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Having already reportedly sealed their deal to sign Antonio Cordero from Malaga, Newcastle United and PIF are now reportedly taking their first steps in the race to sign another young star.

Newcastle plan for future as Cordero set to sign

Getting their summer transfer window started as early as possible, the Magpies have now reportedly completed their deal to sign Cordero from Malaga, beating both Barcelona and Real Madrid to his signature in a major coup.

The 18-year-old will arrive fresh from an impressive campaign for Malaga in Spain’s second division, in which he has scored five goals and assisted another six. Whether such a campaign makes him ready for the Premier League remains to be seen, however, especially since he’ll be competing for a place with the in-form Jacob Murphy next season.

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Instead, the teenager may first be forced to battle his way through the academy setup before earning an opportunity in Eddie Howe’s senior side. That said, patience will of course be a virtue given how young Cordero still is.

His arrival may just be the start too. After PSR concerns left them without a number of reinforcements, PIF could finally be ready to spend again this summer amid links to the likes of Liam Delap and Marseille’s Luis Henrique.

Both players would be impressive arrivals, with Delap’s recent Premier League exploits at a struggling Ipswich Town particularly making him one to watch in the coming months. Meanwhile, Cordero may not be the only young player that Newcastle welcome this summer after what PIF have just done.

PIF send Newcastle scouts to watch Asharaf Tapsoba

According to The Boot Room, PIF sent Newcastle scouts to watch Asharaf Tapsoba at the U17 Africa Cup of Nations alongside several other talents and are joined by the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea in the race to secure the forward’s signature. The Burkina Faso striker has certainly taken hold of his opportunity to impress too, scoring the most goals in the tournament so far with seven.

U17 AFCON top scorers

Goals

Country

Asharaf Tapsoba

7

Burkina Faso

Alynho Haidara

6

Ivory Coast

Ziyad Baha

4

Morocco

Ndjicoura Bomba

3

Mali

Ilies Belmokhtar

3

Morocco

Still just 15 years old, Tapsoba is undoubtedly one for the future and by joining Newcastle, he’d have the chance to learn from one of the best strikers that world football has to offer in the form of Alexander Isak.

With growing interest in his signature, the teenager already has a vital decision to make at such an early stage of his career. Just as Cordero did, those at St James’ Park will be hoping that Tapsoba ignores interest from elsewhere and joins up with the Magpies for years to come.

Shrug after being bowled by Jasprit Bumrah’s offcutter was of a man who felt he’d done everything right

Vithushan Ehantharajah25-Jan-2024As part of England’s preparations during their pre-tour training camp, ground staff at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed training complex were given creative instructions.The grass on the pitches was to be shaved as close as Ben Stokes’ fade, raked, then covered in sawdust. The aim was to recreate the most extreme surfaces they might encounter in India – then go even further.The results? Well, as intended. Batters were challenged to the nth degree, wearing deliveries on the shins or helmets. Personal wins were small, humiliation in abundance. Complaints, however, were zero.Related

• Yashasvi Jaiswal and spinners make it India's day

• England surprised by attacking intent of India openers – Duckett

• How disciplined India attacked England's defence

Therein lay the true aim of this exercise from a batting point of view. Shake off the errors, snap out of the pearl-clutching previous English sides have taken to India when surfaces turn square and embrace the doubt. And if you get a good one, move on. Ultimately – commit to the bit that has served this group so well.Naturally, it was Stokes, the captain, who encompassed this. His shrug after being bowled by a Jasprit Bumrah offcutter was of a man who felt he had done everything right. Which, in this instance, was to give himself room on the leg side, expose his stumps and shape to hammer through the off side.Stokes was the last wicket to fall, walking off having struck 70 off 88 in England’s total of 246 after calling correctly at the toss. This was the team’s highest score in seven innings away to India since their 578 in the first Test of the last tour in 2021. The run rate of 3.81 per over just a 1.01 dip from their usual Bazball rate, which can be put down to how much tougher it is to rotate the strike against a peerless spin trio.”I think we were over the par, to be honest,” said Ben Duckett, who struck a breezy 35 in an opening stand of 55 with Zak Crawley. “I think it was a tricky day-one pitch. Consistent spin from earlier. Stokesy’s knock there, to get us to where we were, was fantastic. Come day three, day four – that could be a match-winning knock if that pitch gets harder to bat on.”It certainly could be match-winning. By the end of day one of this first Test, it had decidedly face-saving qualities, too, given India are only 127 behind with nine first-innings wickets to spare.Ben Stokes scatters the field with a sweep•Getty ImagesStokes arrived at 121 for 4, as England were in the midst of a spin cycle threatening to shrink their ambitions. Once Rohit Sharma abandoned seam from the eighth over, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel combined to take six for 83 from the next 38 overs.Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root pushed back in a partnership of 61 before both fell either side of Stokes’s entrance. And while the dismissals within the top six at that point were far from reckless – Crawley not committing enough after coming down the track; Root top-edging to short fine leg playing the sweep shot that has served him very well; Ollie Pope simply out of touch – England were in trouble.It was the shirt-and-tie Stokes who arrived on the scene first – presentable for 17 off 52 deliveries before contorting his hands to reverse Jadeja through cover for his boundary. He repeated that shot twice more, without the grimaces that used to accompany it before his knee surgery in November.That third and final one came as the exclamation point in a 14-run over against Jadeja. The next time their paths crossed after tea, Stokes heaved back-to-back sixes down the ground to take 13, which led to Jadeja being taken out of the attack.If Stokes’ patience at the start was to cover for the mistakes of his teammates, the aggression was a reinforcement of the message to retain their aggression, even if it was a necessity given the dwindling partners to come. It probably went some way to humanising the likes of Jadeja, who subsequently returned an economy rate of more than four for the first time in a home innings. Even Mark Wood felt bold enough to cart Ashwin through the covers twice.Alas, England’s efforts were put into harsher context as Yashasvi Jaiswal’s blitz took India to 119 for 1. At one point, it looked like India’s next superstar might get the deficit down to double digits.Tom Hartley bore the brunt of that assault. A first day in Test cricket started well enough when he struck England’s first six, off Ashwin no less. It derailed quickly once his first delivery was sent into the stands at midwicket by Jaiswal.An English spinner being tasked with opening the bowling is hard enough, let alone one more au fait with the white ball playing in just his 21st first-class match. And there were times – three overs, 0 for 34; six overs, 0 for 51 – when you feared you were witnessing the end of a career before it had even begun.Yashasvi Jaiswal came out of the gates firing•Getty ImagesOn the field, however, there was an inordinate sense of calm. Beyond fielders fetching the odd long-hop or over-pitched delivery from the boundary, there was no sign of alarm from Stokes. Hartley had even got into a rhythm of handing his cap over to the umpire for the start of the next over when others might not have bothered to take it off, believing they would surely be dragged out of the attack.That rhythm eventually transferred to his bowling, sending it down a little slower, in turn finding some necessary dip. His two best deliveries – one spinning sharply past Rohit’s outside edge, the other pinning Shubman Gill on the front pad – were both rewarded with DRS reviews by his captain, and subsequently lost. The first was nowhere near but was pretty enough to watch again. The second, showing a projected path taking the ball over the stumps, was a cruel irony – the first time this high release point England banked on when picking him was clear for all to see.By the time his nine-over stint was done, all of Mark Wood, Jack Leach and Rehan Ahmed had been cycled through at the Pavilion End. Even while “Simon Kerrigan” trended on Twitter – another Lancashire left-arm orthodox spinner, who endured a torrid debut against Australia in 2013 and never recovered – Stokes kept faith.”On another day, captains might take you off after two overs and then you’re hiding away for the rest of the game,” said Duckett on Hartley’s spell. “But that’s Stokesy. He keeps bowling him and he nearly gets Shubman out right at the end. I’m not sure how that’s going over the stumps but I thought he came back really well.”Stokes’ methodology with the bat, selection and persisting with Hartley, and his own efforts to fix the errors, necessary and pragmatic. Finding a way to post something worthwhile on a challenging first-day pitch, ensuring the rangy spinner you took a punt on gets through this living nightmare, and even those practice pitches in Abu Dhabi are all examples of the underlying point of the McCullum-Stokes era – making the most out of what you’ve got.And what England have at this juncture, with the surface likely to get even tougher to negotiate over days two and three, is one foot in an already compelling contest.

Of McCullum and Co, Jonny B, and more. And what’s a good pitch anyway?

Mark Nicholas17-Jun-2022Hampshire won on Wednesday, which had not seemed likely for most of the match. Batting first, Yorkshire made 428, to which Hampshire replied with 410. And then came the third-innings yips. From the despair of 103 for 6, the Yorkies cobbled together another 75, leaving Hampshire 197 to win on the last afternoon. Which they did. Happy Hants indeed. Surrey crept over the line too, so the County Championship has those two winners at the top of the table – Surrey 127 points, Hampshire 124. For a one-time Hampshire player, this is exciting stuff.You might well wonder what this has to do with the editor’s requested reflection on England’s staggering performance at Trent Bridge. Maybe not much, is one answer; maybe a great deal, is another. In England’s shadow, James Vince’s team clawed their way back into a game that a less ambitious team might not even have considered. The Hampshire players will have had their eye on Trent Bridge and marvelled at the brilliance on show: at the sense of possibility, which so quickly became probability; at the fearlessness. It may only be subliminal but from such a show comes inspiration and from inspiration comes the making of great deeds. In the glory of England’s amazing victory came Hampshire’s unlikely and thrilling win. A game that at the halfway stage needed saving became a game that could be won. And it was.It has been a good couple of months for county cricket. Generally good weather has helped the preparation of firm and dry pitches, the consequence of which has been longer, tougher Championship matches often played out in the final session on the fourth day. The feeling of hopelessness after England’s dismal tour of the Caribbean has been replaced by a lighter mood that has improved blood flow in the game’s arteries.Related

• It's no surprise that Stokes and Cummins have succeeded as captains

• Pujara: If we can win at Edgbaston, it will be one of India's best wins

• Rahul Dravid relishes challenge of facing 'different' England with 'series on the line'

• Brendon McCullum: 'Respect the opportunity you have'

• Fever-pitch cricket keeps contest bubbling in spite of placid deck

County cricket can be a grind and its mood has long had the tendency to reflect as much. The point doing the rounds right now is that Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes have freed the minds of the England players, thus allowing them to play with an amateur’s sense of adventure and joy.It is true that playing fully professional sport leads to more structured performance. Foremost among the reasons for this are fear of failure (and therefore job protection); linear coaching, often designed to limit error; and layers of support staff and management that can lead to mediocrity. The more people there are to report to, the less clear becomes the message.Most English cricketers are surrounded by the dirge of a profession made from the currency of runs and wickets. Bad shots and poor deliveries are the subject of analysis and often paralysis. People are in work because they do the hard yards – throwing balls, hitting catches, making videos, applying stats. This fear of failure has long haunted professional cricket and continues to do so. In England, the old pros always preached defence over attack; the fought-for draw over the risky win; tight, flat offbreaks over high-flighted legbreaks. T20 cricket began the breaking of the mould; the IPL looked to shatter it but still the English couldn’t quite let go. Until Eoin Morgan took over the white-ball teams, and then the penny dropped. Who was the genesis of Morgan’s ethos? McCullum. After the appointment of McCullum, pound coins appear to be falling from the skyWhen I was a lad, we admired Geoff Boycott and John Edrich for their technique and discipline, but we loved outliers such as Ted Dexter and Ian Botham for their devil-may-care, almost reckless, attitude. Dexter and Botham reported to no one but themselves; John Snow, David Gower amd Kevin Pietersen the same. Stokes is of the same stock. He urges a policy of “no fear” and during the tea break on Tuesday, said something like “We win or we lose, the draw is not an option.”Jonny Bairstow has been a prodigious talent, but he has not always been handled well by the England management•Stu Forster/Getty ImagesThere is a lesson here. English cricket is not as bad as some say it is and not as good as others have sometimes thought. But it could be. Two swallows threaten to make this summer. If they do, the call for change will take a different direction and the target will be less the players and the structure of the first-class game than the uncertain and nervous governance of the board and its stakeholders. A new chair and CEO are due. The “risk” taken in appointing McCullum – whose blue-sky thinking is a revelation/revolution long overdue – needs to be backed up by charismatic leadership, clarity of thinking and simple, positive messaging.It is remarkable what can be achieved with the right mindset at all levels of management and governance. McCullum sees the big picture and encourages performance for a better game to both play and watch. He is not up for the death of Test cricket; rather, he is looking to breathe life into it.

****

Jonny Bairstow was on the front page of major newspapers on Wednesday morning and his team-mates were spread across many more pages at the back. England played football against Hungary on Tuesday night, the match beginning just a short while after the heroics at Trent Bridge, and lost 0-4. The press piled into that too but from a different angle.When Bairstow was 13, he played in a charity match for Sir Michael Parkinson’s team against Parky’s local club, Maidenhead and Bray. The son of David, Jonny was cock of the walk even then and took guard with the air of a lad about to take control of the game, which is exactly what he did. Mike Gatting and I were at slip and watched with interest, no little amusement, and ultimately some astonishment. Jonny didn’t see the joke – he just creamed it around the ground and ran like a whippet between the wickets. If ever I saw a young boy more certain to go on to great things, I don’t remember it.On Tuesday at Trent Bridge, he was the architect of one of England’s greatest ever victories. Had he known he could have beaten Gilbert Jessop’s fastest hundred for England, which came from 76 balls, he would have done so easily. As it was, Jessop still has him by a ball. No one will be happier than his mum, Janet, who raised Jonny and his sister, Becky, after the death of their father when Jonny was 8. The reason for David’s suicide remains a mystery, or more probably, remains a private matter for his family. Jonny has lived with it uncomfortably, fighting the demons that confront those who have been spurned but who deeply want to be loved. He deserves the greatest credit for coping with personal distress and, at times, professional mismanagement. Too often he has been overlooked in favour of personalities who require less maintenance.Fans enjoyed free entry on the final day at Trent Bridge, and got to witness a priceless winning moment for England•Lindsey Parnaby/AFP/Getty ImagesWhat a difference a year makes: England turned down a chase of three an over against New Zealand at Lord’s last year. What a difference a couple of months make: disjointed and low on confidence in the Caribbean, the England players now smile and strut, happy in their work.Rob Key, the new managing director of England cricket, told us to buckle up for the ride. In McCullum’s first interview, he said he’d like to get the guys mentally well-enough organised “to go and do their thing”. Has a team ever turned itself around so quickly? It’s like magic, really. The full house at Trent Bridge partied hard. It might not always be like this but when it is…While writing the paragraph above, I received a text from Dexter’s wife, Susan. It reads “Wish he was here, what a day’s cricket!” She meant Ted, and he would have loved such free-spirited play, but she could be talking about David too. This was a day for the Bairstows and nothing can ever take that away from them.

****

A belting pitch allowed this wonderful expression of talent but it was not a one-sided pitch. The first-innings scores were high, hugely so, but 35 wickets fell over five days and ten catches were dropped.What is the best cricket pitch anyway? Is one man’s coffee another man’s tea? Do indigenous qualities – good and bad – make for interesting and varied cricket or do they encourage economy with the truth about preparation and requirement?In general, Trent Bridge has provided excellent and often exciting pitches for both first-class cricket and Test match cricket. There is a reason why Messrs Anderson and Broad like bowling there, and why Joe Root scores so many runs. That reason is the fair balance between bat and ball, the good bounce and pace of the ball, and the tendency for it to move around, though not lavishly. The best players thrive at Trent Bridge and the surface is malleable to their skills.The Trent Bridge pitch was on the flat side, but it still provided an even and engaging contest between two good teams•Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesIn 1982, Nottinghamshire bowled out Hampshire for 70 and 56 and won by a mile, though they only made 180 in the first innings themselves. The pitch was indistinguishable from the outfield. Irritated by the greentop in Durban that helped Mike Procter’s Natal team beat Clive Rice’s Traansval and go on to win the Currie Cup, Rice adopted the well-grassed pitch plan for his adopted county. He had Richard Hadlee, Mike Hendrick, Kevin Saxelby and himself to take advantage of the conditions, along with Eddie Hemmings, who was a superb attacking offspinner, especially when the top order had already been cleaned up.I mention this because the 1982 pitch looked exactly like the 2015 pitch on which Stuart Broad took 8 for 15 against Australia. Of all the things I’ve watched live, across more than 300 Tests, nothing beats Broad that morning (I didn’t see Bairstow live on Tuesday). Was it right and proper that England created such an advantage for themselves against the Australians? No, not really, but an indelible memory was left for all who were lucky enough to have either been in the stands or on the sofa at home. Broad’s reaction – hands to mouth, eyes wide and startled, in a show of shock and something near embarrassment – when Stokes pulled off one of the truly great catches to get rid of Adam Voges is a moment frozen in time. Australia made 60. Root then made 130. England 391-9 declared. Go figure. Before play began, Broad – who sort of lives down the road – told Alastair Cook, his captain, that England should bat first. Thankfully, Cook disagreed.Was the head groundsman asked to prepare such a surface? Most likely, yes. And in trying to satisfy the England camp, he rather overdid it. Had Australia won the toss, the history books might tell us a very different story. So painful was the loss that at the end of the match, Michael Clarke announced his retirement to take effect from the end of the series.Two and a bit years later, Australia and England batted out the dullest of draws at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Cook made a daddy double-hundred as the usually vibrant Melbourne crowd drifted away from their characterless pitch.So we have greentops some days and flat decks on others. Neither work really, nor do dustbowls or lifeless, low-bouncers on the subcontinent and in the Middle East. The world is full of cricket-pitch mysteries. Trent Bridge this past week was not flat. It was fair to batters and bloody hard work for bowlers. But, I repeat, 35 wickets were taken and ten catches dropped. Had the West Indian attack circa 1976-1992, the Australians of 1994 to 2007, or Pakistan with Imran, Akram, Waqar and Qadir bowled on it, you’d have seen a different match. Mark Waugh likes to say, “There is no such thing as a flat pitch, only a flat attack.” We know what he means.

****

And finally, bravo to the Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, which gave spectators free entrance to the ground on the last day and ensured a full house for the fireworks. A lesson in their generously spirited administration and smart marketing. Give the kids free lemonade, and if they like it, they’ll ask Mum and Dad where and when they can have some more.

MatériaMais Notícias

A torcida do Corinthians detonou a atuação de Cássio contra o Juventude, pela segunda rodada do Brasilierão. O goleiro falhou nos dois gols sofridos pelo Timão no Alfredo Jaconi, e a Fiel ficou na bronca com o capitão da equipe.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! Corinthians no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Timão

O Juventude abriu o placar contra o Corinthians após chute de longa distância de Jean Carlos, que soltou uma bomba no canto de Cássio. O capitão do Timão não conseguiu chegar na bola.

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Seis minutos depois, Cássio  Cássio errou na saída de bola para Félix Torres, Jean Carlos recuperou na grande área e tocou para Lucas Barbosa ampliar a vantagem do Jaconero sobre o Corinthians.

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O Timão volta a campo no próximo sábado (20), às 18h30, contra o Red Bull Bragantino, pela terceira rodada do Brasileirão. António Oliveira, que cumpriu suspensão diante do Juventude, estará de volta ao comando do Corinthians em Bragança Paulista.

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has offered some bizarre advice to under-fire Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso ahead of Wednesday's huge Champions League clash between the two sides at the Bernabeu. Alonso comes into the match fresh from a damaging La Liga defeat to Celta Vigo and with serious question marks over his future as manager.

• Alonso under pressure in Madrid

  Alonso has come under pressure just months into his tenure at Real Madrid after an underwhelming start to life in the Spanish capital. Sunday's defeat to Celta saw Madrid slip four points behind rivals Barcelona at the top of the table in Spain after having previously been five points ahead of their bitter rivals following victory in October's Clasico. There has also been speculation that high-profile stars such as Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham are unhappy with life at Madrid under Alonso and that Los Blancos are lining up former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp as a potential replacement.

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• AFP
  

  Guardiola's advice to Alonso

  Guardiola was asked if he had a message of support for Alonso ahead of Wednesday's match and told reporters: "He should pee on his own. I won't pee for him. You like that headline, right?"

  The Manchester City boss went on to share his thoughts on Alonso's future, adding: "I wish Xabi all the best, but his future is an answer I don't know. You all know the situation better than I do; I'm far removed from it. I haven't spoken with Florentino, and he hasn't told me that tomorrow will be Xabi's last match. If you don't win big games, things get difficult. But Xabi is in control of the situation and knows what this whole thing is about. My concern is seeing what we've done well. To beat Real Madrid in this competition, it's not enough to be better; you have to be much better."

• 'Barca and Madrid are difficult to manage'

  Guardiola also admitted he had sympathy for Alonso as he knows just how difficult it is to take on one of the biggest jobs in football. The City boss, who took a sabbatical after leaving Barcelona following four successful years, says the pressure can be immense.

  "I empathise with him because we worked together and it was an incredible experience. We shared many things. Barca and Madrid are difficult to manage because of the pressure, the environment," he added. "He knows the reality and everything revolves around winning matches. It happened to us last season. He's capable of turning things around and he's capable of doing what's necessary."

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• Alonso calls for calm

  Alonso has seemed unflustered by the talk about his future before the match. The Real Madrid boss insisted he was only focused on playing Manchester City and aiming to bounce back from a disappointing result last time out.

  He told reporters: "This is a team, and we're all in this together. When you are Real Madrid coach, you have to be prepared to face [difficult spells] with calm, unity, and composure. That's how I feel. I'm really looking forward to everything that's coming, starting [with this game against City].

  "We know we can turn the anger [at recent results] into something positive. All we are thinking about is City and the Champions League. In football, for better or for worse, things can change quickly. My focus is on the team, on the pitch, and on the next match. That's what I can control, and that's what I'm focused on."

*Squads subject to change

Adelaide Strikers

Captain Matt Short
Coach Tim Paine
Fixtures Click hereSquad Hasan Ali (PAK), Cameron Boyce, Jordan Buckingham, Alex Carey, Mackenzie Harvey, Travis Head, Thomas Kelly, Chris Lynn, Harry Nielsen, Jamie Overton (ENG), Lloyd Pope, Alex Ross, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Matt Short, Tom Straker, Henry Thornton, Luke Wood (ENG)How they stack upAfter winning a final in BBL13, Strikers sunk to the bottom of the ladder in a disappointing first season under new head coach Tim Paine who took over from Jason Gillespie. Strikers’ top-order was inconsistent and could not quite fire in the batting-friendly surrounds of Adelaide Oval. They have shaken up the batting-order after the departure of Jake Weatherald to Hobart Hurricanes while veteran D’Arcy Short has not been retained. Recruits Jason Sangha and Mackenzie Harvey add class and vigour as Strikers look to shore up a batting-order perennially dependent on skipper Matt Short. An even bigger issue for Strikers last season was their death bowling as they continually leaked big totals. International quicks Hasan Ali and Luke Wood will be relied upon to alleviate those issues, with Test seamer Brendan Doggett having moved to Renegades.Player to watchAs per usual, Matt Short will carry a lot of burden on his back. He is Strikers’ talisman and the team’s barometer. After back-to-back BBL MVP awards, Short had an injury impacted season and made just 236 runs at 33.71 with 109 of those being in Strikers’ franchise record of 251 for 5 against Heat. Short will also be keen to produce a big season to ensure selection in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad. He’s been on the fringes of Australia’s white-ball teams for some time and had modest success against India recently.Availability issuesHasan is on the outer of Pakistan’s national teams so will be available for the whole season if he fails to be selected for January’s T20I series against Sri Lanka. Having played white-ball cricket recently for England, left-arm seamer Wood is a chance of being called up for the T20I and ODI tour of Sri Lanka which starts on January 22. Jamie Overton, who was Strikers’ standout with an outstanding allround season in BBL14, is also in the selection mix for the Sri Lanka tour. Test players Travis Head and Alex Carey should be available after the Ashes series wraps up on January 8.Shaheen Afridi’s arrival will create plenty of interest•AFP/Getty Images

Brisbane Heat

Captain Usman Khawaja
Coach Johan Botha
Fixtures Click hereSquad Shaheen Shah Afridi (PAK), Tom Alsop (ENG), Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Lachlan Hearne, Spencer Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan McSweeney, Colin Munro (NZ), Michael Neser, Oli Patterson, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen, Jack WildermuthHow they stack upIt was a disappointing title defence for Heat, who finished second last on the ladder. They made an off-season statement in their bid to lift back into contention when they selected Pakistan quick Shaheen Shah Afridi in the draft. His signing was made even more important after left-arm speedster Spencer Johnson was ruled out of the season with a back injury. Heat still boast enviable pace depth with Michael Neser and Xavier Bartlett also in the line-up, but their spin stocks took a hit when legspinner Mitchell Swepson signed with Stars.Player to watchAfter a stellar season, where he topped the team’s run-scoring, Matt Renshaw resisted the temptation of a move and re-signed with Heat. Renshaw has started the domestic season strongly across formats and performed reasonably well in his first taste of ODI cricket in the recent series against India. His batting flexibility and sheer power makes him the key of Heat’s batting-order.Availability IssuesPakistan’s recently announced three-game T20I series against Sri Lanka in January could impact the availability of Afridi, who had originally been slated to play a full season. Test players Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja should be available after the Ashes although Khawaja’s current place in Australia’s team appears shaky.Mitchell Owen was last season’s hero for Hobart Hurricanes•Getty Images

Hobart Hurricanes

Captain Nathan Ellis
Coach Jeff Vaughan
Fixtures Click hereSquad: Rehan Ahmed (ENG), Marcus Bean, Jackson Bird, Iain Carlisle, Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Rishad Hossain (BAN), Chris Jordan (ENG), Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Billy Stanlake, Matthew Wade, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster, Mac WrightHow they stack upAfter underachieving for so long, Hurricanes broke their hoodoo with a season for the ages capped off by a stunning triumph in a home decider against Sydney Thunder. Hurricanes have retained a large core of the title-winning team and importantly secured the signature of Tim David who was heavily courted by several rivals during the free agency period. But the ‘Canes have not stood idle after recruiting Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster and veteran quick Jackson Bird. Weatherald is effectively a like-for-like replacement for opener Caleb Jewell who was traded to Renegades.Player to watchTwelve months ago, Mitchell Owen was a relatively unknown allrounder whose only foray on the overseas franchise circuit was playing in a T10 tournament in the Cayman Islands. But Owen’s move up the order for Hurricanes proved a masterstroke with his brute force reinventing batting in the powerplay. He capped off an incredible season with a blistering century in the final at a febrile Ninja Stadium, leading to him being in major demand worldwide as the IPL, PSL and MLC beckoned. He also made his T20I and ODI debuts in a whirlwind year. Now a household name, there will be much expectation on Owen this season and BBL rivals will undoubtedly be better prepared. It will be interesting to see how he handles it all.Availability IssuesWeatherald, and possibly Webster, won’t be available until after the Ashes. There were concerns over England spinning allrounder Rehan Ahmed after he was ruled out of the Lions tour of Australia due to a right lower leg strain suffered in England’s first Test warm-up at Lilac Hill. But he is expected to be fit in time for the BBL although he could be part of England’s white-ball Sri Lanka tour in January. Bangladesh legspinner Rishad Hossain will be available after the BCB did not grant him a NOC last season and he looms as a key cog after spinners Peter Hatzoglou and Paddy Dooley were not retained.Jason Behrendorff is one of Renegades’ new recruits•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

Melbourne Renegades

Captain Will Sutherland
Coach Cameron White
Fixtures Click hereSquad Jason Behrendorff, Josh Brown, Harry Dixon, Brendan Doggett, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Caleb Jewell, Hassan Khan (PAK), Nathan Lyon, Fergus O’Neill, Ollie Peake, Mohammad Rizwan (PAK), Tom Rogers, Will Salzmann, Gurdinder Sandhu, Tim Seifert (NZ), Callum Stow, Will Sutherland, Adam ZampaHow they shape upRenegades overhauled their roster ahead of last season and transitioned into a new era under the leadership of Will Sutherland and Cameron White. But it did not do the trick with Renegades missing the finals for the fifth time in six seasons. With the pressure on, the ‘Gades have continued to make roster changes and went about bolstering their inconsistent batting line-up by drafting Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. They also traded for Hurricanes opener Caleb Jewell who sought more opportunities. Renegades will boast a potent pace attack and the two highest wicket-takers from last season – with Tom Rogers now joined by long-time Scorchers spearhead Jason Behrendorff. Test quick Brendan Doggett is also a new addition after leaving Strikers.Player to watchNot long ago Jake Fraser-McGurk was the hottest batting prospect in the country but he has somewhat dropped off the radar. Fraser-McGurk made just 188 runs from 10 innings last season but did show off his extraordinary talent in Renegades’ final game of the season when he whacked 95 off 46 balls to help haul down a target of 197 against Heat. Fraser-McGurk, 23, has already played 15 white-ball matches for Australia and was part of the CA XI side in their recent red-ball match against England Lions at Lilac Hill. He remains a player of significant interest for the national hierarchy, but needs to show far more consistency this BBL season.Availability Issues Rizwan may miss part of the season due to Pakistan’s T20I series against Sri Lanka in January, while wicketkeeper Tim Seifert may be selected in New Zealand’s white-ball squads to face India in January. Nathan Lyon, and potentially Doggett, will not be available until after the Ashes. Will Salzmann will miss the season due to injury.Glenn Maxwell was joint player of the tournament last season•Getty Images

Melbourne Stars

Captain Marcus Stoinis
Coach Peter Moores
Fixtures Click hereSquad Austin Anlezark, Scott Boland, Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke (ENG), Tom Curran (ENG), Sam Harper, Liam Hatcher, Campbell Kellaway, Glenn Maxwell, Hamish McKenzie, Jon Merlo, Haris Rauf (PAK), Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mark Steketee, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Tom WhitneyHow they shape upAfter Hurricanes’ broke their hoodoo, glamour franchise Stars are now the only club to have never won a BBL title. Stars did complete an incredible turnaround last season after overcoming a 0-5 start to qualify for finals. They are hoping the momentum carries over with Stars retaining a core that includes veteran batters Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell and Hilton Cartwright. While they made minimal changes, Stars did recruit legspinner Mitchell Swepson and quick Liam Hatcher who is hoped to help offset the losses of Joel Paris and Brody Couch. But their pace stocks have taken a hit after Mark Steketee, who was superb in BBL14, was ruled out of the season with a hamstring injury. Ultimately Stars are banking on continuity to help them finally lift a title.Player to watchIt is no surprise that Stars’ fortunes last season largely hinged on Glenn Maxwell, their long-time talisman. They struggled badly when he was sidelined with a hamstring injury before he inspired the remarkable turnaround with typical heroics. He produced one of the greatest BBL innings in history after he farmed the strike and whacked 10 sixes to single-handedly beat Renegades. Even at the twilight of his career, Maxwell remains a freakish player, capable of bending a game to his will. Maxwell has had an injury-interrupted start to the season having made just 2 in his only innings in the T20I series against India after missing the first three games due to a wrist injury.Availability IssuesFast bowler Haris Rauf is another with some uncertainty given the T20I series against Sri Lanka which has been added to the calendar, while Scott Boland will only be available after the Ashes.Mitchell Marsh should be available for the full regular season•Getty Images

Perth Scorchers

Captain Ashton Turner
Coach Adam Voges
Fixtures Click hereSquad Ashton Agar, Finn Allen (NZ), Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Brody Couch, Laurie Evans (ENG), Sam Fanning, Aaron Hardie, Nick Hobson, Josh Inglis, Bryce Jackson, Matthew Kelly, Mitchell Marsh, Lance Morris, Joel Paris, David Payne (ENG), Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner.How they stack upThe five-time champions are coming off a season where they missed finals for just the third time in their proud history. Scorchers hierarchy have not panicked and have backed their blueprint of continuity and sticking with a local core. They have brought back a couple of trusted former title-winning players in middle-order batter Laurie Evans and left-arm quick David Payne. Joel Paris has also returned after stints with Hurricanes and Stars. He is an ideal replacement for veteran left-arm quick Jason Behrendorff, who departed alongside fellow fan favourite Andrew Tye. Ex-Stars quick Brody Couch also adds to the pace stocks as he completes his transition to Perth after moving over last year to play for Western Australia in the Shield.Player to watchMitchell Marsh is second on Scorchers’ all-time run-scoring list, but has played just one BBL game in the past three seasons due to international commitments and injuries. Barring an unlikely inclusion in the Ashes, Marsh is set to be available for the full campaign and should solve Scorchers’ patchy top-order returns in recent seasons. Marsh and Finn Allen loom as a dynamic one-two punch at the top with the New Zealander having a point to prove after a lean debut season for Scorchers. After recommitting to Scorchers on a three-year deal, Marsh will be keen to make up for lost time in a BBL campaign that also looms as a perfect tune up for the T20 World Cup.Availability IssuesJhye Richardson is closing in on a return from shoulder surgery. He is set to miss the first match while he trains with the Test squad but is expected to be available for the second game against Heat. Scorchers will be without the services of quick Lance Morris who has been ruled out for the summer after undergoing back surgery. Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis is likely to only be available after the Ashes. Payne will arrive after the ILT20 and Allen may leave for the white-ball series against India in January.Steven Smith will bolster Sixers after the Ashes•Getty Images

Sydney Sixers

Captain Moises Henriques
Coach Greg Shipperd
Fixtures Click hereSquad Sean Abbott, Babar Azam (PAK), Jafer Chohan (ENG), Sam Curran (ENG), Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Ben Manenti, Todd Murphy, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Kane Richardson, Lachlan Shaw, Jordan Silk, Steven Smith, Mitchell StarcHow they stack upSixers pulled off a major signing by going for Babar Azam in the draft while Sam Curran could also prove a very effective acquisition. Elsewhere it’s a host of familiar names in one of the more consistent T20 squads going around. Kane Richardson has joined the pace attack, and further bolsters the death-bowling options, while Jackson Bird has gone to Hurricanes. They will hope for more from Josh Philippe this season after he has re-emerged as an Australia white-ball option.Player to watchFor sheer drawcard power, it’s hard to look past Babar Azam, making his first appearance in the BBL. How he approaches things at the top of the order will be fascinating to watch. There is the potential in the latter part of the season that he could form an opening partnership with Steven Smith although now that he’s back in Pakistan’s T20I side the series against Sri Lanka could spoil the best-laid plans.Availability issuesSean Abbott will miss the start of the competition with the hamstring injury he suffered last month ahead of the Ashes. Smith is expected to come into the side after the Ashes finishes while Mitchell Starc, fitness permitting, will feature for the first time in 11 years. Josh Hazlewood could use the tournament for a return from injury ahead of the T20 World Cup should his rehab go to plan.Tanveer Sangha is part of a strong Thunder spin unit•Getty Images

Sydney Thunder

Captain David Warner
Coach Trevor Bayliss
Fixtures Click hereSquad Wes Agar, Tom Andrews, Cameron Bancroft, Sam Billings (ENG) Ollie Davies, Lockie Ferguson (NZ), Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Ryan Hadley, Shadab Khan (PAK), Sam Konstas, Nic Maddinson, Nathan McAndrew, Blake Nikitaras, Aidan O’Connor, Daniel Sams, Tanveer Sangha, Reece Topley (ENG), David WarnerHow they stack upThunder had lined up one of the biggest signings of BBL history in R Ashwin, but he had to withdraw through injury in a blow to the club and competition at large. It is a stable domestic list with the only addition being Tasmania allrounder Aidan O’Connor. Even without Ashwin, they are well stocked with spin: Tanveer Sangha, Tom Andrews and Chris Green could all feature in the same side. David Warner led the batting last season and others chipped in around him after Cameron Bancroft was lost to injury following an awful collision with Daniel Sams. Batting conditions at home can be tricky.Player to watchHaving fallen out of Test contention, Sam Konstas should get a full season and it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the rhythms of T20 having just found some form in the Sheffield Shield ahead of the competition taking its break. He has shown glimpses in the format so far with two half-centuries last season. Signed a four-year extension with the club earlier this year.Availability issuesThere will be a bit of a revolving door among overseas players. Reece Topley will start the season before heading off to the SA20, at which time Lockie Ferguson will arrive from the ILT20. Shadab Khan’s availability may be impacted by Pakistan’s T20I series against Sri Lanka. Thunder don’t have anyone on their main list involved in the Ashes.

Allrounder admits he could miss depending on the make-up of Australia’s top six but is hopeful he can play a part in the Ashes if selected

Alex Malcolm28-Oct-2025

Beau Webster took a wicket on return•Getty Images

Allrounder Beau Webster agreed that he could be squeezed out of Australia’s XI for the first Ashes Test depending on the make-up of the batting line-up, but he feels that he can contribute in the series if given the opportunity.Webster’s role in the Australia side has been a topic of discussion despite being one of the most reliable performers over the past seven Test matches. Webster had played as the sole allrounder in the XI across all of those matches since replacing Mitchell Marsh in January.But Cameron Green’s return to bowling, after playing as a batter only at No. 3 in the last four Tests, as well as Marnus Labuschagne’s return to form and questions around the need to pick another specialist opener, have created uncertainty about the make-up of the top six for Perth.Related

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George Bailey, the chair of selectors, guaranteed Webster would be in the squad for the first Test, saying “everyone can relax.” But there is a way Webster could be squeezed out of the XI if the selectors opted to reinstate Labuschagne at No. 3, either retain Sam Konstas or pick another opener in his place to partner Usman Khawaja, and move Green back to No.6, given he is expected to be fit to bowl again despite a slight setback in his workload progression.Webster had missed the first two Sheffield Shield games of the summer due to an ankle injury, which only added to the speculation. Speaking after day one of his return for Tasmania against Victoria at Junction Oval, where he took 1 for 26 with the ball from 12 overs, Webster hoped that “I’ll be thereabouts”.”We’ve obviously got a potential hole around the top of the order there, and see who fills that,” Webster said. “If they see me as a pure middle-order [batter], then I’m probably going to get squeezed out. That is what it is. I hope I’m still in the conversation, certainly as a batter only, and if not, if it’s just the makeup of the team I’ll plug the way back in first-class cricket. There’s a there’s a lot of Test cricket coming up in the next two years. I hope I’ll be thereabouts.”Webster, 31, has done very little wrong in his first seven Tests. He has four half-centuries from 12 innings, averaging 34.63, which does not do him justice given the difficulty of the surfaces he has played on. He also has eight wickets at 23.25 with the ball, striking at 45.1, and has taken 12 catches in the field, where he has been a huge asset, especially in the slips cordon.Beau Webster has done little wrong since his Test debut•AFP/Getty Images

He said it was nice to hear Bailey guarantee his spot in the Perth squad, but he had not been given the same guarantee about being in the XI.”That depends who you ask,” Webster said. “I’d obviously love to be in the XI. I think I’ve got a lot to contribute there, and especially this Ashes series, I feel like I’m playing the best cricket of my life at the moment. So I certainly want to be there. Sometimes it’s the make-up of the team and the balance and the overs and who bats where. It feels like this series has probably got more questions over that than any before.”Webster admitted he felt some rust on return for Tasmania. He took the new ball to front end his overs having come into the game on a 16-over limit from Cricket Australia’s [CA] medical staff. He used 12 of those on day one in four spells. He picked up the wicket of former Test opener Marcus Harris with a delivery that pitched back of a length outside leg and nipped sharply across the left-hander to scratch the outside edge. Webster later took a sharp catch at slip but dropped one he would normally take.”If I could sum my day up today, a few no-balls and a drop catch at first slip, it probably felt like I was five or 10% off what I usually am,” Webster said. “I mean, that comes when you have probably three weeks of not playing. I felt like I was probably just slightly off it. But to get out there today and bowling 12 overs and get some more time in the slips is always beneficial.”Webster said the time off was helpful to freshen up mentally and also to do some strength work in the gym, having played nearly a full winter with Australia and Warwickshire in the county championship.”I think there’s some benefits, no doubt,” Webster said. “I think looking back, I did play a lot of cricket in England, and that’s by choice. I play my best cricket when I’m constantly playing. To have a three-week gap there, it was nice to get back in the gym and do some running and probably freshen the body up physically, ready to go for a big summer.”

يستعد فريق الكرة الأول بالنادي الأهلي لمواجهة نظيره شبيبة القبائل الجزائري، في دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا. 

وكان الأهلي قد تأهل إلى دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا عقب تخطي عقبة إيجل نوار البوروندي في دور الـ32 من دوري أبطال إفريقيا. 

طالع.. معلق مباراة الأهلي وشبيبة القبائل في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

ويقع الأهلي في المجموعة الثانية من مجموعات دوري أبطال إفريقيا رفقة أندية شبيبة القبائل الجزائري والجيش الملكي المغربي ويانج أفريكانز التنزاني. 

ويستهل الأهلي مشواره في دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، ويضع عينه على حصد أول ثلاث نقاط في المجموعة، لا سيما بعد التتويج بكأس السوبر المصري. 

ويطمح الدنماركي ييس توروب المدير الفني لفريق الأهلي، في استمرار نتائجه الإيجابية منذ توليه تدريب الأهلي، حيث توج مع الأحمر بالسوبر المصري ونجح في التأهل لدور المجموعات، بالإضافة إلى الانتصارات الأخيرة في الدوري الممتاز. 

ومن المقرر أن يواجه الأهلي نظيره فريق شبيبة القبائل الجزائري، في الساعة السادسة من مساء غد السبت، على ملعب القاهرة الدولي، في الجولة الأولى من دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا. 

A “creative” midfielder who’s made three Champions League appearances this season has now been identified as a January transfer target by Leeds United chiefs.

Leeds keen to strengthen in January amid dip in form

The Whites have now failed to win in their last three Premier League matches, which means they now sit just three points above the relegation zone, and it may not be too long before the teams below them get their act together.

Nuno, who led Nottingham Forest to Europe last season, is vastly experienced in the Premier League, with the Tricky Trees’ performance last season proving the manager has what it takes to guide the Hammers to safety.

Sean Dyche’s arrival at Forest should also be a boost, given the former Everton manager’s record of avoiding the drop, leading the Toffees to a 17th-placed finish in the 2022-23 season, after taking over when they were in 19th place and two points from safety.

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The German could soon be under huge pressure.

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As such, Daniel Farke’s side need to get their act together sooner rather than later, and they may need to strengthen their squad in January to avoid an instant return to the Championship.

It is clear the Whites are particularly keen to strengthen in the middle of the park, having opened talks to sign Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Issouf Sissokho earlier this week, and they have now set their sights on a Champions League midfielder.

That is according to a report from Calciomercato (via Sport Witness), which reveals Leeds chiefs have now identified Inter Milan maestro Piotr Zielinski as a target for the January transfer window.

Zielinski is a ‘prime candidate’ to leave the Italian club this winter, and he has emerged as a popular target at Elland Road, although the newly-promoted side will have to spend a ‘significant’ amount to get a deal done.

The Poland international’s huge wages could feasibly pose a problem too, with it being reported he rakes in a whopping £133k-a-week.

Zielinski has the quality to help Leeds avoid the drop

Leeds’ number one goal this season will undoubtedly be to preserve their Premier League status, and the Inter midfielder has the quality to help them avoid the drop, given his vast experience at the top level.

The Pole has made 54 appearances in the Champions League, including three this season, and 10 en-route to Inter reaching the final against Paris Saint-Germain last season.

Once lauded as a “creative spark” by journalist Josh Bunting, the former Napoli man has remained a consistent source of assists over the past year, averaging 0.23 per 90, which places him in the 93rd percentile compared to other midfielders.

It is a little early for Leeds to press the panic button, considering they currently remain outside the relegation zone, but if come January they are in need of proven top-level players to lead them to safety, Zielinski could be an ideal addition.

Nottingham Forest are believed to be making contingency plans if they decide to sack manager Ange Postecoglou, which is still rumoured to be a possibility as Evangelos Marinakis weighs up his next move.

Ange Postecoglou's disastrous start at Nottingham Forest

Postecoglou’s tenure at Forest has been marked by a disastrous start, casting a shadow over the club’s hopes for progress this season.

Since taking the reins after Nuno Espírito Santo’s unceremonious departure, Postecoglou has struggled to find form, becoming the first permanent Forest manager in a century to fail to win any of his first six matches.

Arsenal 3-0 Forest

Premier League

Swansea 3-2 Forest

Carabao Cup

Burnley 1-1 Forest

Premier League

Real Betis 2-2 Forest

Europa League

Forest 0-1 Sunderland

Premier League

Forest 2-3 FC Midtjylland

Europa League

Newcastle 2-0 Forest

Premier League

His attempts to implement a new playing philosophy — characterized by high-intensity pressing and open attacking football — have yet to yield any results, leaving the squad visibly unsettled and fans frustrated.

Chants of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ rang around the City Ground during Forest’s shock 3-2 defeat to Danish minnows FC Midtjylland in the Europa League, and discontent from supporters will only be piling pressure on Marinakis after his controversial decision to sack Nuno.

Reports suggest that Marinakis is furious with Forest’s current state behind-the-scenes and holds personal accountability for his role (TEAMtalk), and if results don’t improve soon, the Greek billionaire isn’t afraid to be ruthless and make another immediate managerial change (Sky Sports).

Should Forest decide to part ways with Postecoglou, several candidates have emerged as potential replacements.

Fulham’s Marco Silva is considered a leading contender, especially given his relationship with Marinakis following the pair’s time at Olympiacos together (talkSPORT).

Silva’s contract situation and success on a shoe-string budget at Craven Cottage makes him an attractive long-term target, while other names linked include Rafa Benitez and Oliver Glasner, both of whom bring proven experience managing in the Premier League.

Benitez was spotted close to Marinakis during a recent Olympiacos clash against Arsenal in the Champions League, whilst Glasner is reportedly emerging as a “prime candidate” for the Forest job if Postecoglou does leave.

Marco Silva expected to leave Fulham amid Nottingham Forest interest

Sharing an update on the prospect of Silva’s potential appointment, talkSPORT’s Alex Crook has urged Tricky Trees supporters to “keep an eye” on the Portuguese with his deal — said to include an £8 million release clause — due to expire in 2026.

Crook also says that he expects Silva to depart Fulham at the end of his contract amid Forest’s interest, but also states it’ll be tricky to convince the tactician to swap jobs immediately.

The 48-year-old, who guided Fulham to Premier League promotion from the Championship, has since kept them afloat with solid mid-table finishes, and they briefly contended for Europe last season — despite underspending in comparison to their top flight rivals.

Ex-Hull City striker Evandro, who worked with Silva at the MKM Stadium, has branded Silva a “master” tactician.