Nathan McAndrew took 5 for 38, including Matt Renshaw for 21, as South Australia claimed a 129-run win over Queensland at Allan Border Field
AAP23-Oct-2024South Australia 314 (Hunt 136, McInerney 51, Whitney 5-57) and 352 for 9 dec (Carey 123*, McSweeney 72) beat Queensland opener Matt Renshaw did himself no favours in his bid to push for the vacancy at the top of Australia’s Test batting order, dismissed cheaply on the final day of the Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia.Already an outsider for the India series after being overlooked for Australia A, Renshaw had begun the summer with scores of 6, 15 and 2 and needed a big total on the final day of the Shield match at Allan Border Field, won by the visitors by 129 runs after wicketkeeper Alex Carey and Nathan McAndrew starred.There appeared little need for Renshaw to play at McAndrew’s delivery wide of off stump, but he mistimed his cover drive and edged the ball straight to Carey after compiling 21 runs.Bulls skipper Marnus Labuschagne said Renshaw’s failures had not helped his Test cause, but added that all was not lost.”I certainly think it counts against him. If other guys are making runs and it is going to be a tight call, it is always going to work like that,” Labuschagne said.”That doesn’t mean he can’t bat well in the next two [Shield[ games and maybe change people’s opinions or views.”Test opener Usman Khawaja (39) joined Renshaw in the pavilion, also edging to Carey without kicking on as Queensland chased 359 for victory.Labuschagne (10) and Ben McDermott (0) were dismissed either side of lunch as the hosts stumbled to 79 for 4.Jack Clayton fought hard to make 91•Getty ImagesDebutant Lachlan Hearne (44) and Jack Clayton (91) got the Bulls back into it with a 106-run stand for the fifth wicket.Wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson (10) was unlucky to be given out caught behind to a lifter from speedster McAndrew as South Australia turned the screws to bundle Queensland out for 229.McAndrew completed a stellar match after taking three wickets in the first innings and making a vital 46 in the second dig.Carey was named player of the match. His first-innings 42 followed by an unbeaten 123 stamped his class, and the Test gloveman snared 10 catches, including seven in the second innings.”He has been excellent for us since coming back from his Test duties,” South Australia captain Nathan McSweeney said.”Last week he scored a 90 and a hundred for us as well. The way he plays and the runs he makes are match-winning.”It is never easy coming up here to Queensland and winning. This game has been good for our team morale. After having a couple of tough years, hopefully it is the start of a good year for us.”
Before the end of the 2024/25 campaign, Liverpool had gone three transfer windows having spent nominally.
Indeed, last August’s £12.5m purchase of Federico Chiesa was the only Anfield addition since Jurgen Klopp’s ambitious midfield rebuild in 2023.
So while rivals may be frustrated at the Merseysiders’ spenging spree, they may want to check themselves after letting Arne Slot waltz into the Premier League and get his hands on the title with scarcely any investment, not 12 months after Klopp vacated his throne.
To think that these remarkable Reds have already reached a higher level than their domestic peers is frightening, for Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong have strengthened the defensive flanks, Florian Wirtz has arrived for a British-record £116m fee.
And let’s not forget Giorgi Mamardashvili, who replaces Caoimhin Kelleher between the sticks after a £29m fee was agreed last summer.
However, for all this productive restructuring, there may be plenty more yet to come.
Liverpool's new-look frontline
Mohamed Salah certainly pulled his weight for Liverpool last season, practically dragging Slot’s side to the Premier League title that he promised after a disappointing end to 2023/24.
But he’s now 33, and will need greater support. With Darwin Nunez, Chiesa and Diogo Jota all rumoured to be leaving Anfield this summer, a few more incomings could go down a treat, especially as Luis Diaz is also being chased by Barcelona and Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.
Already, Wirtz’s arrival opens up a whole new world of possibilities as far as the attacking line-up is confirmed, and that’s without even considering the addition of an out-and-out striker.
WirtzWhere Wirtz could feature for Liverpool
Liverpool, to be sure, have spent a lot already this summer, but sales and careful planning has led the outfit to an enviable position that may yet see them break the bank once again.
And we all know who we’d like up top.
Liverpool pushing for elite striker
According to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are still pushing for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, who is supposedly unavailable after the Magpies qualified for the Champions League, thus pricing him at £200m.
But in spite of such claims, Liverpool’s interest persists. There have even been claims in the previous week suggesting the Sweden international wants to leave St. James’ Park as the Merseysiders ramp up the gas, although it feels unlikely that he would hand in an official transfer request.
Speaking to Rousing the Kop, Bailey said: “Liverpool are not being deterred, we’re not sure quite why that is, but they seem to think there’s a chink of light there.”
Why Liverpool should sign Alexander Isak
Given the technicalities of a prospective bid for Isak, and indeed the finances involved, Newcastle’s stance, yada yada, FSG would be forgiven for focusing their attention elsewhere.
Liverpool, after all, have stocked up with some incredible signings already this summer.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
But Isak is a special player, hailed by analyst Raj Chohan last season as being “the best striker in the world” and an “unstoppable talent” in the words of writer Adam Keys. Some would refute that initial claim, but then who can deny that the 25-year-old’s completeness in the final third makes him one of the most dangerous players out there?
Liverpool certainly know how it feels to come unstuck against the shifty forward, whose intelligence and movements saw him score in the Carabao Cup final in March, winning the Magpies some silver at Slot’s expense.
Across 42 matches in 2024/25, he scored 27 goals and laid on six assists. Newcastle are a fantastic team, but you get the sense that haul could swell under Slot’s management at Liverpool. With the likes of Wirtz and Salah creating for him, surely anything’s possible?
Salah, while renowned for being one of the deadliest strikers of his generation, is also an incredible playmaker, having assisted 88 goals across 301 Premier League fixtures. He racked up 18 assists from last season alone.
And then Wirtz will bring a more focused brand of creativity to the Liverpool fold. The German, still only 22, was hailed as a “genius” by his former Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso for his intelligence and eagle vision.
As per FBref, he ranked among the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers last year for assists, the top 7% for shot-creating actions and progressive passes, and the top 2% for passes attempted per 90, underscoring that point.
Adding him to a team already blessed with supreme creative production must be a daunting thought for opponents, especially when throwing Isak into the equation.
1.
Liverpool
112
2.
Chelsea
93
3.
Arsenal
91
3=
Man City
91
5.
Aston Villa
90
Injuries aside, it’s hard to imagine the Newcastle sensation flopping. His roundedness and ability to drop deep, influence and then carve through defences with blistering speed, measured strides, makes him a unique adversary, and one who has yet to taste Slot’s tactical guidance.
While Liverpool would have to break a bank still shattered after Wirtz’s arrival, there are few – if any – forwards who would be more fitting than Isak, who is proven in the Premier League and endowed with the phyiscal and tactical properties that are perfect for a place at the front of the Anfield ship.
He only missed 18 big chances in the Premier League last term, as per Sofascore, scoring 23 times, and with such deadly finishing and a balanced style, it’s time for Liverpool to move the requisite pieces and shake the division by testing Newcastle’s resolve.
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Liverpool have enjoyed a fantastic transfer window and it’s not slowing down.
Hampshire 298 and 88 for 2 (Middleton 58, Gubbins 24*, Mousley 1-0) lead Warwickshire 254 (Bethell 69, Mousley 57, Barker 6-74) by 132 runs Keith Barker reminded Warwickshire’s fans of the skills they lost in 2018 as he bowled Hampshire into control on the second day of their Vitality County Championship match at Edgbaston.Barker’s left-arm swing earned him 14 hauls of five wickets or more as a Warwickshire player. He bagged his ninth for Hampshire with 6 for 74 to give them the upper hand in a gripping contest in the Birmingham sunshineIn reply to 298, Warwickshire were dismissed for 254 by Barker and Kyle Abbott (3 for 64) despite impressive resistance from young batters Jake Bethell and Dan Mousley.A lead of 44 is handy in conditions which have given the seamers some encouragement and Hampshire built on it in the final session to reach 88 for 2 as Fletcha Middleton struck his second half-century of the match.After Warwickshire resumed on 51 for 2, the ground echoed to perhaps the earliest ever cry of ‘get on with it’ when, at 11.01am, a long delay ensued while the ball was inspected and then changed. Barker wielded the replacement to spectacular effect with a burst of 3 for 17 in 25 balls. He trapped Danny Briggs lbw, had Sam Hain superbly caught by Ben Brown, standing up, and hit Ed Barnard’s off-stump.From 83 for 5, Mousley and Bethell applied themselves diligently. Destructive batters in the Blast (Bethell smashed 50 from 15 balls last week – this time he scored just two from his first 15), they showed they also have the technique to dig in against good bowling. They added 74 in 22 overs before Mousley was lured into driving away from his body at Barker and edged behind.Michael Burgess joined Bethell to add 64 in 21 overs before Barker returned to strike twice more. Bethell edged a big drive to first slip where James Vince accepted that catch and another two overs later when Chris Woakes edged a footwork-free waft.Craig Miles smote three quick fours but then played down the wrong line to Abbott. Mohammad Abbas finally collected a deserved wicket when Burgess chopped on.With the evening session to enlarge their lead, Hampshire began badly when Toby Albert edged Olly Hannon-Dalby’s second ball to slip, but then advanced meticulously. Middleton continued his good form from the first innings to reach a 60-ball half-century and Nick Gubbins (24 not out in over two hours) unfurled an innings of low entertainment for the spectators but high value to his team as the advantage ticked upwards.Middleton edged Mousley behind 14 balls before the close and though Hampshire are well on top, Warwickshire are very much still in the game. This intriguing match may have a fascinating second half in wait for those spectators, particularly those who are connoisseurs of threes. With a very long boundary on the Pershore Road side of the ground, this has been a veritable festival of threes – there have been 15 already.
Leeds United will re-enter the Premier League relieved that they won’t have to sell a load of their stars like last summer.
Indeed, there was a mass exodus away from West Yorkshire after the Whites’ heartbreaking playoff final defeat in the Championship, resulting in Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville, and Georginio Rutter all upping and leaving for the luxuries of a new top-flight team.
These notable departures thankfully didn’t derail Daniel Farke’s men on their way to lifting the second-tier title. Still, Leeds could be about to finally land an exciting Rutter replacement this summer.
After all, since the Frenchman’s farewell, Leeds have had to make do with some lacklustre performers in the number ten role.
Leeds in the race to sign Championship star
Farke won’t feel too confident in relying on Brenden Aaronson to come good in the Premier League, considering the American attacker has struggled at the daunting level before, scoring one goal and registering only three assists during the doomed 2022/23 campaign.
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Therefore, it’s no shock to see Leeds be linked with this entertaining number ten, with The Irish Sun now reporting that the newly promoted side have joined the intense race to snap up Middlesbrough ace Finn Azaz.
AFC Bournemouth and Crystal Palace are also named as interested onlookers, meaning Leeds’ quest to win the Irishman’s services could be tough.
But, if Farke and Co. are serious about improving their already electric attacking output ahead of Premier League football returning to Elland Road, winning the £20m-rated midfielder’s services will be deemed a top priority, particularly if he is capable of being the figure to finally fill Rutter’s void.
Why Azaz can finally replace Rutter
It might well be bizarre to say that Leeds still feel a need to replace Rutter, considering the Whites stormed to the second-tier title with 95 goals bagged.
But, whilst Aaronson would chip in with a respectable tally of nine strikes and two assists on the way to promotion being resoundingly won, the 24-year-old blows far too hot and cold compared to the regular brilliance of the ex-Whites number 24.
Rutter, despite promotion falling to the wayside towards the close of the disappointing 2023/24 season, would still manage to collect a mammoth eight goals and 16 assists in league action.
Staggeringly, Azaz would only find himself one short of eclipsing this hefty total this campaign just gone for Michael Carrick’s own failed promotion hopefuls.
Azaz’s ability to drive forward and carve teams open from the number ten spot for Boro is eerily similar to the much-loved 23-year-old during his Elland Road prime.
The hope will just be that the 6-foot-1 star can make the transition to the Premier League look smooth, but having never been given a fair opportunity at his former employers Aston Villa, he will be chomping at the bit to succeed if he’s given the call by Farke’s men.
Games played
45
45
Goals scored
12
6
Assists
11
15
Shots*
2.7
2.7
Touches*
48.7
46.6
Accurate passes*
23.3 (74%)
15.1 (69%)
Key passes*
2.0
1.9
Big chances missed
5
17
Big chances created
10
22
Looking at the table above, the similarities just keep stacking up, with Farke more prepared to take a risk on his potential new £20m buy in the knowledge that Rutter moved up and acclimatised to his new surroundings swimmingly, with eight goal contributions next to his name from 28 Premier League appearances in 2024/25.
The Boro star is the “whole package” – as he’s been labelled by his current boss Carrick – and could well feel he’s now outgrown the Championship. Indeed, a sparkling 11 goals and ten assists also came his way in league action during the 2023/24 campaign, alongside nearly matching Rutter at the Riverside Stadium recently.
Therefore, ahead of their Premier League voyage taking off, taking a risk on EFL superstar Azaz to come good might well see the West Yorkshire titans win themselves Rutter 2.0.
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Manchester United find themselves 14th in the Premier League table after their 1-1 draw with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday.
The Red Devils needed a stoppage-time equaliser from Rasmus Hojlund to avoid a 16th defeat in the top-flight this season, in what has been a significantly below-par campaign for the club.
INEOS and Ruben Amorim must work together to ensure that the recruitment work this summer is spot on, as there have been too many missteps in recent years, including the signing of Mason Mount in the summer of 2023.
Why Mason Mount has been a flop for Manchester United
The England international signed for the Red Devils from Chelsea for a reported fee of £55m ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, and has had a rough time in Manchester so far.
Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount
Since the start of last season, Mount has missed a whopping 50 matches through calf and hamstring injuries, which have heavily disrupted his time at Old Trafford.
When available, however, the English attacking midfielder has not done enough to justify the money spent on his services, with a return of one goal and one assist in 39 appearances in all competitions.
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This has led to his market value, as per Transfermarkt, plummeting to just £24m, which shows that he has been a flop for Manchester United so far because the midfielder has not delivered goals or assists, or consistent availability, and is now worth significantly less than the fee they paid for him.
Mount is not the only player from that batch of recruitment in 2023 who has not been good enough, though, as Andre Onana should be ruthlessly ditched by INEOS this summer.
Why Man Utd should sell Andre Onana
Manchester United reportedly paid £47.2m to sign the Cameroon international from Ajax in the summer of 2023, and his value has plummeted in the two years since then.
It was recently reported that the club would consider offers of at least £20m for Onana, which means that he could be sold for even less than Mount is currently worth (£24m).
As you can see in the highlights above, Onana most recently had a night to forget against Lyon with two mistakes in the Europa League, which led to him being dropped against Newcastle United in the Premier League.
That came directly after former United midfielder Nemanja Matic dubbed him “one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United’s history” after being asked about Onana’s claim that his team were better than Lyon.
Whilst the Red Devils eventually won the tie over two legs, the Cameroon international’s personal performances did not do much to dismiss Matic’s harsh claim.
Appearances
44
43
Goals conceded
73
59
Errors leading to shots
3
1
Errors leading to goals
3
5
Penalties committed
1
0
As you can see in the table above, making errors is not a new issue for Onana because the shot-stopper has been error-prone throughout his two seasons in Manchester to date.
Manchester United'sAndreOnanaduring the warm up before the match
He has not been a reliable, safe, pair of hands between the sticks, due to these errors in the Premier League, the Champions League, and the Europa League, and that is why INEOS must ruthlessly cash in on him this summer.
United should look to move Onana on, whether that is for a fee of £20m or another figure, and then attempt to recruit a replacement who can be relied upon week-in-week-out at the top level, without Amorim having to be concerned about his goalkeeper making calamitous errors consistently.
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We’re less than one month away from the end of the 2024/25 campaign, a year of shifting emotions for those of an Everton persuasion.
The Toffees started off dismally, losing their opening four fixtures of the season under Sean Dyche’s wing and lacking any semblance of spirit or invention. When The Friedkin Group took over and ended the interminable pursuit of new ownership, they (re)appointed David Moyes in January.
Now, hope has been restored. Everton are 13th in the Premier League with just a few matches to go, relegation fears long in the past.
However, with as many as 15 senior players departing this summer, there’s plenty of work to be done, and who can argue that strengthening the frontline ahead of the move to Bramley Moore isn’t the priority?
Everton ready to sign new forward
The Toffees are rightly in the market for a new forward this summer, particularly given Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s struggles and the fact that his contract expires in a few months time.
So, who could head to the new stadium and join Moyes’ revolution?
Transfer Focus
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Well, according to GIVEMESPORT, Moyes has decided to earmark Tottenham Hotspur’s Richarlison, with the Brazilian identified as the ‘dream’ target.
Richarlison, of course, spent four seasons at Goodison Park before transferring to Spurs in a £60m deal back in 2022, but it hasn’t worked out and both parties appear ready to cut their losses.
The 28-year-old wouldn’t come cheap, however, priced at no less than £40m, given Tottenham face a sell-to-buy scenario this summer.
Amid those claims, it’s stated that Everton are seriously weighing up a summer offer.
Why Everton should re-sign Richarlison
Richarlison is a versatile forward with a fiery personality that he uses to his advantage more often than not. It’s all come down like a house of cards at Tottenham, but that’s not to say he’s been poor, rebounding from a tough first season to provide a comparative clinical edge.
Former Everton forward Richarlison
If Moyes can get him firing, it would be sure to dynamise Everton’s frontline. Currently, Iliman Ndiaye carries quite a weight on his shoulders, recognised as a “relentless forward” by data analyst Ben Mattinson, who “could be at least a squad player in every Prem team.”
Having scored nine times across all competitions since signing for Everton from Marseille in a £15m deal, Ndiaye has been one of the brightest sparks, with his silky movements and sharpness in the danger area making him a dangerous presence against any opponent.
However, Richarlison at his best could be the new cream of the crop, having already proved himself a £60m player as a Blue in the past.
Although his debut campaign in the capital didn’t go to plan, Richarlison has returned to prolific form in the two terms spent under Ange Postecoglou. If Moyes can solve the forward’s injury problems, there’s no question that he could usurp Ndiaye and take the tag of Everton’s best player next season.
24/25
Tottenham
12 (3)
4
1
23/24
Tottenham
28 (18)
11
4
22/23
Tottenham
27 (12)
1
4
21/22
Everton
30 (28)
10
5
20/21
Everton
34 (33)
7
3
19/20
Everton
36 (36)
13
3
18/19
Everton
35 (32)
13
1
17/18
Watford
38 (32)
5
4
The stats are on his side. As per FBref, Richarlison ranks among the top 8% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 11% for assists, the top 19% for progressive carries, the top 14% for tackles and the top 2% for clearances per 90.
With a firmly embedded goalscoring quality, a raw athleticism and a tried-and-tested past on Merseyside, Richarlison could be a “constant nuisance for defenders” under Moyes’ wing, as he has been described before by Postecoglou.
Of course, there’s nothing to say that the two mavericks couldn’t work in conjunction at Everton next year, Ndiaye charging down the left flank while Richarlison looks to add to his 53 goals for the Merseyside outfit.
If the Tottenham man can reach his highest level, there’s no question he could be Moyes’ standout star.
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Left-arm spinning allrounder Dunith Wellalage will lead Sri Lanka A in the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Rising Stars T20 tournament, in Doha later this month.Also in the squad are legspinners Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Sahan Arachchige, allrounders Milan Rathnayake and Ramesh Mendis, and top-order batters Nuwanidu Fernando and Nishan Madushka, and seamer Pramod Madushan.Though none of the players in this squad have consistent places in the senior XI, Wellalage, Nuwanidu, and Madushka have all played white-ball cricket for Sri Lanka in the last few months. Rathnayake also played in Sri Lanka’s most recent Test series, against Bangladesh in June. Madushan has not played for Sri Lanka since 2024.Elsewhere in the squad is 20-year-old batting allrounder Vishen Halambage, who has been called up to the Sri Lanka senior squad, though has yet to play a match for the national team. Ramesh Mendis, meanwhile, last played for Sri Lanka in February this year, in a Test against Australia.
ACC Rising Stars tournament schedule
Nov 14 – Oman vs Pak; Ind vs UAE Nov 15 – Ban vs HK; Afg vs SL Nov 16 – Oman vs UAE; Ind vs Pak Nov 17 – HK vs SL; Afg vs Ban Nov 18 – Pak vs UAE; Ind vs Oman Nov 19 – Afg vs HK; Ban vs SL Nov 21 – Semi-finals: A1 vs B2; B1 vs A2 Nov 23 – Final
Viyaskanth, 23, has also been on the fringes of the national team for several years, though the presence of Wanindu Hasaranga, and more recently Jeffrey Vandersay, has kept him out. He has continued to do well domestically however, including in the recent SLC T20 competition – the top T20 domestic tournament this year, in the absence of the postponed Lanka Premier League.The Rising Stars tournament begins on November 14. Sri Lanka A play Afghanistan A, Hong Kong, and Bangladesh A in the group stage. Group B comprises India A, Oman, Pakistan A and UAE. Two teams from each group will then qualify for the semi finals.
Sri Lanka A squad for Rising Stars Asia Cup T20 tournament
Dunith Wellalage (capt.), Vishen Halambage, Nishan Madushka (wk), Nuwanidu Fernando, Lasith Croospulle, Ramesh Mendis, Kavindu de Livera, Sahan Arachchige, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Pramod Madushan, Garuka Sanketh, Isitha Wijesundara, Milan Rathnayake, V Viyaskanth, Traveen Mathew
The SA allrounder’s century in the Guwahati Test marks a steady rise in his ability
Firdose Moonda23-Nov-20253:14
Philander: ‘Muthusamy deserves all the accolades coming his way’
If you’re surprised to be reading the words Senuran Muthusamy, Test centurion, don’t worry. You’re probably not the only one.Though Muthusamy has spent his domestic career labelled as a batting allrounder, he was picked at international level as more of a bowling allrounder. He was included in South Africa’s Guwahati XI at the expense of a seamer, rather than one of the frontline batters (remember Zubayr Hamza and Dewald Brevis are sitting on the sidelines). Still, he managed to do what no-one else has in the series so far: score a hundred.And he did it while demonstrating the perfect technique for these conditions, with a solid defence, the ability to play the ball late and levels of patience that Ravi Shastri called “meditative.” While Muthusamy himself often only goes as far as saying he is “just trying to do a job for the team,” as he did in Sunday’s post-match press conference, he also showed a skill set that ranged from navigating Mohammed Siraj in fading light on day one to negotiating Jasprit Bumrah and India’s spinners on day two.Muthusamy occupied the crease with monk-like discipline. In the early stages of his innings, he looked for runs only when he could steer the ball behind square. He had two nervy moments – one, when he was on 37 and edged Bumrah short of second slip; the other on 48, when he missed a sweep and was given out lbw to Jadeja.Related
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Muthusamy ton, Jansen 93 put South Africa in dominant position
South Africa had just crossed 300 at the time, and his partnership with Kyle Verreynne was worth 57. Muthusamy later told the broadcasters he was so “emotional and disappointed” at losing his wicket that he just reviewed, not knowing whether there was anything that could save him. While he waited for the replays and chatted to Verreynne, Muthusamy said he realised there was the possibility the ball brushed his glove, although he didn’t feel it. When the smallest of spikes resulted in Rod Tucker’s on-field out decision being overturned, neither the Indian fielders nor Muthusamy could believe it, but that’s sport. There’s often some luck involved.Muthusamy capitalised on his, and later, revealed his improved hand-eye coordination was down to a stint with a South African sports scientist, Dr Sheryll Calder, who founded EyeGym – an organisation that works with ordinary people and athletes to sharpen motor responses.Senuran Muthusamy had an answer to everything the Indians threw at him•AFP/Getty ImagesThere was a point when Muthusamy “wasn’t sure if I’d ever play Test cricket again, and certainly not in India.” For four years after his debut in Visakhapatnam, he just went into what he called “the wilderness,” of domestic cricket, where he took 76 wickets in 24 matches at 25.15. He was looked at again when Shukri Conrad took over as head coach. Even then, Muthusamy played just one game in 2023, against West Indies in Centurion, where South Africa went all-pace but with the security of someone who could bowl spin. He only bowled eight overs in the match.Since then, Muthusamy has played six of South Africa’s 21 Tests but only appeared in consecutive matches once, in Pakistan last month where conditions called for an extra spinner. That he can bat is a bonus (especially for a coach like Conrad who places significant store in allrounders), and it’s proved more than handy in Guwahati.And let’s not forget that Muthusamy definitely can bat. His game awareness, especially of his own scoring strengths – which is something South Africa have been working on – was exemplary, and he even ventured out of his crease as his innings progressed. When he was on 68 and had seen Marco Jansen clear the ropes, Muthusamy decided he could also show aggression. Washington Sundar tossed the ball up and Muthusamy slogged it over long-on for his first six. Jansen would go on to hit six more sixes during what Muthusamy called a “sublime knock,” helping South Africa race past 400.Muthusamy and Verreynne managed just 28 runs in the first hour of play and scored at a rate of 2.23 per over, but when that partnership was broken and Jansen came in, the run-rate jumped to 5.49. Several factors, including an older ball and a flat pitch, contributed to the difference. But mostly it was Jansen.5:06
‘Extremely tactical’ hitting from Jansen
“He’s got fantastic levers, he’s a clean striker of the ball, and he really showed his skills today,” Muthusamy said. “That was a treat to watch from the other end. It was really attritional cricket out there until Marco came in and really played his shots beautifully. It was a good challenge and then awesome to just build those partnerships and really extend our first innings.”After bettering his previous career-best of 84 with a swing over midwicket, Jansen was on track for a first Test hundred, and furious with himself when he bottom-edged Kuldeep Yadav onto his stumps on 93. But South Africa could still be satisfied with their highest score in India, since the 558 for 6 declared in Nagpur in 2010. The next step is figuring out how to take wickets a surface that is still excellent for batting.Muthusamy seems to be banking on the collective experience of the South African attack more than the prospect of the surface deteriorating and taking turn as the team goes in search of a series win. “We’ll adjust accordingly to the conditions. Simon (Harmer), Kesh(av Maharaj), and myself have got a lot of experience,” he said. “Simon’s got over 1,000 first-class wickets and Kesh has over 200 international wickets, so there’s a vast amount of experience, and I look forward to seeing how things unfold.”Don’t forget Muthusamy has 277 first-class wickets, including 11 in the Lahore Test last month, which contributed to him earning the Player-of-the-Series award. He also scored 89* in the Rawalpindi game, giving South Africa a match-winning lead, and showing the full range of what he offers. Perhaps he shouldn’t be categorised as either a batting allrounder or a bowling allrounder, but rather what he thinks he is. “I see myself as an allrounder,” he said, no caveat attached besides this one. “And it’s tough being a spinning allrounder in South Africa. Conditions are a lot different to the subcontinent. But when we get an opportunity to come to the subcontinent, we really look forward to it.”
علق عدى الدباغ لاعب منتخب فلسطين، على تأهل بلاده إلى دور ربع النهائي من بطولة كأس العرب 2025، المقامة في قطر.
حسم التعادل السلبي نتيجة مباراة فلسطين وسوريا، التي أقيمت على ملعب استاد المدينة التعليمية، ليتأهلا سويًا لدور ربع النهائي من بطولة كأس العرب 2025.
وقال عدى الدباغ في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “بي ان سبورتس”: “ألف مبروك التأهل التاريخي للاعبين والجهاز الفني والإداري والجماهير الفلسطينية، شعور لا يوصف لأنه تأهل تاريخي لفلسطين للدور المقبل في كأس العرب”.
طالع.. فيديو | التعادل السلبي يحسم مباراة سوريا وفلسطين ويتأهلان لربع نهائي كأس العرب
وأكمل: “كانت مجموعتنا صعبة، أن نتصدر المجموعة في ظل تواجد منتخبات كبيرة مثل تونس، فهذا فخر وتطور كبير للرياضة الفلسطينية”.
وأردف: “سنفرح اليوم وبداية من غدًا سنفكر في المباراة المقبلة ومن الذي يتأهل والخصم المقبل”.
وأتم: “الشوط الأول كنا أفضل من منتخب سوريا، حاولنا وأتيحت لنا فرص ولكن لم نوفق فيها، الشوط الثاني كان يوجد حذر لأن النقطة تؤهلنا”.
Shohei Ohtani recorded his 1,000th hit in MLB on Wednesday, and he did it in very Ohtani-like fashion.
The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar came to the plate in the third inning and sent mammoth two-run shot over the wall in center field. It was his 39th home run of the year, and more importantly, hit No. 1,000 for the Japan native since his arrival from NPB in 2018.
Wednesday's tilt against the Cardinals was Ohtani's 973rd game in MLB, and he was doing a bit of everything at Busch Stadium. In addition to becoming the 59th active player with 1,000 hits in MLB, Ohtani was also dominating on the mound for the Dodgers, making his eighth pitching appearance of the season.
He racked up eight strikeouts in just four innings and lowered his season ERA to 2.37 in the process. He then gave himself some run support by launching the 440-foot home run. His 39 homers rank third in MLB and second in the National League, trailing only Cal Raleigh and Kyle Schwarber.