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In what could be their first move after potential promotion to the Premier League, Leeds United and the 49ers have now reportedly set their sights on signing one particular reinforcement on loan.

Leeds and 49ers eyeing loan move

As is often the case, the Championship campaign remains in the balance heading into the final two months with Leeds, Burnley and Sheffield United all vying for automatic promotion.

As things stand, it is those at Elland Road who will be sweating the most after their 2-2 draw against Queens Park Rangers saw Sheffield United draw level on points at the top of the league and Burnley move within two points of the automatic promotion places. With eight games to go, Daniel Farke will simply be desperate to get his side over the line.

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Failing to achieve promotion for the second time under Farke could yet result in another exodus of talent in a repeat of last summer. Promotion, meanwhile, could spark the beginning of a summer to remember if the Whites get things right on and off the pitch.

On that front, a number of potential targets have been mentioned in recent weeks, but one name continues to stand out. According to Graeme Bailey via Leeds United News, the 49ers and Leeds are now plotting a move to sign Kalvin Phillips on loan from Manchester City this summer in what would be his third short-term spell away from The Etihad.

The midfielder has looked more and more desperate for a fresh start ever since completing a move to Manchester City in 2022 and could now at least get an Elland Road reunion.

Following a mixed spell on loan at Ipswich Town, a return to where he was at his best may well provide Phillips with the answers he craves in pursuit of getting back to the player he was in West Yorkshire.

"Fantastic" Phillips needs Leeds return

Out of all the moves that take place this summer, Phillips’ potential return to Leeds is among those that would make most sense if they achieve promotion this season. The midfielder desperately needs a return – perhaps more than they need him – and could instantly reward Farke using his vast Premier League experience.

Having shown glimpses of his quality at Portman Road this season, Kieran McKenna has been full of praise for Phillips at times, telling reporters in the early stages of his move: “As I said when he arrived, he’s followed a very similar pathway to a lot of our players. He’s climbed a mountain, he’s done terrific in his career.

“He went from being a player who played in the Championship for four, five, six seasons, whatever he did, to being part of a newly-promoted team that went to the Premier League, attacked the Premier League, and did fantastic in that division.”

Reportedly earning £8m a year, Leeds would certainly need to negotiate some leeway with Manchester City to make the move happen, but it’s one they should work hard to complete this summer nonetheless.

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da 888casino： Ausentes na última rodada, Renato Augusto e Yuri Alberto retornam ao time do Corinthians para o confronto deste domingo (12), contra a Portuguesa, em Brasília, pela 8ª rodada do Paulistão.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFutebol LatinoEx-Corinthians, Araos vive ‘drama’ no mercado da bola; entendaFutebol Latino11/02/2023Futebol NacionalCorinthians x Flamengo: onde assistir, prováveis escalações e horário da final da Supercopa FemininaFutebol Nacional11/02/2023CorinthiansFernando Lázaro indica como pretende utilizar Paulinho no CorinthiansCorinthians10/02/2023

da dobrowin： + Erro de Balbuena custa caro em noite desastrosa da defesa do Corinthians

Yuri vinha lidandocom dores no tornozelo direito e perdeu os jogos contra Botafogo-SP e São Bernardo. O centroavante treinousem restrições na metade desta semana e volta a ser relacionado. JáRenato, que vinha em uma sequência de três jogos seguidos no time titular, foi preservado contra o Bernô por controle de carga, e retorna para o duelo contra a Lusa.

Ainda que a dupla esteja na viagem para Brasília, não é garantido que eles sejam titulares. É possível que alguns deles ainda estejam indisponíveis para atuar durante os 90 minutos, como disse o técnico Fernando Lázaro após a derrota para o São Bernardo.

+ Veja as movimentações do mercado da bola no LANCE!

Quem segue de fora da lista de relacionados é o volante Maycon. O camisa 7 ficou de fora dos últimos três confrontos da equipe e, mesmo recuperado dalesão muscular na coxa esquerda sofrida na vitória sobre o Guarani, a comissão técnica optou por não levá-lo a Brasília. Fagner, suspenso, também desfalca o clube alvinegro.

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Goleiros: Carlos Miguel, Cássio e Matheus Donelli
Laterais: Fábio Santos, Matheus Bidu e Rafael Ramos
Zagueiros: Balbuena, Bruno Méndez, Caetano, Gil e Murillo
Meio-campistas: Du Queiroz, Fausto Vera, Giuliano, Matheus Araújo, Paulinho, Renato Augusto e Roni
Atacantes: Adson, Júnior Moraes, Róger Guedes, Romero, Wesley e Yuri Alberto

Assim, Fernando Lázaro pode montar o Corinthians com: Cássio; Rafael Ramos, Bruno Méndez, Gil (Balbuena) e Fábio Santos; Fausto Vera (Roni), Du Queiroz, Renato Augusto (Giuliano) e Adson; Róger Guedes e Yuri Alberto (Romero).

+ Veja tabela e simule os jogos do Campeonato Paulista

Neste sábado, antes de embarcar para Brasília,Fernando Lázaro organizou um treinamento tático no CT Joaquim Grava. Ele também promoveu um trabalho de bolas paradas ofensivas e defensivas com os jogadores.

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Juventus star Pierre Kalulu was involved in a physical brawl with Lazio's Taty Castellanos over the weekend and he has been handed a two-match ban.

Article continues below

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• Kalulu slapped with a two-game ban for violent conduct
• Defender struck Lazio forward Castellanos during their meeting last weekend
• Might prove to be a huge blow to Juve's UCL qualification chances

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Juventus have been dealt a blow in their push for a top-four finish after defender Kalulu was handed a two-match ban for striking Lazio forward Castellanos during their recent Serie A clash. The incident, which occurred in the second half, was reviewed by the disciplinary committee and deemed violent conduct, further compounding the pressure on Igor Tudor’s side as the race for Champions League qualification intensifies.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The incident occurred near the hour mark in the second half, when Kalulu appeared to attempt to hit Castellanos in the back. Juve were leading by a goal at that point, but Kalulu's sending off helped Lazio pile on the pressure in the closing stages, as Matias Vecino scored the equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time. The draw could prove costly for the Bianconeri, who are yet to secure the fourth spot and subsequently, a spot in next season's Champions League.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  In addition to the ban, Kalulu will also be fined by Juventus for his misconduct on the field. Per reports from (h/t Football Italia), the Old Lady will be fined around €50,000-€60,000.

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR PIERRE KALULU?

  The French centre-back's season is effectively over, as Juve have just two more games to play. Kalulu will now return to play in the Club World Cup next month.

The Premier League has seen plenty of young talents introduce themselves throughout the previous 30 years.

Remember James Milner making his debut for Leeds United aged just 16 years and 309 days, while who can forget Wayne Rooney smashing his way into the headlines with his stunning goal against Arsenal in October 2002?

Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham and Frank Lampard made a name for themselves as youngsters before becoming world-class players.

This season, there have been a whole host of youngsters showcasing their abilities in the top tier. As such, we examine the finest young talent at every Premier League club.

Every 2024/25 Premier League club's most underrated player

These players don’t get the credit they deserve.

ByBarney Lane Feb 6, 2025

For this list, any player aged 21 or under at the time of writing can be included.

Arsenal Ethan Nwaneri, 17

Arsenal might not be at their fluent best this season, but Mikel Arteta is brewing some special talent that could take the club to new heights in the coming years.

Ethan Nwaneri is arguably the best of the lot. This season, the 17-year-old has scored seven goals in his 23 first-team appearances, repaying the trust shown in him by the manager.

The future looks exceedingly bright for the English teenager.

From Cole to Wilshere: The best 11 players to come out of Arsenal's academy

There have been plenty of stars to come out of Arsenal’s famed Hale End academy.

ByBen Browning Feb 14, 2025 Aston Villa Lamare Bogarde, 21

Lamare Bogarde made his debut for Aston Villa during the 2020/21 campaign, but it wasn’t until the start of the current season that he began to make his mark.

Indeed, the Dutchman has fitted in well across three positions for the club, making 11 appearances thus far. If given more chances between now and the end of the season, it could set him up well ahead of 2025/26.

Bournemouth Dean Huijsen, 19

Dean Huijsen is still only 19, but the Bournemouth defender has already attracted transfer attention from Europe’s biggest clubs following his excellent start to life on the south coast.

The teenager has played a key role in the Cherries’ ascendency under Andoni Iraola of late as they seek a European spot next term. It is no wonder plenty of clubs are showing interest in the centre-back. Whether Bournemouth will be able to keep him is the question.

Brentford Yehor Yarmoliuk, 20

Yehor Yarmoliuk joined Brentford back in 2022, but it has only been since the start of last season that he has become a regular in the first team.

Aged just 20, the Ukrainian winger has plenty of talent to suggest Brentford might well just be a stepping stone in his career. He has yet to score or grab an assist this season – something which may need to change in the coming months if he is to fulfil his potential.

Brighton & Hove Albion Yankuba Minteh, 20

Brighton signed Yankuba Minteh from Newcastle last summer in a deal worth around £30m. The winger failed to make an appearance for the Magpies and with the need to balance the books, Eddie Howe cashed in.

The youngster has already registered six goal contributions for the Seagulls – three goals and three assists – this term. If he continues to impress, Minteh might not be at Brighton long.

Chelsea Tyrique George, 19

Chelsea have a multitude of young talents ready and waiting to make an impression in the first team. Tyrique George, however, could turn out to be the best of the lot.

The left-winger made waves at youth level, scoring 18 goals for the U18s and U21s before getting a chance this term in the senior squad. In two FA Cup matches, he has already notched two assists.

The 19-year-old has a big future ahead. Watch this space.

7 goalkeepers who could replace Robert Sanchez at Chelsea

Chelsea are in dire need of a new ‘keeper…

1 ByBarney Lane Jan 27, 2025 Crystal Palace Matheus Franca, 20

Crystal Palace brought Matheus Franca to the club last summer, yet he has played just 12 games for the club. This season, the Brazilian has made a solitary appearance due to injury, but he is certainly one for the future.

With two caps for the Brazil U20 side, there may be no stopping him once Franca gets consistent game time.

Everton Tim Iroegbunam, 21

Despite being highly regarded at Aston Villa, Tim Iroegbunam moved to Everton last summer. It was something of a coup for the Toffees given his talent, and he has 10 appearances to his name.

An ankle injury has derailed his progress, but once fit, David Moyes should be introducing the Englishman to his starting XI regularly.

Fulham Martial Godo, 21

Martial Godo has made fleeting appearances for Fulham this term, but the very fact he has made the matchday squad on numerous occasions suggests Marco Silva is a big believer in his talents.

He registered an assist during the FA Cup win over Watford last month, which must have given him plenty of confidence, while he also played the full 90 minutes against Wigan in the fourth round.

Ipswich Town Omari Hutchinson, 21

With opportunities at Arsenal and Chelsea failing to materialise into something meaningful, Ipswich Town signed Omari Hutchinson on a permanent deal last summer, giving him a fresh chance.

23 appearances as a Premier League starter and he is finally demonstrating the talent that indicated he would have a big future in the game.

Hutchinson should be a key figure in this Ipswich team for the foreseeable future.

With the Belgian linked to a MLS move, GOAL US writers debate the best landing spot for the Manchester City star

Kevin De Bruyne gets closer to an MLS move with every headline. There are a few things we know for certain here. The first is that the Belgian will leave Manchester City upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the season. The second is that he has a long-standing interest in playing in MLS.

The third is that some configuration of Chicago Fire, D.C. United, Inter Miami and NYCFC are interested – in some form – of securing his signature. If De Bruyne is playing in the U.S. this summer, he'll likely do so with a club in a sizable and attractive market.

These are all good things from an American point of view. Big names are still necessary for a league that is trying to grow its global footprint. De Bruyne may not be a megastar, but he is one of the finest midfielders to ever grace the game.

Miami reportedly own his MLS discovery rights, but could the Man City star legitimately co-exist with Lionel Messi in South Beach? Morever, Miami’s three designated player spots are already occupied by Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. Chicago now reportedly hold the priority to negotiate with De Bruyne

He will certainly have an impact – good or bad – wherever he plays. But what about the specifics? Where, exactly, should he play? Where would he be an unmitigated disaster? And what impact could have have on the league?

GOAL US writers debate it all in the latest edition of … The Rondo.

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  Which MLS club is the best fit for Kevin De Bruyne?

  Tom Hindle: Unfortunately, it's not Miami. As much as it would be fun to see them continue to farm European stars, it makes absolutely zero sense. The issue is, none of the other three significant links are particularly exciting. NYCFC adds up due to City Group association. Chicago could probably do with some midfield creativity, and they did previously pursue Neymar. And D.C. United are simply thirsty for any big name they can, in theory, get their hands on. Let's go with NYCFC, if only because they've lost a couple of creative presences, and could do with a star man.

  Ryan Tolmich: The rumor mill keeps linking him with the Chicago Fire and, yup, that checks out. The Fire seem close to arriving, both on and off the field, and De Bruyne is exactly the type of signing that can take this team forward. He'd have pieces in front of him that are legitimately goal-dangerous and, in many ways, would be a perfect mentor for rising star Brian Gutierrez. Off the field, this is exactly the type of big-time signing this club needs to make a statement locally and nationally, while proving that this ownership group is serious about winning. It all makes so much sense, which is why it's the most likely to happen of any of the options.

  Alex Labidou: Thank goodness, it's not likely to be Miami. The three other teams De Bruyne has been linked with – NYCFC, D.C. and Chicago – are all fighting for the same thing: relevancy. While it would be interesting to see how the Belgian connection between De Bruyne and Christian Benteke would play out, it is more vital for MLS to get a shot in the arm in one of its two biggest markets of Chicago and New York. And those two are really neck and neck. Considering Gregg Berhalter's ties to the USMNT and his former players there, it is probable that he will sign an American star at some point – likely after the World Cup. So this seems a move NYCFC HAVE to make. It's hard to envision where the club is going to find another marketable star. Soccer is almost an afterthought in the Big Apple, despite both teams being among MLS's most successful clubs. KDB wouldn't be a cure-all, but he would be a signal of intent for The Pigeons, who are opening their new stadium in two years.

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  Where would he be the worst fit?

  TH: Miami, which fills me with a deep sadness.

  RT: A word of advice to Miami: don't even think about it. This week's CONCACAF Champions Cup loss exposed just how unbalanced this team is, and bringing in another older midfielder – even one of De Bruyne's quality – would only further unbalance it. The team's entire transfer strategy has centered around Messi's friends and South American journeyman. Ahe while they have signed a few young stars, the club needs to be targeting more of those players. The Herons need more runners anywhere on the field, and De Bruyne isn't that.

  AL: Outside of Miami, the other three clubs would be an excellent fit for the Belgian. That said, D.C. would still be a far cry from contending, even if De Bruyne joins. That club has holes in every position outside of striker and at 33, De Bruyne is likely just an outstanding playmaker at this point. He's never been one to impact a game defensively and he hasn't scored more than 10 goals since 2022. It would be an expensive luxury for D.C., but it is a potential game-changer for the Fire and NYCFC, as both are in the playoff hunt.

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  Will De Bruyne succeed in MLS?

  TH: Honestly, no.MLS is brutally unkind to former Euro stars without legs, and De Bruyne's hamstrings are made of rubber bands at this point. He's immobile in the Premier League, and unless someone can throw a bag at building a roster around him – unlikely – then he might struggle in this league. More Marco Reus than Lionel Messi, at the moment.

  RT: Definitely, but he has to have the right team around him. MLS is one of the remaining few leagues in which a team can carry one or two players defensively, which means De Bruyne can just focus on what he does best: creating. Surround De Bruyne with younger, hungry players and let him ping passes to whichever of them is making the best run. If that's the recipe in place, De Bruyne should thrive while helping take a team from good to great.

  AL: Depends on where he lands. In some ways, this is similar to when Andrea Pirlo came to MLS. The skill was evident for anyone to see, but he was extremely limited in what he could offer when he wasn't on set pieces or threading the needle on key plays. The Premier League is a world apart from MLS, but if there's one similarity between the two leagues, it's the required athleticism to be successful. Miami have struggled recently as teams are punishing them with their pace and physical superiority. If De Bruyne goes to a team at which the midfield can cover for his deficiencies, he will be a success. But if he goes to a situation where he's expected to cover several gaps, he won't. It's that simple.

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  Would he be a 'needle-moving' signing for MLS?

  TH: The good barometer for this is always "Has my mum heard of this player?" She knows the names Messi, Suarez, Beckham, Ibrahimovic and Neymar. Ask her who De Bruyne is, and she will probably be clueless. This is a long-winded way of saying he might hit with the Premier League truthers, but won't bring in any eyes outside of them. Sure, it'll be good for the league, but the star power isn't really there.

  RT: It's not in the Messi-Beckham tier, and it might not be quite in the Zlatan tier, either. But it is just below that. De Bruyne is a big name and, at one point, he was right there among the best players in the world. Personality-wise, though, he doesn't have that star-power charisma that Zlatan has – and it remains to be seen how active he'd be in promoting his club. Still, this is a player that adds gravitas to MLS, even if he doesn't change the game by himself.

  AL: No. De Bruyne will certainly elevate whatever team he signs with, and likely will put fans in the stands in that specific market. But will he have the impact of Messi – fans literally paying thousands on resale markets to see him play – or David Beckham, who sold out entire NFL stadiums his first year Unfortunately not. But MLS is a stronger league with De Bruyne playing in the U.S.

Ethan Bamber five-for, Ryan Higgins fifty help visitors take grip in tricky conditions

ECB Reporters Network 25-Jul-2023

Middlesex took ruthless advantage of winning a valuable toss by bowling Warwickshire out for 60 on the opening day of their LV=Insurance County Championship match at Edgbaston.Warwickshire were skittled for their lowest championship total since 1982 – when they made 43 versus Sussex at Edgbaston – as Ethan Bamber took 5 for 20 and skipper Toby Roland-Jones 3 for 27. The seamers skilfully exploited helpful conditions but were abetted by some flawed defensive shots.Middlesex then replied with 199, with Ryan Higgins making 53 from 72 balls, for a first innings lead of 139 – and there was still time on a chaotic day for the home side to lose two wickets second time round, reaching 53 for 2 by the close.When Roland-Jones won the toss, he hoped his seam attack would make early inroads – to have the home side 17 for 5 after 23 minutes did that job.It all started swimmingly for Warwickshire as both openers struck their first ball for four, but Roland-Jones launched the clatter with a lifter which Alex Davies gloved to the wicketkeeper. Two balls later, the skipper sent a full-length ball into Will Rhodes’ stumps.Bamber then found Sam Hain’s edge and Sam Robson took a slick catch at second slip. A simpler chance, offered by Rob Yates off Roland-Jones, was also accepted by Robson before Bamber bowled the entire middle order in 44 balls. Dan Mousley and Jake Bethell were bowled through the gate, Michael Burgess was castled by one that kept low and Ed Barnard’s off stump was clipped by a peach of an outswinger.When Henry Brookes edged Higgins to third slip, No. 11 Mir Hamza found himself striding in at 12.20pm. He was soon making the return journey after nicking a pull at Higgins.In ten minutes’ batting before lunch, Middlesex lost Robson who edged Olly Hannon-Dalby to first slip. Soon after the interval, Steve Eskinazi edged Hannon-Dalby behind and Mark Stoneman fell lbw to Hamza who then bowled Max Holden through another open gate.After diligent innings of 18 from Jack Davies and Jon Simpson were ended by fatal edges, Higgins and Josh de Caires counterattacked. For the first time the pressure was turned on the bowlers as the seventh-wicket pair added 71 in 18 overs.Higgins has damaged Warwickshire in the past with the ball, notably with 11 for 96 for Gloucestershire in the Bob Willis Trophy at Bristol in 2020. This time he biffed seven fours and a six on his way to his 18th first-class fifty before becoming the first of three wickets for Barnard. Higgins was bowled, de Caires skied a slog and Roland-Jones struck the ball into the crowd at long-on but clipped off a bail with his after-stroke and departed hit wicket.When Bamber fell lbw to Hannon-Dalby, Middlesex had a chunky lead of 139 and, remarkably, Warwickshire were in again for 13 overs. Their traumas continued as Davies sliced Bamber into the cordon to add a first-baller to his morning second-baller and Rhodes nicked an indiscrete waft at Tom Helm. That was careless from the captain but it was Warwickshire’s morning of mayhem that has left them in a cavernous hole.

Is India’s ODI top six loaded with too many right-handers at the moment? Former head coach Ravi Shastri seems to think so and would like to see at least two left-handers in India’s top six for the ODI World Cup later this year.”You need to strike the right balance. Do you think a left-hander will make a difference at the top? It does not have to be opening, but in the top three or four. You have to weigh all those options. Ideally, in the top six, I would like to see two left-handers,” Shastri told .With Rishabh Pant not playing any competitive cricket this year due to injuries suffered in a car accident, India have lost a key left-hander in one-day cricket. They have gone with Ishan Kishan for a few games this year. Ravindra Jadeja is another option but he doesn’t have a lot of experience batting in the top six. Yashasvi Jaiswal made it to India’s Test squad for the West Indies series, but his name remained absent from the ODI list.Related

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The World Cup is set to start on October 5. Pant, if he gets fit in time, will likely get his place back, but what are the other left-handed options?”You have Ishan Kishan. In the wicketkeeping department, you have Sanju [Samson]. But the left-handers, you have [Yashasvi] Jaiswal, Tilak Varma. There is enough left-handed talent that can replace any senior player at the moment.”Shastri was also adamant that India needed to form a pool of youngsters and get them in the mix ahead of the World Cup. While he voiced concerns about India’s red-ball depth, he was pretty happy with talent coming through in white-ball cricket.”There are so many youngsters. There is Jaiswal and, I might miss out a few here, Tilak Varma, Nehal Wadhera. There is [Sai] Sudharsan, who played so well in the [IPL] final. There is Jitesh Sharma,” he said.”Among the bowlers, there is a crop of young fast bowlers. Quite a few, there is Mukesh [Kumar], names do not come to my mind now. But, there are at least four or five who can be groomed around that 135kmph-140kmph mark. So I am not worried about the talent in white-ball.”You have a lot of injuries these days. I always like a pool of 15-20. You should always be prepared, you should have a plan B, plan C.”Shastri: Sanju Samson is a “match-winner”•BCCI

Another name that Shastri was quite vocal about was Sanju Samson. The Kerala batter has been in and out of the India side but has been included in the squad for the ODIs in the West Indies next month. Shastri likened Samson to a young Rohit Sharma and felt the wicketkeeper-batter could be the “match-winner” India are looking for.”There is Sanju [Samson], who I believe is yet to realise his potential. He is a match-winner. There is something that is missing. I will be disappointed if he does not finish his career all guns blazing. It is like when I was the coach, I would have been disappointed if Rohit Sharma had not played in my side as a regular Test player. Hence, his opening the batting. I feel similar with Sanju,” he said.Shastri felt that with a number of youngsters ready to knock the door down, India should get started on succession planning. “There are seniors ready to be phased out and there are youngsters ready. No question about it when it comes to T20 cricket. Lesser in 50-over cricket and even fewer in Tests,” he said.”Because of the IPL, you see an abundance of high-quality, young, white-ball players. But, one should not get carried away by that and think they should be automatic red-ball choices. No, I would rather see the red-ball record. I would sit with the selectors and find out more about who the [red-ball performances] were against, in what conditions, what are their strengths, what is the temperament of the bloke like.”For me, temperament is key. It is paramount. Does the guy have the stomach for a fight? When it gets hot in the kitchen, is he is ready to bite the bullet? These are qualities I look for in a [Test] player. When I use the word fearless as a coach, these are the qualities that make a fearless cricketer. Backing his own ability and his strengths, and not wavering.”Luckily for India, the volume of players that play the game, compared with other countries, [is high]. I think you should always have a strong bench across formats.”Shastri was confident that India go into the ODI World Cup at home as favourites, and could “win this one” if they got the balance of the side right. “They are playing at home. I think they are one of the favourites. I am telling you now; I think they can win this one. Provided they get the right balance of experience and youth. And there is enough time to identify the squad that you want. And if you get your full-strength side, I think India are favourites, with England and Australia.”

Motie and Shepherd picked up three wickets each to set up the game for West Indies; Hope and Carty then did the job with the bat

Himanshu Agrawal29-Jul-20231:23

Jaffer: Suryakumar will probably get one last chance in the third ODI

West Indies beat India in an ODI for the first time since December 2019, the six-wicket win in the second of three games their first after nine defeats in a row. The win helped West Indies level the series 1-1 after losing the first ODI on Thursday.After Gudakesh Motie and Romario Shepherd got three wickets each and Alzarri Joseph picked up two to bowl India – they had rested Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli – out for 181, captain Shai Hope and the inexperienced Keacy Carty took care of the chase, which was completed with more than 13 overs to spare.It was comfortable in the end for West Indies, but didn’t come without its share of hiccups – they slipped from 53 without loss in the ninth over to 91 for 4 after 17, Shardul Thakur the main reason for it. That must have raised India’s hopes, but Hope and Carty ensured smooth sailing after that. Hope scored 63 not out, and put up an unbroken stand of 91 with Carty (48 not out) for the fifth wicket.The pitch in Bridgetown offered grip and turn throughout the game, with the spinners’ economy rate across two innings being 3.89 as against the pace bowlers’ 5.20. However, before Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja tested West Indies’ middle order – Jadeja was fast and flat; Kuldeep was slow while getting more turn – it was Thakur who removed the top three batters in the space of 25 balls to open the game up.Once they got together, Hope and Carty were content to do it in singles after Kuldeep had cleaned Shimron Hetmyer up with one that was quicker and skidded through to hit off stump.1:40

Should Axar Patel have bowled more for India to defend 181?

Carty got to a patient 48 off 65 balls, opening up only after the job was almost done and smashing consecutive boundaries off Hardik Pandya to finish the game off. But the fact that West Indies had only 182 to chase was down to a collective bowling effort, along with a combination of a helpful pitch and refreshing athleticism from the fielders.India, asked to bat at the toss, suffered two collapses of their own. First, from a solid 90 for 0 to a dicey 113 for 5, and then from 146 for 5 to 181 all out. These came either side of a lengthy rain break. West Indies sensed an opportunity in the absence of Rohit and Kohli, and they pounced. It all started in the 17th over, when a full, tossed-up delivery from Motie had Shubman Gill lofting to long-off for 34, his highest score in seven international innings across formats since June.For a change, West Indies also put up an impressive fielding and catching display•AFP/Getty Images

That got West Indies going, and in the 18th over, Alick Athanaze dived to his right at point to send Ishan Kishan back for 55. It was Kishan’s second successive half-century in the series. Two overs later, Shepherd got one to rise sharply at Axar Patel, promoted to No. 4, and he was cramped for room with the ball angling in from around the wicket. Axar tried to drop his gloves, but still ended up tickling to the wicketkeeper.Jayden Seales then got his only wicket of the day when a shoulder-height bouncer to Hardik had him pulling straight to midwicket, before Yannic Cariah foxed the comeback man Sanju Samson with turn and bounce. Landing one on a good length around off stump, Cariah got the legbreak to jump as well as move considerably away from the batter, who edged it to slip.India were sliding, and then came heavy rain. When Suryakumar Yadav and Jadeja added 33 to signal a brief recovery after the stoppage, it seemed like the break had come as a blessing for them. But West Indies seized control again, picking up the last five wickets for just 35 runs.Shepherd pitched short at Jadeja, having him top edge a pull to fine leg in the 32nd over. Motie, getting turn and bounce, had Suryakumar slashing to point after an entertaining 24. Soon after came another moment of spectacular fielding from West Indies, when Carty rushed in and dived forward from deep square leg to send back Umran Malik in the 38th over.Motie wrapped the innings up when he got last man Mukesh Kumar in the 41st, finishing with 3 for 36. As a result, West Indies now have a shot at a first ODI bilateral series win against India since May 2006.

A look at where the IPL 2023 final, between Gujarat Titans and CSK in Ahmedabad, could be won or lost

Sidharth Monga27-May-20231:29

Moody lauds Titans’ relentless bowling attack

The two best teams on the points table, the finalists Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings have faced each other twice this IPL. In both matches, Titans won the toss, and CSK put more than 170 on the board, riding on top-scorer Ruturaj Gaikwad. Titans chased down the first one fairly easily, and comprehensively lost the second.Apart from the conditions in Ahmedabad (where Titans won) and Chennai (where CSK won), the big difference in the two matches was the emergence of Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana, both of whom didn’t play the first game. Also, Hardik Pandya bowled in the first match, which allowed Titans to play Josh Little instead of Dasun Shanaka as the fourth overseas player, giving them a more complete bowling attack. Hardik bowled in Qualifier 2 and should do it in the final too.CSK have beaten Titans only once in four attempts. It shouldn’t be a big surprise because in Titans, Super Kings come up against the closest version of themselves. It is no secret that Titans’ leaders – Gary Kirsten, Ashish Nehra and Hardik – are admirers of MS Dhoni from the time they were associated with him. The differences between the two sides at this point are that Titans have a more rounded attack while CSK have more batters striking and have more depth in their batting.Related

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The tactics should become sharper after Qualifier 1. Here is how the sides might look to maximise what they have at their disposal.How to stop Gill?There is precious little by way of weakness in Shubman Gill’s game, but CSK are good at hammering away at what is relatively less strong in someone’s game. In the previous two matches, CSK got Gill out on the short ball but not before he scored 63 and 42. The shot that Gill was dropped off in the match against Mumbai Indians – slower length ball on the stumps resulting in a chipped drive – is not a one-off. The idea to keep Gill quiet – whether it succeeds or not also depends on conditions – is to move the ball in towards off and middle, sprinkle slower balls on the stumps, and test him out.Deepak Chahar has managed to rein Shubman Gill in•ESPNcricinfo LtdDeepak Chahar will have to set the tone with the new ball. In 2021, Chahar bowled 18 balls to him for 21 runs and two wickets, but Gill right now is a completely different batter to 2021. Yet Chahar has bowled 14 balls to him this year for 17 runs and one wicket. Watch out for a slightly short-of-a-length ball that comes back in.About phases more than match-upsWith teams this consistent, there are no surprises left at this time of the season. Ravindra Jadeja has enough right-hand batters to bowl to right through the middle. Same with Noor Ahmad, who is a wristspinner so the kind of batter doesn’t matter that much.If required, Rashid Khan and Theekshana will bowl one over each in the powerplay, two in the middle and come back for one at the death. Chahar and Mohammed Shami will work with the new ball, Pathirana and Mohit Sharma in the back half.If the batters can successfully go after Chahar and Jadeja, or Shami and Noor, they could make the opposition captains introduce other bowlers sooner than originally intended.David Miller could be used to disrupt CSK’s spin strangle•BCCIWin the toss and?The last time CSK batted second was May 6. Since then they have defended successfully in three matches out of four. Dew at night had a significant impact in the one match they lost. These matches, though, were in Chennai and Delhi. Looking at how Titans went against Mumbai in Qualifier 2 with hardly any dew around, there is a strong case for batting first. In no IPL have teams batting first won more matches (40) or more regularly (54.8% of the time) than this year. Probably due to the Impact Player rule, sides batting first have shed the inhibitions of before, and have constantly gone past the par score.But Titans, who won against Mumbai batting first, wanted to chase on Friday because of the rain around. With very little chance of rain in Ahmedabad on Sunday, there is a small matter of the unpredictable dew, which changes equations drastically. It is a gamble that might well depend on how the outfield is on the eve of the match.A recap of tactics from previous CSK-Titans gameWatch Shami for one over. If the ball is not moving, go after him. If it is moving, try to deny him a wicket.Jadeja might have got David Miller out in the last match, but it was a turning pitch. Titans still need to make sure he is not allowed to bowl four overs at a go. Hardik doesn’t have a good match-up against Jadeja, so it is better to promote Miller if a wicket falls during Jadeja’s spell. Miller also has 17 runs off ten balls against Theekshana without getting out to him.

Former India batter Venugopal Rao will be their new director of cricket

Nagraj Gollapudi17-Oct-20246:12

Making sense of the musical chairs in DC’s ownership structure

Former India batter Hemang Badani will take over as the new head coach at Delhi Capitals (DC) for IPL 2025. Along with Badani, DC have also appointed former India batter Venugopal Rao as the director of cricket.While Badani replaces Ricky Ponting, who amicably parted ways recently after seven seasons as head coach, Rao takes over the role performed in the past few years by former India captain Sourav Ganguly. Both appointments are part of the decision taken by the DC ownership to overhaul the coaching staff and the overall running structure of the franchise which has never won the IPL. The franchise has also decided not to renew the contract with Pravin Amre, who served as assistant coach and talent scout since 2014.”With the mega auction around the corner, my job, in collaboration with the rest of our coaching staff, is cut out,” Badani said in a franchise release. “I can’t wait to get started.”ESPNcricinfo has learnt the recruitment drive to bolster the coaching bench will continue with more assistant coaches and mentor to be appointed.As part of the restructuring, the co-owners of DC – the GMR Group and JSW Sports – will swap the operational leadership roles every two years for their teams in the IPL and the WPL; it means the GMR Group will take over the men’s team for the next two seasons and JSW Sports the women’s team for 2025 and 2026. Consequently, Ganguly will take over as director of cricket in the WPL for the next two seasons. Ganguly will switch back to the IPL from 2027 when JSW Sports will be back in charge. In a media statement on Thursday, the franchise said “key decisions like auctions, captaincy, player release and retentions of both teams will be made by the Delhi Capitals’ board, and will be decided mutually by senior leadership of both groups.”Why Hemang Badani?
While the appointment of Badani, who played four Tests and 40 ODIs, is expected to arouse curiosity, the former Tamil Nadu captain has been a successful coach in the domestic T20 circuit. After being part of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) squads in the initial few years, Badani was the head coach at Chepauk Super Gillies, who have won four TNPL titles, one of which was shared. With them, Badani played a key role in the development of young players like R Sai Kishore, the current Tamil Nadu captain.That experience played a role in Badani joining the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) coaching staff in IPL 2022. He also has coaching experience in overseas T20 leagues: with Sunrisers Eastern Cape in 2023, when they won the inaugural SA20 title, and with Jaffna Kings, who won the most recent season of the Lanka Premier League. He was the head coach at Dubai Capitals (also owned by GMR Group) who finished runners-up in the ILT20 this January.Rao, who played 16 ODIs between 2005 and 2006, was part of Deccan Chargers’ IPL – winning squad in 2009 and has also been part of Dubai Capitals, first as mentor in the inaugural season and then as director of cricket.