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Nick Hobson showed timely form but the match against Sydney Sixers will define the path through the finals for the defending champions

Tristan Lavalette14-Jan-2024Having once again thwarted Brisbane Heat at Optus Stadium, recalled Perth Scorchers batter Nick Hobson’s game-changing performance reinforced that the BBL title race will probably be decided by depth.After Scorchers’ top-order was ripped apart, No. 7 Hobson took over with an assault at the death to flay a flagging Heat attack in temperatures hovering around 40 degrees in the daytime fixture.Hobson finished unbeaten with a career best 48 off 30 balls to turn the match on its head as Scorchers eventually claimed a comfortable 35-run victory.Related

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Hobson, Connolly hurt Heat again but Scorchers' bigger challenge awaits

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The result wasn’t particularly important with Heat having already locked up top spot and a home final in the Qualifier on January 19. While the victory did officially secure a top-four berth for Scorchers, their bid for a historic hat-trick of titles might just rest with a second-place decider against Sydney Sixers in Perth on Tuesday.The winner will meet Heat and earn a second chance, but the loser faces an elimination final.The Heat and Scorchers match was something of a finals tune-up for both teams fielding notably different line-ups to their clash at the Gabba just three days earlier.Heat were without Test batters Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne, while Matt Renshaw might have played his last BBL match of the season as he links up with Australia’s squad in Adelaide.Internationals Colin Munro and Sam Billings carried the drinks – which were downed with relish on the hottest day in Perth for two years – before they flew off to the UAE’s ILT20 with Heat giving valuable game time to those who will be part of their title push.Scorchers lost India bound Zak Crawley, while middle-order batter Laurie Evans will play his last game of the season against Sixers before going to the ILT20. Quick Jhye Richardson was recently ruled out of the season due to a side strain injury.The slew of changes opened up opportunities with Hobson taking his with both hands. Hobson, who does not hold a state cricket contract and is an accountant in his day job, became something of a cult figure after his heroics alongside Cooper Connolly lifted Scorchers to last season’s title over Heat in an epic final.In what must have felt like a recurring nightmare for Heat, Hobson reunited with Connolly as they counterattacked and cracked open an attack that ran out of gas.Laurie Evans will depart after the final regular-season game•Getty Images”Nice memories from last year [playing Heat],” Hobson said with a smile. “Hopefully we’ve got at least another game against them, but we’ll wait and see.”The belligerent batting, where they scored 83 off 55 balls between them, was an important confidence lift for Hobson and Connolly, who have had limited impact this season.Hobson played three matches earlier in the tournament, but batted just once and faced only three deliveries, before he was squeezed out with Scorchers opting for an extra bowler as Connolly shifted down the order after an unsuccessful run as an opener.”I started at seven but when we had Lance Morris and Ash Agar again it changed the balance of the side,” Hobson said. “But we’ve gone back to the extra batter.”Some of us have been sitting on the bench…like [opener] Steve Eskinazi who started [against Heat] really well for us. We’ve got some depth there and hopefully that’s enough to win another flag.”Having reinvented himself as a finisher last season, Hobson looms as a key for Scorchers, who have relied on Evans for late hitting with captain Ashton Turner on the sidelines due to a season-ending knee injury.”The finisher is what I’ve been preparing for and the coaching staff have been clear about where I’m going to be,” Hobson said. “An area I had to work on the last few years was the ability to hit a six and have more power. It’s more high-risk cricket, but you’ve got to be able to clear long boundaries.”It sets up a fitting showdown between powerhouses Scorchers and Sixers, who will renew their rivalry amid high stakes. They’ve won eight titles combined, including the last four, and met five times in the final.Scorchers have the wood over Sixers with six wins from the last seven matches, but it is the first time the teams will meet this season amid a condensed BBL format.Jimmy Peirson made his first appearance of the season as part of a rejigged Brisbane Heat order•Getty Images”They’re playing really well. They’ve got amazing depth,” Hobson said. “I think Jackson Bird is on the bench and a few others, so if they change the mix and play an extra seamer I wouldn’t be surprised. They’re always strong. There is something about the Sydney-Perth games that have a little extra buzz.”Watching from afar will be Heat, whose remade batting order started fast against Scorchers through a blazing half-century stand by Josh Brown and Jimmy Peirson in a new opening partnership.But Heat fell away as acting captain Nathan McSweeney made just 3 in his return, while recalled Max Bryant clubbed 29 late.”I feel like we have good [batting] depth,” Heat coach Wade Seccombe said. “We have good players sitting on the bench through the course of the summer. We got bogged down. We didn’t rotate well enough. I look at the players we have got and their history, so I’m not worried.”Heat also will have to contend with playing on the Gold Coast during the finals with their Gabba fortress unavailable due to hosting the second Test between Australia and West Indies.”The Gold Coast is a different venue, so it will come down to who plays the conditions best,” Seccombe said. “We’ve played a lot of cricket there. It should feel like another home game for us. We’ll wait and see who we come up against.”

Wrexham ended their tour Down Under with a disappointing loss against Wellington Phoenix on Saturday, as Arthur Okonkwo's mistake proved costly.

Wrexham end pre-season tour with a lossWent down 1-0 against Wellington PhoenixOkonkwo's mistaked proved costlyFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱TELL ME MORE

The Red Dragons wrapped up their time in Australia and New Zealand by losing 1-0 to the A-League side at the Sky Stadium. Luke Flowerdew's 49th-minute close-range goal made the difference as the Welsh club finished its tour with two defeats from three friendly games Down Under.

Wrexham goalkeeper Okonkwo had a night to forget as his costly error gifted Flowerdew the opportunity to score the winner. Okonkwo should have comfortably collected a low cross inside the six-yard box but the ex-Arsenal man fumbled it and the ball fell kindly for the Phoenix star, who casually pushed it into the net.

The Championship side had quite a few opportunities to come back or seal a win. Elliot Lee had an opportunity to equalise almost immediately but his brilliant header cannoned back off the woodwork. Then, just past the hour mark, Lee attempted a powerful half-volley but goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi pulled off a fine save to stop him from restoring parity.

Ollie Palmer also saw a goal ruled for handball as Phil Parkinson's men suffered a frustrating and avoidable loss as they prepare for the long trip back to the UK.

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Phoenix custodian Oluwayemi had an outstanding outing in goal as he made a couple of brilliant saves, including the stunner he pulled off to deny Lee from scoring a leveller around the hour mark.

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New Wrexham signing Ryan Hardie started up front and had a few opportunities to break the deadlock in the early minutes of the match. The young forward, however, missed the chances and was eventually replaced by Palmer in the 63rd minute.

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Harry Ashfield was livewire for Wrexham in the centre of the park and created several goalscoring opportunities, including the one for Lee, whose header hit the woodwork. The 19-year-old academy graduate is definitely one to watch out for in the 2025-26 campaign.

Fresh off their dramatic Euro 2025 triumph, England stars Chloe Kelly and Leah Williamson are now hot property off the pitch, with brand deals and reality TV shows reportedly lining up to sign them. Experts have suggested that the Lionesses could rake in as much as £80 million this year, potentially out-earning their male counterparts in commercial opportunities.

Lionesses tipped to earn £80m after Euros victoryChloe Kelly linked with I’m A Celeb appearanceLeah Williamson already has deals with major brandsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Following England's penalty shootout win over Spain in the Euro 2025 final, star players including Kelly and Williamson are being tipped to attract serious attention from advertisers and TV producers. Kelly, who scored a crucial penalty, has already admitted she would love to appear on I’m A Celebrity and could soon be granted her wish, according to . Williamson, meanwhile, has already landed major brand endorsements and could be in line for more.

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Brand expert Nick Ede has told the tabloid that the Lionesses' appeal cuts across genders, making them uniquely marketable. Their back-to-back Euro titles and growing fame have made them icons both on and off the pitch. With endorsements from fashion houses and major brands, their financial success could eclipse even England's top male stars.

WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

Ede said: "In many ways the Lionesses should be in more demand than the men, because they are winners. They have won the Euros twice.Their currency is going to be much much higher now. The advantage they have over the men is that they have an appeal across the genders. Men like them and women want to be them. They could make between £50million and £80million. Collectively as Lionesses they can be making a lot of money, this is their time to shine. They could be the next Alex Scott, who is now a bona fide presenter on the One Show, or Jill Scott who was on I’m a Celebrity. But with every team you only get a few stand out stars.”

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With their Euros heroics fresh in the public’s mind, the Lionesses look set to dominate not just football headlines but also pop culture spaces. Expect to see them on screens, in ad campaigns, and on red carpets in the coming months. Their era of sporting and commercial dominance has only just begun.

KKR and Royals are the only unbeaten teams in IPL 2024 at this stage, while Capitals have just won their first game after two losses

Ashish Pant02-Apr-2024Match detailsDelhi Capitals (DC) vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Visakhapatnam, 1930 IST (1400 GMT)Big Picture – Whose home ground is it anyway?Visakhapatnam might be Delhi Capitals’ alternate home venue, but it was a sea of yellow when they played here a couple of days back. That was mostly down to them playing against Chennai Super Kings – more specially, MS Dhoni. When they play Kolkata Knight Riders, Capitals will hope for some more red and blue in the stands as they look to climb up the points table.Capitals know what it’s like to fall behind early in the IPL. They lost their first five games in IPL 2023, which made coming back into the tournament tough. The victory against CSK was important keeping that in mind.Related

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They don’t have the batting depth that some of the other teams boast of, and will need their top order to fire again, and keep firing through the tournament.Crucially, Prithvi Shaw, who was among the runs in his first outing in IPL 2024 in the game against CSK, and David Warner have excellent numbers against KKR – no one has scored more than Warner’s 1075 against KKR, while Shaw averages 45 against KKR, and his highest score of 99 also came against them, in 2019.Rishabh Pant’s move to No. 3 against CSK showed positive intent from Capitals, and he repaid the faith with a quick half-century.But they will want runs from the other batters, too.It won’t be easy against KKR, who have won both their games so far this season. They had a scare in the opening game of the season against Sunrisers Hyderabad but scored a clinical win against RCB. KKR don’t have a lot of holes to plug, but the one area that needs sorting is their powerplay bowling.It’s still early days in the tournament, but KKR have the poorest powerplay economy among all the teams so far – 10.75. That is partly down to Mitchell Starc having a nightmare start to his IPL season. The fast bowler has been taken for a combined 100 runs and is yet to take a wicket. In conditions which might aid swing and seam, Starc will hope for better returns.As will the batting pack with the exception of Andre Russell, Phil Salt and Venkatesh Iyer.Rishabh Pant scored a 32-ball 51 against CSK•BCCITeam news and Impact Player strategyDelhi Capitals
Capitals brought in Shaw for the previous game, a move that paid off. He was later subbed off with Rasikh Salam coming in. If Capitals bowl first, depending on the surface, there is a chance Salam or Lalit Yadav get into the first XI, with Shaw coming in later. Vice versa if they bat first.Kuldeep Yadav missed the game against CSK because of a niggle, and Capitals would hope he returns soon, for this game if possible.Another concern for Capitals is the form of their two overseas players Tristan Stubbs and Anrich Nortje. Stubbs was cleaned up for a first-ball duck against CSK, while Nortje has looked rusty in his two outings so far. Jhye Richardson bowled at full tilt in the nets ahead of Capitals’ previous fixture, and could slot in if they want to give a break to Nortje. Capitals could also consider bringing in Jake Fraser-McGurk in place of Stubbs.Probable XII: 1 , 2 David Warner, 3 Rishabh Pant (capt, wk), 4 Mitchell Marsh 5 Tristan Stubbs/Jake Fraser-McGurk, 6 Axar Patel, 7 Abishek Porel, 8 Anrich Nortje/Jhye Richardson, 9 Mukesh Kumar, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Khaleel Ahmed, 12 Kolkata Knight Riders
Varun Chakravarthy bowled just two overs in KKR’s previous game before being subbed off for Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Legspinner Suyash Sharma is another option for that spot, with Raghuvanshi the Impact Player once more swapping places with Suyash or Chakravarthy.Venkatesh seemed to have tweaked his back in KKR’s previous game and was seen hobbling, but bowling coach Bharat Arun confirmed he was “fit and rearing to go”.Probable XII: 1 Phil Salt (wk), 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Venkatesh Iyer, 4 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 5 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Ramandeep Singh, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Anukul Roy, 11 Harshit Rana, 12 Mitchell Starc has had a horror start to IPL 2024•BCCIPitch and conditionsThe pitch for the first game in Vizag had a decent covering of grass. It aided swing and seam movement almost throughout the 40 overs, and even swung even more under lights. Similar conditions could be expected for the DC vs KKR game, too. There’s also a warning for excessive heat and humidity in Vizag, so something for the teams to note.In the spotlight – Can Mitchell Starc have an impact?After being overlooked for the first two games, Prithvi Shaw “came out of the gate like a raging bull”, in the words of Mitchell McClenaghan on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut.Shaw has had a rough time of it on and off the field in the recent past, but on Saturday, as he strode out for his first hit in IPL 2024, he seemed to be in great touch, scoring a 27-ball 43. Shaw’s form is important to Capitals’ hopes of going deep in the tournament, and they will be delighted with the way he has begun.Every time Mitchell Starc comes on to bowl, it comes with that INR 24.75 crore price tag attached to him. Playing in the IPL for the first time since 2015, Starc has leaked runs big time. He went for 53 in his opening game against SRH and then 47 against RCB and is yet to figure in the wickets column. He will dearly hope to turn his fortunes around the next time he is out in the park.Stats that matter – Rishabh Pant in sight of 3000 Pant needs 65 runs to reach 3000 runs in IPL. If he gets there, he will be the 22nd player in the league to achieve the mark. Kuldeep picks up a wicket every six balls against KKR, his former franchise. In three matches to date, he has ten wickets with best bowling figures of 4 for 14. Warner has smashed Sunil Narine for 195 runs in 123 balls in 16 IPL innings, only falling to him twice. Pant strikes at 195.00 against Andre Russell in the IPL but has also fallen to the fast bowler three times in six innings.Quotes”I hope the crowd will be with DC this time and will support us. We will also make sure the crowd is enjoying. We want to finish on a nice note because it is our last game here in Vizag.”
“He is one of the most experienced bowlers around the world and also someone who understands the conditions and adapts to them very well. You will see a different version of him in the future. He knows what it takes to succeed.”

Barcelona are considering taking disciplinary action against Marc-Andre ter Stegen and could strip him of their captaincy as the feud between the goalkeeper and the club continues. The Germany international publicly announced the news of his back surgery last month and that he would remain out of action for three months, which left the Blaugrana fuming.

Barcelona consider taking back captain's armband from Ter StegenTer Stegen's public announcement of injury irked managementBarca return to training on ThursdayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Ter Stegen's recent actions have left Barcelona officials fuming as president Joan Laporta, along with sporting director Deco, are considering taking the captain's armband back from the goalkeeper, according to . The German custodian was named club captain only last year after Sergi Roberto left as a free agent.

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The Spanish champions are yet to make a final call on the captaincy decision, however, as Laporta and Deco plan to meet manager Hansi Flick to discuss the situation before taking any action. Barcelona's players will resume training after a small break that followed their return from a pre-season tour of Asia. 

DID YOU KNOW?

Ter Stegen's public announcement that he was sidelined for three months particularly irked the club management as had he remained out of action for four months, the club would have been allowed to use 80 per cent of his salary to register another player, namely fellow keeper and new signing Joan Garcia, who joined the club this summer from rivals Espanyol.

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After a successful tour of Asia, where the Blaugrana won all of their pre-season friendly matches, the club will now take on Cesc Fabregas' Como in the Joan Gamper Trophy on Sunday. 

Royals had dropped to second place on Sunday after five weeks at No. 1

Sreshth Shah06-May-20242:16

It’s Kuldeep and Axar vs Chahal and Ashwin

Match detailsDelhi Capitals (sixth) vs Rajasthan Royals (second)
Delhi, 7.30pm IST (2pm GMT)Big picture: More carnage at the Kotla?Delhi has been a batter’s dream and a nightmare for bowlers in IPL 2024, with an average first-innings score of 249 and an overall run rate of 11.38 – the highest of any venue this season – in the three matches there so far.It has worked out well for DC, who won their last two games at home on the back of Jake Fraser-McGurk’s fireworks. DC’s openers have averaged 57.33 with a strike rate of 292 in Delhi.The powerful starts have allowed Tristan Stubbs, Rishabh Pant and even Axar Patel to continue the momentum. Stubbs is striking at 186 against both pace and spin, Pant is on track to have his best IPL season, and Axar’s left-handedness has proved to be a big weapon anywhere in the order. Those are all promising signs as DC need to win their remaining three league games, but the odds are stacked against them since they are facing Rajasthan Royals.It’s taken a lot to beat RR in IPL 2024: Gujarat Titans managed it by hitting a last-ball boundary, and Sunrisers Hyderabad denied RR two runs off the final ball in their previous game.Royals, who dropped to second on the points table on Sunday after leading for more than five weeks, have the standout bowling unit of IPL 2024. A win will not only help them reclaim the top spot but also assure them of a place in the playoffs. Their pacers’ economy of 8.22 and an average of 23.57 are the best among all teams. They are also exceedingly potent with the new ball, averaging three wickets per game in the first six overs. Add to that, the experience of their spinners and the form of their top order.If there’s any weakness, it is their undercooked lower-middle order. Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell are finding big shots but not finishing games off. Dhruv Jurel has also struggled apart from one half-century, and their Nos. 5 to 8 are averaging only 20.93. That makes the eight overs from Kuldeep Yadav and Axar major factors for DC, but the spinners will need support from a lacklustre pace-bowling unit that has conceded 10.35 per over this season.Form guideDelhi Capitals LWWLW
Rajasthan Royals LWWWWPrevious meetingIn Jaipur, Riyan Parag’s 84 helped RR recover from 36 for 3 to finish on 185. In response, DC lost their way after a strong start to the chase, with the RR bowlers squeezing the middle order. Pant, Abishek Porel and Axar scored only 52 runs off 49 balls between them, and DC went down by 12 runs.Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson go head to head in Delhi•BCCITeam news and Impact Player strategyDelhi Capitals
Ishant Sharma is fit again, but a call on David Warner’s availability will be taken on match day. DC will also toss up between Prithvi Shaw and Kumar Kushagra but the latter may get the nod. Shaw struggles against the ball swinging in and has an average of 11.75 in his last four games. Wicket-taking fast bowler Rasikh Salam is the expected Impact Player.Likely XII: 1 Jake Fraser-McGurk, 2 Abishek Porel, 3 Shai Hope, 4 Tristan Stubbs, 5 Rishabh Pant (capt, wk), 6 Axar Patel, , 8 Kuldeep Yadav, 9 Khaleel Ahmed, 10 Lizaad Williams, 11 Mukesh Kumar, Rajasthan Royals
Mitigating circumstances aside, RR are likely to play the same team. They have no injury concerns. Jos Buttler for Yuzvendra Chahal is the likeliest Impact Player swap.Likely XII: , 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Sanju Samson (capt & wk), 4 Riyan Parag, 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Rovman Powell, 7 Dhruv Jurel, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Trent Boult, 10 Avesh Khan, 11 Sandeep Sharma, In the spotlight – Pant and SamsonOutside the IPL, there’s another contest to keep an eye on, the one between the two wicketkeeper-batters in India’s T20 World Cup squad – Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson.Both are approaching 400 runs and could finish with their best IPL seasons. There’s also little to choose between the two as Pant’s numbers (398 runs, strike-rate of 158.56, ball-per-boundary ratio of 4.56) are similar to Samson’s (385 runs, strike-rate of 159.09, ball-per-boundary ratio of 4.57).The one difference is that Samson is a better hitter of spin in IPL 2024 and his strike-rate of 150.92 between overs 7-16 is the best among all the players in India’s World Cup squad. One reason for that could be Samson, at No. 3, has more opportunity of being set before playing the middle overs. However, since 2019, Samson averages only 18.78 when walking into bat after the 11th over, while Pant’s performances are much stronger there. Who will take the upper hand with the World Cup approaching?Stats that matter The team batting first has won all three games in Delhi this season, after making 220-plus each time. Kuldeep had dismissed Buttler three times in nine innings. The batter has a strike rate of 138.09 (87 runs off 63 balls) against the wristspinner. Rishabh Pant vs spin could be a key battle: he has a strike rate of 188 against pace this season, but only 118 against spin. Delhi is averaging 14.83 sixes per innings this season, the highest among all venues. Pitch and conditionsExpect another highway. Dew should not be a major factor and conditions for batting will not change between innings. It will be a hot but dry in the evening.Quotes”We know that we are coming up against a very good Rajasthan side, but we know if we play our best cricket, as we have seen in the tournament so far, if we can play our best cricket for 40 overs, then I’ll guarantee we’ll be hard to beat. It doesn’t matter who we play or where we play them. We know we can beat anybody”

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal now stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Europe's elite, but admits his reign will only be complete when the club clinches a major trophy. The Spaniard made a bold claim that his side have been "transformed" since he took charge, pointing to an incorrect record as the Premier League's most consistent points scorers over the past three seasons.

Arteta hails Arsenal as European eliteBig-money summer spree aims at gloryMistakenly claims Gunners hold three-year recordFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Arteta’s time at the Emirates has been a mix of progress and frustration. While his first full season brought the FA Cup, Arsenal have fallen painfully short of Premier League glory, with three consecutive second-place finishes.

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Determined to turn potential into prizes, Arsenal have launched one of the most ambitious transfer windows in their history. Over £173 million (€200m/$234m) has been splashed on fresh talent, with Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres leading the arrivals in a £54m (€63m/$74m) deal from Sporting CP. The club have also added Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, Cristhian Mosquera, Christian Norgaard and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, bolstering the squad in almost every department.

WHAT ARTETA SAID

"I give my passion, my energy, my knowledge and everything I have to give to this club," Arteta told . "I believe we have transformed this club from where it was to where it is today. In terms of performance, when we look at the last three years of the Premier League, we are the team that has scored the most points. But we still need to win a major title. That's what we're missing, because the rest is done. The connection with the fans has changed, there's no doubt that Arsenal is one of the best teams in Europe at the moment, but we still need to seal that achievement."

However, this claim over Arsenal's point total in comparison to others over the last three years is incorrect. From the start of 2022-23 to the end of 2024-25, the Gunners totalled 247 points – four fewer than Manchester City's tally of 251.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

Arsenal’s first challenge of the new season is as big as it gets with a trip to Manchester United’s Old Trafford scheduled on Sunday. For Arteta, victory in such a blockbuster clash would put down a marker for the campaign ahead.

Defending champions will start T20 World Cup against Scotland on strip used for Namibia’s low-scoring shoot-out against Oman

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Jun-2024England will begin their defence of the T20 World Cup against Scotland on the same Kensington Oval surface which threw up a 218-run shoot-out between Namibia and Oman on Sunday night. They are heavy favourites against their British rivals but were beaten when the teams last met, in a 2018 ODI, and this slow, low surface could make life difficult for their batters.Jos Buttler, England’s captain, said on Monday that he will encourage his players to adapt and judge conditions for themselves and react accordingly, rather than heading into Tuesday’s match with “too many preconceived ideas”. But the evidence from Sunday’s match is that there could be variable bounce on a sticky surface on which wickets fell in clusters.Related

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Namibia emerged as winners, but needed a Super Over to do so after reaching 109 for 6 in pursuit of 110. Their fingerspinners, Bernard Scholtz and Gerhard Erasmus, both trapped batters lbw with balls which kept low, while Oman seamer Mehran Khan bowled Jan Frylinck in the final over with a grubber which deflected off his pad.David Wiese, Namibia’s match-winner in the Super Over, said the pitch was “a difficult wicket to start on the whole time… once you got wickets, you got wickets in clusters.” Zeeshan Maqsood, Oman’s ex-captain, suggested that Saturday’s rain in Barbados had impacted the pitch: “There was a little bit of stopping and coming, because a little wetness was there.”England and Scotland will use the same surface that Namibia and Oman did on Sunday•Getty ImagesButtler said he saw “bits and pieces” of Sunday’s match, but suggested that England should be accustomed to conditions in Barbados. They played a five-match T20I series held entirely at Kensington Oval in early 2022, and also played an ODI and a T20I there when they toured the Caribbean in December last year.”We’ve played some games here, so we know what conditions can be like,” Buttler said. “But it’s important not to have too many preconceived ideas and assume the pitch will play in a certain way. We’ve got to be prepared. That’s where communication and assessing conditions quickly – with bat or ball – will be key to the game.”He told the BBC: “We are trying not to play the game before the game has been played. It’s good to be here and get a feel for conditions, but on each day, you have to be ready to adapt… it is not in the batters’ favour all of the time in T20 cricket. We need to be able to adapt and communicate well as a team, and work out what will be a winning score.”

“He knows everything about the Caribbean, and he’s got that winner’s mindset. I think that’s something that we’re really tapping into.”Jos Buttler on Kieron Pollard’s influence

England have been joined in Barbados by Kieron Pollard, who has been enlisted as a consultant coach for this World Cup and has spoken to the players about the impact that stiff crosswinds can have in the Caribbean. “That’s part of selection discussions and team discussions, being aware of the wind and right-hand/left-hand combinations,” Buttler said.”[Pollard] has fitted in really well. Some of the guys have played with him, or played lots of cricket against him, so have a nice relationship to start from. Obviously, he’s got a wealth of T20 knowledge and everyone should have been tapping into that, sponging up any really good information that he’s got for us.”And obviously, [he knows about] local conditions. He knows everything about the Caribbean, and he’s got that winner’s mindset. I think that’s something that we’re really tapping into. He’s won a lot of competitions around the world… it’s great to have guys like that around the group.”Kieron Pollard will assist Matthew Mott during the T20 World Cup•Gareth Copley/GettyEngland come into the World Cup after beating Pakistan 2-0 in a rain-affected series, and Buttler said there is “a really good vibe” around their squad. “We had some good performances there, but we’re fully focused on the game tomorrow. We need to make sure we bring 100% intensity to that, first of all.”He acknowledged that England will be expected to beat Scotland comfortably, but said: “It’s a great game: our first of the World Cup. We’re all excited for that and we expect a tough challenge. They’ve come here to try and win games, and they want to beat us; we want to beat them. It’s pretty straightforward.”Buttler also declined to give any clues as to England’s XI for the opening match, saying: “I think we’ve got lots of really good options, from No. 1 to 15. We picked a squad with a lot of different options, and we’ve got to work out what we feel is the best combination for the first game.”

Rasmus Hojlund has a week to change his stance after he rejected a move back to Italy as AC Milan aim to sign the striker from Manchester United.

Rasmus Hojlund is not interested in joining AC MilanStriker wants to compete for minutes at UnitedHojlund told there's no place for him at Old TraffordFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

As soon as it looked like Milan and United were closing in on an agreement for a move for Hojlund, the Danish striker quickly refused to move back to Italy. Milan sporting director Igli Tare has therefore decided to extend his stay in England to monitor Hojlund's situation. The player has been clearly told that he is no longer in the English club's plans and needs to consider a future elsewhere so as to not hamper his development, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

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The ex-Atalanta striker appreciates Milan's offer, but it has now become a matter of pride for the Dane forward, as he reiterated his stance that he wants to fight for his place at the club, even though he has fallen down coach Ruben Amorim's pecking order. Tare remains hopeful that the striker will ultimately choose to move, given United's declarative stance.

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Milan opened negotiations for Hojlund after United were willing to loan him out with a buy option. However, Hojlund's camp has made it clear that should the player depart the club, it will be a permanent move rather than a loan. Tare will look into how the situation develops for a week, after which he will consider other options.

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Tare's other options include Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson and Paris Saint-Germain's Goncalo Ramos. There have been talks to bring Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus, but the player's high wages remain a hurdle for the Serie A side. Milan will have to sort their frontline quickly as the new Serie A season kicks off on August 23.  

El Tri’s 2025 schedule is nearly full, with Uruguay also on tap before closing the year against Paraguay.

September opponents: Japan and South KoreaUruguay confirmed as November rivalMexico to kick off the 2026 World Cup at Estadio AztecaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFPWHAT HAPPENED?

Mexico’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, the United States and Canada continue to take shape, with Javier Aguirre’s side finalizing another date on their calendar.

After confirming a clash with Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay on Saturday, Nov. 15 at TSM Stadium in Torreón, the Mexican federation has reportedly now lined up Paraguay as the second rival of that international window, according to TUDN. That match will be played on Tuesday, Nov. 18, with the venue still to be determined – though Monterrey’s Estadio BBVA is seen as the leading candidate.

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Earlier this week, the federation also shut down speculation about a possible friendly against Argentina in Chicago, clarifying that the South American giants are not part of the upcoming schedule.

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Mexico and Paraguay have met 21 times in history, with holding the edge at 11 wins, five draws and five defeats. However, the most recent clash went Paraguay’s way, as t earned a 1-0 victory in a 2022 friendly.

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Mexico’s packed friendly schedule kicks off in September, with matches against Japan on Sept. 6 at Oakland Coliseum and South Korea on Sept. 9 at Geodis Park in Nashville. The following month, El Tri will face Colombia on Oct. 11 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington before returning home to meet Ecuador on Oct. 14 at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara.

By November, Mexico will have completed a six-game stretch of tune-up matches — all part of their build-up to the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Estadio Azteca.