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Our pick of the best World T20 batting performances is heavy on semi-finals and finals performances

Kanishkaa Balachandran25-Feb-2016Marlon Samuels, 78 off 56 balls, West Indies v Sri Lanka, final, Colombo, 2012
West Indies, batting first, were crawling along at 32 for 2 after ten overs. Enter Samuels, who played the innings of his life, biffing Sri Lanka’s best bowler, Lasith Malinga, for three sixes in the 13th over and for a further 18 runs when Malinga returned for a new spell. West Indies posted a seemingly modest 137, thanks to Samuels’ onslaught, but it was a winning total.Alex Hales, 116 not off 64 balls, England v Sri Lanka, Chittagong, 2014
The target was a steep 190 and England were reeling at 0 for 2 at the end of the first over. A full-strength Sri Lanka attack wasn’t good enough to silence Hales, who bludgeoned 11 fours and six sixes. Three of those sixes came off one over from Ajantha Mendis that cost 25, decisively swinging the match away from Sri Lanka. It was England’s first T20 hundred and guided them home by six wickets.Michael Hussey, 60 not out off 24 balls, Australia v Pakistan, semi-final, Gros Islet, 2010
Chasing 192 for a place in the final, Australia looked out of it when they needed 34 off the last two overs. Their hopes rested on a set Hussey, batting on 24 off 14 at that point. He proceeded to take charge against Mohammad Amir, haring 16 off the penultimate over, and then launching a brutal onslaught on Saeed Ajmal in the 20th, smacking three sixes to clinch the unlikeliest of victories.Yuvraj Singh, 70 off 30 balls, India v Australia, semi-final, Durban, 2007
Yuvraj was in red-hot form coming into the semi-final, having hit Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over in the previous game. He tonked another five against Australia, including one off Brett Lee over square leg that proved to be the biggest hit of the tournament. India surged in the middle overs thanks largely to Yuvraj’s 21-ball fifty. It eventually took them to 188, and a 15-run win.Shahid Afridi, 51 off 34 balls, Pakistan v South Africa, semi-final, Trent Bridge, 2009
A refreshingly mature innings from Afridi: aggressive yet methodical, featuring eight fours and no sixes. South Africa pulled things back after the Powerplay, but Afridi didn’t let the pressure build on Pakistan, finding the gaps and pushing twos. He then tore into Johan Botha, hitting four fours in an over. He put Pakistan on course for a competitive 149 and later tormented South Africa with the ball, capping a fine day for him.

In the final, Pakistan were outclassed with the bat, outsmarted with the ball and outdone in the field

Danyal Rasool11-Sep-20223:18

Maharoof: ‘These young lions will be treated like heroes’

A tournament that began for Sri Lanka with tumult at home and turbulence in the UAE has ended with them taking home the Asia Cup trophy. Pakistan were the side at the receiving end of this thumping, outclassed with the bat, outsmarted with the ball, outdone in the field, and out-thought in the captaincy department by an electric Sri Lankan performance which wrapped up a commanding 23-run win.Bhanuka Rajapaksa formed the backbone of the Sri Lankan innings, rescuing his side from 58 for 5 with an unbeaten 45-ball 71 that saw them post 170. It was followed by a spirited showing in the field as Sri Lanka outmatched Pakistan’s intensity, with Wanindu Hasaranga and Pramod Madushan taking seven wickets between them during a listless batting performance.It had begun so smoothly for Pakistan, with Naseem Shah’s opening-over wicket appearing to set the tone for Pakistan. Haris Rauf was in similarly breathtaking form, never more so than during an extraordinary sixth over where he threatened the stumps nearly every ball. By then, both Pathum Nissanka and Danushka Gunathilaka had been accounted for, and Dhananjaya de Silva and Dasun Shanaka would soon follow.A revival led by Rajapaksa and Hasaranga helped Sri Lanka force themselves back into the game and a spirited finish ensured they’d post a competitive score. It was assisted by some ordinary ground fielding and catching by Pakistan; their best fielder, Shadab Khan, had a notoriously poor outing. Sri Lanka, by contrast, showed in the field how desperately they wanted this. Pakistan were stifled through the first half and then blown away in the second.The Sri Lanka players celebrate their victory•AFP/Getty ImagesBabar Azam’s side never quite sure how to pace their innings, with an unrelenting Sri Lanka refusing to let them grind through the gears. In the end, it was a mismatch between a side that had brought their A-game and one that never quite found theirs. Long before it became official, it was evident Sri Lanka would win their sixth Asia Cup trophy, capping a sensational tournament by saving their best performance for last.Naseem Shah’s first over
Whatever gift Shaheen Afridi possessed that got batters out in his first over seems to have been bestowed on Naseem in his absence. In a mesmeric start where the 19-year old found high pace almost right from the off, Kusal Mendis was done in for a golden duck by a near unplayable delivery. It made a beeline for the stumps, at searing speed, and the hapless Mendis could do little about it. The inswinger went through the gap between bat and pad, and uprooted off stump after clipping the thigh. It was Pakistani fast bowling at its scintillating best.The umpire’s call
First, there was a slice of luck, and then the glorious skill. Off the fifth ball of his innings in Rauf’s scintillating sixth over, the bowler sent down a near unplayable leg-stump yorker at the in-form Rajapaksa. The batter played all around it, with the ball crunching into his foot. The umpire deemed it not out, only to have his decision upheld by the barest of margins, with Hawkeye deeming it to be umpire’s call on impact. To the naked eye, it looked out from just about every angle.With Pakistan on top, it was a colossal moment in the final, and Rajapaksa wouldn’t let it go to waste. What followed was an innings of high class, that saw through a period of consolidation while Hasaranga at the other end took on a more proactive role. Sri Lanka were slowly chipping away at Pakistan, and without taking too many risks, Rajapaksa had brought up a 35-ball half-century.2:25

Maharoof: ‘Probably the best I have seen Rajapaksa bat’

Most memorable of all though, was the way he took on Naseem at the end, a bowler who had begun so sensationally in the Powerplay. A flick of the wrists deposited him over backward square leg in his penultimate over, before a four and a six off the innings’ final two balls ensured Sri Lanka had all the momentum with them at the break.The Sri Lankan first over
There might never have been a game that saw such a contrast at the start of each bowling performance. While Naseem was unplayable to begin Pakistan’s work, Dilshan Madushanka was anything but. It wasn’t until the sixth ball that the innings even began with the left-arm seamer starting off with a no-ball and following it up with four wides, one of which went down to the boundary for an extra four. Pakistan had nine to their name without a legal ball being bowled and a free hit to follow. But Madushanka would come back smartly to allow just three more through the over, and Sri Lanka ensured it was a blip rather than a harbinger of what was to follow.The entire second innings
There was so much to enjoy about Sri Lanka in the field it’s almost impossible to pick out individual moments. Madushan’s two-in-two to remove Babar and Fakhar Zaman set the tone. It also helped that an off colour Mohammad Rizwan never really figured out how to manipulate his innings according to the needs of the target.Shanaka was especially canny about using his bowlers, perhaps in stark contrast to Pakistan who mysteriously opted not to have Mohammad Nawaz bowl out his quote. Throwing the ball to the offspinner de Silva just as the left-hander Nawaz came in to bat at No. 5 proved a masterstroke, with a couple of sensational dives in the field saving valuable runs off the first two balls, followed up by four dot balls that saw the asking rate balloon to 14.Sri Lanka caught like a side possessed, too, whereas the only montage you could make of Pakistan’s fielding would be about their sloppiness. In the end, there was a yawning chasm between the performances the two sides put in, with the result a fair reflection.

Another international break bites the dust – and this time, the wretched thing won’t return until March. For West Ham United, however, it perhaps came at the right time, for Julen Lopetegui needs to manufacture a sharp upswing in form.

West Ham avoided defeat before many players jetted off for their sojourns, though the recent goalless draw against Everton in the Premier League was not an exciting thing, and did little to sate the fanbase’s hunger for improvement.

A cynic would say that it’s kitchen sink time for Lopetegui, and even the most optimistic of Hammers supporters must be forced to accept that things need to improve – and fast.

25/11/24

Newcastle

St. James’ Park

30/11/24

Arsenal

London Stadium

03/12/24

Leicester

King Power Stadium

09/12/24

Wolves

London Stadium

16/12/24

Bournemouth

Vitality Stadium

21/12/24

Brighton

London Stadium

26/12/24

Southampton

St. Mary’s Stadium

29/12/24

Liverpool

London Stadium

There’s a good chance to escape from the sliding rut that has dampened a mood that, only this summer, crackled with nervous excitement after David Moyes departed and £120m was spent on new parts.

A lack of identity and bereftness of confidence have instead ruled with an iron grip. Something needs to change, and Jarrod Bowen will be sure to be at the centre of any hopeful revival.

Jarrod Bowen shows his quality for England

Bowen would be one of the first to admit that he hasn’t been at his best this season, but then it’s hard to operate with full form and fluency when the system whose tactics you adopt fails to roar into life.

Club insiders have refuted claims that CEO David Sullivan and bruised technical director Tim Steidten had been set for crunch talks regarding Lopetegui’s future, but the very fact that such news bobbed up, months into his tenure, makes a telling comment on the conundrum in east London.

Unfortunately, Bowen probably delighted in performing within Lee Carsley’s Three Lions set-up, scoring his first international goal off the bench during the 5-0 rout over the Republic of Ireland.

Let’s look at it from another angle, eh: Bowen’s confidence will have been raised after such an emphatic moment in his career, and he could be ready to tackle the biting winter period, armband girdled on, with fresh life.

West Ham will need his attacking authority; after all, the flow of goals has been more accurately described as a trickle this season, but the dynamic forward tops the charts even so.

1.

Jarrod Bowen

13

4

2.

Mohammed Kudus

10

2

2=

Tomas Soucek

12

2

2=

Lucas Paqueta

13

2

5.

Danny Ings

6

1

5=

Michail Antonio

12

1

5=

Crysencio Summerville

12

1

The lack of goals doesn’t make for great viewing. Bowen and his frontal peers haven’t been at their best, to be sure, but there’s a stark absence of creativity that makes it hard to flourish. The Premier League record that the Hammers have created 17 big chances this season, placing them joint-16th in the division.

More attacking dimensions are required, and getting rid of the likes of Said Benrahma and James Ward-Prowse this summer must rankle a few.

West Ham actually cast out another player since Moyes’ exit who’s actually outperforming most of the current squad in offence, though Thilo Kehrer is probably not the name that you’d expect.

Thilo Kehrer's season in numbers

When Kehrer first alighted in east London, the furore suggested that a great deal had been struck, with The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas even praising his: “speed and eagerness to occupy advanced positions should add an extra dimension.” The defender’s versatility also posited that he could dynamise Moyes’ backline.

Signed from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2022 – for a shrewd £10m – the Germany international had enjoyed success but wanted a more prominent role than he had been afforded in the French capital.

However, his time in the Premier League quickly proved to temper expectations to ground closer to that of the £10m figure, with Kehrer starting the first 14 top-flight fixtures of the season but just 11 thereafter.

He left England just a year and a half after joining West Ham, signing on loan with AS Monaco before the deal became permanent in the summer of 2024. The half-campaign he spent under Moyes’ wing in 2023/24, the German managed only four substitute appearances in the league.

Journalist Stefan Bienkowski had even criticised the 28-year-old for one “horrendous” performance with Germany, with his confidence clearly knocked for six after early struggles with West Ham. Indeed, previously he had been a near-infallible mainstay for his nation under the tutelage of Hansi Flick.

At least he’s enjoying his football again back in France, though it’s somewhat frustrating to see that he’s having some success from an attacking standpoint, posting three goals from 13 matches across all competitions for Monaco this season.

Operating as a centre-back, this is quite the feat, especially when considering that the 6 foot 1 titan has completed 90% of his passes and emerged triumphant in 68% of his duels in Ligue 1 too, as per Sofascore.

Though he didn’t quite make his mark under Moyes’ leadership, Kehrer is clearly a great defender who suffered due to circumstances. West Ham aren’t exactly flourishing right now, but Lopetegui wants more control and perhaps he could have aided the squad in that regard.

The fact that he’s also outscoring every West Ham star bar Bowen also speaks volumes to the struggles of the London club.

West Ham make "special" £20m player top target to replace Lucas Paqueta

West Ham’s board have identified a player who could be the perfect replacement for one of their key midfielders.

ByBrett Worthington Nov 17, 2024

The USMNT legends offers guidance to the young American especially with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon

• Donovan, Howard emphasize the importance of playing consistently
• Suggests Reyna consider all options, including MLS
• Highlights the significance of the upcoming 2026 World Cup

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED

  USMNT legend Landon Donovan has shared advice for Giovanni Reyna as the young midfielder looks to reignite his career in 2025. After a challenging few years at Borussia Dortmund and an unsuccessful loan spell at Nottingham Forest, Reyna faces a pivotal year in his development with the 2026 World Cup fast approaching.

  "The reason we talk about him [Gio Reyna] is because he's such a generational talent and we were running the stats, and in the 12 league games this year, he has one start [for Dortmund] and his average minutes on the field is 2.1 minutes in 2025," Donovan said. "He comes in for three minutes here, doesn't play the next three games. He's got to move, he has to move because this too important a time for him."

  Donovan, the USMNT’s joint all-time leading scorer alongside Clint Dempsey, expressed concern about Reyna’s lack of playing time at Dortmund on his podcast with Tim Howard. He emphasized that the 22-year-old is a generational talent and urged him to leave the German club to improve his chances of featuring for the U.S. at the 2026 World Cup.

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• WHAT LANDON DONOVAN AND TIM HOWARD SAID

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ever since his breakout 2022-23 season, Giovanni Reyna has struggled with injuries and finding a consistent role with Dortmund — making just 11 Bundesliga appearances in the 2023-24 season before being loaned out. However, even his six-month loan spell at Nottingham Forest failed to get the best out of the attacker, as he made only nine appearances for the in the second half of the 2023-24 season. Things haven’t changed since then as injuries and other issues have seen the 22-year-old play just 378 total minutes this campaign.

• AFP
  

  WHAT’S NEXT?

  As Reyna enters a pivotal year in 2025, he faces crucial decisions about his future especially after reports indicated that Borussia Dortmund are open to selling him this summer. The American has less than 18 months left on his current contract and with the 2026 World Cup around the corner, the 22-year-old’s performances over the next year will be instrumental in determining his role in the national team setup.

Liverpool blew Bayer Leverkusen right back to the Bundesliga with a 4-0 Champions League win that was created by an almighty second-half display.

Xabi Alonso’s Anfield return was an emotional thing, and the home crowd showed the Spaniard, who won the Champions League with Liverpool as a player, the utmost respect. Don’t forget, in an alternate reality, Alonso may well be Jurgen Klopp’s successor.

Slow starts have been a recurrent theme this season and last, but Liverpool have a masterful tactician in their dugout and tweaked away at the interval to command total authority over the German champions, blitzing through them.

So many wonderful performances: Virgil van Dijk was redoubtable in defence; Ryan Gravenberch, invariably brilliant under Arne Slot, was immense again.

In attack, Mohamed Salah turned creator as he can do so well in his present iteration, chalking up two for his teammates. That’s nine goals and nine assists apiece from 16 matches in 2024/25, thank you very much.

Cody Gakpo scored, but it was Luis Diaz, the hat-trick hero, who’s deservedly taken the limelight.

Luis Diaz ran riot

Diaz’s Premier League purple patch has been over for a bit of time now, but he’s dispelled any notions of another season of impotence in front of goal with an excellent three-piece on Europe’s biggest stage.

That’s nine goals now for the Colombian, who has also made two assists across his 15 fixtures this season. Last year, he’d managed just 13 goals and five assists across 51 matches in all competitions.

Liverpool are alive, and they proved once again that they are the team to beat, now table toppers in both the Premier League and Champions League, having advanced to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals too.

Darwin Nunez has started the past several matches up top, but Diaz, 27, was preferred last night, and oh how he took his chance, with Liverpool.com handing him a 9/10 match rating for his efforts.

He failed to make any kind of impact against a steely backline in the first half; the two outfits sort of negated each other before the break.

But Merseyside became enflamed in a fury of Red after the break, and Diaz was the catalyst, hailed for his “magnificent” opening goal by reporter Dominic King.

Okay, Diaz deserves the limelight, but let’s not forget the architect behind the goal that started it all off, and indeed, the man in the middle who has played himself into a nailed-on starting berth: Curtis Jones.

Curtis Jones was exceptional vs Leverkusen

Jones has given birth to a new level of performance in recent weeks, with his slick and stylish movements in the midfield paying dividends for a Liverpool side that requires technique, control and creativity across equal measures.

Minutes played

73′

Assists

1

Touches

51

Accurate passes

27/30 (90%)

Key passes

3

Possession lost

8x

Dribbles (completed)

2 (2)

Interceptions

1

Total duels (won)

5 (4)

Having completed 90% of his passes, Jones ensured Liverpool’s fluency remained intact. Interestingly about that statistic, Jones had actually ceded the ball three times across the first ten minutes, meaning that he then spent an hour pulling strings and doing so without losing the ball once.

Moreover, he created three key passes and won 80% of his duels too, while also completing 100% of his attempted dribbles, putting in a shift and a half against a side that simply refused to lose last year. Jones was duly awarded with an 8/10 match rating for his labours, praised for his energy and ‘pressing relentlessly throughout’.

It was indeed his “tasty” through ball, as per Melissa Reddy, which broke the deadlock, finely poised as the game was for about 50 minutes. The Athletic’s James Pearce even called it an “Alonso-esque” pass, with the artistry of the move unlikely to have been lost by the travelling head coach.

Liverpool have done it again, when will they falter? To be sure, there will be a hiccup down the line somewhere, but Slot has created a force to be reckoned with, and it’s starting to look like it carries the tools to win something silver and shiny before the summer.

Liverpool thought they had the next Alonso before he was sold for just £6m

Liverpool once sold a flop for £6m who was supposed to be the next Alonso.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 4, 2024

Amad Diallo is, according to Louis Saha, an “unbelievable” talent who can be compared to Manchester United greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

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• Ivorian winger rare positive in 2024-25
• Boasts similar qualities to Red Devils greats
• Tipped to become a "superstar" in his own right

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ivorian winger Amad has been on United’s books since 2021, but has had to be patient in pursuit of regular first-team opportunities. Loan spells at Rangers and Sunderland were taken in when game time at Old Trafford proved hard to come by.

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  Amad was drafted back into the Red Devils fold by Erik ten Hag, but the Dutch coach continued to favour others – including big-money flop Antony – when it comes to roles on the flanks. The 22-year-old has, however, been one of few bright sparks for United in the 2024-25 campaign.

• WHAT LOUIS SAHA SAID

  With nine goals and seven assists to his name this term, former United striker Saha has told of why the talented forward can follow in some illustrious footsteps: “Amad can go very far. He has the capacity to develop into one of the games superstars. I love his humility and at the same time, I love his determination. He’s a player with guts. He’s got the guts to grab the opportunity that he has been given. He’s got the skills and he’s also got good body strength. He reminds me a little bit of Raheem Sterling when he first broke through. People thought they would be able to knock him off the ball because of his size, but they couldn’t.

  “What Amad’s done in terms of energy, in terms of his impact, it's unbelievable. I remember back in the day, I saw Cristiano, I saw Wayne Rooney, I saw Giggsy train. He’s got the same dedication. He’s got the same desire. He’s got the same level of dedication.”

• Getty
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Saha added: “You can see that Amad is obsessed about his football, you can see that he wants to entertain the fans, and he's got a real connection with the United fans. Ruben Amorim can play him in any position, and he knows that he will get a performance out of him.

  “Amorim should give him the keys to this United team. They should build around this guy because he’s that good. I really like what he's doing. The enthusiasm that he's got, it's brilliant. I watch football to see guys like Amad play.”

Jhon Duran has been a stand-out and even somewhat surprise performer for Aston Villa this season. The 20-year-old Colombian striker has scored six goals in nine games in all competitions, with all of his strikes coming as a substitute, following a summer of turmoil over his future.

In the Premier League, he’s netted against West Ham, Leicester, Everton, and Wolves, while in the Champions League, he scored the only goal as Villa recorded an historic win over Bayern Munich – thumping in a stunning half-volley from the edge of the area.

Emery missed out on £100m "menace" for Villa, settling for Duran instead

Emery had the chance to sign a player who is now valued at £100m by his current club…

ByRoss Kilvington Oct 5, 2024

Unsurprisingly, Villa boss Unai Emery is over the moon with how well his back-up forward is performing.

“He arrived here two years ago and he is young, his potential is huge,” the Spaniard said of Duran after the win over Bayern, which was a repeat of Villa’s famous European Cup final victory over the German club.

“Sometimes he has been impatient and I need to speak to him as a person and connect to him as a person,” Emery added. “As well as a player to try to let him play, putting him on the field because his talent is there and the capacity to help us.”

Duran pens new contract

In light of Duran’s good form, on Monday, Villa announced that the forward has put pen to paper on a new deal with the club until 2030. While on the face of it, that might seem like good news for Villa fans, Chelsea News reporter Simon Phillips doesn’t agree.

Chelsea had come close to signing Duran, who, according to TEAMtalk, Villa now value at £80 million, in the summer, with a £42 million deal collapsing at the last hurdle. Phillips, however, doesn’t believe the new contract will stop Chelsea coming back in for the player, but rather just give Villa more power at the negotiating table if they do.

Chelsea likely to make another move for Duran in 2025

“Just because a player signs a new contract extension at their club, in this day and age it means very little other than the club who owns said player having much more power in negotiations should they sell,” Phillips wrote for Chelsea News on Monday.

“We have seen various examples of this in recent times where a player agrees to a contract extension with their club after being linked with moves away for months and even getting as far as being in talks with other clubs. Said player then ends up being sold not too long after the new contract was agreed,” he added.

Phillips wrote that he’d be “shocked if it doesn’t contain a release clause,” or “at least some kind of agreement to let him leave the club down the line”, adding that “Chelsea will absolutely still hold an interest in the striker”.

Looking ahead towards 2025, Manchester City are reportedly set to intensify their interest in a young goalkeeper who could replace current shot-stopper Ederson at The Etihad.

Man City transfer news

Whilst Rodri’s recent long-term injury has shifted the headlines towards just who Manchester City may turn to when it comes to replacing the Spaniard in the January transfer window, they’ve also got cause for concern over the future of Ederson. At 31 years old, the goalkeeper has two years left on his current deal and already attracted the reported interest of clubs in the Saudi Pro League during the summer before ultimately staying put.

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Man City have a new name on the list of potential Rodri replacements.

ByBrett Worthington Oct 3, 2024

Pep Guardiola was very open with reporters when speaking about the Brazilian’s future in pre-season, saying via BBC Sport: “I’d like him to stay but it depends on other clubs. I don’t know the situation. There have been no contacts in the last days. It’s a question of training, being with us until the transfer window finishes and we’ll see.”

In the end, Guardiola got his wish, but the rumours may just have acted as a warning sign for City to begin their search for a future replacement in 2025. According to reports in Spain, Manchester City are now set to intensify their interest in Lucas Chevalier, who recently kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 victory for LOSC Lille over Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappe.

If there’s a way to impress on-watching clubs, then denying one of the best forward lines in European football is certainly among the desired options, and Chevalier did just that for his side. Still just 22 years old, the Frenchman is one for the future and a shot-stopper who could yet be on his way to stardom to replace Ederson at Manchester City. When 2025 arrives, he looks set to be one to watch.

"Talented" Chevalier could replace Ederson

Whether it’s in 2025 or at the end of his current contract in 2026, replacing Ederson will be an incredibly difficult task for Manchester City. The Premier League champions arguably won’t find a goalkeeper with better passing range or someone as daring as the Brazilian – two traits which stand out in Guardiola’s side. But that’s not to say Chevalier isn’t a solid candidate.

Clean Sheets

15

10

Save Percentage

76.4%

70.7%

Saves per 90

2.76

1.81

Pass Completion Rate

77.1%

87.3%

On the shot-stopping front, it’s clear that Lille’s number one is more than ready to step up to the level of the Premier League champions. Predictably, however, Ederson is in a world of his own when it comes to distributing the ball in a trait that his potential replacement will have to discover if he is to arrive at The Etihad.

Dubbed “one of the most talented young goalkeepers in Europe” by Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig, Chevalier looks destined to reach the top, whether it’s courtesy of a move to Manchester City or elsewhere. The Cityzens, meanwhile, must keep an eye on Ederson’s long-term future at the club.

Kane Richardson has been ruled out of Australia’s limited-overs tour of Pakistan due a hamstring injury and will be replaced by New South Wales left-armer Ben Dwarshuis.Richardson, who was the most experienced pace bowler in an already depleted squad, aggravated the injury during training in Melbourne ahead of the team’s departure to Lahore.”Although the injury is considered minor it was decided the long trip to Pakistan along with four games in eight days and short turnarounds it was in Richardson’s best interests to remain home,” a Cricket Australia statement said.Dwarshuis, who also plays for Sydney Sixers, is uncapped at international level but was previously part of Australia’s T20 squad during a tri-series in 2017-18 and has been part of the IPL. If he features in the ODI side during the three-match series, it would come after just nine List A matches for New South Wales.Richardson’s absence leaves the pace attack to be led by Jason Behrendorff and Sean Abbott alongside Nathan Ellis, supplemented by allrounders Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green and Marcus Stoinis.Multi-format quicks Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins have been rested for the white-ball portion of the tour. Hazlewood and Cummins are both part of the upcoming IPL.Captain Aaron Finch was confident the squad still had the depth to compete in Pakistan.”One thing that will help is the guys have played a lot of T20 cricket,” he said. “They’re quite inexperienced for Australia but I think playing T20 cricket will help them in that regard. There’s a lot of skill in the group and guys that have been around one-day cricket for a long time domestically as well.”Having a lot of a lot of faith in their own ability is really important. When you have got guys like Abbott, he’s been around for a long time [and] Behrendorff. They’ve played a lot of state cricket, so I think it’ll be fine.”Australia only played three ODIs last year – on the tour of West Indies – with home matches this season against New Zealand postponed due to Covid-19 border restrictions. They have won all three of their series in the ODI Super League with 2-1 victories over England (away) and India (home) alongside the West Indies success.

Real Madrid ace Jude Bellingham has been hilariously tricked into signing a '10-year deal' with Burnley, along with his brother Jobe.

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• Jude spends Christmas in England with family
• Went to Ewood Park to support his brother Jobe
• Was tricked by a fan to 'sign' for Burnley

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The cheeky moment was orchestrated by Alfie, a young supporter, who presented the two players with a makeshift 'contract' committing them to a 10-year tenure at the Clarets. The boy’s father shared the amusing encounter on social media platform X.

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• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  Posting proudly, he wrote: “My lad Alfie has just signed Jobe & @BellinghamJude up for @BurnleyOfficial on a 10-year contract @realmadriden @SunderlandAFC sorry lads!”

  The handwritten 'contract' humorously stated: “We, Jobe and Jude, agree to sign for Burnley for 10 years.”

  Adding to the lightheartedness, Burnley FC Chairman Alan Pace reacted to the social media post with enthusiasm. He tweeted: “Welcome to the recruitment team, Alfie,” acknowledging the playful 'deal' brokered by the young fan.

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Bellingham, currently one of the most celebrated players in European football, is fresh off helping Real Madrid end 2024 on a high note. The 21-year-old midfielder played a crucial role in a 4-2 victory against Sevilla, solidifying Real Madrid’s dominance in La Liga as they head into the festive break. However, with Spanish football pausing for the holiday season, Jude took advantage of the downtime to visit England and support his brother Jobe against Blackburn at Ewood Park, who is making waves in the Championship with Sunderland.

• Getty Images Entertainment
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR JUDE & JOBE?

  While Jude is set for a brief hiatus before Real Madrid resumes action in January 2025 with a match against Valencia, Jobe still has one more game to play in 2024. Sunderland will face Stoke City on December 29, providing the younger Bellingham with another opportunity to showcase his burgeoning talent.