Celtic are well underway regarding their transfer business and have now reportedly opened talks to bring a striker to Parkhead this month as Brendan Rodgers looks to bolster his squad.

Celtic's transfer priorities…

Scottish Premiership champions the Hoops will be optimistic that they can retain their crown this campaign by the time all is said and done in May; however, Rodgers will know that his side's activity on the transfer front this month will go a long way to deciding the destination of the Scottish title.

In all honesty, the Hoops have been quiet in the market so far, like is the case with many clubs at this stage in the campaign, though Rapid Vienna winger Nicolas Kuhn looks set to be their first addition of the window. Finer details of the deal are currently under discussion and the 24-year-old has missed out on a mid-season camp friendly against Weiner SC to keep himself fit before moving to Glasgow.

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Taking to social media platform X, Football Scotland journalist Mark Hendry has indicated that reinforcements at left-back and centre-forward could be next on the agenda at Parkhead.

Reports elsewhere claim that Bologna will look to part ways with Dutch striker Sydney van Hooijdonk after they take on Cagliari in Serie A on Sunday and Celtic have been mentioned as his potential next destination. Now, another striker has entered the frame as a source of goals Rodgers could look to acquire in the January transfer window, according to a fresh report.

Celtic open Mathias Kvistgaarden talks…

According to Football Insider, Celtic have opened talks with Brondby regarding striker Mathias Kvistgaarden amid their need to add further attacking options due to Oh Hyeon-gyu, Daizen Maeda and Yang Hyun-jun being away on Asian Cup duty.

Mathias Kvistgaarden Superliga stats in 2023/24 (Sofascore)

Big chances created

6

Shots per game

2.1

Shots on target per game

1.1

Touches

37.5

Balls recovered per game

2.5

Average match rating

7.18

The outlet claim the versatile 21-year-old has emerged as an option due to his standout performances in Denmark this campaign and could be accompanied by a central midfielder in Glasgow, with Rodgers keen to also boost his options in the engine room.

Labelled "fantastic" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Denmark Under-21 international has registered seven goals and seven assists in 21 appearances across all competitions this term (Kvistgaarden statistics – Transfermarkt).

Celtic are in need of a different avenue to utilise in attack over the next few weeks and Kvistgaarden could provide some firm competition for Kyogo Furuhashi if he does indeed move to Glasgow this month, making this one to watch.

Aston Villa have all but secured the late loan signing of Jadon Sancho from Manchester United. Fabrizio Romano has given the move his famous “here we go” tag, which has essentially confirmed that a deal has been struck.

Without doubt, Villa require attacking reinforcements, given they are yet to score in any of their three games this season. Sancho is not the only forward who could switch to Villa Park on deadline day.

Aston Villa plot next move after Sancho

Aside from making a late move for Sancho, it has been reported by The Mail’s Simon Jones (09:21) that Unai Emery’s side are one of the clubs ‘showing late interest’ in signing Newcastle United striker William Osula.

Transfer Focus

With Villa ‘scouring the market for forward options’ before the window slams shut at 7pm today, as per Jones, Osula is one of the latest names to crop up.

The price is not yet clear, but he cost the Magpies £15m last summer, so they would surely want to make that money back, at least.

Why Osula would be a good signing

There is no doubt that Osula is far from the finished article. At just 22 years of age and with minimal Premier League experience under his belt, he is someone who Emery can help develop as a striker over the next few years.

The Denmark under-21 international has experience in the EFL and Premier League. Overall, he has 38 top-flight games under his belt, finding the back of the net twice, both for Newcastle, with one coming this season against Liverpool.

However, he has only played 1013 minutes, the equivalent of just 11 full 90 minutes.

The 22-year-old shone for Denmark at the under-21 European Championships this summer. His record was impressive, with three goals and two assists in just four games.

In that time, he averaged 1.5 key passes per game. That is the sort of quality Villa could be signing.

It is easy to see how Osula could become Villa’s own Alexander Isak. Of course, the Newcastle connection is there, with both strikers also hailing from Scandinavia.

The 22-year-old is, of course, a Dane, and Isak was born just outside of Stockholm.

However, they both have similar builds, too. Osula is a tall striker standing at six feet and four inches, the same height as Isak. Both use their lanky frames to match defenders physically, and their long stride and powerful running style help them get a yard on opponents in a foot race.

That tall frame and big physicality are perhaps why Osula has been compared to Manchester City striker Erling Haaland in the past. His former teammate Curtis Davies once described him as a “poor man’s Haaland”, and with his build, it is easy to see why.

If the Dane can have the same impact at Villa Park that Isak had at St James’ Park, he will be a huge success.

The Liverpool-bound star bagged 62 goals and assisted 11 in 109 games for Eddie Howe’s side.

This could be a bargain for Villa. Osual is far from being the finished article, but with his profile and build, he has all the tools to make it as a successful striker in the Premier League. With some guidance from Emery, the Villans could have an exciting prospect on their hands.

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MatériaMais Notícias

da betcris： O goleiro do Fortaleza, Marcelo Boeck, falou sobre a importância do elenco ter intensidade máxima nas próximas partidas da temporada. Segundo o arqueiro, a meta do grupo é fazer uma boa sequência neste ano de 2021.

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da bet sport： – Estamos trabalhando para que o grupo possa continuar evoluindo. É importante manter essa intensidade que estamos tendo ao longo dos jogos. Isso vai fazer a diferença lá na frente. O elenco sabe do seu potencial – disse.

Para o arqueiro, sua fase tem sido especial na temporada.

– Minha fase tem sido muito especial. Tenho que agradecer à comissão técnica, aos jogadores e ao torcedor por isso. Todos têm muita importância neste meu crescimento em campo – completou o arqueiro do Fortaleza

Nottingham Forest are now plotting the statement signing of a £30m forward, who is also being targeted by La Liga giants Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

Forest looking to win race for Barca and Atletico target

It is a clear indication of how far Forest have come that they are now shopping in the same talent pool as the likes of Barcelona and Atletico, but it has been far from an ideal start to the new Premier League campaign.

The Tricky Trees have won just one of their first five league games, and suffered a shock defeat against Swansea City in the third round of the EFL Cup, which was an early setback for new manager Ange Postecoglou.

Under the helm of former manager Nuno, the Europa League side strengthened considerably in the summer transfer window, particularly in attacking areas, and Dan Ndoye has made a promising start, with two goal contributions to his name in the Premier League.

However, Evangelos Marinakis was unable to secure deals for all of his major targets, missing out on former SC Braga winger Roger Fernandes on deadline day, despite entering advanced talks.

There has since been an encouraging new update on Nottingham Forest’s interest in Fernandes, however, with a report from TEAMtalk reporting they are still plotting a statement signing of the winger, despite his £30m move to Al-Ittihad.

The 19-year-old is attracting serious interest, even though he only recently moved to Saudi Arabia, with the likes of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid also thought to be keen, although neither of the La Liga giants have made an approach thus far.

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Interest from the Premier League is particularly strong, with the Tricky Trees constantly observing the youngster, even since Ange’s appointment, as there is a belief he could boost their chances of qualifying for Europe once again.

"1v1 specialist" Fernandes could be difference-maker for Forest

It has to be said, it would be very strange if the Portuguese winger were to leave Al-Ittihad so soon after joining, having not even made his debut, but the starlet clearly has the ability to succeed at Forest, given his exploits in a Braga shirt.

Speaking just under two years ago, scout Ben Mattinson said: “Roger Fernandes is another player I love at Braga. 1v1 specialist with great whipped cross on him. A creative, unselfish winger. Also his maturity for only 17 is crazy, you can tell why he’s played so much already.”

The ex-Braga star amassed 12 goals and 16 assists in 91 appearances for the Portuguese club, which is an impressive return for a teenager, and indicates he could be capable of making the step-up to the Premier League.

Forest appear to be well-stocked in attacking areas, having signed Omari Hutchinson, Dilane Bakwa and Ndoye in the summer, but Fernandes is an exciting young player, and the rival interest from Barcelona and Atletico speaks volumes.

تحدث مدرب ليفربول آرني سلوت عن لاعبه المصري محمد صلاح، واعتباره الأفضل في العالم بالوقت الحالي، وثنائي الفريق، فيرجيل فان دايك وترينت ألكسندر أرنولد.

ويستعد ليفربول لمواجهة مانشستر يونايتد يوم الأحد المقبل، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ويستمر الجدل بشأن مستقبل صلاح وفان دايك وأرنولد، حيث تنتهي عقودهم مع ليفربول في نهاية الموسم الجاري.

وقال سلوت عن تحسن أداء محمد صلاح وترينت ألكسندر أرنولد: “هناك دائمًا مجال للتحسن، محمد صلاح يبلغ من العمر 32 عامًا ولا يزال بإمكانه تقديم أداء أفضل”.

وأشار: “لكن قبل أن أبدأ، راجعت مباراة وست هام وخرج محمد من الملعب محبطًا بعض الشيء بعد تقدم فريقه 3-0 وأعتقد أن ذلك كان بسبب الفرص الضائعة”.

وأردف: “يمكن لترينت التحسن لكن هؤلاء اللاعبين هم من أفضل اللاعبين في العالم لذا لا يمكنهم التحسن كثيرًا لكن ترينت خطا خطوة للأمام على المستوى الدفاعي”.

وأشار: “كان رائعًا في بعض المباريات لكنه كان متذبذبًا في بعضها أيضًا، لذا فإن الأمر يتعلق بالثبات بالنسبة للاعبين الكبار وهنا يمكن أن يأتي التحسن الأكبر، أتحدث إلى كل لاعب، وبالنسبة لترينت الأمر نفسه، لذا تحدثت معه، نعم”.

وتابع بشأن محمد صلاح واعتباره الأفضل في العالم: “أعتقد أنه من الصعب مقارنة اللاعبين، إذا نظرت فقط إلى فريقي، فإن فيرجيل فان دايك لديه أيضًا موسم رائع لكنه لا يملك الأرقام لأنه مدافع”.

اقرأ أيضًا | محمد صلاح عن سباق الكرة الذهبية 2025: أرى نفسي الأفضل دائمًا

وأصر: “الأرقام التي يمتلكها محمد صلاح تتحدث عن نفسها، إذا نظرت ببساطة إلى الأرقام والطريقة التي يلعب بها، فهو بالتأكيد لاعب رائع، رونالدو… تحدثنا عنه… إذا نظرت فقط إلى الأرقام فهو لاعب رائع بالتأكيد”.

وعن فان دايك، أكد سلوت: “لدي قائمة طويلة بما يجعله مميزًا، ذكاء في اللعب، كبير، قوي، سريع، لقد أعجبت بقدرته على الاستحواذ على الكرة وكان ذلك منذ الحصة التدريبية الأولى، يمكنه تأخير اختياراته، وتمرير الكرة بين الخطوط وهو لاعب متكامل”.

وشدد: “إنه أحد أفضل اللاعبين في العالم في مركزه، بالطبع، حتى بالنسبة لفيرجيل نود أن نرى تحسينات، إنه أيضًا الشخص الذي يقود الفريق من البداية إلى النهاية، التدريبات… التمارين”.

وأكمل: “طاقة إيجابية وقد قدم أداءً جيدًا حقًا، هذا هو المعيار في هذا النادي، يجب عليهم الحفاظ على هذا المستوى وهذا ما فعلوه، محمد صلاح وفيرجيل، لمدة ثماني سنوات حتى الآن”.

وعاد للحديث عن أرنولد والحديث بينهما قائلاً: “هل تعتقد حقًا بأنني سأخبرك بما قلت؟، أفهم أنك تسأل ولكنك تعرف الإجابة، هذه المحادثات لم أشاركها أبدًا، الأمر نفسه، أتحدث معهم عن أشياء، كانت محادثة مثل العديد من المحادثات الأخرى التي أجريناها، أنا وترينت، دعنا نترك الأمر عند هذا الحد”.

وأفاد بشأن الحديث عن أرنولد وارتباطه بريال مدريد: “زعزعة استقرار ترينت؟ إذا كان الأمر كذلك في هذا النادي، فسنواجه مشكلة حقيقية، أحد أكبر الأندية، يتحدث الجميع عنك دائمًا لمدة 12 شهرًا، وأحيانًا فيما يتعلق بأندية أخرى، إذا كان ذلك يزعزع استقرارهم، فهناك مشكلة، ليس فقط الآن ولكن أيضًا خلال الأشهر الستة الماضية”.

وشدد سلوت: “أستطيع أن أؤكد لكم أنه سيلعب يوم الأحد! وآمل أن يقدم نفس الأداء الذي قدمه في النصف الأول من الموسم، فقد رأيتم مدى رغبته في التواجد هنا والفوز هنا”.

وأتم: “لقد رأينا جميعًا ما فعله في مباراة وست هام، التمريرة التي منحها لمحمد صلاح… أراه في التدريبات كل يوم، وهو يبذل قصارى جهده، وسوف يلعب يوم الأحد”.

واصل فريق ريال مدريد انفجاره التهديفي خلال مباراته الجارية حاليًا ضد خصمه فريق ديبورتيفا مينيرا، في إطار منافسات بطولة كأس ملك إسبانيا 2024/25.

ويحل ريال مدريد ضيفًا على خصمه ديبورتيفا مينيرا، في إطار منافسات دور الـ32 من كأس ملك إسبانيا (لمتابعة اللقاء من هنا).

وتمكن ريال مدريد من تسجيل الهدف الثالث في شباك ديبوريتفا مينيرا، في الدقيقة 28 من عمر الشوط الأول.

الهدف جاء عن طريق أردا جولر، بعد تمريرة من فيديريكو فالفيردي استلمها التركي ومر من مدافعي فريق ديبورتيفا مينيرا وأطلق صاروخية بالقدم اليسرى في مرمى أصحاب الأرض. هدف جولر في مباراة ريال مدريد وديبورتيفا مينيرا

كان كل من فيدي فالفيردي وإدوارد كامافينجا قد سجلا هدفين لصالح ريال مدريد، الأول والثاني، في الدقيقة 5 و13 من الشوط نفسه.

أسدل قبل قليل الستار على مباريات الدور الـ8 لبطولة كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين، ليحسم أربعة فرق صعودهم إلى نصف نهائي البطولة.

افتتحت مواجهات المرحلة بفوز الرائد على الجبلين بركلات الترجيح بنتيجة 4-3، بعد انتهاء اللقاء بالتعادل الإيجابي بهدف لكل فريق.

وفي ثاني المباريات تأهل الشباب على حساب الفيحاء بفوز بهدفين مقابل هدف، ثم فاز القادسية على التعاون بثلاثية دون رد.

واختتمت المواجهات بمباراة ماراثونية بين الهلال (حامل لقب البطولة) والاتحاد التي حسمها الأخير بركلات الترجيح بعد انتهاء الوقت الأصلي والإضافي بنتيجة 2-2.

تشكيل مباراة الهلال والاتحاد في ربع نهائي كأس خادم الحرمين

وكان فريقا النصر والأهلي قد ودعا البطولة، إذ خسر العالمي على يد التعاون في دور الـ16 بهدف دون رد، لاحقًا بالفريق الجداوي الذي خسر أمام الجندل في دور الـ32.

ومن المقرر أن تقام مباراتا الدور نصف النهائي لبطولة كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين يومي 1 و2 أبريل المقبل، على أن تقام قرعة المواجهات خلال الساعات المقبلة. المتأهلون إلى نصف نهائي كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين

الرائد

الشباب

القادسية

الاتحاد

حقق الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك فوزًا مهمًا على حرس الحدود بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدفين، في المباراة التي أقيمت اليوم الخميس ضمن منافسات الجولة الثامنة من الدوري المصري الممتاز.

افتتح أحمد سيد “زيزو” التسجيل للزمالك في الدقيقة 12، بعد تمريرات رائعة بين محمد شحاتة وعمر جابر، ليضعها زيزو في الشباك وسط دفاع حرس الحدود.

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لكن حرس الحدود تعادل في الدقيقة 25 عن طريق محمد أشرف روقا، الذي سجل هدف التعادل من ركلة جزاء احتسبها حكم اللقاء ضد أحمد فتوح بعد لمسة يد.

ثم أضاف مصطفى شلبي الهدف الثاني للزمالك في الدقيقة 36 بعد تمريرة متقنة من محمد شحاتة، لينفرد بالمرمى ويسجل هدفًا رائعًا.

وفي الدقيقة السادسة من الوقت بدل الضائع في الشوط الأول، نجح زيزو في تسجيل الهدف الثالث للزمالك من ركلة جزاء سددها بقوة على يمين حارس حرس الحدود.

وفي الدقيقة 86، قلص حرس الحدود الفارق بإحراز الهدف الثاني من ركلة جزاء نفذها محمود ممدوح ببراعة على يمين محمد عواد.

وبهذا الفوز، رفع الزمالك رصيده إلى 17 نقطة، ليصعد إلى المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، بفارق نقطة واحدة عن الأهلي المتصدر في حين تجمد رصيد حرس الحدود عند 6 نقاط، ليظل في المركز السادس عشر. رجل مباراة الزمالك وحرس الحدود اليوم

وحصل محمد شحاتة، لاعب وسط فريق الزمالك على جائزة أفضل لاعب في مباراة حرس الحدود.

يستعد منتخب مصر بقيادة حسام حسن، لانطلاق بطولة كأس الأمم الإفريقية 2025، التي ستقام في المغرب.  

وتنطق بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا هذه النسخة يوم 21 من شهر ديسمبر الجاري، وحتى 20 من شهر يناير 2026، بمشاركة 24 منتخبًا. 

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ويقع منتخب مصر في المجموعة الثانية ضمن مجموعات بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا رفقة منتخبات أنجولا وزيمبابوي وجنوب إفريقيا.  مواعيد مباريات مصر في كأس أمم إفريقيا 2025

ومن المقرر أن يستهل منتخب مصر مبارياته في  كأس أمم إفريقيا بمواجهة منتخب زيمبابوي يوم 22 من شهر ديسمبر الجاري في تمام العاشرة مساء بتوقيت القاهرة. 

وفي الجولة الثانية، سيواجه منتخب مصر نظيره جنوب إفريقيا يوم 26 من ديسمبر الجاري، في الساعة الخامسة مساء بتوقيت القاهرة. 

وفي ختام دور المجموعات، سيلتقي منتخب مصر مع نظيره أنجولا، يوم 29 ديسمبر الجاري، في الساعة السادسة مساء بتوقيت القاهرة. 

Cricinfo runs the rule over India after they lost the Test series in Sri Lanka

Jamie Alter12-Aug-2008
Gautam Gambhir’s total of 310 runs were second only to Virender Sehwag’s 344 in the series © AFP
8
Gautam Gambhir
Gambhir’s return to the Test frame was a significant step in his career. His 310 runs were second only to Virender Sehwag’s 344 in the series, and he was India’s most consistent bat. Gambhir was exceptionally quick with his feet against the spinners, and his inopportune dismissals in the first Test, both times by Muttiah Muralitharan, didn’t dampen his enthusiasm. Three fifties on the trot followed, with hundreds twice there for the taking, and five times out of six he provided India with starts. Gambhir’s close-catching, however, needs plenty of close inspection. He regularly failed to anticipate the ball at forward short leg, highlighted by two drops in Galle and a run-out opportunity gone begging.7.5
Virender Sehwag
After a poor first Test, Sehwag took Sri Lanka by the collar and pounded 251 runs in Galle. His innings lit up an opening day that was blighted by rain and his overall handling of Murali and Mendis was vital in India’s 170-run win. He notched up an incredible 201 and backed it up with a fifty in the second innings. However, the brilliance of Galle was followed by a poor final Test, where Sehwag again was guilty of throwing away his wicket. Such is the man’s predicament.6.5
Ishant Sharma
The numbers don’t show it but Ishant was India’s most consistent bowler, maintaining a steady line and length to pick up six wickets for 213 runs in 71.3 overs. He always gave it his best, running in on unfriendly surfaces and keeping the batsman guessing. His bowling in the second innings in Galle was outstanding, as he produced pace and bounce to rock Sri Lanka’s chase of 307. An injury in the final Test ruled him out of the second innings when India most needed him.Harbhajan Singh
India’s leading wicket-taker with 16, Harbhajan chipped away all series without looking excessively threatening. Just two wickets at the SSC was followed up by redemption of sorts in Galle, where his fifth ten-wicket haul helped spin India to a series-leveling win. He found dip and flight there, mixed his airspeed to weave a web around Sri Lanka, and was a contender for Man of the Match. He followed it up with four wickets at the PSS, rather unflatteringly. But after a controversial year, Harbhajan kept his cool on the field, which probably led to a successful series.5
Zaheer Khan
Zaheer blew hot and cold to take eight wickets at 44.00. Nowhere near as lethal as his new-ball partner, Zaheer struggled for consistency. He produced breakthroughs in the first two Tests, pitching the ball up and searching for movement, but lacked zip overall. Granted he wasn’t aided by the pitches, but more was expected from a bowler spearheading the attack. With Ishant, he put his top-order team-mates to shame with a dogged batting display at the PSS.VVS Laxman
Laxman had the best series among India’s fabulous four, but was dismissed five times by Mendis. He continued to be undone by his nemesis, the carrom ball, on numerous occasions. Ideally, he should have batted at No.3 given his gritty fifty in the first Test, but India preferred him down the order. Laxman got starts on most occasions but sublime silken shots through midwicket didn’t mask his indecisiveness against spin. He went past 6,000 Test runs in his final innings – a fighting 61 not out despite an injured ankle – but finally ran out of partners.
For India’s middle order, experience played little part, and runs were at a premium © AFP
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Rahul Dravid
Throughout this series, Rahul Dravid has been the personification of a player battling with an uncertain mind. He was been pinned back by bowlers who had both bite and accuracy, but his frailty against Mendis told. The rot started with an indecisive shot against Mendis at the SSC and he fell to the same bowler four times. He showed a semblance of form with 44 in the second innings in Galle, and his only half-century of the series came when defeat was virtually a foregone conclusion, but the dogged 226-minute vigil, given the tribulations he has been put through, felt like a new beginning. His slip catching remained very good.3
Anil Kumble
The end is near for India’s most successful wicket-taker ever. He came into this series with five wickets from four matches in 2008 and failed to add to that at the SSC. He wasn’t helped by two dropped catches by Dinesh Karthik, and came back well to take five wickets in Galle, including two in an over to wrap up Sri Lanka’s first innings. Yet overall, Kumble rarely threatened, as he failed to extract turn anywhere near the degree that Murali or Mendis conjured up. He was too flat and frequently dropped short. It’s hard to see Kumble bowling on after the end of the year.Sachin Tendulkar
Tendulkar entered the series needing 172 runs to overhaul Brian Lara’s record of 11,953 runs in Tests. He failed to get there, scratching around instead for 95 runs in six innings, as poor a series one can remember from him in ages. He went on the offensive against Mendis at the SSC only to fall to Murali twice.After throwing away a good start in the second innings in Galle, he finished with a dismal showing at the PSS – fatally padding up to become Mendis’ 25th wicket – and injuring his left elbow to rule himself out of the ODI series.Sourav Ganguly
Like Tendulkar, Ganguly was abysmal in the series. Not long ago he had played sublime innings against South Africa at Ahmedabad and Kanpur, but in Sri Lanka he was blighted by indifferent footwork and poor shot selection. He played a needless sweep against Murali at the SSC, went fishing against Vaas in Galle, and threw away a start at the PSS. His military medium pace was also ineffective.2
Dinesh Karthik
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s opting out of the series provided another opportunity for Karthik, but he failed miserably. Rated India’s best wicketkeeper and one of the better in-fielders, Karthik’s display this series was substandard. At the SSC, where India lost by an innings and 239 runs, he dropped Mahela Jayawardene on 55 and 96, and missed another chance off Anil Kumble in Galle. The less said about his batting the better-his mindless reverse-sweep ten minutes before stumps on day three at the SSC didn’t have any effect on him in his other innings.Parthiv Patel
Karthik’s poor returns handed Parthiv a chance in the third Test, his first since 2004 and he showed he had improved only marginally. He wasn’t much better than Karthik, and copped a nasty blow to the nose on the third day of the third Test .