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Invincibles produce magic moments in the field to defend below-par total

Valkerie Baynes20-Aug-2021

Tash Farrant and Dane van Niekerk exchange high fives•Getty Images

A stunning bowling performance from Tash Farrant sent Oval Invincibles into Saturday’s Women’s Hundred final against Southern Brave.Farrant’s tournament-best 4 for 10 off 19 deliveries put her top of the wicket-takers’ list with 18 and allowed Invincibles to defend what looked like a below-par total in the Eliminator against Birmingham Phoenix, who lost their last six wickets for 13 runs. Phoenix captain Amy Jones top-scored for her side with 35 off 25 balls and shared a 52-run partnership with Erin Burns but it was all in vain with Farrant’s hand in both dismissals, including a brilliant catch to account for Burns amid a near-flawless showing in the field by the home side.Marizanne Kapp played an excellent supporting role to Farrant in Invincibles’ hour of need, top-scoring with a run-a-ball 37 and taking 3 for 21.Having won the toss and elected to bowl first, the Birmingham side’s ability to take wickets at key moments ensured Invincibles’ innings never really got going. Indeed, it looked like the home side would struggle to post a triple-figure total for only the second time in the tournament but in back-to-back matches after they were bowled out for 85 in a 30-run defeat at the hands of Southern Brave on Monday.After just 17 balls, Invincibles had lost both their leading run-scorers to that point, captain Dane van Niekerk and Georgia Adams, with just 15 runs on the board. Teenager Alice Capsey leap-frogged Adams into second place on that list with 26 off 20 balls and her 54-run partnership with Kapp gave their bowlers something to defend.Phoenix, without opener Shafali Verma who has returned to India ahead of their tour to Australia, started brightly enough but once Jones – who had looked in excellent touch striking six fours – fell to Farrant’s bowling, their run-chase fell away swiftly.Doff your Kapp
Kapp came in with her side in terrible trouble at 15 for 2 and things didn’t look much brighter when Fran Wilson – reaching double figures for just the third time in eight innings – fell for 21 off 17. But Kapp, who had missed a large chunk of Invincibles’ campaign through injury, lifted them off the floor with her battling knock and fifty stand with Capsey.Then, with Invincibles staring down a big task to defend such a middling total, Kapp struck twice in six balls to keep them in it. Katie Mack, who moved up the order to replace Verma, fell third ball when Kapp lured her in with a full outswinger and drew an edge that went through to keeper Sarah Bryce. Then, having waited until the 13th ball of the innings to face her first delivery, opener Eve Jones fell immediately when Kapp found another edge which Bryce took well low to the ground.Amy Jones struck the first ball she faced off Kapp to the boundary through the off side and in no time she helped herself to two more off Shabnim Ismail and Kapp, as Phoenix looked to make good use of the Powerplay in a small chase.Tash magic
To top off Kapp’s contribution, Farrant produced a piece of sheer brilliance in the field to give Kapp her third wicket from just 15 deliveries. Having put on 52 runs with Amy Jones, Burns lifted Kapp wide of extra cover and Farrant, running from mid-off launched herself to her left to pluck the ball from the air, letting out a huge roar in celebration as she leapt to her feet.Returning to the attack on the very next ball, Farrant then claimed the prize wicket of Amy Jones, her slower ball enticing a drive which went straight to extra cover, where van Niekerk claimed a straightforward catch. With Phoenix needing 49 off as many balls, Invincibles had a spring in their step as Jones sat stony faced, her helmet still on, in the dugout.van Niekerk claimed a much more difficult chance, not quite on the scale of Farrant’s but sharp all the same and no less important, with an excellent return catch to dismiss Marie Kelly, who had struck the ball hard back at the bowler.When Farrant deceived Gwen Davies with another slower ball that went straight up above Bryce, the keeper collected, making up for dropping Burns on 16 in possibly the only blemish on Invincibles’ otherwise immaculate fielding for the day. Then Capsey chimed in with a wonderful caught-and-bowled, taking the ball high above her head to remove Georgia Elwiss.But the best was yet to come for Invincibles’ cause when Farrant claimed the final two wickets in the space of three balls. She had Emily Arlott comfortably caught by Ismail at long on and then it was Kapp who caught Kirstie Gordon smartly at cover to seal victory and best bowling figures for the tournament for Farrant.

Chelsea have now lodged a formal bid to sign a centre-back who Man United are targeting as an alternative to Everton starlet Jarrad Branthwaite.

Chelsea eyeing another centre-back after Tosin Adarabioyo

It didn't take long for the west Londoners to seal their first piece of business this summer, having put pen to paper on a deal for defender Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer from Fulham.

Boehly now prepared to sell £175,000-per-week Chelsea star after Maatsen

The Blues could orchestrate an overhaul this summer.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 20, 2024

The former Man City starlet enjoyed a successful spell at Fulham, but opted to move just across west London to Stamford Bridge upon the expiry of his contract at Craven Cottage. Tosin's arrival will do wonders to fill the void left by fan favourite Thiago Silva, who has left Chelsea to re-join boyhood club Fluminese.

Despite the 26-year-old putting pen to paper on a four-year deal, it is believed that Chelsea could sign another centre-back after Tosin, as new manager Enzo Maresca seeks to reinforce his new backline further.

Appearances

132

Goals

5

Assists

2

Bookings

10

Red cards

1

Minutes played

11,382

Co-sporting directors Laurence Stewat and Paul Winstanley are expected to undergo a busy summer of recruitment. In the past week, Chelsea have held talks over signing Jhon Duran from Aston Villa, as well as pushed to seal a deal for Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise (Fabrizio Romano).

Amidst all of this activity, as Maresca's side pursue a new forward, there remains a distinct possibility that Chelsea could bring another defender on top of this – with Romano tipping them to potentially bring in multiple central defensive options.

"It will continue to be a busy summer at Chelsea," said the journalist on his Dailybriefing. "It won’t be completely crazy but they will try to make smart things happen, including a new goalkeeper and I expect them to try for at least one new centre-back, but it could be two. I also expect Chelsea to be busy with the striker position."

Bayern Munich star Dayot Upamecano has been linked with a move to Chelsea as one option, but rather than negotiate with the Bavarians, it is believed they could instead look to pinch a transfer target of Man United's.

Indeed, Ten Hag's side are said to be monitoring Boca Juniors defender Aaron Anselmino as an alternative to Branthwaite – with the Red Devils looking priced out of a move for the Englishman after having a bid rejected, according to widespread reports.

Chelsea make formal bid to sign Aaron Anselmino

According to South American journalist Uriel Lugt, Chelsea have made a "formal" bid to sign Anselmino, and offered the 19-year-old a four-year contract.

The teenager appears very highly-rated in Argentina, despite not making many first team appearances for Boca, and clearly Chelsea's scouting network have been doing their homework on him.

Something is happening at Chelsea this season.

Enzo Maresca’s side blew Spanish champions Barcelona away in the Champions League last Tuesday and then followed that up with a sensational performance against Arsenal in the Premier League.

The Blues were by far the better team for most of the first half, and even after Moises Caicedo was sent off, they scored a goal and held on for a point.

Now, having the Ecuadorian out for three games is a problem, but Maresca could solve it by unleashing one of Chelsea’s most exciting young stars.

Chelsea's solutions to Caicedo's red card

With it highly unlikely that Caicedo’s ban will be overturned – if it’s even appealed – Chelsea need to come up with a solution for the next three games. This is a player who is renowned as one of the best midfielders in the world, a player of the calibre of a certain Declan Rice. Therefore, replacing him will not be easy.

One answer could be to keep Reece James in the middle of the park, drop Enzo Fernández back next to him to create a double pivot and start Cole Palmer ahead of them.

Now, this would be quite a change, but it would allow the captain to continue to boss games from a central area and bring the club’s best player back into the most important part of the team.

Moreover, if the Englishman is pulling the strings in the ten position, Estevao can keep his place on the right, where he tore Barça to bits last week.

However, if Enzo only wants to make one personnel change to the side to keep up momentum, he could be extra brave and bring one of Cobham’s most exciting youngsters into the side: Reggie Walsh.

The 17-year-old star in the making is someone who could slot in next to James in the midfield and, especially against a poor Leeds United, earn some brilliant experience.

It would certainly be a bold move, but even though he’s so young, the academy gem is seen as “truly ridiculous” talent, per Como scout Felix Johnston, and has already made four appearances for the senior side.

Yet, with all that said, there is a far more realistic and sensible option Maresca could go for.

Chelsea's ideal solution to Caicedo's red card

With Dario Essugo unlikely to be fit enough to play a significant role over the next three games, Maresca should turn to Andrey Santos to cover for Caicedo.

Chalkboard

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

The 21-year-old is still most certainly a little raw and clearly not the finished article, but there are a few reasons why he would be the perfect solution to the Blues’ problem.

The first is that with him being comfortable playing in central and defensive midfield, he could form a fluid partnership with James and Fernandez.

In other words, the three of them could rotate in and out of positions in the middle of the park, making life difficult for opposition defenders and attackers.

The second reason is that, thanks to his comfort in a variety of positions, he has developed a skill set that makes him effective in attack and, in the words of talent scout Jacek Kulig, a duel-winning “one-man war machine in midfield.”

For example, despite only playing 655 minutes across nine appearances this season, he has already produced four goal involvements.

His underlying numbers are also sensational.

Santos’ Scout Report
Statistics	Per 90	Percentile
Tackles Won	2.09	Top 3%
Tkl+Int	4.26	Top 7%
Goals + Assists	0.39	Top 8%
Pass Completion % (Long)	77.3%	Top 8%
Non-Penalty Goals	0.20	Top 9%
Goals/Shot	0.14	Top 15%
Clearances	2.33	Top 16%
Pass Completion %	88.3%	Top 17%
Fouls Drawn	1.74	Top 17%
All Stats via FBref

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 3% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for tackles won, the top 8% for goals plus assists, the 13% for dribblers tackled and more, all per 90.

Finally, given his brilliant box-to-box skill set, he would add some more dynamism and explosiveness to the middle of the park, which, against teams like Leeds, could make the Blues impossible to live with.

Ultimately, while nobody in the Chelsea squad can replace Caicedo in a like-for-like capacity, Santos could bring something else to the side and keep the quality level high.

Chelsea star who saved Caicedo is their "most underappreciated player"

The underrated Chelsea ace made sure Caicedo’s red card didn’t cost Enzo Maresca’s men against Arsenal.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 30, 2025

After an underwhelming 2023-24, Arsenal will be expected to achieve far better things as the new campaign gets underway

There is a cliche that while teams can't win titles in the first few weeks of the season, they can certainly lose them. Last year, Arsenal's early results might not have fitted that exactly, but when a shock elimination in Champions League qualifying was followed by an equally surprising defeat to Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium, it absolutely set the tone for an underwhelming campaign that the Gunners will be eager to bounce back from this time around.

A faster start will be imperative for success in 2024-25 because the schedule Jonas Eidevall's side are working with is unforgiving. On Sunday, Arsenal begin the new Women's Super League season against Manchester City, last year's runners-up. Four days later, they need to overcome a 1-0 deficit from the first leg of their Champions League second round qualifier with Hacken to reach the group stage. A couple of weeks after that, Chelsea, champions of the last five seasons, will make the short journey across London to visit the Gunners.

Straight out of the blocks, there will be little room for error for an Arsenal side that, as the most successful club in the English women's game, is always under pressure to deliver. Five years since a last WSL triumph and eight years since the Gunners lifted the Women's FA Cup for a record-extending 14th time, can Eidevall's charges live up to expectations this season?

• Getty Images
  

  Mood around the club

  There is a lot of positivity surrounding Arsenal ahead of the new WSL season. Though Vivianne Miedema has departed and the strong links with England star Keira Walsh didn't result in a transfer, the club had a great summer window, strengthening the squad in several areas with some impressive signings. Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Laura Wienroither, who all suffered ACL ruptures during 2022-23 and thus returned midway through the last campaign, have all got full pre-seasons under their belts and the first round of Champions League qualifying saw the team put on impressive displays against Rangers and Rosenborg.

  However, amid this positivity there is a sense of expectation. While Arsenal have been steady in the last couple of seasons, winning back-to-back League Cups and securing European football through top-three finishes, this team can achieve more. The Gunners haven't sustained a genuine title challenge since the 2021-22 campaign and last year's Champions League exit in the first round of qualifying was hugely disappointing.

  For some supporters, this feels like a make or break season for head coach Jonas Eidevall to prove he is the right person to take this team forward. They want a title challenge, they want to win more than the League Cup and they want to be in the UWCL proper again. That said, it is unlikely the club view things the same way, having handed Eidevall a new long-term contract last September, just days after that shock European elimination.

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• Getty Images
  

  Transfer business

  It's fair to say Arsenal's summer didn't start in particularly positive fashion, when it was announced that iconic forward Miedema would be leaving the club. While she has since explained that her departure was a mutual thing, rather than the club simply not offering her a new contract, it was still understandably disappointing for fans to see such a talented player leave, not least because she has now joined WSL rivals Man City. With the two giants going head to head on the opening weekend of the league campaign, it seems written in the stars for Miedema to come back to haunt her old club.

  Cloe Lacasse's departure wasn't particularly popular either. Many felt the Canada international didn't get the chances she deserved in her only season at the club, especially given how well she played when granted them. Her exit also means Arsenal lack natural depth on the right of attack.

  However, there is plenty for fans to be excited about when it comes to Arsenal's signings. Mariona Caldentey is a world-class operator who played a key role in Barcelona winning a first-ever quadruple on the women's side last season, while the versatile forward also has a World Cup title to her name after helping Spain to beat England in last summer’s final. Rosa Kafaji, a thrillingly creative talent who is still only 21 years old, further bolsters the attack following her arrival from Hacken.

  Further back, the Gunners have also strengthened the goalkeeping department by recruiting Netherlands international Daphne van Domselaar. Eidevall has brought in, and let go, a whole host of shot-stoppers during his time in charge, seemingly searching for the perfect fit. This summer has been no different, with Sabrina D'Angelo joining Aston Villa, Van Domselaar's former club, while the Dutchwoman has arrived in the capital. Aged 24, she has her best years ahead of her and Arsenal fans will hope she has them in north London.

• USA TODAY Sports
  

  Pre-season performances

  Due to Arsenal's participation in the first round of Champions League qualifying, pre-season was pretty short and sharp compared to some others in the WSL. The Gunners flew out to the United States for games against the Washington Spirit, of the NWSL, and London rivals Chelsea, faced Championship side Southampton at home a week later and then went straight into European qualifiers against Rangers and Rosenborg.

  Because a good handful of players were involved at the Olympic Games, which ended just eight days before Arsenal's match against Washington, it wasn't a perfect pre-season campaign. It was longer than last year's, when most of the squad needed a break after the Women's World Cup, but still involved late arrivals, the management of some players' minutes and slight injuries to Lotte Wubben-Moy, Beth Mead and Steph Catley, which limited the group's ability to work on building relationships.

  Despite that, there were a number of positives to take away, not least the fact that players like Williamson, Wienroither and Mead got proper pre-seasons. Katie Reid's performances were encouraging as the teenager prepares to have a squad role this season, covering for Amanda Ilestedt's maternity leave, while Alessia Russo had goals to her name, boosting her confidence going into the campaign.

  Arsenal certainly looked sharper as pre-season moved along and that continued into their European qualifiers, with the performances in victories over Rangers and Rosenborg largely positive. That said, some cold water was poured on such optimism earlier this week, when the Gunners lost 1-0 to Hacken in the away leg of their second round qualifier. They'll need to beat the Swedish side by two goals or more when they come to London next Thursday.

• Getty Images
  

  Talking tactics

  There is one main tactical talking point when it comes to Arsenal and that is how they struggle to break down opponents that defend in a low block. It cost the Gunners on several occasions last season, with defeats to Liverpool, West Ham and Tottenham leaving Eidevall's side on the back foot in the title race for the whole campaign.

  Two signings made this summer could be particularly valuable in trying to solve this problem. Caldentey knows the challenge well from her time at Barcelona and, more recently, in playing for world champions Spain. When GOAL asked Laia Codina, formerly her club-mate and still her international team-mate, if Caldentey will help Arsenal in their struggles here, she was certain. "Yes, 100 percent, with her movements off the ball or with the ball," she replied. "She's a player that is very smart, very intelligent and trying to understand what the games will ask."

  Kafaji could be a real asset, too. A creative midfielder who is full of flicks and tricks but also has convincing end product, she is a joker in the pack that opponents will struggle to predict. When combined with an "evolution" of the team that he spoke highly of, perhaps it's no wonder that Eidevall has expressed no concerns about low blocks this season, then. "I’m super confident that if we come up against a low block then we have tools and qualities and processes on how to play against that," he said at the WSL season launch media day last week. "I have full belief."

  Something else that will be particularly interesting to track as the season begins is what the right of Arsenal's attack looks like if it doesn't involve Mead. The sale of Lacasse means the squad lacks natural depth in that position, though there was an incredibly encouraging performance from Caitlin Foord on that side against Rangers this month, when she scored four goals. Usually more effective on the left, it would be a huge boost to Eidevall's options if the Australia international can find consistency on the opposite flank, too.

Run rates in excess of four an over, but opener still anticipates tough battle in fourth innings

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Dec-2020The SuperSport Park pitch is not as batsmen-friendly as the scores suggest, according to South Africa’s opener and top-scorer so far, Dean Elgar.Despite the teams piling on 713 runs over two days at a rate of more than four runs an over, Elgar suggested it has been tough going, especially against the quicks.”You’d think it’s actually quite flat but it’s not. There’s been quite a lot of assistance for the bowlers in the last two days,” Elgar said. “I don’t think the scores are a reflection on how the wicket is playing. It’s been a combination of good batting and poor bowling.”Both teams are fielding inexperienced pace packs. Sri Lanka’s is depleted by the loss of Kasun Rajitha, who bowled 13 balls before leaving the field with injury, and the bowlers on both sides are still working out the best approach on a surface with good carry but occasionally variable bounce.Sri Lanka’s and South Africa’s bowlers alike have learned that pitching it up is better than dropping it short and, for Elgar, the key is precision.”At SuperSport Park, for bowlers, the margins are so small,” Elgar said. “If you miss your mark, you are going to go for runs. If you bowl a fourth-stump line, you are going to have a bit of reward. We know the nature of the wicket at SuperSport Park – it’s a good place for bowlers to bowl. There’s quite a lot of assistance for the seamers.”Related

Elgar, Markram, du Plessis put South Africa in control

De Silva suffers torn thigh, ruled out for series

Sri Lanka's rush for runs gives South Africa another home headache

For that reason, Elgar was particularly pleased with the way both he and Aiden Markram negotiated the new ball to post South Africa’s first opening century stand in three years.The pair play their domestic cricket at this venue and have had three first-class fixtures here in the last month, with Markram scoring three centuries and a 75 and Elgar chipping in with a 52. Although he hasn’t been as prolific as his partner, Elgar believes his preparation has been put to good use.”We have been batting quite well domestically in the last couple of months,” he said. “It’s good to know I have put into play internationally what I have done domestically. There has been a lot of hard work building up to this.”South Africa’s opening stand was helped by several boundary-balls from the Sri Lankan attack and their own refined approach, labelled as “aggressive, but smart,” by coach Mark Boucher.Elgar explained it as “controlled aggression”, which is determined by the situation as much as it is by the team’s philosophy. “You can’t just go out and smack from the first ball, you have to be calculated. We had a good day with the bat, set up by the openers, as we are supposed to do. Of late, Boucher hasn’t spoken about being overly aggressive. He knows we still need to apply ourselves.”Especially as the pitch changes. After two sunny days and with more heat expected, this surface usually breaks up towards the latter stage of the match, which may make run-scoring more difficult in the fourth innings.

Freddie Freeman was a World Series hero once again for the Dodgers on Monday night as his walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the 18th inning gave Los Angeles a thrilling—and exhausting—6-5 win over the Blue Jays. The Dodgers now lead the series 2-1 and will have Shohei Ohtani pitching in Tuesday night's Game 4.

Freeman, who hit a walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the last year's World Series against the Yankees, sent the fans at Dodger Stadium into hysterics yet again when he blasted a 3-2 pitch over the wall in dead center to finally put an end to one of the best World Series games that has ever been played.

Here's that blast:

Freeman spoke with MLB Network's Lauren Shehadi moments after his heroic blast and he had a perfect joke, saying he almost had a home run a lot earlier in the game.

"I just missed one, I think it was like 22 innings ago…" Freeman said with a laugh.

Here's that interview:

Freeman's home run came six hours and 39 minutes after the game began. Both teams had a ton of opportunities in extra innings before the lefty finally put things away with another dinger that he will never forget.

Now it will be interesting to see how Ohtani will be able to bounce back in Game 4. He was a force once again in Game 3, hitting two more home runs and adding two doubles. While he didn't have to play the field, you have to think sleep might have come hard for him after that wild, and very long, night at Dodger Stadium.

The New York Yankees are expected to be buyers at this year's MLB trade deadline, but fortifying their roster for a shot at a World Series run could come at the expense of some key pieces of the organization.

According to Joel Sherman of the , multiple teams have expressed interest in Yankees slugger Ben Rice. The team is determined to keep him on the roster, but there have been multiple organizations inquiring about his ability to play behind the plate, as Rice was a catcher throughout much of his time in the minor leagues.

Of course, moving Rice is something the team would hope to avoid, but it may be necessary if they're to acquire some of the top players on the trade market.

Among the teams the Yankees have been closely linked to at this trade deadline include the Arizona Diamondbacks, who, after being swept by the Astros, appear destined to be sellers at the month's end. Some intriguing options in Arizona include Eugenio Suarez, who would alleviate a glaring need a third base while providing elite power, as well as pitchers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly.

This season, Rice is slashing .232/.323/.468 with 15 home runs, 32 RBIs and 45 runs. He's played two complete games behind the plate in 2025 and has 12 total appearances at the position. Obviously, his profile as a hitter is hard to find for a player capable of playing solid defense at catcher, so if he's able to catch at an MLB level, it makes sense that'd be of intrigue to teams.

Gloucestershire seamer Josh Shaw joins exodus after agreeing Somerset switch

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Oct-2025Northamptonshire have re-signed Indian legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal and Australian seamer Harry Conway as overseas players for next season.Conway, who took 20 wickets in four Championship appearances earlier this year, will return for the start of the 2026 campaign. The 33-year-old is expected to be available for the first block of seven games in April and May.Chahal, meanwhile, has agreed to return for a third consecutive summer at Northants, joining for the second half of the season to play in the County Championship and Metro Bank One-Day Cup. Overall, he has taken 44 first-class wickets and seven in List A for the club.”Yuzi is a magnificent asset to this squad,” Northamptonshire’s head coach, Darren Lehmann, said. “His record across his career speaks for itself and he brings so much class and experience to the group. I loved working with him this year and am excited to go again in 2026.””For young spinners in the group like Nirvan Ramesh and Stuart van der Merwe, having Yuzi around to guide them will be a huge plus for their game.”On Conway, Lehmann added: “Harry is an excellent addition for 2026. His form last year was fantastic, and I am excited to work with him for a longer period. His ability to take wickets on all surfaces and presence around the team makes him an invaluable player.”Northants have also signed batter Louis Kimber on a two-year deal from Leicestershire. Largely known as a white-ball hitter and occasional offspinner, Kimber made headlines in 2023 after scoring 243 off 127 balls in the County Championship at Hove.”Louis brings with him a huge amount of knowledge and experience around county cricket as well as boosting our batting firepower,” Lehmann said. “He will no doubt attract people to Wantage Road with his explosive batting and I can’t wait to start working with him.”Josh Shaw joins SomersetJosh Shaw spent six years at Gloucestershire•Dan Istitene/Getty ImagesGloucestershire have seen another member of their seam-bowling group depart, after Josh Shaw signed for Somerset earlier this week.Shaw, 29, had been under contract at Bristol since 2019, having previously played on loan from Yorkshire. He follows Ajeet Singh Dale (Lancashire), Zaman Akhter (Essex), Archie Bailey (Durham), Tom Price and Dom Goodman (both Sussex) in leaving over the close season.”We have seen first-hand how impactful Josh can be,” Somerset’s director of cricket, Andy Hurry, said. “He has the ability to swing and seam the ball, and he is an excellent addition to our bowling unit.”We are fully aware of Josh’s strong character traits and his willingness to be the best version of himself, which will add real value to the dressing room as well as on the pitch. These attributes will be vital for us as we continue to compete across all competitions.”

Gill had suffered a neck injury during the first Test against SA, while Hardik had injured his left quadriceps during the Asia Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Dec-2025Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya “are looking healthy and fit” ahead of the first T20I against South Africa, India captain Suryakumar Yadav said ahead of the series opener in Cuttack on Tuesday.”Both [Gill and Pandya] are looking healthy and fit,” Suryakumar said. Gill had suffered neck spasms during the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata, while Hardik was out with a quadriceps injury he suffered during the Asia Cup in September.Gill is yet to play since his injury, but Hardik made a comeback in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Playing for Baroda, he picked up a wicket in each game, but more importantly, bowled four overs both times. With the bat, his 77 not out off 42 against Punjab helped his team chase down 223.”What you saw in the Asia Cup also, when he [Hardik] was bowling with the new ball, he opened up a lot of options, combinations for us with respect to the playing XI,” Suryakumar said. “That’s what he brings to the table. His experience, the way he has done well in all big games, all ICC events, ACC events. I think that experience will count a lot and his presence will definitely give a good balance to the side.”With Gill back in the side, Suryaumar made it clear that Sanju Samson would have to compete with Jitesh Sharma for a spot in the middle order. He also emphasised that all batters apart from the openers need to be flexible with respect to their position in the order.”Sanju, when he came into the circuit, he batted higher up the order,” he said. “Now the thing is, other than the openers, everyone has to be flexible. He did really well when he opened the innings but Shubman had played before him in the Sri Lanka series, so he deserves to take that spot.”But we gave Sanju opportunities. He was ready to bat at any number, which is actually good to see a player being flexible to bat anywhere from No. 3 to 6. That’s one thing I have told all the batters that other than openers, everyone has to be very flexible. Both [Samson and Jitesh] are in the scheme of things. It’s always good to have lovely players like both of them. One can open, one can bat lower down the order. In fact, both can do all the roles. It’s an asset to the team and a good headache to have.”

Manchester United are working on a deal to sign “one of the best” midfielders in the world for Ruben Amorim, according to a recent report. Defeats to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest may have been a blessing in disguise for Amorim, as he will have learned a lot about his team ahead of the January transfer window.

Man Utd plotting move to sign £20m playmaker who could replace Mason Mount

Man Utd are continuing to put plans in place ahead of the January transfer window opening in a couple of weeks time.

ByBrett Worthington Dec 9, 2024 Man Utd transfer news

The winter transfer window opens in around three weeks time, and it is a good opportunity for the Red Devils to possibly look at getting one or two players out of the club, as well as bringing in fresh faces who suit the new boss’ system.

One player who could be on United’s radar in January is Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, as a report revealed that United will look to submit a bid for the defender in 2025. The England international is under contract until 2026, and United could look to use this to their advantage, as they plan to make a £33 million offer, way below his £50 million price tag.

Another player United could look to sign in early 2025 is midfielder Martin Baturina. PSG are said to be leading the race for his signature, and they are looking to get a deal done for around £20 million, but United are also keen and haven’t given up on getting a deal completed. Baturina’s reputation is continuing to grow as several Premier League teams are keen on a deal, but it could be hard to do as Dinamo Zagreb are insistent that he isn’t for sale.

INEOS working on deal to sign Frenkie de Jong for Man Utd

According to a report from Spain, Manchester United are working on a deal to sign Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona. The 27-year-old has been with the Spanish giants since July 2019, when he joined in a big-money move from Ajax.

De Jong, who has been described as “one of the best players in the world” by former Barça boss Xavi, has struggled for form and fitness this season, appearing just 12 times in all competitions so far. The Dutch international has just made two starts, as he’s being eased back into action by Hansi Flick.

This report states that the relationship between Barcelona and De Jong has turned into bitterness, and the midfielder is not keen on extending his stay with the Spanish side. This latest development has now caught the attention of United, who are working on a deal to sign De Jong and believe Barca are “in favour” of cashing in.

Apps

20

Goals

2

Assists

0

Touches per game

94.8

Key passes per game

1.1

Passes per game

76.3 (93%)

Tackles per game

2.2

Balls recovered per game

5.9

However, the Red Devils are not alone, as they are also mentioning Chelsea as a team that has been boosted by this development, while Bayern Munich and PSG are also interested in signing the midfielder.

United have had a long-standing interest in the Dutch international, who was valued at £51 million by Barca in the summer, as they were linked with a move for him during Erik ten Hag’s reign, and the player was even linked with a move to Old Trafford before that. De Jong’s high wages at Barcelona and their financial uncertainty has meant his future has been up in the air for a while now, and it could be that time is coming to an end, as his contract expires in 2026.