes sense to bring the Brazilian back into the starting XI.

This would see Bellegarde drop to the bench. That is if he is fit enough to make the matchday squad in the first place.

How Pereira can replace Bellegarde vs Man Utd

Cunha has a decent record against Man United since joining Wolves, scoring once and grabbing two assists across four games.

His goal came in the famous 2-0 win last December, and it proved that Cunha was capable of scoring in the biggest games.

Metric

2023/24

2024/25

Goals

12

14

Assists

7

4

Key passes per game

0.9

1.7

Big chances created

7

12

Successful dribbles per game

2

1.9

The £90k-per-week forward has been in sublime form for Wolves this season. A total of 16 goals and four assists have been registered by the former Atletico Madrid star, and he has arguably single-handedly kept the club floating above the relegation zone.

When compared to his positional peers in the top flight, Cunha ranks in the top 3% for non-penalty goals (0.58) per 90, while also ranking in the top 17% for successful take-ons (2.16) per 90 for the Old Gold this term.

Hailed as “unbelievable” by current teammate Mario Lemina earlier this season, Cunha might well be heading into his final few weeks as a Wolves player.

Cunha has sparked plenty of controversy in recent weeks, notably when hitting out at Wolves’ fans on social media who have criticised his attitude and commitment to the club.

Should a big offer arrive in the summer, it is likely he will be sold, giving Pereira plenty of cash to spend. The club might not have a player of his quality for quite some time, and he could shine against the Red Devils this afternoon.

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CSK have now lost five successive games at home, which also ends their playoffs chances

Sampath Bandarupalli30-Apr-20252:10

Is CSK losing five times at home IPL’s biggest shocker?

5 – Defeats for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chepauk in IPL 2025, the most for them in a single edition. They lost four matches each in 2008 and 2012, including the final.CSK have now lost five games in a row in at home this season since defeating Mumbai Indians (MI) in their opening game. Only three teams have lost more home matches on the bounce in an IPL season. Deccan Chargers, in 2008, lost all seven home games, while Punjab Kings (PBKS) lost six at home after winning their first game in 2023 and 2024. Pune Warriors India also lost six in a row after winning their first two games at home in 2012.3 – Number of players including Yuzvendra Chahal to take multiple hat-tricks in the IPL. Chahal’s first hat-trick came against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2022. Amit Mishra has three IPL hat-tricks, while Yuvraj Singh has two.Related

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1 – CSK have been bowled out in successive matches for the first time in the IPL. They were cleaned up for 154 in their previous game by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). That was the first time CSK were bowled out in an IPL match since the introduction of the Impact Player rule in IPL 2023.9 – Chahal now has nine four-plus wicket-hauls in the IPL, the most by any bowler. He went past Sunil Narine, who has eight.1 – Chahal also became the first bowler to take a hat-trick against CSK in the IPL. Parvinder Awana took a hat-trick against CSK in 2014 while playing for PBKS (then Kings XI Punjab), but that was in a CLT20 match.Chahal’s hat-trick was the fifth for the Punjab franchise in the IPL and the first since Sam Curran’s effort against Delhi Capitals (DC) in 2019. They now share the record with Rajasthan Royals (RR).11 – Number of balls PBKS took to pick the last six CSK wickets, the fewest for any team in an IPL innings. SRH took 13 balls to take the last six wickets of Pune Warriors in 2013, and PBKS also needed 13 deliveries against SRH in 2020.4 – Wickets for Chahal in the 19th over of CSK’s innings. This is the second time that he’s picked up four wickets in an over in the IPL, with the other instance coming in 2022 against KKR when he took his previous hat-trick. Amit Mishra against Pune Warriors in 2013 and Andre Russell against Gujarat Titans (GT) in 2022 are the others with a four-wicket over in the IPL.Yuzvendra Chahal picked up four wickets in an over and celebrated like only he can•Getty ImagesChahal is now one of only three bowlers to take four-plus wickets in an over in men’s T20s on multiple occasions (where ball-by-ball data is available). Russell and Shaheen Shah Afridi also have multiple four-wicket overs in T20s.203 – CSK’s predicted score as per ESPNcricinfo’s Forecaster after 18.1 overs, when they were 184 for 5. CSK lost the remaining five wickets in seven balls to get bowled out for 190.CSK’s 190 is the highest by any team when they were bowled out when batting first in the IPL. RR’s 185 against PBKS in 2021 was the previous highest, although they batted all 20 overs.1 – The CSK-PBKS match on Wednesday became the first in the IPL featuring four uncapped players to open the batting. Shaik Rasheed and Ayush Mhatre opened the batting for CSK, while Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh opened for PBKS.1 – CSK have failed to make it to the playoffs in successive seasons for the first time in the IPL. This is the fourth time that they have failed to make it to the final four – in 2020, 2022, 2024 and now 2025.

Murphy shelved the overspin typical of bowling in Australia and consistently bowled around 95kph with high side spin, and had five wickets to show for it

Alex Malcolm10-Feb-20233:09

Chappell: Murphy bowled tidily but Australia need wickets

Eleven months ago, Todd Murphy had played just one first-class match. He was a contracted player with Victoria, having played in an Under-19 World Cup for Australia, but was biding his time in grade cricket for St Kilda.On March 12 last year, he was playing at Russell Lucas Oval in Ringwood, in Melbourne’s outer eastern suburbs. His two victims that day were Melbourne Stars opener Tom Rogers and USA and Hampshire batter Ian Holland.Eleven months on, in Nagpur, Murphy knocked over KL Rahul, R Ashwin, Cheteshwar Pujura, Virat Kohli and KS Bharat, in that order, to become the first Australian spinner since Nathan Lyon to take five wickets on Test debut.Related

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“It’s been a pretty special couple of days and to top it off with a five-wicket haul on debut is more than I ever hoped for,” Murphy said after play on the second day of the Test.He did it while outbowling his mentor Lyon, 13 years, 115 Tests and 460 wickets his senior before the game. He did it having nearly not been selected at all for this Test match.It was a remarkable performance from Australia’s newest cricket hero, unassuming, bespectacled, and affectionately nicknamed “Goggles” at St Kilda.He didn’t do it in the same manner as Jason Krejza had in Nagpur 15 years ago. It wasn’t a host of brilliant big ripping offbreaks while conceding 4.90 an over. He did with outstanding control of length and line. He did get a touch fortuitous with his dismissals of Pujara and Kohli with arguably his worst two balls. But they were reward for the pressure he built with his consistency.It was the reason he was finally selected ahead of Ashton Agar. Australia’s selectors had a preference to play a left-arm orthodox in Nagpur as they had chosen in Sydney against South Africa, both to complement Lyon and match up well against India’s right-hand dominant top order. There was a worry that a second right-arm offspinner would be surplus to requirements.Yet, those in Victoria were shouting to anyone who would listen that Murphy had a far superior record to right-handers in first-class cricket. And so it proved. Murphy’s five victims were all right-handers with a combined total of 58 Test centuries.

“Observing everything and competing in the nets and bowling to the Sri Lankans, I took a lot of confidence out of that and reflected and went back, trusted myself a bit more, and thought ‘what I’ve got can be good enough’ and believe in that”Todd Murphy on the Australia A tour of Sri Lanka last year

The disparity in the consistency between the two showed up in ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data. Agar, a ten-year veteran of first-class cricket, landed just 50% of his 132 deliveries on a good length in his nervous Test return in Sydney against South Africa and went wicketless as a result. He also bowled two full-tosses and two half-trackers.Murphy, meanwhile, in just his eighth first-class game, landed 63% of his deliveries on a good length and bowled just the one full-toss and one drag down. His 37 full-length deliveries cost only 23 runs and resulted in a wicket.Lyon only landed 59% on a good length and erred full 43 times, which cost 38 runs. He only picked up the one wicket for the day with Suryakumar Yadav playing a very loose drive to a ball that could have easily been defended. But Lyon did have Ravindra Jadeja dropped at slip by Steven Smith in the final over of the day.It was remarkable how well Murphy adapted to the conditions when compared with Lyon. Murphy’s long-time bowling coach Craig Howard had noted his ability to adapt his bowling to the conditions that were presented.”Howie for me he’s been someone that I’ve always been able to go to and I’ve been able to trust and he knows me as good as anyone and knows what works for me,” Murphy said. “We’ve had a lot of really good conversations over the years about what works in what conditions and we had a good chat the other day about over here and just trusting the skill set that I’ve got.”Batters’ errors contributed to some of Todd Murphy’s wickets, but his lengths contributed to the mistakes•Getty ImagesNagpur’s pitch required faster speeds and a lot of side spin, as Jadeja had shown on day one. It was exactly what Murphy delivered on day two. There are shades of Graeme Swann in his action and there were shades of Swann 2012 in his bowling as he shelved the overspin that is required in Australia – the overspin that has made Lyon so successful in the toughest of offspinning climes at home – and consistently bowled up towards 95kph with high side spin.It is a skill he had honed under Howard at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane on the purpose-made India-style red-clay pitches over many winters. It was one of the laments of the Australian squad that they were not able to train on those pitches prior to this tour for reasons that are not entirely clear and were instead forced to practice on scarified pitches at North Sydney Oval that were not quite the same.His ability to implement it his first Test was quite remarkable. But he credited his Australia A tour to Sri Lanka last year with helping him believe he could produce it at the highest level. “Having a little bit of success over there probably gave me the confidence I needed going back to Australia that I could mix it with first-class cricketers.””Being around some of the guys who had played Test cricket, observing everything and competing in the nets and bowling to the Sri Lankans, I took a lot of confidence out of that and reflected and went back, trusted myself a bit more, and thought ‘what I’ve got can be good enough’ and believe in that.”Murphy operated almost exclusively around the wicket to India’s right-hand batters, rarely pitching outside the line of the stumps and threatening both edges. His length was so good that even Rohit Sharma in the midst of a sublime match-defining century struggled to get down the track to him and never played back to him. Murphy simply asked the batters to defend a good length. It yielded two of his five wickets with Ashwin and Bharat both pinned lbw trying to defend on the front foot.1:11

O’Keefe: Todd Murphy will be a superstar

His other three were helped by batter errors. Rahul chipped a drive back to him on the opening night, while Pujara played a rare sweep to a ball way outside leg and picked out short fine. Kohli was caught down the leg side playing well wide of his body with Alex Carey taking an outstanding juggling catch unsighted as part of an excellent day behind the stumps.But while the batters’ errors contributed, Murphy’s lengths contributed to the mistakes as all three were stuck playing from the crease.Murphy also benefitted from the tireless work of Scott Boland. The inexperienced Victorians were undeniably Australia’s best two bowlers on a tough day in the field. Yet, inexplicably, they only bowled in partnership for one spell of eight overs in the first session. From overs 38 to 45 they bowled eight overs, three maidens, and combined for 2 for 18 with Murphy removing Ashwin and Pujara, after Rohit and Ashwin had taken 40 runs off the first 13 overs of the morning against Lyon and Pat Cummins.Boland had figures of 9-4-7-0 after his brilliant six-over burst. But he would only bowl eight more overs through the day, which included having Jadeja dropped at slip, a really tough chance low to Smith’s right, and Axar Patel nicking him just short of second.Murphy, too, could have had Jadeja twice. With India on 224 for 5, he hit Jadeja on the front pad as the left-hander stretched out to defend. The lbw appeal was turned down and the review came up umpire’s call on impact. It was going on to hit the middle of middle. Then, with Jadeja on 60, late in the day, he conjured a thick edge as Jadeja tried to cut the wrong length, but it was too thick for Carey to grasp and it rebounded off his gloves over Smith at slip.Australia have found a diamond in the rough in Nagpur in Murphy, and possibly the spin-bowling heir to Lyon. But on his first two days in Test cricket, he looked more like the master than the apprentice.

The hallmark of the best Test side is the ability to seize a moment when given a whiff – and India are that side right now

Sidharth Monga18-Dec-2020R Ashwin usually starts his series in Australia with long-on and midwicket back. On his first tour he snapped back at a journalist who asked him why. The import of his words was that you had to be stupid to start with ambitious attacking fields on such true surfaces.On his fourth tour, Ashwin has the mid-on up when he bowls to Steven Smith for the first time. Smith averages in excess of 80 against India. He has been out for fewer than 46 only in two of his 10 first-innings outings against India. The first ball is a lovely loopy offbreak, which Smith tracks well and pushes down the ground. Against old Ashwin and old India, Smith takes the easy single down the ground, only his second run in 45 minutes, and gets off strike. Now he doesn’t. The next ball is the same. Another easy single not given.The next one is released like an offbreak, but it is flatter, the seam is more towards square leg than fine leg, and is headed for the similar line of around off stump. Ashwin hasn’t probably made sure this doesn’t turn, but he has given the ball every chance to not turn. Smith has not noticed it, plays for the offbreak, and nicks off.

****

For a brief period at the start of Australia’s innings, it seems India have forgotten the lesson they handed out to Australia on the last tour. Coming as it does on the back of a half hour in which they lost their four remaining overnight wickets for an addition of just 11 runs, this looks like a difficult time for India.Related

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India finish 62 ahead after Ashwin, seamers run through Australia

As it happened: Australia vs India, 1st Test, Adelaide, day 2

In the eight overs at the start of Australia’s innings, only one ball would have gone on to hit the stumps. It seems like Australia had stolen from India the winning formula. Over the last tour, Australia had tried for long hours to tempt India outside off, but the patience of Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli’s trust in defence had defeated them. By contrast, India attacked the stumps, taking 25 wickets bowled or lbw to Australia’s nine. On day one, Australia moved their attack straighter, taking four such wickets, and in one day doubling the tally of lbw wickets they took in four Tests in 2018-19.And here India are, missing the leader of their attack Ishant Sharma and not testing the defence of the Australia openers, one playing for his spot in the team and the other batting higher than No. 5 for the first time in his Test career. Australia pitched the ball full 41% of the times with the new ball; India 26%.It is perhaps the caginess of the “openers” or the slow pitch with steep bounce that Australia have not made any move. Because the pitch is slow, India can set straight fields with catching men in front and afford to err too straight. Just that they are yet to figure it out, and they have been given a second shot at it because hardly any runs have been scored against the new ball.

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Jasprit Bumrah and R Ashwin – two of India’s best ever – allow for an unprecedented level of bowling control•Getty ImagesJasprit Bumrah can end up as India’s best fast bowler of all time. He is the complete package: pace, seam, swing, endurance. More importantly, perhaps he is the sharpest student of the game. On the last tour of Australia, in a year he had toured South Africa, England and Australia, we checked his performance over various spells. He averaged 40.33 and took a wicket every 80 balls in his first spells. The numbers improved to 24.66 and 57.33 in his second spells, 18.54 and 42.27 in his third and 16.11 43.22 in his fourth. No other India bowler exhibited this pattern.Bumrah is given just the four overs first up, given time to gather his thoughts, and when he comes back there is automatic anticipation that he will have corrected his lines and lengths. This is perhaps the biggest change in the Indian Test team in recent years. Not that the batsmen are mugs, but you feel India are more in control of Test cricket when they are in the field. That with even Ishant missing and theoretically an ordinary start with the ball, India can make a comeback any time.And with his seventh ball back, Bumrah strikes. It is just short of a driving length and is seaming back to hit the middle stump of Matthew Wade. In his next over, he has Joe Burns lbw. Just like that this autonomous freak has corrected himself. In the same over he has Marnus Labuschagne dropped by Wriddhiman Saha. Then he himself drops Labuschagne. Then Prithvi Shaw drops Labuschagne off his bowling. Bumrah, though, keeps smiling. It is the smile of a man who knows his side is in control when it is in the field. That it will keep creating enough chances on this pitch.And chances there are aplenty. It is hard to see where the next run will come from. The field settings are exceptional. India know the edges are not carrying so they have just the one slip and gully. Instead they put in a leg gully, a short square leg and a short midwicket followed by men on the hook to allow for straight bowling. There are no half-volleys outside off, and the straight ones are hard to place through this field on a slow pitch. This is India’s territory. You can’t imagine a situation where this India lets up in such conditions and with a chance of having batted first. The only opening for Australia, Umesh Yadav and his tendency to bowl too straight, has been closed because of this pitch.The plans are spot on. The leg gully is in for Smith and Labuschagne. The round-the-wicket angle is choking the left-hand batsmen. Every time you think a batsman can breathe now by turning the ball to leg, you see it has gone to a fielder. The pressure is palpable.

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It is this pressure perhaps that has allowed Ashwin to be more attacking just as he comes on. Smith has faced 25 straight dots when he faces up to Ashwin. It is sort of upon him now to convert this pressure into a wicket as opposed to previous times when he had to do the dual job of holding one end up and also look for wickets.It was only on his last tour to Australia that Ashwin had such a lethal bowling unit to combine with. Now he perhaps feels the confidence to prey on cagey batsmen. It is this pressure from the other end that doesn’t often get spoken about when he is compared unfavourably with Nathan Lyon’s hard-spun offbreaks that extract extra bounce in Australia. Lyon is a great bowler, the lone survivor in a country that fingerspin goes to die, but he is a different bowler to Ashwin. They are both artists; Lyon is more in your face, Ashwin subtler.Right now, Ashwin is as much joy to watch as Lyon was on day one. There is drift, there is dip, there are variations in sidespin. Travis Head thinks he can turn one into the leg side, but he has been fooled by the drift. The ball pitches and turns to lob back for an easy catch. Cameron Green has pulled a short ball straight to a fielder, but that doesn’t show you the pressure created by the number of times Green has tried to press forward and has found the ball short of his reach.

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The fifth wicket. The moment when you can hold the ball aloft. That one exclamation point. How can you be a great if you don’t have a five-for in four countries out of eight that you have played Test cricket: England, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia? This is the equivocality that hangs over Ashwin’s record. It is too nuanced a question to attempt to answer here, but Ashwin is within a wicket of finally getting his first one when he is bowling to the No. 11 Josh Hazlewood. Something to show for to the surface stats buffs.However, Hazlewood’s two big hits come off and given the premium on runs in this Test, Kohli doesn’t want to risk a counterattack against a spinner. It is a move that works as Hazlewood is out to the first ball from Ashwin’s replacement. Ashwin ends with four, but you can see he doesn’t care for these numbers anymore. He is freer when he is playing. During the pandemic, he has reassessed life’s priorities. He is now looking to just enjoy his cricket, thankful as he is for the chance to do that when so many others are struggling to get on with their lives.At the press conference, he smiles more than he snaps. At one point, though, the old fiery self re-emerges when he asks the critics why they ask only him to bowl like Lyon and not the batsmen to play like Smith. He goes on to say he respects Lyon’s skill, enjoys watching him, but he cannot be Lyon as much as Lyon cannot be Ashwin.

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India have a valuable lead of 53, the first time Australia have fallen behind in a day-night Test. Two men who might end up being India’s best of all time at their trade have put India in pole position to win a Test that former Australian players used to accuse them of avoiding out of fear of losing. The beauty of this team is that on another day it might have been Mohammed Shami doing it. Or Ishant if he was playing.At a time when it is nigh impossible to dominate Test cricket like Graeme Smith’s South Africa did – Australia and West Indies before them is too high a bar – only that can be the hallmark of the best Test side in the world. That in all conditions in the world, if you give them a whiff, they are at you. It might be a toss here, a slightly favourable pitch there, but you can’t afford to provide this side that opening. At full strength, India are that team at the moment.

تفاعلت الصحف البلجيكية مع قرعة بطولة كأس العالم نسخة 2026، والتي تم إجراء مراسمها مساء يوم الجمعة في مركز “جون كينيدي” في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية.

وتستضيف كل من الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، كندا والمكسيك نهائيات النسخة المقبلة من بطولة كأس العالم، في الفترة بين 11 يونيو و19 يوليو.

وتُعد تلك هي النسخة الأولى من بطولة كأس العالم، بعد استحداث نظامها، حيث سيشارك فيها 48 منتخبًا، سيتم تقسيمهم على 12 مجموعة، ويتأهل متصدر ووصيف كل مجموعة إلى دور الـ32، بالإضافة إلى أفضل 8 منتخبات في مركز ثالث.

وشهدت القرعة تواجد كل من: بلجيكا، مصر، إيران ونيوزيلندا في المجموعة السابعة في بطولة كأس العالم الصيف المقبل (لمطالعة التفاصيل كاملة عن القرعة من هنا).

وقالت صحيفة “7sur7” البلجيكية: “يعرف الشياطين الحمر الآن مصيرهم، وقد وقعوا في مجموعة سهلة نسبيًا، نظريًا ستكون مصر أقوى منافس لـ بلجيكا في المجموعة السابعة من كأس العالم، إيران ونيوزيلندا هما الفريقان الآخران في المجموعة، يستهل الشياطين مشوارهم في كأس العالم بمواجهة الفراعنة في 15 يونيو في لوس أنجلوس”.

وأضافت: “ستكون مصر أول منافس لـ بلجيكا في كأس العالم، في 15 يونيو في لوس أنجلوس، وهي نظريًا المنافس الأصعب في مجموعتها، في الواقع، الفراعنة هم ملوك إفريقيا برقم قياسي في الفوز بكأس الأمم الإفريقية سبع مرات، لقد هيمنوا بوضوح على مجموعتهم في التصفيات، (ثمانية انتصارات وتعادلين)، دون أي خسارة، لكنهم لم يتألقوا بعد في كأس العالم، ففي ثلاث مشاركات، لم تفز مصر بأي مباراة في البطولة، وهي إحصائية سلبية سيسعى محمد صلاح وزملاؤه جاهدين لتغييرها الصيف المقبل”.

وقالت صحيفة “sporza” البلجيكية: “سيواجه الشياطين الحمر كل من إيران، مصر ونيوزينلدا في بطولة كأس العالم، في قرعة سهلة المنال، حيث ستواجه منتخب مصر الذي تواجد في التصنيف الثالث، ويضم الفريق محمد صلاح وعمر مرموش، وهما نجمان كبيران في الدوري الإنجليزي، كما كان لديه سجل مميز في التصفيات الإفريقية حيث لم يخسر أي مباراة، ولكن لم يسبق له تحقيق الفوز في مباراة في كأس العالم”.

بينما قالت صحيفة “standaard” البلجيكية: “تبشر القرعة التي تواجد بها منتخب بلجيكا بإمكانية استمرار الشياطين الحمر في البطولة، مع العلم إنه في حال تصدر بلجيكا للمجموعة، ستواجه فريقًا يحتل المركز الثالث من مجموعة أخرى، ولو احتلت المركز الثاني، ستواجه ثاني المجموعة الرابعة التي تضم الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، باراجواي وأستراليا، أسهل مجموعة نظريًا”.

في حين قالت صحيفة “hln” البلجيكية: “الشياطين الحمر يواجهون محمد صلاح! ستواجه بلجيكا منتخب مصر، وهو منتخب غاب عن كأس العالم 2022 في قطر لكنه تأهل الآن إلى كأس العالم 2026 متصدرًا مجموعته، ومثل الشياطين الحمر، لم يخسر المصريون أي مباراة في التصفيات”.

وأوضحت: “على الرغم من مشاركاتهم الثلاث السابقة، تسعى مصر لتحقيق أول فوز لها في كأس العالم، نجم الفريق هو محمد صلاح، ومدربه هو المهاجم السابق حسام حسن، ويُعد الفائز بكأس الأمم الإفريقية 7 مرات، خصمًا قويًا، لا يُضاهي إيران، ولكن من ناحية أخرى لن يُشكل المصريون أي مشكلة للشياطين الحمر”.

أما صحيفة “brf” البلجيكية فقد قالت: “أوقعت القرعة بلجيكا في مواجهة مصر، التي تشارك في كأس العالم لكرة القدم لأول مرة منذ عام 2018، وستكون هذه المشاركة الرابعة لمصر في كأس العالم، وستخوض بلجيكا مباراتها الافتتاحية ضد مصر في 15 يونيو 2026”.

من جهة أخرى، قالت صحيفة “sudinfo” البلجيكية: “قبل ستة أشهر من انطلاق كأس العالم، اكتشف الشياطين الحمر منافسيهم في دور المجموعات، ولا شك أن المدرب رودي جارسيا سيكون سعيدًا نسبيًا بترتيب فريقه في المجموعة السابعة إلى جانب إيران ومصر ونيوزيلندا”.

Jim Harbaugh poked some fun at his brother John Harbaugh after his appearance at a Baltimore Orioles game earlier this week.

John was in attendance for an Orioles game, and a popped up foul ball landed right near him and Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. Harbaugh and Ripken Jr. were sitting in the first row from the field when the ball went flying and came down in their direction. Neither caught the ball, which ultimately bounced down in their seating section.

After Jim Harbaugh wrapped up his press conference with the Los Angeles Chargers the following day, he initially walked out of the press room before quickly returning with a message for his brother John about not catching the foul ball. Jim said, "That literally was a can of corn. That would be the lesson: keep your eye on the ball," via Eric Smith of Chargers.com.

Jim added, "But far be it from me to coach Cal Ripken, a great shortstop."

Despite already leaving his presser, Jim went out of his way to return to the room seconds later and offer some funny advice for his older brother. Classic sibling behavior.