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Also: What was the thinking behind the Sunrisers’ super slow start with the bat?

Matt Roller11-Oct-2020Tewatia’s lucky break: the bails stay in their grooveDuring the Royals’ chase, Rahul Tewatia defied convention by deciding to attack Rashid Khan’s last over, the 18th, when most batsmen this season have opted to see him off and protect their wicket. He started by reverse-heaving two boundaries before flaying another over the covers. But when he then aimed to cut, he bottom-edged into wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow’s pad.The ball then ricocheted into the stumps with Tewatia out of his crease, leaving him to rue what appeared to be an unfortunate stumping. But after the zing bails lit up, they landed back in their groove to give him a valuable reprise. It brought to mind the storm surrounding the bails in the 2019 World Cup, when they failed to be dislodged five times in the first two weeks of the tournament.The non-dismissal proved crucial, too, with Tewatia and Parag sealing the win with a ball to spare after adding 85 between them in 7.5 overs for the sixth wicket.Why did Ben Stokes open the batting?For the second time in the IPL and the sixth time in his T20 career, Ben Stokes opened the batting for the Royals – as had been mooted on ESPNcricinfo’s Stump Mic podcast and by Tom Moody in our T20 Time:Out pre-match show.The move didn’t work – he chopped on against Khaleel Ahmed for five – but there was plenty of logic behind it. Stokes has struggled in the middle order over the last two years, struggling to get started against spinners in the middle overs – since the start of the 2018 season, he has scored at a strike rate of 116.57 and averaged 18.16 against spin in the IPL. It also meant the Royals had a left-right opening combination, and in theory meant that Buttler should have been more free to play his shots, with Stokes the slower starter of the two and more likely to anchor the innings.Having already made more changes than any other side in the tournament, the Royals will be reluctant to switch things around too much despite Stokes’ failure. This was Stokes’ first professional game for two months, coming immediately after his quarantine period, and was only his fourth white-ball appearance since the World Cup final in July 2019 – the fact that the move didn’t work on this occasion should not mean that it is canned for good.Royals’ powerplay strugglesIn their first game of the season, the Royals made 54 for 1 in the first six overs, and followed that up with 69 for 1 in their second. But in their last five, they have managed 185 runs in 30 powerplay overs while losing 12 wickets, and have been the IPL’s worst team in the first six overs. Today, they managed 36 for 3 and again seemed to be batting frenetically: perhaps the looming spectre of Rashid in the second half of the innings meant they felt they had to make the most of the fielding restrictions.ESPNcricinfo LtdTheir struggles have partly been down to Buttler and Steven Smith’s poor form, but also due to an unsettled batting line-up: Stokes and Buttler was their fourth different opening combination of the season, and their longest opening stand lasted only 2.4 overs. As a result, it seems unlikely that they will want to switch things around again, and will instead bank on their three overseas batsmen to come good at the top of the order.What was behind Sunrisers’ slow start?Despite only losing one wicket, the Sunrisers started very slowly, finishing the powerplay on 26 for 1: it was the joint third-lowest six-over score this IPL season, and the first time a team had only managed two boundaries in the powerplay.Why? Knowing how reliant their openers are on Bairstow and David Warner’s opening partnership, the Royals decided to frontload, giving their two best bowlers – Jofra Archer and Shreyas Gopal – two overs each with the new ball. They hit their straps, meaning Warner and Bairstow decided to drop anchor and eke out only 13 runs from the first four.When Kartik Tyagi came into the attack to bowl the third over, Bairstow had little option but to free his arms and look to make use of the fielding restrictions. He cracked him for two twos and a six, but then mistimed a pull and was caught in the deep, rewarding Smith’s aggressive captaincy move.Is Warner Archer’s bunny?Six innings, 41 balls, five dismissals: that is Warner’s head-to-head record against Archer in 2020. He gave him a torrid time in Australia’s T20I and ODI series in England, bowling high pace, and did similarly with the new ball today, bowling only one slower ball across his first two overs. Today’s dismissal was a little different, and Warner was cleaned up while backing away and looking to flay over the off side, but extended his poor run against Archer. As below, it also earned him a new console.

Looks like @JofraArcher will be getting a new console @xboxuk #SRHvRR | #IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/tcVvDbnlk6

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 11, 2020

Kane Williamson: T20 finisher?Two games in a row, the Sunrisers’ top order has laid a platform for their middle order: against the Kings XI, they lost their first wicket in the 16th over; today, they lost their second in the 15th.On both occasions, the Sunrisers’ approach has led to questions about Kane Williamson’s role in their side. He has been listed to bat at No. 4, with Manish Pandey ahead of him performing an anchoring role, but their plan for the openers to bat far into the innings has left Williamson’s name looking somewhat out of place as a finisher with Mohammad Nabi and Fabian Allen both sitting on the bench.But he has shown glimpses of his power game at the death in both games, with 20* off 10 against the Kings XI and 22* off 12 in this afternoon’s match. While he has shown his ability to adapt to an unfamiliar role, the fact that Williamson has only faced 66 balls across five innings this season seems like something for the Sunrisers think-tank to address.Should Stokes have bowled more?Stokes only bowled one over, which went for seven runs, with Tewatia bowling his full allocation and conceding 13 from his final over, the 16th. That might have been due to Stokes’ poor record with the ball since joining the Royals – average 35.64, economy 9.10 – or with a view to easing him back towards full match fitness: in his two most recent Tests for England, he bowled a total of four overs due to concerns about his quad muscle.Either way, it seems likely that Stokes’ role with the ball this season will resemble Andre Russell’s for KKR: bowling short, sharp spells at crucial junctures rather than being one of their main options.

Fabio Capello has delivered a damning verdict on Juventus' tactical failure against Napoli, suggesting that Luciano Spalletti’s side played with fear against Antonio Conte’s high-flying team. The Bianconeri were simply unable to cope with the "speed and pressure" imposed by the hosts during a damaging defeat that may prove key in the Serie A title race, the ex-England manager argued.

• Hojlund fires Napoli to win against Juventus

  The showdown at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona was billed as a clash of philosophies: the intense, vertical aggression of Conte’s Napoli against the possession-based evolution Spalletti is attempting to instil at Juventus. In the end, it was Conte who emerged victorious, with his side securing a 2-1 win thanks to a double from Rasmus Hojlund, temporarily restoring them to the top of the table but also exposed significant cracks in the Old Lady's armour.

  Former Juventus and Milan boss Fabio Capello did not hold back in his assessment of the match, pinpointing exactly where Spalletti got it wrong and why the visitors looked overwhelmed from the first whistle.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Spalletti intimidated by Conte's Napoli

  Speaking to , Capello suggested that Spalletti’s tactical setup – specifically the decision to play without a recognised striker – betrayed a sense of anxiety regarding Napoli's strength.

  "Spalletti has just arrived, he's trying to do things, bring ideas and give the team more personality," Capello noted. "In the match against Napoli, maybe he was a bit intimidated by Conte's side and, knowing the strength of their midfield, he decided to play without a centre-forward. He tried to cause problems for the opponent by trying to block the wingers and leaving the ball to a central defender. He didn't succeed, however, because the Azzurri's speed and pressing caused him problems."

  The decision to field Kenan Yildiz as a false nine backfired, leaving Juventus without a focal point to relieve the pressure. According to Capello, the difference in intensity was stark.

  "Napoli are a team with quality, and when they defend, they do it with a lot of men, with compactness and without leaving much space," he explained. "Spalletti, however, is trying to find some solutions, and after three wins in a row, perhaps he wanted to get points: that's how I see it. But the difference between the two teams was clear."

• Yildiz needs 'freedom', not tactical chains

  While the collective performance was poor, Capello defended young star Kenan Yildiz, who scored Juventus' only goal before being surprisingly substituted by Spalletti. The Juve boss had demanded "more" from the Turkish talent in his post-match comments, a stance Capello vehemently disagreed with.

  "I think it was an analysis that should have been made yesterday when we reviewed the match with the players; it wasn't necessary to say it in front of the media," he said. "I think we all ask more of our players, but right now it's difficult to say that about Yildiz."

  He also argued that restricting a talent like Yildiz to a rigid tactical role stifles his best attributes.

  "Yildiz is one of those players you have to leave free. Of course, he has to get back into possession when you lose the ball, but then he needs the license to invent things. Players with quality and creativity have to be allowed to express themselves. It wasn't the right situation, against such a sharp and determined team."

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  What comes next?

  For Spalletti, the honeymoon period is over. The "masterplan" of converting Juventus into a fluid, possession-dominant side has hit a Conte-shaped wall. The challenge now is to find a solution to the "slow" ball circulation Capello identified before their Champions League commitments against Pafos and a tricky trip to Bologna.

  As Capello warned: "Spalletti is trying to find some solutions" but he will need to find them quickly. If Juventus continue to play with "fear" against their direct rivals, their title challenge could be over before it truly begins.

MatériaMais Notícias

Presidente do Palmeiras, Leila Pereira descartou a contratação de Gabigol, especulado no clube paulista recentemente. Em entrevista ao portal “ge”, a dirigente alviverde negou qualquer negociação com o atacante do Flamengo e afirmou que buscar o jogador neste momento seria assédio, algo que jamais faria.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! Palmeiras no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Verdão

➡️A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!

– Com relação ao Gabigol, não tem negociação absolutamente nenhuma e nem podemos, isso seria assédio, eu jamais faria isso. Isso não é verdade – disse Leila Pereira, questionada sobre a possibilidade da contratação do atacante rubro-negro.

Gabigol tem vínculo com o Flamengo até dezembro de 2024 e pode assinar um pré-contrato com qualquer equipe a partir do meio do ano. Nas últimas semanas, o atacante foi citado como alvo do Palmeiras pelo apresentador da Band e ex-jogador Neto.

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Gabriel foi considerado culpado pelo Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva Antidopagem (TJD-AD) por tentativa de fraude em exame antidoping. Assim, o atacante está suspenso até abril de 2025 e não pode entrar em campo ou sequer treinar profissionalmente. No entanto, Gabigol tenta o efeito suspensivo da punição na Corte Arbitral do Esporte (CAS).

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Bangladesh have faced England only once in the format, at the 2022 World Cup

S Sudarshanan06-Oct-20253:40

Dean: ‘Having Nat and Lottie feels like a fresh start’

Big picture – a rare meetingEngland take on Bangladesh in an ODI World Cup match.The sentence itself is an event. Despite qualifying for back-to-back ODI World Cups – in 2022 and now in 2025 – Bangladesh have faced England only once in the format, and that too in the previous edition.”This is the stage where we show our capabilities so that teams like England and Australia show interest in playing against us,” Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana said on match eve.Related

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As per the new future tours programme which will run from 2025-29, Bangladesh are scheduled to tour England for three ODIs and as many T20Is in September 2027. That is perhaps when the fixture will stop being an event.On the field, both teams are coming on the back of comfortable wins. England’s multi-pronged attack could pose a tough challenge for Bangladesh, whose batters often struggle to force the pace. Conversely, if the track assists spin, Bangladesh’s spin-heavy attack led by Nahida Akter could be more than just a handful for England. Their batters were hardly challenged in the opening game.Form guideEngland WLWLW (last five matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh WLLWWIn the spotlight: Lamb and MarufaShe is just 21 ODIs old, but Emma Lamb is already adapting to a second role in England’s batting unit. A natural opener, she scored her only century at the top of the order and was the leading run-scorer in the ECB Women’s One-Day Cup while opening for champions Lancashire. At the start of this English summer, though, Amy Jones was promoted to open, and Lamb was moved to No. 3 when Heather Knight was recovering from a hamstring injury. Now, with Knight back for the World Cup, Lamb is set to take on an altogether different role – batting in the lower-middle order and chipping in with a few overs of offspin. She wasn’t needed with either bat or ball in England’s tournament opener, but could get her first go in this new role against Bangladesh if her team bats first.Marufa Akter will be key for Bangladesh•ICC/Getty Images

Marufa Akter just loves to bowl. After setting the tone in Bangladesh’s win over Pakistan, she lit up their first practice session in India. With rain forcing the team indoors, Marufa was full of energy, bowling at full tilt two days out from the contest. She constantly troubled captain Sultana in the nets, eventually bowling her once. With her ability to move the new ball and generate sharp pace, Marufa could be a real handful for England’s openers – Tammy Beaumont tends to struggle against the incoming angle early on, while Jones prefers a cautious start.Team newsGiven England’s line-up was hardly tested against South Africa, expect them to go in with an unchanged XI.England (probable XI): 1 Tammy Beaumont, 2 Amy Jones (wk), 3 Heather Knight, 4 Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), 5 Sophia Dunkley, 6 Emma Lamb, 7 Alice Capsey, 8 Charlie Dean, 9 Sophie Ecclestone, 10 Linsey Smith, 11 Lauren BellAgainst England’s right-hand heavy line-up, Bangladesh could look to play left-arm spinner Sanjida Akter Meghla for an offspinner in Nishita Akter Nishi.Bangladesh (probable XI): 1 Fargana Hoque, 2 Rubya Haider, 3 Sharmin Akhter, 4 Nigar Sultana (capt & wk), 5 Sobhana Mostary, 6 Shorna Akter, 7 Fahima Khatun, 8 Nahida Akter, 9 Rabeya Khan, 10 Marufa Akter, 11 Nishita Akter Nishi/Sanjida Akter MeghlaPitch and conditionsA fresh pitch will be used for the game. But it may not behave too differently from the first two tracks. Both the pitches assisted spin as the afternoon wore on but against fast bowling, the ball came nicely onto the bat.As for the weather, there is slight chance of rain. There was rain predicted for the England-South Africa game on Monday, but it stayed dry, while Bangladesh were forced indoors two days before this match due to an unexpected shower.Stats and trivia Bangladesh’s only ODI against England came at the previous World Cup. Only Fargana Hoque, Fahima Khatun and Ritu Moni from the current Bangladesh squad have played an ODI in India before. England’s win/loss ratio of 1.0 in 2025, their worst in a calendar year since 2007. They have won three games against West Indies, one each against India and South Africa. England will play their 94th ODI World Cup game to be on par with Australia for the joint-most. Quotes”With sub-continent conditions comes the offer of extra spin. So, [I am] trying to really make sure that you’re hitting with the spin and going through all your different options. I’ve been sweeping quite a lot, reverse sweeping, which is something that I might not get out in a game straight away, but it’s something that I’ve put a lot of hours into to make sure that when I do, hopefully it goes well.”
“We have a lot of information on them because of our analysts. We want to play our “A” game and don’t want to go by just names. We will try to make lesser mistakes and take confidence from the win over Pakistan.”

Tottenham Hotspur face Manchester United this weekend, looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League after losing to Chelsea on home soil last weekend.

The clash against Ruben Amorim’s outfit will likely have an added sprinkle of excitement, given the latest meeting between the two top-flight clubs back in May.

The Lilywhites claimed a sensational 1-0 win over the Red Devils in the Europa League final in Bilbao, subsequently ending their 17-year wait for a piece of silverware.

Other meetings in 2024/25 saw Spurs claim a 4-3 triumph in North London in the Carabao Cup, with the previous encounters highlighting the excellent battles that have unfolded between the sides.

The club are also on a seven-game unbeaten run against the Red Devils across all competitions, with their last defeat in such a contest coming way back in October 2022.

If Thomas Frank is to inflict further pain on the Red Devils, he will likely need to keep one player quiet – with the manager knowing him extremely well, given his previous experience managing him.

How close Spurs came to signing Mbeumo

Bryan Mbeumo is a player who has been able to reach phenomenal levels under the guidance of Frank, with the pair thriving together during their time at Brentford.

The Cameroonian international spent six years under the Dane at the Bees, amassing just shy of 250 appearances in the process – with his best year undoubtedly coming in 2024/25.

The 26-year-old featured 38 times in the Premier League, scoring 20 goals in the process – ending the season as one of just five players to achieve such a feat.

After Frank’s appointment with the Lilywhites, rumours were swirling over a potential move to North London for Mbeumo – understandably so given his previous under the manager.

It was even reported at one stage that an offer was made for the winger’s services, but no deal ever came to fruition, with the forward subsequently joining United instead.

Amorim’s side forked out a staggering £71m for Mbeumo’s signature, with the Cameroonian already making an immediate impact during the early stages of his spell at Old Trafford.

The 26-year-old has already netted four Premier League goals this campaign – more than any current Spurs player – showcasing the threat he poses within the final third.

His other tallies, such as 1.4 shots on target and 2.1 chances created per 90, highlight the all-round threat he carries – no doubt providing the biggest threat to the Lilywhites this afternoon.

Frank will no doubt know the talent the attacker possesses, with the manager needing to silence him in North London to allow the club to get back to winning ways in England’s top-flight.

The Spurs star who can silence Mbeumo against United

Since Mbeumo’s move to United in the summer, he’s had to operate in a slightly unconventional number ten position alongside Matheus Cunha at Old Trafford.

It’s evidently not stopped him from starring, as seen by his recent form in the Premier League, with Frank desperately needing to silence him in North London this afternoon.

The central midfield department has been an area brought into question over the last few weeks, with the manager yet to work out his best partnership at the base of the side.

The likes of Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Sarr and Lucas Bergvall have all occupied such roles, but none have been able to cement a regale starting role with the Lilywhites.

However, if Spurs are to have the best chance of silencing Mbeumo today, Frank should look to recall
Joao Palhinha to his starting eleven after being dropped to the bench against Copenhagen on Tuesday.

The Portuguese international joined on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window, but such a deal was frowned upon by the supporters at first.

In their hunt for a new number six, many wanted a younger and more progressive option to help add a new dimension to the first-team squad in the 2025/25 campaign.

However, it’s safe to say the 30-year-old has proved many of his doubters wrong, with the loanee now becoming one of the club’s most important players at present.

Palhinha has made the deep-lying midfield spot his own, especially given the eye-catching numbers he’s produced over the last couple of weeks in the Premier League.

The Portuguese international, who’s been dubbed “phenomenal” by one analyst, has already won 44 tackles in his just 10 league outings this campaign – an average of 5.1 per 90 – highlighting the talent he possesses without the ball.

Games played

10

Goals & assists

3

Pass accuracy

82%

Tackles made

44

Tackles per 90

5.1

Duels won

8.5

Aerials won

1.8

Duel success rate

63%

Interceptions made

1.9

Such numbers would make him the perfect man to silence Mbeumo, with no player making more tackles in England’s top-flight during the current season.

Other figures, such as 8.5 duels won per 90 and 1.8 aerials won per 90, further showcase his dominance out of possession, with such a skillset able to disrupt the Cameroonian’s chances of making a positive impact.

Whilst he’s been brought to North London for his defensive attributes, Palhinha has already impressed in the final third, notching a total of six combined goal contributions across all competitions – two of which came off the bench on Tuesday night.

Progressing the play may not be his strong point at present, but his ability to break up the opposition’s flow is certainly an area which could come in handy against Mbeumo this afternoon.

His ability to get on the scoresheet is just an added bonus, but his main responsibility today must be to prevent Mbeumo from haunting Spurs and former boss Frank in North London.

Should the experienced midfielder manage to do just that, it could be another memorable afternoon for the Lilywhites faithful against the Red Devils – subsequently putting an end to Amorim’s recent unbeaten run at Old Trafford.

Forget Palhinha: Spurs star is fast becoming their best player since Kane

Tottenham Hotspur have hit the jackpot on one player who is becoming as crucial as Harry Kane.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 7, 2025

Rangers invested heavily in the summer but, given their current predicament, expect plenty more signings in January too.

During the summer transfer window, led by manager Russell Martin and sporting director Kevin Thelwell, the Gers signed 13 new players, splashing around £30m, a huge amount for a Scottish club.

The most expensive of these additions was striker Youssef Chermiti, arriving from Everton for £8m which could rise to £10m, their second-most expensive signing of all-time, but the Gers still appear light in attack, so could new manager Danny Röhl demand the addition of a new centre-forward he knows rather well.

Rangers' search for reinforcements

Even before appointing out-of-work Röhl, Rangers had taken advantage of Sheffield Wednesday’s predicament, signing winger Djeidi Gassama for a cut-price £2.2m in July.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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The EFL Championship club entered administration this week, usually a dark day for any football club, but on this occasion it was a day of celebration, because it means Dejphon Chansiri is no longer running the club.

Supporters rushed to Hillsborough to buy tickets and merchandise, having been boycotting both, but there are serious ramifications, given that the Owls were slapped with a 12-point deduction, more could follow for failing to pay staff, meaning relegation to EFL League One appears inevitable, while a new owner still has to be found, all why Röhl walked away in July.

Thus, for as long as the administrators remain in charge, their task is to raise as much cash as possible, which includes selling players.

As a result, Sports Boom are reporting that Röhl is targeting a move for Sheffield Wednesday striker Bailey Cadamarteri, with the new boss telling the Glasgow side to put together ‘a proposed deal” for the youngster.

They add that Röhl is ‘eager to bolster his attacking options’, while adding that the German coach was an ‘influential figure in Cadamarteri’s development’, thereby potentially set to take advantage of the financial crisis in South Yorkshire by snapping up a bargain

So, could the 20-year-old soon be swapping Owlerton for Govan?

What Bailey Cadamarteri would bring to Rangers

Born in Leeds, Cadamarteri joined Sheffield Wednesday as an eight year old, making his senior debut in the EFL Trophy against Leicester City’s under-21s in October 2022.

He did not then feature for the Owls’ first team again for over a year, largely due to surgery, handed his league debut by Röhl against Millwall in November 2023, before scoring his first senior goal during a 3-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers a few weeks later.

He then also netted against Norwich, QPR and Swansea, before spending last season on loan at Lincoln City, scoring eight times in 31 outings for the Imps, his campaign at Sincil Bank cut short by a groin injury suffered mid-way through the season.

Now back at Sheffield Wednesday, given that many of the Owls’ senior players departed during the summer due to financial turmoil, he has started nine of their 12 EFL Championship matches, with the table below documenting his importance to Henrik Pedersen’s side.

Cadamarteri’s stats 25/26

Stats

Cadamarteri

Sheff Wed rank

Minutes

838

7th

Goals

1

4th

Expected goals

1.8

2nd

Shots

20

1st

Shots on target

5

2nd

Big chances missed

2

1st

Key passes

6

5th

Attempted take-ons

23

2nd

Touches in box

39

1st

Stats vs FBref & SofaScore

As the table emphasises, Cadamarteri has been an integral figure for Wednesday this season, scoring during a 2-2 draw with Wrexham at the Racecourse in August.

He has though had the most shots of any Wednesday player, missing two Opta-defined big chances, while over 18% of his total touches have come in the opposition penalty area, showing that he offers an attacking presence.

Meantime, the 20-year-old has also made an interesting choice when it comes to international football.

After representing England at youth level, he switched his allegiance to Jamaica earlier this year, debuting for the Reggae Boyz in Bermuda in September, scoring against Trinidad & Tobago in Kingston a few days later.

Thus, if Steve McClaren’s team collect four points from their two qualifiers in November, again Trinidad & Tobago and then Curaçao, they’ll be heading for a first World Cup since France ’98, which could give Cadamarteri a platform to increase his exposure and market value, currently valued at around £1.1m by Football Transfers.

Ali Maxwell labels the young striker a “finisher” while Röhl, when the pair were still together in South Yorkshire, described him as “dangerous”.

A report by Total Football Analysis agrees, noting that he ‘consistently moves around to find pockets of space’, while praising his ability to ‘occupy spaces intelligently’ and excellent penalty box positioning.

Thus, it is clear that Cadamarteri is a talented young player, one who could well be available for a slashed price, while he may be eager to re-untie with Röhl north of the border.

Summer signing Chermiti has scored only once for Rangers to date, his first goal for anyone since May 2023, looking very unconvincing overall, while fellow centre-forwards Danilo and Bojan Miovski have only two goals to their name so far this season.

Given the dearth of quality in Rangers’ striker department, the young Jamaican international could come in and be first-choice from the word go, firing the Gers up the table.

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Posts ByBen Gray Oct 28, 2025

In the absence of Rabada, Jansen and Ngidi, the 19-year-old will spearhead South Africa in the first Test in Zimbabwe

Firdose Moonda27-Jun-2025At 19, left-arm seamer Kwena Maphaka will be entrusted with leading South Africa’s pace attack in the first Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in a foreshadowing of things to come.Maphaka made his Test debut against Pakistan at Newlands earlier this year, as the fourth seamer in an attack that included Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder. He bowled 21.2 overs across the two innings, finished with 3 for 90 and was very much the baby of the pack, but with Rabada and Jansen rested for the series, Mulder concentrating on his role as a No.3 batter, and Lungi Ngidi only joining the squad for the second Test, South Africa coach Shukri Conrad has identified Maphaka, who bowls at 140-plus kph, as his spearhead.Related

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“With Lungi not being here for the first Test, Kwena’s going to lead the bowling attack,” Conrad said in the lead up to the first Test. “As a 19-year-old, when you get given that responsibility, it doesn’t only speak volumes for how highly you are rated, but also the calibre and the mentality that he possesses. He’s a young buck that shows maturity way beyond his years.”The two-match series in Zimbabwe is not part of the WTC and is sandwiched between South Africa’s 2023-25 campaign – which they won – and their next one, which starts with tough tours to Pakistan and India. As such, Conrad is using the Zimbabwe Tests to blood younger talent, with five uncapped players in the squad and three (Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis and Codi Yusuf) set to make their debuts on Saturday, and is also exposing newcomers like Maphaka.”We’ve obviously got to be very smart in identifying when we put him out in the shop window and I think this would be a great time for him,” Conrad said. “In Zimbabwe, in Test cricket specifically, he is not the third quick behind KG and Marco necessarily but he is the main dog. That responsibility will grow massively.”Maphaka will have Mulder, debutant Yusuf and Corbin Bosch – who has only one Test cap but also a decade of domestic experience – as fellow quicks in an attack that also includes Keshav Maharaj. And though Conrad has given Maphaka the job of setting the tone, he also issued a caution to those expecting to see only fireworks from the youngster. “It’s all about being patient. Just like you need to be patient with batters, you need to be patient with bowlers as well,” Conrad said. “We’re not going to see the best of Kwena in the next couple of months, but these are all the building blocks so that we can see the best of Kwena in say three or four years’ time.”To date, Maphaka has played four first-class matches including his first Test. He made his first-class debut in June 2023, under Conrad, in a South Africa A tour to Sri Lanka. He has subsequently played two matches for his domestic team, the Lions, with best match returns of 6 for 78 against the Warriors. Maphaka has also played in the SA20 and the IPL and will be part of South Africa’s T20I squad for the tri-series in Zimbabwe that follows the Tests.

Aston Villa have now opened talks with the agents of a goalkeeper, who’s in red-hot form, amid doubts surrounding Emiliano Martinez’s future.

Martinez's Villa future up in the air after failed Man Utd move

Martinez was widely expected to leave Villa in the summer, with it being revealed that he wanted to join Manchester United, but the Argentina international ultimately ended up staying put, and has since been reintroduced to the squad.

Indeed, the 33-year-old, who is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, has started the last four Premier League matches, during which time the Villans are undefeated, having won their last four games on the spin in all competitions.

However, the goalkeeper’s future remains up in the air, with Ruben Amorim personally requesting that Man United sign him in the January transfer window, which means Unai Emery may be tasked with bringing in a replacement.

According to a report from WinWin (via Sports View), Aston Villa have now made their first approach to sign a new goalkeeper, having opened talks with the agents of AS Monaco goalkeeper Yanis Benchaouch-Marty.

Villa are making contingency plans, in case Martinez departs next summer, and Benchaouch-Marty has caught their eye, having recently impressed for national side Morocco, guiding them to the semi-finals of the Under-20 World Cup following a fantastic display against South Korea.

Emery’s side are expected to make moves to sign the 19-year-old once the tournament ends, with Morocco U20s set to take on France U20s in the semi-final this evening.

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Posts ByDominic Lund Oct 14, 2025 Benchaouch-Marty could be long-term Martinez heir

The AS Monaco youngster has certainly put himself in the shop window with some of his performances at the U20 World Cup, perhaps most notably putting in a fantastic display in Morocco’s statement 2-1 victory against Brazil.

The Moroccan came very close to keeping a clean sheet, with Brazil scoring a 92nd-minute penalty, which ultimately ended up being nothing more than a consolation, but he still achieved a 8.6 SofaScore match rating, the highest of any player on the pitch.

Statistic

Number completed

Saves from inside the box

4

High claims

1

Long balls (accurate)

12 (7)

Accurate passes

32/37 (86%)

The teenager is showing signs he could be a long-term heir for Martinez, but the young goalkeeper is clearly still in the infancy of his career, given that he is still yet to make a senior appearance for AS Monaco.

As such, Emery will be hoping his current first-choice goalkeeper sticks round a little while longer, potentially as a mentor for Benchaouch-Marty, and Villa are currently under no pressure to cash-in, with Martinez under contract until the summer of 2029.

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Fernando Diniz dirigiu a Seleção Brasileira pela primeira vez na sexta-feira, contra a Bolívia. O Brasil venceu o jogo por 5 a 1 e registrou a maior posse de bola da sua história, 80%. Apesar de histórico para a Seleção, o feito já foi alcançado pelo Fluminense nesta temporada, sob comando de Diniz

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A vitória contra Bolívia ficou marcada pela estreia do novo treinador e também pela goleada já como DNA de Fernando Diniz. Além da posse de bola de 80%, marcando um novo recorde na história da Seleção, o time criou um volume muito grande de oportunidades.

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Apesar de ser a um marco para o Brasil, a realização não é surpresa para o Fluminense. Nesta temporada, pela rodada 4 do Brasileirão, o Tricolor teve os mesmos 80% de posse de bola no clássico contra o Vasco. Apesar de ter o controle da bola no jogo e pressionar o Cruzmaltino durante os 90 minutos, o jogo terminou em 1 a 1.

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Na saída do jogo do Brasil, Diniz se mostrou orgulhoso do desempenho do time e elogiou a marca.

– Representa para mim. Todo mundo sabe que eu tenho um apreço muito grande de ficar com a bola. Mais do que isso, ser agressivo, criativo e criar muita chance de gol. Foi o cenário ideal de ter uma posse de bola eficiente. É o que a gente pretende fazer. É o início apenas.

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O próximo compromisso de Diniz pelo Brasil é contra o Peru na terça-feira(12). O Fluminense enfrenta o Vasco, no sábado (16), no Nilton Santos, às 16h, pelo Brasileirão.

The former New Zealand captain sees the current WTC structure as “not ideal”

Matt Roller31-Mar-20253:42

Williamson: Current WTC structure ‘not ideal’

Kane Williamson has backed calls to introduce designated windows for international cricket, which he believes could help to turn the World Test Championship (WTC) into a “more level competition”.The ICC’s cricket committee will consider proposals to tweak the WTC’s format when it meets in Zimbabwe later this month ahead of the start of the 2025-27 cycle. ECB chair Richard Thompson is among those calling for “a fairer, better competition” after criticism around uneven schedules and a points system that Ben Stokes has described as “utterly confusing”.Williamson, who captained New Zealand to the inaugural WTC title in 2021, described the current structure – which sees Australia, England and India play far more fixtures in a cycle than anyone else – as “not ideal”. He also backed the concept of four protected 21-day international windows per year, an idea proposed by the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) last week.Related

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“It comes back to scheduling,” Williamson told ESPNcricinfo. “I love Test cricket and I’d love to see it stay and I’d love to see it be a pathway for young cricketers still, alongside the T20 format… If you can prioritise windows where teams are playing each other consistently and somewhat evenly, then I think it just makes it [the WTC] a slightly more level competition.”The context now in Test cricket has certainly increased the effort and results. We don’t see draws any more, basically, in Test cricket, so every team’s pushing for a result when there’s something on it. For us as a country, winning the inaugural Test Championship final, it was really special and a great moment in our history.6:00

Williamson on how T20 leagues have changed cricket

“You put a tournament in front of somebody or a team, and they’re always quite keen to win it… Context is something that’s been spoken about for a while now, and it is great to see that there’s an effort to do that. It’s just how you keep tinkering it because there’s so many different opinions with teams, who they play and how you sort of continue to make it level.”South Africa reached June’s WTC final against Australia at Lord’s after playing only 12 Tests in the 2023-25 cycle, the joint-fewest of any team, and their route to the final has prompted some criticism over the WTC’s unequal schedule.”[Teams] get the cards that they are dealt and they try to make use of what’s in front of them, and take those opportunities,” Williamson said.”Naturally, the fact that it’s different for each team is not ideal. Any time you get the opportunity to review after a two-year Test Championship window, to try and tweak it a little bit, that’s fine. It’s still in its infancy, really, as a competition, so you’re always going to look at those things… It’s tricky though: there’s 12 months in a year, right? That’s difficult.”Williamson believes that 50-over cricket has already “given way” as a format. “I still think the ODI World Cup is at the top of the list in terms of an international event to win. When I first started, you’d have a tour for six weeks… Now, you tend to go from one thing to the next, and so it [50-over cricket] may well be the thing that gives way.”He also believes that the rapid and continued growth of franchise cricket poses significant challenges for national boards outside of the ‘big three’ of Australia, England and India, with financial incentives often drawing young players away from Test cricket.”We’re a small country and a smallish economy, certainly relative to some of the big, big nations,” Williamson said.”You mentioned the big three, and the focus on the five Test-match series that they have, and I’m a fan of watching those too. But [the question is] where that leaves everybody else, not just in terms of how they fit in their international cricket, but how we end up playing each other, or how you can still get that even competition across the board. And not just that, but [how you] still create that pathway for young players to see their heroes perhaps playing for their country.Despite giving up a central contract, Kane Williamson is eager to play for New Zealand•Getty Images

“There’s so much cricket happening in the world, and so many different opportunities for players… The interesting part is what messages that sends to your young players, and what they aspire to be now. You can only say that’s gone from […] a pure Test focus, where that was the start of my career as a youngster, to maybe looking at playing in the IPL, or playing in some of these other big leagues, and country vs franchises and all that sort of discussion.”Williamson has played more than 350 times for New Zealand across a 15-year international career but his priorities are slowly shifting aged 34. He is still active across international formats but turned down a central contract for the 2024/25 season in order to play in the SA20, and is due to feature in the PSL, the T20 Blast and the Hundred later this year.”At the moment, there’s no clear windows that meet everybody’s needs, and that’s the tough part,” Williamson said of the global calendar. “If you do have clear windows, and you do allow that full focus… then you can just take your attention there. What we’re seeing a lot is players having to make decisions [themselves] and that takes away a little bit from one part, whether it’s the international or the franchise space.”Things are moving quickly… It’s quite interesting, but I still absolutely love playing for New Zealand and I’m looking forward to doing that again in the future. But it is nice: there are some other options you can have, and with a young family as well, it’s nice that they can have me around a little bit.”