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England opted not to risk Jofra Archer given the conditions once the game was shortened

Vithushan Ehantharajah10-Sep-2025Harry Brook will not read too much into “a bit of a shambles of a night” in Cardiff as England lost a truncated first T20I against South Africa.Just 12.5 overs were possible at Sophia Gardens as persistent showers delayed the start by more than two hours. Play eventually began at 8:50pm for a nine-over match. Having won the toss and elected to bowl, Brook watched on as a powerful South Africa batting card smashed 97 for 5 from 7.5 overs before rain curtailed their innings. That downpour subsequently gave England an adjusted chase of 69 in five overs, of which they fell 15 short.Related

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England opted to remove Jofra Archer from their XI announced on Tuesday on safety grounds, after ruling conditions were too risky for their prized fast bowler. Luke Wood was the late replacement, earning his eighth T20I cap, and was the pick of the home attack with 2 for 22.”It was a bit of a shambles really, wasn’t it?” said Brook, whose 0 from four deliveries was his first duck in T20Is. “You can’t take much from that. There was so much going on. They got nine overs, we got five overs. You can’t take much from it.”It was a long, long day. I don’t think we need to make any excuses up. We probably didn’t execute as well as we should have done with bat and ball. It’s bloody hard when you only bat for five overs.”Brook stopped short of saying the match should not have gone ahead: “That’s not for me to decide, that’s for the umpires or the match referee. We just try to do what we can on the field.”However, the decision to park Archer was an admission of the risk involved, particularly given the amount of time and money invested to get the 30-year-old back playing all international formats this summer ahead of the winter’s Ashes. Brook even cited Adam Hose’s horrific ankle injury sustained during The Hundred as a worse-case scenario had Archer played.”It would have been stupid to play him with the amount of cricket we’ve got coming up,” said Brook. “If he’d have gone out in the boundary and done what Adam Hose did in The Hundred and broken his leg or whatever, that would have been a shambles.”As soon as we knew that the game was shortened, we didn’t think it was quite necessary for Jof to play. Obviously, the outfield was sodden and he’s got a lot of cricket to play in the next few months with a big series coming up. So, yeah, we, we decided to not play him.”

Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck is reportedly refusing to extend his contract with the club due to disagreements with coach Niko Kovac. The German centre-back is said to be unhappy with the overly pragmatic and unattractive style of football implemented by Kovac. This situation has alerted several top clubs, with Bayern Munich and Liverpool both showing interest in securing his signature.

Schlotterbeck's frustrations with Kovac's style of play

Dortmund defender Schlotterbeck’s contract runs until 2027, but growing tensions with coach Kovac have cast uncertainty over his future, according to . The German centre-back is reportedly unhappy with Kovac’s pragmatic and unattractive style of play, particularly following disappointing results against Bayern, Manchester City and Hamburg.

Despite the friction, Dortmund are eager to keep Schlotterbeck at the club and are preparing a contract extension until 2030. The proposed deal would see his annual salary rise by around €2.5 million to at least €8m per year, with performance-related bonuses potentially taking the total package beyond €9m.

Dortmund chief executive Lars Ricken expressed his support for Schlotterbeck’s decision to take his time before committing to a contract renewal. However, he also cautioned that the club would not wait indefinitely, saying: “We will not rush into anything. But of course, we don't want to drag it out indefinitely, everyone is aware of that.”

AdvertisementSchlotterbeck's refusal to commit his future

Schlotterbeck joined Dortmund from Freiburg in 2022 and has since become one of the most important players in the squad. The German defender has made 134 appearances, scoring six goals and providing 14 assists. Known for his versatility, speed and strong one-on-one defending, Schlotterbeck has established himself as one of the top defenders in Europe. His ability to read the game and contribute to both defensive stability and attacking build-up has been crucial for Dortmund. He played a key role in the club’s 2022-23 Bundesliga title challenge, showcasing leadership and consistency throughout the season. 

Schlotterbeck refused to commit his future to Borussia Dortmund after their 2-1 defeat to Bayern, saying: “I still have over a year and a half left on my contract. I'll sit down with Sebastian [Kehl], work out a plan, and see where it leads.” 

While the defender insisted that he is happy at the club, he acknowledged the significance of the decision regarding his contract renewal, stating: “I feel very comfortable in Dortmund and have no problem continuing on this path. But it's obviously an important decision for my career.”

Getty Images SportBayern, Madrid and Liverpool ready to go after Schlotterbeck

Bayern have shortlisted Schlotterbeck as a potential replacement if Dayot Upamecano leaves the club on a free transfer, viewing the Dortmund defender as an ideal long-term option. Germany’s World Cup-winning captain Lothar Matthaus has made his stance clear, stating that Bayern cannot afford to hesitate. He believes that Schlotterbeck should be seen as more than just an alternative, describing him instead as the logical successor should Upamecano leave the club. “If things don't work out with Upamecano, then Schlotterbeck would definitely be more than an alternative," he said. "Then bringing him to Munich would almost be a must.”

Matthaus believes Schlotterbeck’s experience in the Bundesliga would be a major advantage, saying, “Because he’s familiar with the Bundesliga, because he plays alongside [Jonathan] Tah in the national team.”

Meanwhile, Spanish giants Real Madrid are also monitoring the defender as a potential target if their pursuit of Upamecano fails. Schlotterbeck is viewed as a reliable long-term partner for Dean Huijsen, with Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba nearing the later stages of their careers and Eder Militao struggling with recurring injuries.

Premier League side Liverpool have also shown interest, identifying Schlotterbeck as a possible replacement for the injured Gabriele Leoni, with Ibrahima Konate’s contract set to expire soon.

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AFPWhere will Schlotterbeck go?

Dortmund will aim to gain clarity on Schlotterbeck’s future by the end of the season, as his continued refusal to extend would leave the club with only a year left on his contract, significantly reducing his market value. Bayern could be in pole position to sign him, although their interest may cool if Upamecano agrees to a contract extension.

For now, Dortmund and coach Kovac will use the international break to analyse their recent defeats and implement necessary tactical adjustments. Meanwhile, Schlotterbeck remains focused on finishing the season strongly before evaluating his options in the summer.