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Spencer Johnson, Aaron Hardie and Matt Short have been handed their first Australia selections

Andrew McGlashan07-Aug-2023

Mitchell Marsh has been named Australia’s T20 captain for the tour of South Africa, making him a frontrunner for the role on a permanent basis leading into next year’s World Cup.South Australia left-arm fast bowler Spencer Johnson has earned his first international call-up alongside allrounders Aaron Hardie and Matt Short for the three-match series which starts in late August and are Australia’s first T20 games since last year’s World Cup where the hosts went out in the group stage.Marsh takes the job vacated by Aaron Finch’s international retirement earlier this year although his appointment is currently just for the three matches in South Africa. The selectors will make a decision on the long-term captain after this year’s ODI World Cup, where Australia will be led by Pat Cummins, with a good chance they will unite the white-ball roles under one name, putting Marsh in a strong position to lead in both formats.”Mitch has long been a senior player within the white-ball structure, with this an opportunity for him to add to his leadership skills at international level,” national selector George Bailey said. “We look forward to him taking that step in South Africa.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green and David Warner have been rested from the T20Is following the Ashes and will join for the ODIs. However, Steven Smith is included and Bailey confirmed he would open against South Africa following his stunning BBL performances for Sydney Sixers last season. Ashton Agar was ruled out of the T20Is as he continues to recover from a calf strain but will be available for the one-dayers.The trio of new faces in the T20I squad come on the back of impressive form in the BBL last season. Johnson had a breakout season for Brisbane Heat where he stood out operating at the death and then translated that form into the Sheffield Shield with South Australia.Hardie, who plays for Perth Scorchers, was the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 460 at a strike-rate of 141.10, while Short was only narrowly behind him with 458 striking at 144.47. Short earned an IPL deal with Punjab Kings on the back of his BBL season where he also claimed 11 wickets to be named the player of the season. Hardie has also been included the squad for the ODIs in South Africa and India.Left-armer Jason Behrendorff returns to the international fold and could play his first T20Is since the tour of West Indies in 2021.”Aaron, Spencer and Matt have been outstanding in the BBL and identified as potential national players of the future,” Bailey said. “This tour is a great opportunity for all three to demonstrate those skills in a national team environment.”Aaron has impressed in recent outings for Australia A as well as for the Scorchers while Matt has blossomed with extra responsibility at the top of the order for the Strikers.”Spencer’s left-arm pace and bounce was highly effective in his first season for the Heat. This trip will be a fantastic experience for all three and the chance to play their first games for their country.”From those who featured at last year’s T20 World Cup there is no place for Matthew Wade or Kane Richardson, but Bailey said he expected Wade to feature in the series against India which follows the ODI World Cup and the South Africa tour was seen as an opportunity to get some games into Josh Inglis.Australia T20 squad vs South Africa: Mitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Jason Behrendorff, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steven Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

Manuel Neuer jokingly dubbed Nick Woltemade “Woltemessi” as Bayern Munich continue their push to sign the Stuttgart striker despite strong resistance.

Bayern clinch Supercup 2-1 Stuttgart firm on their striker's departureNeuer praise fuels ongoing transfer speculationFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Bayern kicked off their season with a 2-1 Supercup triumph over Stuttgart, courtesy of goals from England’s superstar Harry Kane and a high summer recruit from Liverpool Luis Diaz. Yet, the night truly belonged to captain Neuer, who at 39 rolled back the years with a commanding display in his 11th Supercup appearance. The veteran goalkeeper produced decisive saves, showcasing the reflexes and authority that have defined his legendary career.

After the match, Neuer turned the spotlight onto one of Bayern’s long-standing transfer targets, Euro U-21 sensation Nick Woltemade. In a lighthearted but telling moment, the skipper showered praise on the young forward and even dropped a cheeky transfer hint by giving him a playful nickname: “Woltemessi.” The quip not only drew laughs but also fuelled speculation that Bayern is still not yet done with their pursuit of the rising star.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT NEUER SAID

Speaking about Stuttgart’s U-21 European champion, Woltemade, the Bayern captain was full of praise: "He's a very good player, who's also Woltemessi," said Neuer, smiling as he compared the youngster’s skillset to the Argentine legend.

The German striker is "someone who can do a lot on the ball, is unpredictable, and the same applies to Deniz Undav, for example," Neuer added.

But his comments didn’t stop there. With Bayern still looking to bolster their attack this summer, Neuer appeared to drop a subtle transfer hint, "I have a feeling something else will happen. But as I say every summer: We trust our managers. They'll do their homework, and we'll concentrate on football."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Neuer’s remark carried shades of Thomas Muller’s trademark wit, often used to break tension while also sending subtle messages. Just as Muller has been known to mix humour with insight when commenting on teammates or rivals, Neuer’s playful nickname for Woltemade did more than entertain. It added weight to Bayern’s ongoing pursuit of the 23-year-old forward, reinforcing the idea that even the dressing room leaders see him as a potential addition. With Stuttgart holding firm that “the case is closed,” Neuer’s words put added pressure on the Bundesliga rivals while keeping the rumour mill alive.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN & WOLTEMADE?

For Stuttgart, CEO Alexander Wehrle has been categorical in ruling out Woltemade’s departure, even after putting forward an improved contract club has even offered the striker an improved contract worth up to €2.5m per year, though Bayern’s proposal was reportedly three to four times higher, underlining how serious their pursuit is. For now, Woltemade remains a Stuttgart player, but with the transfer window still open and Neuer’s pointed remarks fresh.

The attention on Rahul Dravid the coach has reached parody levels, but on the field not much changed, which means India hold a dominant position again

Sidharth Monga25-Nov-20213:03

Jaffer: Shreyas Iyer has taken ‘opportunity with both hands’ after ‘hard grind in first-class cricket’

With Virat Kohli resting post T20 World Cup, the marketing of Indian cricket for the casual fan has centred on #newera in reference to the new coach Rahul Dravid, which is a disfavour to the cricket and also to Dravid himself, who is the last person to crave attention. No press conference, no spot interview, no special programming has gone without trying to look for the Dravid impact in even the most trivial things.

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Those trying to bring Dravid down have been complaining about no experimentation in the T20 XI without paying any mind to the fact that the series was still alive. They’ve been questioning why the team isn’t batting first to get better at setting totals, even though as ODI captain he made them bat second to get better at chasing. There’s even some mumbling over how often the cameras pan to him. On the charitable side of things, his humility has come up, as has his invitation to legends of the game to hand out caps to debutants. His offspin in the nets has been played on loop.It is fitting then that on the first day of Test cricket with Dravid as coach, we learnt nothing new about Test cricket. On his first day of Test cricket in Asia, Kyle Jamieson showed he is a phenomenal Test bowler, which we knew. Tim Southee surprised nobody with his wily use of angles and various kinds of grips. Shreyas Iyer demonstrated the well-known depth of batting talent in India. Ravindra Jadeja showed why he has been the most important member of this Test side since his comeback as an allrounder.Related

• Tom Latham, Will Young make India's spinners toil after Shreyas Iyer's 105

• Iyer and Jadeja make it India's day on testing track

• From Green Park to Green Park: The making of Shreyas Iyer

• Rahul injury shifts focus on to Pujara and Rahane

Most importantly, the first day reiterated that you need deep attacks to compete away from home. There’s probably no bigger challenge for a Test team today than to travel to India and lose the toss. The last time India lost a home Test after winning the toss was nine years ago. Of 18 such matches since that defeat to England, two have been drawn because of weather and only one of the 16 wins has been by a margin of under 100 runs.Jamieson and Southee made the most of the situation after being asked to bowl on a slow and low Kanpur pitch. Jamieson in particular displayed his immaculate understanding of Test cricket and the skill to back it up. He was quick to find the fullest length to bring the batters forward without letting them drive. Remember that is not how he operates in helpful conditions where he comes behind Southee and Trent Boult and bowls dry lengths before going for the fuller ball that draws the edge.Kyle Jamieson celebrates the dismissal of Shubman Gill•BCCIJamieson bowled enough good balls to benefit from the old adage “it takes one ball to get them out”. It really was that in the case of Shubman Gill and Ajinkya Rahane. Gill curtailed his movement across from England to stay beside the line of the ball and score freely, which he did, but he fell to perhaps the first ball that reversed, and it did reverse remarkably early. On another day, the first ball that misbehaves like this is not on target, and you get the chance to tighten your game. On this day, Gill’s stumps went for a walk.The same happened with Rahane, who everybody knows doesn’t have the runs: an average of 25 in his last 15 Tests. You can’t discard the cold evidence, but he has batted better than the numbers suggest.A big indicator of where Rahane’s game is at is how eager he is to hit an early boundary. He is a flashy starter: in the three years leading to the Australia tour no India batter had scored more streaky boundaries in the first 30 balls of an innings than Rahane even though he had quite a low strike rate over that period. Since Australia, Rahane has been more assured before he really struggled in the second half of the England tour. In Kanpur, he looked calm, middled most of the balls he played, had a control percentage close to 90, but got out to one that stayed low from the exact length that he had cut away for four previously.On Rahane’s day this bottom edge goes for four. It’s happened before. It was Jamieson’s day.Southee doesn’t have the disconcerting pace or bounce but he does have a lovely outswinger. Early in the piece he bowled scrambled-seam deliveries to look for the lbw, and then when it began to reverse he went wide on the crease, flipped the shiny side outside, made Pujara play the angle and then took the edge with away swing.Ajinkya Rahane middled a few and then got out to one that kept low•BCCIAt the other end, though, New Zealand would have seen worrying signs with balls keeping low and the odd one turning from the straight. And yet this was only the second time since 2001 that spinners bowled 50 overs in a day in India without a wicket. It raised the same old question that is asked of visiting sides: should you just pick your best bowler instead of two spinners?New Zealand’s selection shouldn’t be faulted in hindsight. Had they got to bat first their spinners would have got more helpful conditions. And even if they had gone with just the one, that one would have been Ajaz Patel, who had an ordinary day, struggling to put together a string of good balls, going for 78 in 21 overs, that too after he bowled his last few overs well outside leg to Iyer.Iyer was never meant to play in this series. A closer contender to the first XI was sent to South Africa on the A tour, and he was just a back-up. That he could slot in to cover for KL Rahul’s injury and score an efficient unbeaten 75 on debut from a tricky situation shows you how good India’s reserves are. In doing so he preyed on the lack of depth in New Zealand’s attack.The moment they were forced to bowl two spinners in tandem, thanks to a niggle to Southee, Iyer pounced. Jadeja once again underlined Hanuma Vihari’s misfortune: India have a specialist bowler good enough to bat at No. 6.Batting will not ease out the way it did for Iyer and Jadeja – who were no doubt good enough to capitalise on it – because India have just the bowling attack for these conditions. It will take a huge effort from New Zealand and the weather to not add to the list of comfortable wins for India when they win the toss at home. As for #newera, give them some time before making judgements. They are not here to make statements for the sake of making statements.

وصل تشابي ألونسو لتدريب ريال مدريد الصيف الماضي، وعلى الرغم من ذلك فقد كشفت تقارير جديدة فإنه كان من الممكن أن يتخذ مساره التدريبي اتجاها مختلفا قبل عودته لملعب سانتياجو برنابيو كمدرب.

وبحسب الصحفي “فابريس هاوكينز” فإن تشابي ألونسو مدرب ريال مدريد كان من بين الأسماء المرشحة لتدريب باريس سان جيرمان في عام 2023 عندما كان يحقق نجاحاته مع بايرليفركوزن.

وأضاف أن باريس سان جيرمان وصناع القرار في النادي كانوا يبحثون ويدرسون أسماء العديد من المدربين وملفاتهم الشخصية.

أقرأ أيضاً.. مخاوف في باريس سان جيرمان بسبب لويس إنريكي

وتحدث هاوكينز عن ارتباط عدة أسماء بتدريب باريس سان جيرمان في عام 2023: “وضع المدير الرياضي لويس كامبوس قائمة طويلة جداً، كان أرتيتا أحد المرشحين الأوفر حظاً وكان أيضاً هناك هانز فليك ولويس إنريكي وتشابي ألونسو”.

وأكد الصحفي الفرنسي أيضاً أن باريس سان جيرمان تحرك للعديد من الأسماء المرشحة الأخرى: “كان هناك محادثات مع ناجلسمان، وأرتيتا، وتشابي ألونسو، أراد ألونسو الاستمرار في ليفركوزن وكان يحلم بتدريب ريال مدريد بينما أراد أرتيتا البقاء مع آرسنال”.

وحول قرار باريس سان جيرمان بتفضيل تعيين لويس إنريكي مدرباً جديداً للفريق، اختتم أيضاً: “ما جذب اختيار لويس إنريكي هو شخصيته، إنه شخص يعبر عن رأيه بصراحة، ولا يخشى اتخاذ قرارات صعبة، هناك أيضاً الجانب الرياضي وقصة لويس إنريكي التي أثرت في ناصر الخليفي ولكل هذه الأسباب كان الإسباني هو المدرب المختار”.

Newcastle United supporters will be filled with relief after seeing Eddie Howe secure his first major signing of the summer transfer window.

A move for Anthony Elanga was finally confirmed on Friday, but this deal has been weeks in the making.

The Swedish winger cost the Toon around £55m, but Howe will be hoping that this fee eventually turns into a bargain.

“Elanga is an exciting talent with attributes that make him a unique attacking threat,” said Howe upon Elanga’s arrival at St James’ Park.

“His pace, energy and ability to create and score goals will strengthen us and complement the way we want to play.”

Champions League football will take centre stage next season and Howe will be aiming for his side to do better than when they were last in the competition. Newcastle finished bottom of their group during 2023/24, despite claiming a famous 4-1 win over PSG.

With Elanga now signed, it should be the catalyst for the manager to land another couple of signings in the coming weeks.

The former Nottingham Forest star has plenty of Premier League experience, but what exactly will he offer the Magpies next term and beyond?

What Anthony Elanga will offer Newcastle

Since making the move from Manchester United to Forest in the summer of 2023, Elanga has been at the forefront of their recent success.

Across these two seasons, the winger has scored 11 goals in the Premier League, while chipping in with 20 league assists in that time.

He doesn’t just offer a clear-cut threat in front of goal either. According to FBref, when compared to his positional peers in the Premier League last term, Elanga ranked in the top 3% for crosses (6.66) per 90, along with ranking in the top 10% for goal-creating actions (0.65) and in the top 27% for carries into the opposition penalty area (1.73) per 90.

While signing the 23-year-old is a boost for the team, plus giving Howe an excellent attacking option for the next few years, was signing another player in this area a priority for the club?

Jacob Murphy was excellent on the right flank last term, tearing it up for the Magpies in the top flight. Indeed, across 35 top flight games last season, the Englishman scored eight goals while recording 12 assists for the Magpies.

If comparing him to fellow wingers Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes, who registered 12 and 14 goal involvements in the Premier League, Murphy was by far the best-performing wide man in the squad.

Of course, he won’t be around forever, and some competition would be ideal, but in terms of improvement, the right flank shouldn’t be Howe’s priority ahead of next season.

The defence is an area which requires strengthening, notably at centre-back and between the posts.

Howe is certainly making inroads to bolster both positions and he has been given an exciting update regarding a transfer target recently.

Newcastle’s search for a defender

Marc Guehi still looks like a target, although it remains to be seen exactly how far Howe is prepared to go in order to sign him.

Elsewhere, Malick Thiaw and Leonardo Balerdi are both defensive targets, with Howe expressing interest in both centre-backs recently.

The one player he appears to be most keen on is Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini. The Italian could be set to leave the Serie A side this summer, but they have placed a £50m price tag on his head.

According to The i Paper, the Toon have ‘carried out preliminary work on a possible deal’, but there are a host of clubs keen on securing his signature, including Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus.

Scalvini has reportedly stated he is intrigued by the prospect of playing in the Premier League, while also gushing about both the club and manager when on international duty of late.

Could this help Howe get a deal wrapped up sooner rather than later? Only time will tell.

Why Newcastle must sign Giorgio Scalvini

Newcastle must add at least one centre-back to their squad this summer. Last season, Howe mainly relied on Dan Burn and Fabian Schar. Both are excellent players, but they are both 33 and won’t be around forever.

Indeed, the only centre-back in the current squad who is under 30 is Sven Botman, but he has missed 59 games since the start of the 2023/24 season.

As such, a move for Scalvini is a must for the club. He missed the majority of last term due to injury, but throughout the 2023/24 campaign, he was superb.

Accurate passes

37.8

Tackles

1.6

Interceptions

1.8

Clearances

2

Total duels won

4.8

Balls recovered

4.9

Hailed as a “top talent” by Fabrizio Romano in 2022 – as well as a “world-class” centre-back by talent scout Jacek Kulig – Scalvini ranked highly across a range of metrics in Serie A during 2023/24.

Compared to his peers, he ranked in the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90, along with ranking in the top 11% for touches in the attacking penalty area, the top 4% for interceptions and in the top 16% for aerials won per 90.

If he is able to replicate those types of performances at Newcastle, then Howe would have landed an excellent signing for the club.

The best thing is, Scalvini has yet to even reach his peak, indicating that the next few years could see the Italian defender only going from strength to strength.

Although Howe has just spent £55m on Elanga, there is no doubt that a deal to sign the Atalanta starlet would be viewed as a more important signing, especially with concerns about the defence.

Scalvini has showcased his talents in Europe before, impressing during the 2024 Europa League final as his side defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0.

Performing in the Champions League will be a massive step-up for the youngster, but if he wishes to take his game to the next stage, this is the level he should be playing at.

The next few weeks will be interesting for the club. That much is certain.

Elanga's new Gibbs-White: Newcastle leading race for £40m "magician"

Newcastle are hoping to make more signings after landing Anthony Elanga.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 12, 2025

A county regular made it to The Oval for the opening night of the Hundred. Would it end up as an “I Was There” moment?

Tawhid Qureshi22-Jul-2021The game
The Hundred is supposedly English cricket’s Brexit; a contentious new format that has polarised opinion. Despite the nagging sense that I was betraying my loyalty to county cricket, it still felt important to be at The Oval for the first-ever match of the Hundred, if only to see what all the fuss was about. Perhaps it will turn out to be a significant “I Was There” moment or it could just end up as a curious footnote in cricket’s long history.I was determined to view the game through the lens of open-mindedness rather than scepticism, but I was also aware that middle-aged me is not really the demographic that the ECB marketing team is so desperate to attract. So I thought it would make sense to invite my nine-year-old nephew and experience the game through his eyes. Unfortunately, as it was a school night, he wasn’t allowed to join me. Even though two hours and 30 minutes might seem like a short time for a cricket match, the 6.30pm start creates a finish time that’s too late for many kids, just one small example of the organisers shooting themselves in the foot.Watching county cricket as a solo spectator is almost the norm: during County Championship matches at The Oval, the stands are flecked with the odd person against a vast backdrop of empty upturned seats. On this occasion, I was very much the exception, as groups of families and young friends were in the majority. It was in keeping with the general theme of the evening, when almost every assumption associated with a game of cricket was challenged.Key performers
I’m ashamed to admit that the last time I went to a women’s cricket match was about ten years ago and I’ve only kept loose tabs on the women’s game. That changed after England’s 2017 World Cup win and the increasing visibility of the women’s game on TV and radio. And having watched much of the recent England series against India, my interest was certainly piqued.I recognised Kate Cross from that recent series, as well as from presenting a popular BBC podcast which also features her team-mate Alex Hartley. Cross picked up two wickets in two balls and three altogether .Her second wicket, a ball viciously jagging back to hit middle stump, was the best of the lot.Wait, what does that mean?•Getty ImagesThe batting partnership between real-life partners Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp broke the back of the chase for the Oval Invincibles. The cameo innings by Mady Villiers, including a much-needed six, was also vital. But it was the brief innings of the Manchester Originals’ Harmanpreet Kaur that really caught the eye. She appeared to have much more time and timing than anyone else. Early in her innings, she hit four fours in five balls, the best boundary being a flowing cover drive which sent the ball skipping to the rope.One thing I’d change
It’s difficult to boil it down to one thing! I ended up with a long mental note of things that need improving. The most fundamental issue is the format itself. Doing away with overs in favour of five-ball sets is difficult to get used to. Similarly deciphering a scoreboard that doesn’t show total runs scored, in favour of runs required and the waving of a white card by umpires to signify a ten-ball over (at least that’s what I think it meant) are also alien concepts. A bit like learning to bat left-handed after a lifetime of holding the bat the opposite way.There was always going to be an element of people taking time to understand the new format, even more so for those who are entirely new to the sport. There were lots of quizzical looks among groups of fans at the start of the game and conversations about what exactly was going on in the middle, and I felt no embarrassment about being confused myself. The giant screen showing runs and balls only was self-explanatory but the more detailed scoreboard on the smaller screen was almost impenetrable. Interestingly the largest scoreboard, the non-digital one, was made redundant: it’s layout sadly deemed no longer fit for purpose. It might seem like a minor detail but to not show partnership runs detracted from the overall narrative of the game. In general, the short five-ball sets initially seemed to make things feel a bit disjointed and caused the game to lack rhythm.The crowd
Easily the best thing about the evening was the crowd. Exactly how many were paying customers is a moot point, as many were enticed by complimentary tickets. In any case, the largest crowd for an English domestic women’s game was exactly how the organisers wanted it to be: diverse. People weren’t obsessed about refilling empty pint glasses; instead the crowd felt innocent and totally intent on enjoying the occasion. It reminded me of crowds at the 2012 London Olympics, which had a similar feel-good undertone. It was very different to the crowds found at the Oval for a T20 Blast match, when the frenetic energy of after-work drinkers can sometimes blur the line between fun and rowdiness.Young fans seemed to enjoy the thrilling finish to the game•Getty ImagesThe pre-match fireworks, the DJ and the music during the interval were all lapped up by the crowd. The most memorable thing were the shrieks of delight from youngsters towards the end of the Oval Invincibles’ chase. With 10 balls remaining and 16 runs required, the crowd played a big part in getting the home team across the line.Marks out of 10
A strangely satisfying 7. As I tried to let the game wash over me rather than judge its shortcomings, I feared I wouldn’t really be invested in the outcome. I only knew a few of the players on show and most of them were playing for the away team, the Manchester Originals. But then I noticed that the crowd didn’t really seem to care who was scoring the runs or taking wickets, they were just enjoying each boundary and catch as an exciting event in itself. I decided to take my cue from them and try and revel in the slightly weird moment, and it almost worked.
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Lancashire made up for lost time and maintained their Vitality County Championship Division One survival hopes after Tom Bailey and Anderson Phillip impressed with the new ball against Worcestershire at Visit Worcestershire New Road.Bailey and Phillip fully justified Lancashire skipper Keaton Jennings decision to put the home side into bat in reducing them to 22 for 5 and then 56 for 7 in seamer-friendly conditions when play got underway after lunch. The duo both picked up three wickets to give Lancashire an ideal start to a game they have to win to keep alive their chances of remaining in the top flight for another season.Lancashire began the game 15 points adrift of third from bottom Nottinghamshire but last week’s win over Somerset at Emirates Old Trafford had kept them in contention.Bailey bowled eight overs on the trot and returned excellent figures of 3 for 9 while Phillip had 3 for 44 from seven overs.Worcestershire had already guaranteed their safety during a recent run of three wins in four matches and their eighth-wicket pair of Matthew Waite and Logan van Beek led a partial recovery. They plundered 63 in seven overs but the rain which had washed out the morning’s play returned after tea.Worcestershire made two changes from the side in action against Hampshire at the Utilita Bowl with the fit again Waite and Jack Home replacing the injured Tom Taylor and spinner Amar Virdi. Lancashire kept faith with the side which had defeated Somerset.Bailey’s second delivery of the opening over accounted for Gareth Roderick who drove at a ball of full length which was swinging away and he edged to Will Williams at fourth slip.Jake Libby square cut Phillip for four but then was stuck in the crease and nicked another ball which moved away to Harry Singh at third slip. Rob Jones was undone by an excellent full length swinging delivery from Phillip and was caught behind. Kashif Ali steered Bailey to first slip and then Brett D’Oliveira pushed at the same bowler and perished at second slip.Adam Hose off drove Bailey to the ropes to move into double figures but it became 39 for 6 when Ethan Brookes played forward and was bowled with a fullish-length delivery which did just enough to nip away.Phillip came back into the attack to replace Bailey after a superb opening spell of 8-4-9-3 and he soon claimed his third scalp when Hose tried to on drive a delivery slanted towards leg stump and ended up deflecting to Jennings at second slip.Waite decided attack was the best policy and pulled and on drove Williams for sixes in his first over which cost 15 runs. Van Beek also went on the attack and he struck Balderson and Williams for further maximums.By tea the eighth wicket pair had added 63 in just seven overs but the players were unable to return for the final session after a heavy downpour.

Tottenham Hotspur are on the look-out for new managers to replace the under-fire Ange Postecoglou this summer, with widespread reports claiming the Australian is likely to walk regardless of their success in the Europa League final.

Tottenham identify managerial candidates amid Postecoglou uncertainty

Postecoglou has now led Spurs to 20 Premier League defeats in a single campaign, breaking the club’s record which was previously held by former Lilywhites boss Ossie Ardiles, who oversaw 19 top flight losses in the 1993/1994 season.

Tottenham: £4m-per-year manager enters pole position to replace Postecoglou

The Australian could still leave Spurs if they win the Europa League.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

May 10, 2025

While Postecoglou has an all-important Europa League final on the horizon, which could well save Tottenham’s season, the 59-year-old’s future remains uncertain.

Even if Spurs win the competition and end their 17-year wait for a piece of major silverware, all while qualifying for next season’s Champions League, there is still absolutely no guarantee that Postecoglou will be in charge next term.

As per the reliable David Ornstein and other media sources, Postecoglou remains likely to be replaced by Tottenham this summer in the event they’re victorious in Bilbao against Man United come May 21.

“I think the direction of travel is for Spurs to make a change in the summer, irrespective of the outcome of this match,” said Ornstein on the Sky Sports Back Pages podcast this week (via GiveMeSport).

“I do take the point on the emotion, and we saw what happened with Manchester United [under Erik ten Hag], although that may serve as a warning why clubs shouldn’t repeat what they did.

“The view of the club seems to be that he hasn’t got what he should’ve out of the team this season, and that’s putting it politely. And therefore, whatever happens in this Europa League campaign, I think that a new coach coming in over the summer is a very high possibility.”

In terms of Tottenham’s reported managerial targets, the likes of Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), Marco Silva (Fulham), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Thomas Frank (Brentford), Scott Parker (Burnley), Jürgen Klopp (Head of Global, Red Bull), Niko Kovač (Borussia Dortmund) and Edin Terzić (free agent) have all been linked in recent weeks.

Tottenham hold talks with ex-Barcelona manager Xavi

Now, as per ex-Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys, via his personal website, former Barcelona boss Xavi has also attracted interest from N17. The Camp Nou legend guided Barça to a La Liga and Spanish Super Cup title in 2023, but later parted company, telling any future manager that they’d “suffer” in the job.

He’s been out of work ever since, with Keys sharing information from a “very good source” of his that Tottenham have held talks with Xavi over becoming their new manager.

However, as things stand, it is believed the 45-year-old is not looking to make a Premier League move just yet. This comes as a dampening blow for Spurs, with Xavi arguably the most exciting free agent coach available for hire right now.

Unlike Postecoglou, Xavi has also been praised for his in-game tactical switch ups and versatility when it comes to making substitutions.

“Xavi is intelligent, and he knows it,” said ex-Liverpool and Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez. “The substitutions that Xavi makes are intelligent.”

Liverpool have postponed the return of players for pre-season training following the tragic death of Diogo Jota in a car crash. The 28-year-old forward, along with his brother Andre Silva, died in Spain early on Thursday morning after a burst tyre caused their vehicle to veer off the highway. The Premier League champions continue to mourn the loss of a cherished team-mate and beloved figure.

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Article continues below

Article continues below

• Liverpool delay training return after Jota's death
• Forward and brother killed in Spain ahead of pre-season
• Club opens condolence book as fans pay tribute at Anfield

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Jota died in a car crash alongside his 25-year-old brother while returning to Liverpool for pre-season. The 28-year-old had undergone minor surgery and was advised not to fly, opting instead to travel back to England by car and ferry before his fatal clash. Liverpool players were scheduled to return for pre-season medical at the AXA Training Centre on Friday, July 4, but will now report on Monday, July 7.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The news has shaken the Liverpool community, with the club postponing activities and providing full support to Jota’s grieving family. Head coach Arne Slot emphasised the deep emotional toll the tragedy has taken on the squad. Liverpool’s facilities remain closed, and tributes have flooded in from fans and clubs across the world.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  A physical book of condolence has been set up at Anfield, while fans have turned the stadium into a shrine with shirts, scarves, and messages. Meanwhile, Wolves fans also gathered outside Molineux to honour their former player. Mourners also assembled at a wake in Portugal on Friday morning to pay tribute to the brothers.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  The Reds will resume pre-season preparations on Monday, beginning with physical testing at the AXA Training Centre. The club will continue to support Jota’s family and honour his legacy in the weeks ahead. Slot’s side are set to play Preston North End on July 13 in their first pre-season friendly.

Rangana Herath will retire in the realms of Test greatness, but it is determination and toil – rather than magic – that got him there

Andrew Fidel Fernando04-Nov-2018It is impossible to watch Rangana Herath bowl a difficult spell and not gain a sense of the human being. On those days – the tough ones – when he’s set a batsman up for the slider only for the opponent to have worked him out, when he’s tried the gentle floaters, the over-spinners, the round-arm darts, and none of these has come good, these are the moments that lay him bare, the sessions that expose him.He is a mongoose, rooting through the undergrowth. He turns over another rock, and drives onward, never pausing, a vision of grim determination. Great spinners are often cast as wizards, players who flicked their fingers, flexed their wrists and brought forth the magical – balls that exploded off the surface, deliveries that danced through defences, batsmen left standing there like idiots, their minds addled, their feet hexed. Herath has more wickets than all but three of the greatest, but he has never been that kind of spinner. He has lived and played in our world, rooting through the undergrowth.His success seems all the more extraordinary for having come now, in the second decade of the 21st century. This is an age of academy-drilled cricket-playing automatons, and in Sri Lanka, of frequent fast-tracking of young players into the national team, like they are being carried in on palanquins. It is no surprise that many of these young players fail abysmally when hard times come, because when have they ever known them?Herath, meanwhile, knows all about lean years. He spent a decade in the shadow of Muttiah Muralitharan, playing season after thankless season in the domestic competition, picking up short-term gigs in English leagues, part-timing at his bank job when there was no cricket to be played. What’s a wicketless session compared to all that? What’s a batsman who has just hit him against the turn? A team-mate who has dropped another catch? An umpire in a sour, not-outing mood?If he has never taken it upon himself to shoot barbs at the many powerful incompetents running cricket in the country – as virtually every other great Sri Lankan player has done – it is because he has never taken himself too seriously. Self-deprecation comes easily to him. Boasting and posturing, not at all. Make a quip, about his rotund shape, say, as everybody who has ever written about him, or spoken about him, or looked at him has done. He will chuckle as if he was in on the joke. So heartily, it’s like he is more in on it than everyone else. Few great bowlers are as forgiving of team-mates who have made fielding lapses, yet Herath will throw himself around the field for others, despite the fact his body is at least 90% torso. Another joke about his shape. Who can possibly resist?