Dooley suffered a stroke while on holiday and had emergency surgery in Honolulu before being airlifted to Brisbane where she remains in hospital

Alex Malcolm20-May-2024Melbourne Renegades and South Australia wicketkeeper-batter Josie Dooley is in hospital in Brisbane after suffering a stroke while on holiday to Hawaii which left her in intensive care for more than two weeks.Dooley, 24, was on vacation on the Hawaiian island of Kauai in April when she suffered a stroke. The South Australia Cricket Association released a statement on Monday detailing Dooley’s condition.”On 15 April Josie was on the Hawaiian island of Kauai when she suffered a stroke as a result of hydrocephalus and was required to be air lifted to Honolulu to receive urgent neurosurgical treatment,” the statement said.”Following surgery, Josie remained in the neurosciences ICU of the Queen’s Hospital in Honolulu for 18 days before progressing to a neurosurgical ward where she remained for a further 12 days.”Once she was fit to fly, Josie was medically evacuated to her hometown of Brisbane where she was readmitted to hospital.”Hydrocephalus is a neurological disorder caused by an abnormal build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles (cavities) deep within the brain.”Josie is making progress in her recovery and would like to thank her family, friends and teammates for their love and support over this challenging time,” the statement continued. “The Dooley family request privacy at this time.”Her WBBL club, Renegades, added: “Like many in the Australian cricket community, the Melbourne Renegades are thinking of our beloved team member, Josie Dooley, as she faces her current health battle.”Josie is a much-loved member of our playing group and a favorite with our fans. We see her strength, dedication and spirit during the WBBL and we know this will guide her through this challenge.”Dooley plays for South Australia in the WNCL competition and for Renegades having started her WBBL career in her hometown with Brisbane Heat in 2018-19 where she played nine matches. She has gone on to play 65 matches for Renegades in the WBBL.She also started her WNCL career with Queensland in 2018 as a teenager before moving to South Australia ahead of the 2020-21 season. Dooley has represented Australia at Under-16 and Under-19 level and played Australia A. She also played for the Governer-General’s XI against England in 2017.

da supremo： Ahead of Vitor Pereira’s first summer in charge, Wolverhampton Wanderers are now reportedly moving to seal their move to sign a South American talent at their manager’s request.

Pereira already requesting Wolves incomings

da esoccer bet： With Matheus Cunha reportedly on his way to Manchester United this summer, it should come as no surprise that Pereira has requested attacking reinforcements in the coming months. Recent rumours have indicated that the Portuguese manager is a particular fan of Corinthians forward Yuri Alberto and has now asked Wolves to make a reunion happen between himself and his former star.

Yuri Alberto in 24/25

Record (via Transfermarkt)

Appearances

34

Goals

13

Assists

1

Having worked with the Brazilian before, Pereira will already know all about Alberto’s potential. At 24 years old, he has shown consistent promise at Corinthians over the years and only added to his goal tally this season – scoring 13 in 34 games.

The Portuguese manager also knows just how important it is to get recruitment right at Wolves in the coming months, having told reporters when asked about the summer transfer window back in April: “I expect to go with Wolves to the next level, the next step. This is what I’m thinking about.

“We don’t need a lot of money, we just need to make the right decisions and have a plan. My focus is on this team and trying to get the best results possible until the end of the season.

“Keeping almost all of the players (is important) because we have a very good group. I want to work for another level, I want to take the next step with this club.”

Signing South American talents seems to be the manager’s chosen route towards that next step, too, with another promising talent now reportedly on Wolves’ radar ahead of the summer window.

Wolves moving to seal Araujo deal

According to reports in Brazil, as relayed by Sport Witness, Wolves are now moving to seal their deal to sign Evertton Araujo, who has a release clause worth as much as €40m (£34m) at Flamengo. Whilst such a price may seem steep, reports suggest that Pereira has requested the arrival of the midfielder and the Midlands club have already made contact over a potential deal.

Pereira’s request should come as no shock and Wolves, themselves, are no strangers when it comes to signing Brazilian talents after welcoming Andre last summer.

Related Wolves now eyeing £14m Argentinian prodigy who's already met with Arsenal

He’s a wanted man.

Posts ByTom Cunningham May 22, 2025

Described as “strong” and “composed” as well as “aggressive” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Araujo could go on and make the same impact as Andre if he followed him to the Midlands in the coming months. Wolves’ transfer strategy has seemingly taken them towards Brazil once again and that should be seen as no bad thing.

Shakib Al Hasan is also part of the squad after he made himself available for selection last month

Mohammad Isam11-Aug-2024

Mushfiqur Rahim and Taskin Ahmed are back in the Bangladesh Test squad for the two-match series against Pakistan starting later this month. Batter Shahadat Hossain however has been left out of the squad that last played against Sri Lanka in March.Mushfiqur missed the Sri Lanka Tests due to a thumb injury while Taskin had taken a break from red-ball cricket to manage his shoulder injury. Taskin, however, will be available only for the second Test in Karachi which begins on August 30 but will play the second four-day game for Bangladesh A on August 20.Senior allrounder Shakib Al Hasan is also part of the squad after he made himself available for selection last month. Shakib, who is no longer a member of parliament after the Awami League-led government fell on August 5, will be in focus.Related

Mushfiqur, Mominul to play for Bangladesh A in Pakistan

Bangladesh Test squad to arrive four days ahead of schedule in Pakistan

Bangladesh in turmoil: how will cricket be impacted?

Six players from the Test squad arrived in Pakistan on Saturday as part of the Bangladesh A side. Mushfiqur and Mominul are among them, as they are set to play the first four-day game in Islamabad from August 13.”The emphasis was on picking our best players for this version,” chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain said. “This is a well-balanced squad. The likes of Mushfiqur (Rahim), Mominul (Haque) and Shakib (Al Hasan) have played 216 matches combined and there is no substitute for that kind of experience. Taijul (Islam) and Miraz (Mehidy Hasan) have been leading the spin department for a long time and have over 350 wickets between them. We also expect Shanto (Najmul Hossain), Litton ( Das) and the other batsmen to step up because to be competitive against Pakistan, we will need a team effort.”Taskin last played a Test in June 2023, in the series against Afghanistan at home. He was part of the T20 World Cup and also played in the Lanka Premier League, but Ashraf said Bangladesh were keen on easing Taskin back into the longer format.”We have selected five pacers mindful of the fact that Taskin Ahmed will only play the second Test. He hasn’t bowled in a Test since June last year and we have decided to include him in the A Team for the second four-dayer against Pakistan A to get him into the rhythm for longer version matches.Taskin Ahmed last played a Test in June 2023•AFP/Getty Images

“A couple of the pacers may join the A-team for the one-day matches, therefore we needed backups. Our attack has variety with bowlers who can bowl fast and also swing the ball and I am looking forward to seeing them perform against world-class batsmen.”Ashraf was also glad about Bangladesh getting extra days to train in Pakistan.”Pakistan are very tough opponents, especially in their home front and it will be a challenging tour for us,” Ashraf said. “It is good that we will get additional time to prepare in Lahore. Also, some players who are in Pakistan already with the Bangladesh A side, will join the national team for the Test series. Their experience of the conditions should come in handy.”The first Test begins on August 21 in Rawalpindi followed by the second in Karachi on August 30. The squad will train at the Gaddafi Stadium from August 14 to 16 before traveling to Islamabad on August 17 ahead of the first Test.Bangladesh Test squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Capt), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Khaled Ahmed

Worcestershire’s appearance at their first Finals Day is a success for quintessential rural England at a time of great change

David Hopps12-Sep-2018No county better represents the England of the imagination than Worcestershire. So said Matthew Engel in , an elegiac tour around the historic counties; a journey into the half-lost, often forgotten, rural England that is part of the psyche of the cricketing nation.What could be more timely therefore than Worcestershire’s appearance on Saturday at their first Twenty20 Finals Day – only Derbyshire now needed to complete the full set – at a time when trial matches are underway for The Hundred, which is not so much a competition as a deliberately superficial marketing exercise which seeks to reject cricket’s traditions and reinvent it as a clamorous, simple game of the big city?Worcester was The Faithful City in the English Civil War, loyal to King Charles I to the end and suffering the consequences, and nearly 400 years later the cricket club is as compliant as any when promised £1.3m a year from England’s impending short-form competition, buying the view that a collapse in the numbers of recreational cricketers has arisen from the faltering popularity of the game rather than an absence from free-to-air TV and a change in cultural habits which is affecting all team sport.County cricket has long been held to be dying, bringing to mind Engel’s description of Malvern, a pretty Worcestershire town, which he suggests feels as “far removed from surrounding reality” as any in the land. An old schoolmaster tells the author: “People come to Malvern to die and then they don’t.” But Worcestershire, come here for winter training, too and, far from dying, they are committing their future to youth.Worcestershire might not be the biggest county cricket club in the land, and their faith that the ground is still one of the most beautiful in the world does not bear scrutiny – the view to the cathedral is best observed through blinkers so as not to catch sight of the ugly modern architecture that now scars the ground – but the desire have the most reputable academy in English cricket is a sizeable and noble ambition.A fast-maturing young side can now parade its worth on Finals Day. The maturing of Joe Clarke can one day delight England, Ben Cox’s wicketkeeping skills would have attracted greater attention in a different era, Ed Barnard is an athletic all-rounder and Josh Tongue and Dillon Pennington – the latter who has made his breakthrough this season – are two of the most talented young pace bowlers in the country. Not to forget Pat Brown, who came from nowhere this season to be the leading wicket-taker in the competition.Disturbingly for Worcestershire, though, Callum Ferguson, the Australian who has underpinned their season, is now back with South Australia. Moeen Ali is expected to return from England duties to skipper the side but without Ferguson in the top three his task will be much more difficult.Moeen Ali in deliberations with Wayne Parnell during Worcestershire’s win in the Vitality Blast quarter-finals•Getty ImagesAnd disturbingly for Worcestershire, too, they must prepare for Finals Day with a home Championship match against the champions-elect Surrey when they lie in bottom place in Division One, 17 points from safety, with three matches remaining. It is difficult to imagine a more challenging scenario – although at least Edgbaston, venue for Finals Day, is only an hour up the road.Worcestershire’s progress to Finals Day has been overseen by two players with strong county links. Alex Gidman is a former all-rounder at the county, and if you believe his Twitter feed bread-maker extraordinaire; his white cob loaf seemed to rise OK last week so perhaps Worcestershire can do the same. Alongside him, Alan Richardson enjoyed a wonderful late career at New Road, even becoming one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year at 37. Richardson’s involvement with Brown’s debut season has been crucial.Underpinning it all, however, is Kevin Sharp, the head coach, who is the first to recognise their contribution – ” it was a no-brainer for me to hand a lot of the responsibility to them for the white-ball cricket: they pretty much run the show” – but who also deserves enormous credit for the way he has protected the quintessence of the county following the enforced departure of Steve Rhodes after a power struggle within the club’s hierarchy.Rhodes’ reclamation has come as Bangladesh coach, leaving Sharp, who he first appointed on a temporary contract five years earlier, and who is five years his senior at 59, to assume command.Sharp and Rhodes have links as Yorkshire players during the civil war over the contentious figure of Geoffrey Boycott. For both, the damage they did not just observe, but had to withstand, as players, has translated more than 30 years later into their desire to build harmonious dressing rooms and to create trusting atmospheres in which young players can perform.”I don’t think there’s any doubt that my experiences at Yorkshire have stood me in good stead as a coach,” Sharp agrees. “It was quite a ruthless environment if you felt lacking in confidence and belief.”There weren’t too many shoulders to lean on or people to talk to. It was very much a sink or swim environment. There were times when I probably needed some psychological support but it wasn’t the done thing in those days: even in the Yorkshire club now there will be guys to do that. I feel as though one of my greatest strengths is that relationship building and trust. It takes time to build that.”Sharp was one of several victims of a wholesale clearout of Yorkshire’s coaching staff in 2011 – some heavy-handed grandstanding by the then Yorkshire chairman, Colin Graves, now in the same role at the ECB – which meant that he was unable to enjoy the fruits of his labours as 2nd X1 coach.”When I left Yorkshire six years ago it was tough because I had lads like Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, , Gary Ballance, Adam Lyth, highly talented young men who were just about to knock the door down at the next level and I had to leave and that hurt and it was difficult. The bond is still there. That’s good and that’s healthy and that tells you that you had some good relationships. But I’ve moved on. Steve Rhodes gave me the opportunity to help out initially and that developed into a fulltime job.”A view of the County Ground in Worcester•PA Images via Getty ImagesNow he gazes down from his office onto the backdrop of Worcester cathedral on a ground where he once made an unbeaten 260 against the West Indies U19: the predicted international career never arrived. Duncan Fearnley, a former Worcestershire chairman and bat maker, became his first bat sponsor at 15. His wife was born in the county. Sacked by Yorkshire, he wrote down his list of favourite counties: Worcestershire were No 1.Sharp is a natural healer. “I feel I’ve been very fortunate to experience two very different clubs,” he said. “I had my issues when I was younger, lost confidence at times. That’s probably just growing up really and finding out about life. But I’ve come here to Worcestershire and it’s a very different club with a different feel. We generally get on well with each other and the lads are quite close. It’s been nice to sample two different environments.”He faces a tough week. While Worcestershire strive to save their Division One status, in the face of the Surrey strut, he admits: “When a few of our batsmen are not involved in the contest they will be slipping off to the nets to practice some white-ball stuff. It’s not easy, but it’s county cricket and you just have to get on with it.”

Trescothick will have a few days off after the second Test before linking up with his white-ball squad ahead of the first Australia T20I

Matt Roller30-Aug-2024Andrew Flintoff will work with England’s batters ahead of their third Test against Sri Lanka at The Oval next week, with Marcus Trescothick taking a short break ahead of his stint as interim white-ball head coach for September’s series against Australia at home.Flintoff has been involved in England’s white-ball set-up for the past year, including at June’s T20 World Cup, but will not be part of Trescothick’s coaching staff for the three T20Is and five ODIs against Australia next month. He recently had his first experience as a head coach at the Hundred, his Northern Superchargers finishing fourth and narrowly missing out on qualification.He is expected to link up with the Test squad on Wednesday for the first of two training days, and will be part of Brendon McCullum’s staff throughout the third Test. He is only filling the role on a short-term basis and is not expected to be involved on the winter tours of Pakistan and New Zealand.Related

• Root and Stokes still in Champions Trophy mix despite ODI axe

• England hand Bethell, Hull, Mousley maiden white-ball call-ups

Trescothick will have a few days off after the second Test at Lord’s, which is scheduled to finish on Monday, before linking up with his white-ball squad ahead of the first T20I at the Utilita Bowl near Southampton, to be played on September 11. His backroom staff will be largely the same as Matthew Mott’s, with the short-term addition of England Under-19s coach Michael Yardy.He is yet to decide whether he will apply for the white-ball head coach’s role on a permanent basis. “I’m still very focused on the batting stuff with the Test team,” he told Sky Sports on Friday. “I’m going to let this play out and see what happens for this period of time, and see how much I enjoy doing the head coach’s role and then go from there really. I’m quite open to the idea of seeing what’s going to happen.”Trescothick will work alongside Jos Buttler, his old Somerset team-mate, who has been backed to continue as captain but may relinquish the wicketkeeping gloves in the T20Is. “It’s definitely something we’ll think about,” Trescothick said, “because we can try different options, give it a go for a period of time and see what reaction it has on his captaincy and on the team.”For whatever reason, there were a tough couple of World Cups that they had in the meantime and we’ve come out of those not feeling too great about our one-day cricket. But it’s still in a really good place, and Jos is going to lead that forward for a period of time at the moment – and I don’t see it changing.”

After taking the reins back in November, Ruben Amorim has injected the feel-good factor back into Manchester United – helping the side qualify for the Europa League final.

However, there’s only so much success the 40-year-old can achieve with the players who were at the club after he took over from former boss Erik ten Hag.

The attacking department is the area in need of desperate attention in the coming months, with the hierarchy needing to back the manager with funds if he is to improve the lack of goals currently plaguing his centre-forwards.

Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee are the two senior options at his disposal, but the pair have only netted a combined tally of seven goals in the Premier League after costing the Red Devils upwards of £100m.

If they are to take the next step under Amorim, a new striker is a must during the upcoming window, potentially ending the spells of either of the aforementioned talents in the process.

An update on United’s pursuit of new strikers this summer

Even though the summer window is yet to be open, United have already wasted no time in targeting new talent to strengthen the current first-team squad.

Liam Delap was once seen as the Red Devils’ main target for the centre-forward role, especially considering his £30m relegation release clause – but look set to face tough competition from Nottingham Forest in the coming months.

The 22-year-old will certainly remain on the shortlist, but potentially not at the top, with Moise Kean now the club’s main priority, according to one Spanish outlet.

The report claims that Amorim believes he is the perfect option to fit into his 3-4-2-1 system at Old Trafford, having the right profile given positioning, pace and clinical nature.

Kean, who’s netted 23 goals in all competitions this season, is said to cost a fee in the region of £42m, given the release clause in his contract at Serie A outfit Fiorentina.

Why United’s £42m target would be unplayable with Amad

Amad Diallo has been a shining light for United this campaign in what’s been a year to forget in the Premier League, often providing the goods within the final third.

The Ivorian has registered 10 goals and seven assists across all competitions, with his latest coming against Brentford after his recent three-month injury lay-off.

His underlying stats at Old Trafford have been just as impressive, with his output handing other attacking options around him the ammunition to be a success at the club.

Amad has registered 2.2 chances created per 90 this campaign, whilst also completing 2.1 dribbles – often liking to take the ball into attacking areas at any given opportunity.

Such tallies could fall perfectly into the hands of transfer target Kean, who could well turn out to be the attacking saviour the Red Devils have been crying out for over the past few months.

The Italian, who’s been labelled “sensational” by content creator Elliot Hackney, has resurrected his career in the last couple of months after flat-lining following his breakthrough at Juventus.

The 25-year-old currently sits as Serie A’s second top scorer, registering 1.6 shots on target per 90 – benefiting from Amad’s service within the final third should he move to Manchester.

Games played

30

Goals & assists

20

Shots on target

1.6

Pass accuracy

72%

Successful dribbles

1.5

Fouls won

1.8

Aerials won

57%

Touches in opposition box

4.7

He’s also completed 72% of the passes he’s attempted, whilst also completing 1.5 dribbles per 90, having the tools to return the favour to the Ivorian in the final third should he need to.

Kean’s talents don’t stop there, winning 51% of the aerials he’s contested, notching 4.7 touches in the opposition box per game – handing the manager the ‘fox in the box’ style forward he’s lacked since he joined the club.

The £42m fee touted would be an excellent deal for the club, potentially getting themselves a bargain and a player who can provide the goods for the club for many years to come.

The thought of the Italian forming a partnership with Amad is certainly an exciting one, handing the club the platform to recapture their success endured in previous years.

The new Amrabat: Amorim must axe 4/10 Man Utd man who lost the ball 15x

Manchester United booked their place in the Europa League final last night, setting up a clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

6 ByEthan Lamb May 9, 2025

The two-time Champions League winner considered retirement after heartbreak in World Cup qualifying, but will make her major tournament debut at 38

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• Secure your Women's Euro 2025 tickets for this summer's international tournament
• Location: Switzerland
• Stadiums: Various, including St. Jakob Park, Stadion Wankdorf, Stade de Genève and more
• Date: July 2 – 27
• Final: July 27, St. Jakob Park

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• Book hotels, apartments and accommodation across Switzerland for the Women's Euros
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• New kits from adidas, Nike and Puma have been released for the Women's Euro tournament
• Grab your favourite team's kit to support throughout the games
• Search for your team, including Italy, England, Germany and more
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Tickets

Women's Euro Tickets

• Secure your Women's Euro 2025 tickets for this summer's international tournament
• Location: Switzerland
• Stadiums: Various, including St. Jakob Park, Stadion Wankdorf, Stade de Genève and more
• Date: July 2 – 27
• Final: July 27, St. Jakob Park

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Accommodation

Where to stay

• Book hotels, apartments and accommodation across Switzerland for the Women's Euros
• Search for places to stay near the stadiums, across Zurich, Basel, Bern, Geneva and more
• Look for accommodation based on your dates, number of bedrooms, and budget on Booking.com

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Kits

Shop your kit

• New kits from adidas, Nike and Puma have been released for the Women's Euro tournament
• Grab your favourite team's kit to support throughout the games
• Search for your team, including Italy, England, Germany and more
• Available in sizes XS – XXL

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Tickets

Women's Euro Tickets

• Secure your Women's Euro 2025 tickets for this summer's international tournament
• Location: Switzerland
• Stadiums: Various, including St. Jakob Park, Stadion Wankdorf, Stade de Genève and more
• Date: July 2 – 27
• Final: July 27, St. Jakob Park

From

€149

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Accommodation

Where to stay

• Book hotels, apartments and accommodation across Switzerland for the Women's Euros
• Search for places to stay near the stadiums, across Zurich, Basel, Bern, Geneva and more
• Look for accommodation based on your dates, number of bedrooms, and budget on Booking.com

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Kits

Shop your kit

• New kits from adidas, Nike and Puma have been released for the Women's Euro tournament
• Grab your favourite team's kit to support throughout the games
• Search for your team, including Italy, England, Germany and more
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Football history is littered with stand-out names who, despite outstanding individual exploits and remarkable club success, went their entire careers without playing at a major international tournament. For a long time, Jess Fishlock, one of the best midfielders in the history of the NWSL – the top-flight in the United States – looked set to unwittingly add her name to that list.

Across a 19-year international career that has seen her firmly establish herself as Wales' greatest-ever women's footballer, Fishlock has been part of nine failed attempts to take the Dragons to either a European Championship or a Women's World Cup. You could forgive her if, at times, she believed it was never going to happen. But then it did.

Wales didn't certainly do it the easy way, needing extra-time to beat Slovakia and to win in Dublin to overcome Ireland over two legs, but Wales finally got over the line for what Fishlock, now 38 years old, described as "the proudest moment" of her storied career. And now, as the 2025 European Championship gets under way, comes the opportunity she and the whole country have been waiting for – and, as a little added bonus, there's a chance to throw a spanner in the works of England's title defence, too.

• Getty Images
  

  Bumps in the road

  It's been a long and arduous road for Wales to this point. Back in 2020, they were tied on points with Northern Ireland in a bid to reach the Euro 2022 play-offs, and with a vastly superior goal difference. However, the tiebreaker was head-to-head results, and because Northern Ireland scored two goals in a draw in Newport, it was they who progressed to the next round and, eventually, their first major tournament.

  There would be even crueller heartbreak just a couple of years later, in qualifying for the 2023 Women's World Cup. The Dragons needed a win in a one-legged tie against Switzerland in Zurich and they even went ahead, thanks to Rhiannon Roberts' 19th-minute goal. But their dreams would be dashed in the most dramatic fashion, when Fabienne Humm's effort in the 121st minute sent the Swiss to the tournament instead.

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• Getty Images
  

  'Can't do it anymore'

  Fishlock contemplated retirement at times through those lows, with that World Cup qualifying defeat a particularly crushing blow. "That was hard. It was really hard," she told last year. "I went home and just broke down in tears to my mum. I really stayed strong at the stadium and got home and I just broke down. I was like, 'I just can't do it anymore. I can't go through this again. I cannot go through this again'.

  "She just gave me a hug and said, 'And that's okay'. I was fully expecting her to be like, 'No, you can't stop now, you can't give up now'. But she said the complete opposite and it was exactly what I needed. I went to bed that night, I woke up and I was ready to go again."

• Getty Images
  

  'Ultimate team player'

  And Fishlock didn't come back for herself. She didn't come back because she, personally, had to make it to a major tournament in order to tick a final box in her career or something like that. She came back because, in her words, it would be a "travesty" for Wales, "with the players that we have", not to finally break through that ceiling. "[It's] not so much about me but everything that we stand for on and off the field, everything these girls have done over the years. They deserve it."

  That's telling insight into what Fishlock brings to this team off the pitch. On it, she's a classy midfielder who dictates games, brings bags of energy to the table, and can both create and score plenty. But she's also a cool head that the more inexperienced members of this Wales team can look to in big moments. After all, Fishlock has been there and done almost everything, with two Champions League titles and three NWSL Shields standing out on her long list of honours. "She is the ultimate team player," Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson believes.

• Getty Images
  

  Total transformation

  Fishlock is keen to reciprocate that praise, too, highlighting Wilkinson's role in this historic achievement for Wales. For years, the Dragons have had the talent in the squad to be capable of finally making a major tournament, and all while support within the federation has been growing impressively. But it wasn't until after Wilkinson was appointed last year that they were guided over the line.

  “Rhian’s transformed us," Fishlock told last week. "I think in the past we haven’t really had a manager that’s believed in us this much, but Rhian’s unwavering. She’s raised the bar. From minute one, she introduced a set of non-negotiable standards, wielded the hammer and established whole new expectations. It’s brought the best out in us all. It’s always been an honour and a privilege to represent this country, but she’s put us in a spot where we’re now able to compete against top teams.

  “In the past we would just agree, I guess, that maybe we couldn’t do this or we couldn’t do that, but Rhian just doesn’t accept that. I think she really, truly, does believe in us. She communicates very clearly and she’s instilled so much confidence. We knew we were good enough, but we maybe just had a block. Now, you can see us improving. We’ve raised our game. It’s just so exciting."

The Cape Town Blitz fast bowler is keeping up with his food and exercise regimen during the lockdown while dreaming of an international debut

Firdose Moonda13-Apr-2020When fast bowler Sisanda Magala was included in South Africa’s ODI squad in January this year, the call-up was conditional on him passing the fitness test. He failed the test ahead of all three ODIs.Over the course of 12 white-ball internationals, six each against England and Australia, squad updates continued to include the caveat that Magala would only be capped if he met fitness requirements, and team sheets confirmed that he did not.Having such an intensely personal battle made public every few days would have affected most people. Not Magala.”Processes were discussed behind closed doors and I knew what I needed to do,” the 29-year-old said. “I saw it as having an opportunity to learn from guys.”The processes were part of a Cricket South Africa conditioning camp that Magala attended in January with three others with question marks over their fitness – Jon-Jon Smuts, Tabraiz Shamsi and Lungi Ngidi.Smuts, who lives with diabetes, was withdrawn from the T20 leg of South Africa’s tour to India in September for fitness reasons; Ngidi spent a month injured after hurting his hamstring in the Mzansi Super League (MSL); and Shamsi needed more intense training ahead of a season where he would replace Imran Tahir as the front-line limited-overs spinner.Shamsi described the camp as an “awareness exercise and not a boot camp”, but even so, the emphasis was clear: if the four wanted to play for South Africa, they had to shape up. They each had individual guidelines, and Magala’s zoomed in on his diet.”There was a big focus on food portions, on what and when to eat, and also on recovery and sleep. I’ve cut out a lot of sugar and processed carbs. Luckily I don’t have much of a sweet tooth. It’s more about acids, so things like Coke,” he said. “I eat a lot of veggies, some meat, like chicken or fish, and drink a lot of water. As simple as it sounds, that’s a big thing.”Even under ordinary circumstances, such a strict eating plan would be difficult to follow, but it’s tougher in these unusual times, where the Covid-19 pandemic has confined millions of people to their homes.Magala and the rest of South Africa are currently in the middle of a 21-day nationwide lockdown. Outdoor exercise is forbidden and Magala, who lives in Port Elizabeth, does not have a home gym like some of his team-mates, but he’s making do.

“I’ve cut out a lot of sugar and processed carbs. And I eat a lot of veggies, some meat, like chicken or fish, and drink a lot of water”

“I’ve got bar bells, and I do body weight exercises and shuttles in the yard,” he said. “It’s not easy, but I’ve got the right mindset. It’s all up to me. It’s my responsibility to stick to it.”My goals were set in January and I am weighing myself every week. I go through a few phases of running very well some days and then not so well on others, so I am working on the consistency. But I am almost there.”When he gets there, he wants to aim for the T20 World Cup, which he says has been on his mind since last year. It’s a lofty but entirely achieveable goal for Magala, who has been steadily making his name as a death-bowling specialist.”Three years ago Colin Ingram told me he wanted me to bowl death at the Warriors. He wanted me to have ownership of the pressure, so I watched a lot of videos of Charl Langeveldt and Alfonso Thomas and tried to mimic what they do. And I am very specific in my skills, so when I do a lot of practice and bowling on my own, I try to put myself under pressure.”It paid off. He took 14 wickets in the 2018-19 One-Day Cup and 13 in 2019-20.In the most recent MSL tournament, Magala finished sixth on the bowling charts, winning games for the Cape Town Blitz by defending 20 off the last over against Durban Heat and 21 against the Tshwane Spartans.Magala also started to take a somewhat philosophical approach to this role. “When you are bowling at the back end, you can either win or lose the match. It’s your strength against the batsman’s and you have to back yourself and have confidence in your skill. It is a great opportunity to win the game and a bitter pill to swallow if you lose. I’ve probably won more games than I have lost, but the ones I have lost have been a great learning opportunity.”Magala grew up in Uitenhage, a town in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, also home to fellow fast bowler Anrich Nortje, his Cape Town Blitz team-mate. The two went to two of the area’s best known schools, Nortje to Brandwag and Magala to Muir College, where he also played rugby. When, in Grade 10, he tore ligaments in his ankle while playing rugby, Magala decided to concentrate solely on cricket.At the MSL, Magala also played alongside Dale Steyn, with whom he has “developed a great relationship”. “Just being on the same field as Dale Steyn pumps me up,” Magala said. “He also offered great advice and always told me to be calm and clever.”Steyn was also among the first to celebrate Magala’s call-up on Twitter, and Magala hopes the senior bowler will soon be celebrating his international debut as well, although he won’t be taking any diet advice from Steyn, who is notorious for his love of burgers and Coca-Cola. “Definitely not,” Magala said. “But we talk about all the other things.”Things like maybe the T20 World Cup, which Steyn is available for, and where Magala could make his first big impact. “South Africa have a very good attack with lots of variety. Everyone is different and I think I could play a role there.”I’ve already seen the intensity of international cricket is higher and I am going to be ready.”

MLS sides were believed to be leading the chase, but Rapid Vienna have surprisingly entered the mix with a competitive offer for Thomas Muller.

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Rapid Vienna approach Muller with higher salary than MLSBayern legend reportedly earns €1.7m in American proposalFree transfer possible in coming daysFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to a report from , the Austrian club have made a surprise move to sign Bayern Munich icon. The Bundesliga legend has received an approach from the Vienna-based side, who are reportedly prepared to offer a higher salary than Major League Soccer clubs, with some Austrian sources claiming Rapid could table a deal worth up to €3 million per year. Muller is said to have been offered €1.7m annually by MLS suitors.

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Muller, 35, has yet to confirm his future beyond Bayern, where he has spent his entire professional career. The attacker’s contract expires at the end of the month, and he will be available for a free transfer after that. While a switch to MLS appears more likely, Rapid’s interest adds a new twist, especially as they continue to search for a high-profile forward amid ongoing uncertainty in their pursuit of Marko Arnautovic.

DID YOU KNOW?

Muller played over 700 matches for Bayern and won 33 major trophies, including 13 Bundesliga titles and two Champions League crowns. Despite reduced minutes last season, he featured in 49 matches, contributing eight goals and eight assists.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MULLER?

Muller will likely weigh his options in the coming days. While Rapid are pushing for a sensational move, the veteran attacker may favour a switch to the United States, but nothing is confirmed apart from the fact that he made his last appearance for the German club in the Club World Cup.

It’s been coming. Liverpool have enjoyed the most incredible of campaigns, FSG hitting the jackpot with their appointment of Arne Slot, but in keeping with the yearly routine, the season has produced a bitter pill for the fanbase to swallow.

Last year, it was a tired Jurgen Klopp’s decision to step down after nearly nine illustrious years at the helm. 12 months earlier, Liverpool waved goodbye to Bobby Firmino, with the core of Anfield’s midfield all departing too.

Now, Trent Alexander-Arnold has decided to leave Liverpool at the end of his contract this summer, and while it hasn’t been set in stone, he will sign for Real Madrid on a free transfer.

Why Alexander-Arnold is leaving Liverpool

Alexander-Arnold’s Liverpool journey has been synonymous with the club’s ascension under Klopp’s wing. The German gaffer birthed Trent onto the senior stage, handing him his debut across every competition for the Reds.

He’s won it all, but the 26-year-old’s decision to leave Liverpool and the peak of their (and his) powers is something that many fans aren’t going to be able to accept.

FSG did everything in their power to keep him on the books, reportedly offered him a healthy upgrade on his £180k-per-week contract, showcased an ambitious plan led by Slot, whose tactical grasp Trent has been dazzled by.

In the end, he just wanted to leave.

We could pick at it all day but the truth is that Alexander-Arnold feels he has given two decades of his life to his football club and won the lot. He believes that this is the right time for a change, and Real Madrid usually get what they want.

Sky Sports have even suggested that playing in Los Blancos white is something of a lifelong ambition for the England international, whose sights have likely been set on a move for a few years now, in one way or another.

Sporting director Richard Hughes will take his time in working with Slot and deciding on the best route forward at right-back. For now, though, he is looking to sign another defender nice and swiftly.

Liverpool lining up new defender

The Premier League champions are gearing up for a big summer, and the perfect way to put Alexander-Arnold’s decision in the background would be to win the race for Dean Huijsen.

Bournemouth’s star centre-back has been one of the breakthrough stars of the season, thriving on the South Coast. He has a £50m release clause in his contract and is being pursued by all of England’s heaviest hitters.

Certain reports have suggested Chelsea have the edge but according to Fabrizio Romano, the race is very much on, and Liverpool are in need of a new up-and-coming defensive star.

Why Dean Huijsen could be a bigger talent than Trent

Huijsen hasn’t been in the Premier League for long, but he’s already being head-hunted by the best of the best and this is all down to his performances on the pitch.

How Juventus must regret their decision to sell the 20-year-old to Bournemouth in a £15m deal last summer, for he has featured prominently in a Cherries side chasing Europe, with journalist Henry Winter even noting that he “shackled [Alexander] Isak on ground and in the air” back in January.

Sofascore record that Huijsen has won 61% of his aerial battles in the Premier League this season, also averaging 2.7 tackles and interceptions per game, so it’s clear he’s able to produce the goods against the best of the best with consistency. One analyst has already declared that he’s going to be “world-class” in the coming years.

His latest showstopping game, a 2-1 win over Arsenal away from home, highlighted many of the qualities that have piqued the interest of so many clubs, notably scoring the equalising goal.

It was a statement display, not just the architect of the Emirates fall through his headed goal, but an all-round display that negated much of the Gunners’ attacking play.

A big-game player, dynamic as they come, Huijsen is already demonstrating an ability that could see him slot right into Liverpool’s starting line-up, fostering his talents over the coming years to eventually become an even bigger star than Alexander-Arnold.

With some suggesting that he has everything he needs to become “the ultimate modern-day centre back,” Huijsen could actually rise to an even higher level than Alexander-Arnold, should he make the move to Liverpool.

That’s not actually to detract from the Three Lions star’s skill set: Trent is a one-of-a-kind player, with a celestial range of passing that has been so important across a sustained period of success at Anfield.

But Huijsen, too, is showing himself to be a unique player. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 7% of defenders in the Premier League this season for goal contributions, the top 16% for progressive passes, the top 13% for progressive carries, the top 6% for shot-creating actions and the top 4% for blocks and clearances per 90.

It’s not difficult to see why Liverpool (and all the rest) have a vested interest in securing his services as he steps toward footballing maturity.

Surpassing Alexander-Arnold’s legacy would take quite an effort from a young Spaniard like Huijsen (born in the Netherlands), but the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have already arrived as foreigners and established themselves as heroes for the ages.

Huijsen could repeat the trick, outstripping Alexander-Arnold in doing so.

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