Tag Futebol

CA – Cricket Australia contract, R – Rookie contract

ACT

Women Angela Reakes, Katie Mack, Kayla Burton, Gabrielle Sutcliffe, Chloe Rafferty, Carly Leeson, Matilda Lugg, Olivia Porter, Rebecca Carter, Amy Yates, Zoe Cooke, Holly Ferling, Alisha Bates, Angelina Genford, Annie WikmanIn Holly Ferling (Queensland), Alisha Bates, Annie Wikman, Angelina Genford | Out Erin Osborne (retired), Madeline Penna (South Australia), Nicola Hancock, Erica Kershaw

New South Wales

Men Sean Abbott, Trent Copeland, Pat Cummins (CA), Oliver Davies, Liam Doddrell (R), Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Matthew Gilkes, Ryan Hackney, Ryan Hadley, Liam Hatcher, Josh Hazlewood (CA), Lachlan Hearne, Moises Henriques, Baxter Holt, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Nathan Lyon (CA), Blake Nikitaras (R), Jack Nisbet (R), Kurtis Patterson, Will Salzmann (R), Daniel Sams, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, Lachlan Shaw (R), Steven Smith (CA), Mitchell Starc (CA), Chris Tremain, Hunar Verma (R), David Warner (CA), Adam Zampa (CA)In Liam Doddrell, Ryan Hadley, Hayden Kerr, Blake Nikitaras, Lachlan Shaw, Will Salzmann | Out Josh Baraba, Harry Conway (SA), Peter Nevill (retired)Women Jade Allen, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner (CA), Rachael Haynes (CA), Alyssa Healy (CA), Saskia Horley, Emma Hughes, Sammy Jo-Johnson, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Claire Moore, Lauren Smith, Tahlia WilsonIn Saskia Horley | Out Rachel Trenaman (Tasmania)

Queensland

Men Usman Khawaja (CA), Marnus Labuschagne (CA), Mitchell Swepson (CA),Joe Burns, Michael Neser, Sam Heazlett, Jack Wildermuth, Matthew Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Jimmy Peirson, Xavier Bartlett, Bryce Street, James Bazley, Gurinder Sandhu, Matthew Kuhnemann, Jack Clayton, Kane Richardson, Max Bryant, Liam Guthrie, Sam Truloff, Connor Sully, Blake Edwards, Hugo Burdon (R), William Prestwidge (R), Jackson Sinfield (R), Matthew Willans (R)In Kane Richardson (SA), Liam Guthrie (WA), Hugo Burdon, Jackson Sinfield | Out Billy Stanlake (Tas), Jack Wood, Lachlan PfefferWomen Jess Jonassen (CA), Lucy Hamilton, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Mikayla Hinkley, Ellie Johnston, Ruth Johnston, Charli Knott, Caitlin Mair, Grace Parsons, Georgia Prestwidge, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Sippel, Georgia Voll

South Australia

Men Wes Agar, Jordan Buckingham, Kyle Brazell (R), Aiden Cahill (R), Alex Carey (CA), Bailey Capel (R), Jake Carder, Harry Conway, Brendan Doggett, Daniel Drew, David Grant, Travis Head (CA), Isaac Higgins (R), Henry Hunt, Spencer Johnson, Thomas Kelly, Ryan King (R), Jake Lehmann, Nathan McAndrew, Nathan McSweeney, Ben Manenti, Harry Mathias (R), Harry Nielsen, Lloyd Pope, Liam Scott, Henry Thornton, Jake Weatherald, Nick WinterIn Harry Conway (NSW), Spencer Johnson, Thomas Kelly, Ben Manenti, Henry Thornton | Out Ryan Gibson, Corey Kelly, Sam Kerber, Joe Mennie, Kane Richardson (Queensland), Daniel Worrall (Surrey).Women Jemma Barsby, Sam Betts, Darcie Brown (CA), Emma de Broughe, Josie Dooley, Ellie Falconer, Paris Hall, Brooke Harris, Tahlia McGrath (CA), Annie O’Neil, Bridget Patterson, Madeline Penna, Kate Peterson, Megan Schutt (CA), Courtney Webb, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Ella WilsonIn Madeline Penna, Ella Wilson, Paris Hall | Out Tegan McPharlin (retired), Alex Price, Eliza Doddridge

Tasmania

Men Tom Andrews, Gabe Bell, Jackson Bird, Iain Carlisle, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis, Brad Hope, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Lawrence Neil-Smith, Sam Rainbird, Peter Siddle, Jordan Silk, Billy Stanlake, Matthew Wade, Charlie Wakim, Tim Ward, Beau Webster, Mac Wright, Nick Davis (R), Jarrod Freeman (R), Mitch Owen (R), Nivethan Radhakrishnan (R)In Nick Davis, Billy Stanlake | Out Tim PaineWomen Nicola Carey (CA), Julia Cavanough, Maisy Gibson, Heather Graham, Emma Manix-Geeves, Sasha Moloney, Clare Scott, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Amy Smith, Naomi Stalenberg, Molly Strano, Emma Thompson, Rachel Trenaman, Elyse Villani, Callie WilsonIn Rachel Trenaman (New South Wales), Clare Scott, Callie Wilson, Julia Cavanough | Out Corinne Hall (retired), Chloe Abel, Rachel Priest, Emily Smith, Belinda Vakarewa.

Victoria

Men Peter Handscomb, Scott Boland (CA), Travis Dean, Zak Evans, Aaron Finch (CA), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Jon Holland, Nic Maddinson, Cameron McClure, Glenn Maxwell (CA), Jono Merlo, Todd Murphy, Tom O’Connell, Wil Parker, James Pattinson, Mitchell Perry, Will Pucovski, Matt Short, Will Sutherland, Ashley Chandrasinghe (R), Brody Couch (R), Sam Elliott (R), Campbell Kellaway (R), Fergus O’Neill (R)In Ashley Chandrasinghe, Campbell Kellaway | Out Xavier Crone, Seb Gotch (retired), James Seymour, Tom JacksonWomen Tiana Atkinson, Sam Bates, Makinley Blows, Lucy Cripps, Sophie Day, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Ella Hayward, Olivia Henry, Meg Lanning (CA), Rhys McKenna, Sophie Molineux, Rhiann O’Donnell, Ellyse Perry (CA), Sophie Reid, Annabel Sutherland (CA), Tayla Vlaeminck (CA), Georgia Wareham (CA)In Olivia Henry, Sophie Reid | Out Anna Lanning, Lara Shannon, Amy Vine

Western Australia

Men Ashton Agar (CA), Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Hilton Cartwright, Cooper Connolly (R), Sam Fanning, Cameron Gannon, Jayden Goodwin (R), Cameron Green (CA), Sam Greer (R), Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis (CA), Bryce Jackson, Matthew Kelly, Hamish Mckenzie (R), Mitchell Marsh (CA), Shaun Marsh, David Moody, Lance Morris, Joel Paris, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, Corey Rocchiccioli, D’Arcy Short, Charlie Stobo, Marcus Stoinis (CA), Ashton Turner, Sam Whiteman, Teague Wyllie.In Sam Fanning, Bryce Jackson, Sam Greer, Hamish Mckenzie, Teague Wyllie | Out Liam Guthrie (Queensland)Women Charis Bekker, Zoe Britcliffe, Mathilda Carmichael, Piepa Cleary, Sheldyn Cooper, Maddy Darke, Ashley Day, Amy Edgar, Lisa Griffith, Alana King (CA), Lilly Mills, Beth Mooney (CA), Taneale Peschel, Chloe Piparo, Poppy Stockwell, Georgia WyllieIn Beth Mooney (Queensland), Lilly Mills (Queensland), Piepa Cleary

Bangladesh seamer reduced hosts to 9 for 3, with John Campbell and Jermaine Blackwood easing the tension out

Associated Press19-Jun-2022Stumps West Indies 265 (Brathwaite 94, Blackwood 63, Mehidy 4-65) and 49 for 3 (Campbell 28*, Blackwood 17*, Khaled 3-14) need another 35 runs to beat Bangladesh 103 and 245 (Nurul 64, Roach 5-53, Joseph 3-55)Bangladesh went from looking like losing by an innings to beating West Indies on a compelling day three of the first test on Saturday. A brilliant rearguard stand by captain Shakib Al Hasan and Nurul Hasan saved Bangladesh from an innings defeat.But when they were all out for 245, they left West Indies with only 84 to win with more than two days left at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.The target suddenly looked like 840, though, when Bangladesh medium-pacer Khaled Ahmed took three wickets in 11 balls and reduced West Indies to 9 for 3 in the fourth over of the chase.Opener John Campbell and Jermaine Blackwood eased the tension by holding out to stumps and leading West Indies to 49 for 3. The team should knock off the remaining 35 runs on Sunday morning in the series opener.Khaled gave West Indies a good scare. He had captain Kraigg Brathwaite caught down the leg side for 1 from his first delivery, and Raymon Reifer gloving his fifth on 2. Nkrumah Bonner hadn’t scored when his off stump was bowled by Khaled.Campbell, 28 not out, and Blackwood, 17 not out, combined for 40 to get the home side back on track.In the morning, West Indies seemed like they were going to wrap up the match by mid-afternoon. Bangladesh were reeling at 109 for 6 in the second innings and still trailing West Indies by 53 runs when Shakib and Nurul came together in the morning.Khaled Ahmed took three wickets in 11 balls•AFP/Getty Images

But showing the patience most of their team-mates didn’t on a good batting track, they rubbed out the first-innings deficit through a wicketless middle session, and pushed Bangladesh 70 runs ahead when they were broken up soon after tea.With the new ball, West Indies pace bowler Kemar Roach made Shakib drive straight to a man at short extra cover. Shakib was out for 63, his third straight Test half-century and second of the match. His demise ended a 123-run stand with Nurul. They seemed to match each other run for run, as Nurul was on 60 at the time. He was out for 64 after 147 balls, also bagged by Roach.Bangladesh started the day on 50 for 2, and got into deeper trouble with poor shots to regulation deliveries.Najmul Hossain Shanto went from 8 overnight to guiding Kyle Mayers to the slips on 17, then Mominul Haque was leg-before to Mayers and not saved by a review. Mominul’s score of 4 was his ninth straight Test score in single figures, and his tenth of 11 this year.Litton Das was caught by Mayers in the slips, and Mahmudul Hasan Joy’s stoic 42 that started late on Friday ended four overs from lunch when he was caught behind off Roach, going for a wide ball he should have left alone. He had endured 153 balls.Shakib and Nurul dug in and West Indies wasted their last two reviews after lunch trying to get them out. Ultimately, they had to wait for the new ball, and Roach delivered.Roach conceded the only six of the Bangladesh second innings when Mustafizur Rahman blasted him over the third-man boundary, but Roach had the last say by ending the innings by bowling Ebadot Hossain. That gave Roach his tenth test five-for – 5-53 – and tied him with Michael Holding on the West Indies wicket-taking list: 249, and sixth place.Alzarri Joseph took 3 for 55 and Mayers 2 for 30.

Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey doesn’t subscribe to the theory that a small group of players and staff were key to Justin Langer’s departure as head coach while Usman Khawaja believes Test captain Pat Cummins or limited-overs captain Aaron Finch needs to answer some questions to end the speculation.The current Australian players and staff have been conspicuous in their collective silence in the days following Langer’s resignation on Saturday morning.Related

• Cummins: 'Don't think Langer should be surprised' with players asking for coaching change

• Agar named as third spinner in Australia squad to tour Pak

• Langer apologises for being 'too intense' in resignation letter

• Langer resigns as Australia coach after rejecting short-term extension

Alex Carey and Khawaja were the first players to do any media appearances, with both men speaking in the lead-up to the restart of the Sheffield Shield season on Friday, while Bailey spoke following the announcement of Australia’s 18-man Test squad to tour Pakistan.Bailey said he was consulted by Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley and head of national teams Ben Oliver about Langer’s position but he did not believe the accusations that a “faceless few” individuals had been key to the coach not getting a long-term contract were accurate.”I was consulted,” Bailey said. “I’m led to believe that it was a very, very broad consultation. It went wide. Again, I’ve been consulted back since the middle of last year,” Bailey said.”I don’t subscribe to the fact that there was individuals that were key to making the decision.”Bailey also thought Langer’s apology in his letter of resignation was unnecessary.”In JL’s letter that he apologised for being too intense, I mean, I don’t think that’s something he had to apologise for,” Bailey said. “One if he felt that way, but two, I don’t think he was too intense.”A number of ex-Australia players, many of them Langer’s former teammates, have rebuked the current playing group in the media following the coach’s resignation. Bailey encouraged many of them to reach out if they had any concerns about the inner workings of the Australian team.”It’s hard as a past player to keep your finger completely on the pulse of what’s going on within the team,” Bailey said. “A lot of their opinions can be based on hearsay and second and third-hand information. So I would always encourage those players to reach out and get a good understanding of what’s happening.”Khawaja said he wasn’t consulted on the coach’s contract and noted he had not been around the team during the India Test series last summer and the West Indies and Bangladesh limited-overs tours last winter where issues between Langer and the players had bubbled to the surface. But he urged Cummins and Finch to address the issue.”I think at some stage one of the captains, probably Finchy or Patty will probably have to stand up and answer some questions just to get rid of all the speculation that’s going around and to just put an end to it all,” Khawaja said.Both Khawaja and Bailey said they had contacted Langer since his resignation. Both praised the departed coach for bringing humility back to Australia’s men’s cricket team.”One thing that I do love JL for, what I feel he bought back into Australia was humility,” Khawaja said. “I felt like he brought humility back in the Australian cricket team. You talk about legacy, for me, that’s one thing that he’s left behind. Because I know what we were playing like before he was coach, and I know what we were playing like after he became coach. So I haven’t said that to him yet. So I’m saying it to you guys.”Bailey added a similar sentiment recalling Langer’s first day on the job.”Funnily enough through a bit of a quirk of fate, and I can’t remember why it was, but I was actually present in Brisbane the day that JL first spoke to the Australian group when he took on the role,” Bailey said.”I sort of feel like I was there for day one of the journey despite coming on in this role halfway through. But I vividly remember his two points that day. He wanted the team to earn respect with Australians and he wanted to develop great cricketers and great people. And I think he has absolutely done that. I think the team have done that. JL has done that. The staff around the team have done that.”

Since Unai Emery took over at Aston Villa, they have quickly implemented a higher line in defence, often described as an “offside trap”. The unity of the backline, communication for timing, and recovery pace are all important to successfully implement this principle effectively.

Last season, Villa conceded 61 goals in the Premier League, 15 more than they conceded in the 2022/23 season, which started under the management of Steven Gerrard, before being taken over by Emery.

One of Villa's most important defenders was new signing Pau Torres, who made 39 appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals, providing one assist, and contributing to ten clean sheets in his 3,211 minutes played.

That said, he's been joined in the backline by a player whose stock is now rising significantly, particularly after an impressive cameo at Euro 2024.

How much Villa signed Ezri Konsa for

Ezri Konsa was signed for £12m from Brentford back in 2019, with Dean Smith considering the 21-year-old at the time a key target due to his "high potential".

Konsa made 47 appearances for Brentford, scoring one goal and contributing to 12 clean sheets in his 4,173 minutes played.

Smith happened to be in charge at Brentford during the 2018/19 season, before being sacked in October, which saw the ever-impressive Thomas Frank take charge. However, this short time working with Konsa was enough to convince him of his talent, bringing him to Villa a year later and subsequently hailing him as a "a Rolls-Royce of a player".

Since joining Villa, Konsa has gone from strength to strength, making 191 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring seven goals and providing two assists while playing in a few different positions, chiefly at centre-back and right-back.

Ezri Konsa's transfer value in 2024

When joining the club back in 2019, Transfermarkt only valued Konsa at a measly £3m, despite being signed for a £12m fee at only 21 years of age.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

191 Aston Villa appearances later, plus breaking into the England squad, competing at the Euros, and achieving eight caps so far for his country, Konsa's value has risen significantly according to Football Transfers, now valued at £33m.

Passes Attempted

63.9

66.4

68.6

Pass Completion %

91.9%

87.4%

89.3%

Progressive Carries

1.10

1.60

0.19

Progressive Passes

3.97

4.85

2.98

Passes into Final Third

4.02

5.43

3.84

Passes into Pen Area

0.39

0.37

0.23

Tackles

1.46

1.01

1.24

Interceptions

0.70

0.50

0.48

Aerials Won

0.94

0.89

1.20

Compared to Villa's other central defenders, Konsa ranks best for defensive actions per 90, averaging 1.46 tackles compared to the 1.01 per 90 of Torres, and the 1.24 per 90 of Carlos. He also averages 0.70 interceptions per 90, more than both of his main competitors for a starting berth.

Konsa also proves to be the most secure on the ball, with the highest pass completion of the trio. However, Torres is the more progressive of the three, averaging 4.85 progressive passes per 90, and 5.43 passes into the final third on average.

Carlos only betters Torres and Konsa in one of the metrics analysed, and that is aerials won, winning 1.20 per 90, compared to the 0.94 of Konsa, and 0.89 of Torres.

As Konsa continues to go from strength to strength, it is obvious why his value continues to peak, especially since making the England squad, and competing in European football with Villa, further showcasing his qualties on and off the ball.

Aston Villa's "serious talent" is now worth 111% more since Emery took over

He is one of their most exciting talents

ByJoe Nuttall Sep 12, 2024

da bet sport： It’s been a fairly tepid start to the season for Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou, who must also brace himself for the possibility of superstar Spurs players considering a 2025 exit if things don’t improve.

Spurs escape Coventry with dramatic late 2-1 win

da betway： Postecoglou was very close to what would have been a damning result on Wednesday evening, and just days after the Lilywhites succumbed to a 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal in the North London derby.

Related Tottenham could make £75k-per-week ace their future captain over Son

The South Korea star could leave in the next two years as things stand.

Posts 2 ByEmilio Galantini Sep 19, 2024

Championship side Coventry City seriously threatened to end the prospect of an EFL Cup run right at the very start of the competition, with Brandon Thomas-Asante firing the home side in front just past the hour mark.

It was an uninspiring display from Postecoglou’s side, who were rescued by two last-gasp strikes from substitutes Djed Spence and winger Brennan Johnson. Spence nearly joined Genoa in the summer, but the previously out-of-favour right back helped to spare Postecoglou’s blushes alongside Johnson, who was also subject to online abuse in the build-up to this encounter.

Tottenham’s top goalscorers in all competitions – 2023/2024

Player

Goals scored

Son Heung min

17

Richarlison

12

Dejan Kulusevski

8

Brennan Johnson

5

Cristian Romero

5

James Maddison

4

Despite their underwhelming start to the 2024/2025 campaign, Postecoglou has told his Spurs squad to keep calm and maintain their performance level in a behind-the-scenes message.

Following the clash at Coventry, Postecoglou actually defended his Tottenham players in a post-match press conference, insisting that the team showed spirit and character against a tough Sky Blues side.

“Yeah, I don’t know, flat performance is a bit harsh. I thought I was a typical cup game,” said Postecoglou after Spurs’ 2-1 win at Coventry.

“I thought Coventry were really good. They put some real energy into the game, and we couldn’t really get a grip on it. So we had to hang in there. We had to work really, really hard just to stay in the game and obviously going a goal behind makes it even more challenging. But like you said at the end there we showed some real spirit and character, which is probably what’s been missing in the first four games.

Postecoglou has also been adamant that he always wins silverware in his second season, and supporters will be hoping that is indeed the case, otherwise, some of their most crucial players could be tempted by opportunities elsewhere.

Star defender Cristian Romero may be one of them, as the Argentine World Cup winner continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid.

Cristian Romero refuses to rule out Real Madrid move

As per Football Insider and journalist Pete O’Rourke, Romero is refusing to rule out a move to Real Madrid behind the scenes, as he is “desperate” to compete at the highest level possible and win trophies.

The Galacticos are targeting a blockbuster centre-back signing, and while Spurs are keen to tie Romero down with a new contract, it is believed a future move to the Bernabeu is still a real possibility, with the player opening the door to a potential exit.

The 26-year-old, who’s impressed since joining Tottenham for around £42 million from Atalanta in the summer of 2021, won’t be leaving on the cheap. Club insider Paul O’Keefe, speaking to The Last Word On Spurs earlier this year, said that Levy is ready to demand £150 million for Romero.

It is unclear whether Real president Florentino Perez would be willing to reach that figure, but the north Londoners are ready to dig their heels in.

MatériaMais Notícias

da bwin： A quarta-feira foi agitada no Athletico. Mario Celso Petraglia, presidente do clube, apareceu e revelou à Rádio Transamérica que o volante Fernandinho vai atuar pelo Furacão.Segundo o dirigente, o meio-campista tem um acordo verbal com o clube brasileiro para chegar ao término do seu contrato com o Manchester City.

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da marjack bet： – VEJA A TABELA DA SÉRIE A DO BRASILEIRÃO

Ainda de acordo com Petraglia, Fernandinho acertou com o Athletico e, renovou por mais um ano com o clube inglês.

– Se ele vier para o Brasil, vai jogar no Athletico Paranaense. Ele já deu a palavra dele: “Presidente, eu não jogo em nenhum clube do mundo. Quando sair do Manchester, vou para o Athletico – afirmou Petraglia.

While the contest has been much more balanced in recent years, Australia’s extraordinary dominance between 1993 and 2006 had much to do with the presence of Shane Warne

Madhusudhan Ramakrishnan05-Nov-2012In recent years, Australia-South Africa Tests have been the most enthralling contests with the teams splitting the last eight matches 4-4. Perhaps the best feature of the match-up is the relatively low percentage of draws (15.62% since 1993). With both countries producing result-oriented pitches and the teams playing aggressive cricket, a stalemate has been virtually out of question. In the last 20 Test matches played between the teams since the start of 2000, only one match has been drawn. Taking advantage of the transition Australia were going through in 2008, South Africa won their first series against Australia 2-1 with victories in Perth and Melbourne. Australia, however, hit right back winning the return series in South Africa 2-1. The previous series between the two teams (in 2011), which was restricted to just two Tests, ended 1-1 with Australia chasing a record 310 in Johannesburg after their inexplicable collapse in the first Test in Cape Town.Australia well ahead overall
South Africa’s recent display in England has seen them rise to the top of the Test rankings once again. Remarkably, their last series defeat outside home came in 2006. However, they have failed to dominate Australia similarly despite Australia’s form dropping considerably in the last four years. While the teams are locked 4-4 in their last three series, Australia have held the whip in home and away series between 1993 and 2006. The teams drew their first two series 1-1 with South Africa sneaking a stunning five-run win in Sydney (1994) defending a target of 117. Australia followed up an outstanding performance in South Africa (1997), where they went on to win the series 2-1, with a 1-0 win at home later in the year. The highlights of the series in South Africa included the record 385-run stand between Greg Blewett (214) and Steve Waugh (160) in Johannesburg and Mark Waugh’s brilliant 116 that enabled Australia chase down a tough target of 270 in Port Elizabeth. Between then and 2006, it was one-way traffic with Australia bossing each of the four subsequent series.In 2001-02, Steve Waugh’s team triumphed 3-0 at home and 2-1 in South Africa. The series in South Africa was dominated by Adam Gilchrist who scored 473 runs in the three Tests including 204 and 138 in the first two Tests. Ricky Ponting was in top form in the 2005 series in Australia as he led the team to a 2-0 win with two centuries in his 100th Test in Sydney as Australia overhauled the 287-run target with ease. The world-beating Australian outfit followed this up with a 3-0 whitewash in South Africa. Australia’s 10-1 record in the period 2000-2006 is comparable to their dominant run against South Africa in the years before the Second World War when they won 18 and lost just one of 24 matches. South Africa, however, proved to be a far tougher unit in the 1950s and 1960s winning 10 and losing 11 matches. South Africa’s finest moment came in their final series before the ban (in 1969-70) when Ali Bacher led a star-studded team to a 4-0 whitewash of Bill Lawry’s Australian team. Overall though, Australia are well ahead on the head-to-head front and boast a win-loss ratio of 2.52 (48 wins and 19 losses). Although the draw percentage across the 85 Tests is low (21.17%), it is still higher than the corresponding number since South Africa’s readmission (15.62%).

The Warne factor
Both Australia and South Africa have traditionally fielded top-quality pace attacks and the stats prove the same. South Africa’s bowlers have picked up more wickets in Australia (181) but have been far more expensive averaging 37.04 compared to Australia’s 31.66. In South Africa too, Australia’s pace bowlers have done better picking up 195 wickets at 28.78 while South Africa’s fast bowlers have managed 221 wickets at 33.04. South Africa’s pace bowlers have picked up more five-fors in Australia but have been upstaged in this regard in home Tests. The biggest difference between the two teams in the period since South Africa’s return has been the presence of Shane Warne in the Australian team. Warne, the most successful bowler against South Africa, with 130 wickets dominated the contests picking up seven five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket match hauls. He was equally prolific in home and away Tests though five of his seven five-fors came in Australia. South Africa’s biggest problem over the years has been the lack of a match-winning spinner. The gulf in the quality of spinners is reflected clearly in the bowling stats. While Australia average 31.18 and 26.13 in Australia and South Africa respectively, the corresponding averages are 48.92 and 41.00 for South Africa. While Australian spinners have contributed nearly 36% of the wickets (only wickets taken by pace and spin bowlers), the South African spinners are way behind contributing just 17.28% of the total wickets.

Australia’s dominance near total
Since South Africa’s readmission, the two teams have played each other in 11 series with Australia hosting five and South Africa six. Australia have by far been the better team winning seven of the 11 series, drawing three and losing just one (in 2008-09). In the 1990s, the teams were more evenly matched with Australia managing two series wins to go with series draws home and away (in 1994). Australia’s dominance started with their away series win in 1997 (2-1) when they won the first two Tests by an innings and two wickets respectively. Six of the next seven series (2001-2011) have proved to be decisive with the only draw coming in the last series played in 2011. Australia won four successive series between 2001 and 2006 by margins of 3-0, 2-1, 2-0 and 3-1 before their run was brought to a halt in the 2008-09 series in Australia. The average difference (difference between batting and bowling averages) is a clear reflector of the grip Australia have had. Australia have an overall average difference of 6.86 (7.80 in home Tests and 6.10 in away Tests). The lower average differences for Australia (home 5.89 and away 4.70) in the 1990s point to closer contests in the decade. However, since 2000, when Australia lead the head-to-head tally 14-5, the corresponding numbers (9.00 and 6.81) are far higher.

Australia, who hold a 19-8 advantage in Tests played since South Africa’s readmission, have an even distribution of wins batting first (nine) and second (ten). South Africa’s story, however, is vastly different. They have won six Tests batting first but just two when they have had to bowl first. When these stats are analysed deeper, they reveal some interesting results. Australia have lost twice at home batting first with both the defeats coming in the 2008-09 series. They have an even win-loss record (4-4) when they have batted first in South Africa. South Africa, on the other hand, have won a Test each in Australia and South Africa batting first. However, they have suffered seven of their ten defeats (batting first) in home Tests. Australia have achieved wins by a margin of 150 or more runs on five occasions (three at home and two away) and triumphed by an innings three times including the second-biggest win in terms of runs (innings and 360-runs) in Johannesburg in 2002. South Africa beat Australia by an innings for the first time in the home series in 2009 after the visitors had taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Australia-South Africa matches has been the high number of 250-plus chases. Australia have done so five times overall (four in away Tests) and chased 300-plus targets on two occasions in Cape Town (2002) and Johannesburg (2011). South Africa, who successfully chased 335 in the third Test in Durban in 2002, won the first Test of the 2008-09 series in Perth by chasing a record 414.

Middle-order batting boosts Australia
Ponting, one of only three batsmen to score over 2000 runs against South Africa, has eight centuries in 23 Tests against them. He and Matthew Hayden aggregated over 1000 runs at 87.38 with four century stands in matches against South Africa. The Hayden-Justin Langer pair has also been among the most successful with 1030 runs at 57.22 (three century stands). For South Africa, the AB de Villiers-Jacques Kallis pair has been the most prolific averaging 95.71 with four century stands. Australia have comfortably outperformed South Africa in terms of the first and second-wicket partnership stats and extend the dominance to the middle-order stands too. For the third and fourth wickets, Australia average 39.75 and 44.69 while the corresponding numbers for South Africa are 35.34 and 41.10 respectively. The average third-wicket stand for both teams in Australia has not been high with South Africa in particular struggling (average of 26.14). South Africa’s woes against Warne are reflected in the middle/lower-order partnership stats. While Australia average 43.71 and 35.94 for the fifth and sixth wickets, South Africa have failed to stitch together too many useful partnerships and have corresponding averages of just 28.48 and 22.61. On more than one occasion, Australia have wriggled out of a hole with the help of some gritty lower-order stands. Against South Africa in the 2005 Boxing Day Test, Michael Hussey and Glenn McGrath added a crucial 107 for the last wicket to rescue Australia from a score of 248/9 and paved the way for Australia’s 184-run win. Twice in Johannesburg (2006 and 2011), Australia’s lower-order shared vital partnerships and enabled the visitors to chase down targets of 292 and 310.

Surprisingly, this is the first time that Australia and South Africa will face off in a Test in Brisbane. The teams have played five Tests each in Melbourne and Sydney with Australia holding a 2-1 and 4-1 record at the venues. Along with Sydney, Johannesburg and Cape Town have been venues that have yielded results in every match. Adelaide, the venue for the second Test, has witnessed the highest batting average in the first innings (52.77) in Australia-South Africa matches. However, as has usually been the case with the venue, the average in the subsequent three innings drops remarkably. In the previous Test between the two teams in Cape Town, South Africa and Australia were bowled out for 96 and 47 before the hosts comfortably chased down the 235-run target. While the average in the first innings at the venue is just 25.96, the fourth-innings average is a high 63.08. Batting has also eased up in the final innings in Durban Tests (average 41.95) as compared to the first three innings. The first, second and fourth innings in Melbourne and Sydney have been more or less similar. However, while the third-innings average drops to 26.06 in Melbourne, it is a much higher 48.73 at the SCG. Pace bowlers have dominated the wickets tally at all venues picking up more than 100 wickets in Johannesburg, Melbourne and Cape Town. Spinners have played a major role in Sydney, where they have picked up nearly 40% of the wickets (bowler wickets only).

da spicy bet： Newcastle United are said to be readying an offer to sign a £165,000-per-week forward who has previously scored a hat-trick at St James’ Park, according to a recent report.

da heads bet： The Magpies have had a rather quiet transfer window so far, but that didn’t stop the club from getting off to a good start in the Premier League opening weekend. Eddie Howe’s team secured a 1-0 win at home to Southampton, despite spending the majority of the game down to 10 men.

There isn’t much left in this summer transfer window, and while Newcastle have had to remain patient due to the financial fair play rules, there could still be movement from the club in the coming week.

Related He's like De Ligt: Newcastle target move for £26m Guehi alternative

Eddie Howe is desperate to bolster his defence during the current transfer window

Posts ByRoss Kilvington Aug 20, 2024 Newcastle United transfer news

So far in this transfer window, Newcastle have added to their squad by signing five new players over the course of the summer. However, two of those additions have been goalkeepers, as Howe was keen on strengthening that department. Another arrival was defender Lewis Hall, who was already at the club last season on loan from fellow top-flight side Chelsea.

Other purchases have seen them sign defender Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer after he left AFC Bournemouth, and most recently, they have signed striker William Osula from Sheffield United.

But the club is still continuing to look in the market, as Newcastle have seen four bids rejected now for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi. The centre-back had a very impressive summer for England in Euro 2024, and since his return, he has been the subject of interest from the Magpies.

Newcastle United's summer signings

Signed from

Lewis Hall

Chelsea

Odysseas Vlachodimos

Nottingham Forest

William Osula

Sheffield United

Lloyd Kelly

Bournemouth

John Ruddy

Birmingham City

The club made a fourth bid for the centre-back last week, which is said to have been in the region of £65 million, and that bid has reportedly been rejected by Palace once again. Negotiations are said to be continuing, as Howe has made Guehi his number one target to improve his defensive options.

As well as chasing a deal for Guehi, reports emerged last week that Newcastle could make a move to sign Juventus forward Federico Chiesa. It was reported that the Premier League side could land the attacker if funds become available late in this transfer window.

It now appears as though there is a new forward on the radar of Newcastle and Howe.

Newcastle United are readying attractive offer to sign Ferran Torres

According to Football Insider, Newcastle are readying an “attractive offer” to sign forward Ferran Torres from Barcelona. Torres has previous experience in England, as the winger spent a season and a half with Manchester City, scoring a hat-trick at St James' Park in 2021, before returning to Spain and joining Barca.

Torres, on £165,000-a-week, has struggled since returning to Spain, as he’s been in and out of the side, but did get off to a good start this season, as he started the club’s opening league game.

Now, according to a report relayed in Spain, Newcastle’s sporting director Paul Mitchell is looking to sign a winger amid uncertainty around the future of Miguel Almiron. Torres has emerged as their top target, and a bid is said to arrive in the coming days.

Torres’ price tag is around £25.5 million, a figure that the Magpies are unlikely to have any problem paying. However, the forward is said to be keen on staying at Barcelona this summer, despite interest from England.

Arsenal are now eyeing a move for a £100 million player who Premier League rivals Man United have made an offer to sign.

Edu and Arteta targeting new midfielder for Arsenal this summer

After Mohamed Elneny's departure from London Colney and amid the uncertainty surrounding midfielder Thomas Partey, it is believed that Arsenal could bring in another midfielder this summer.

24-year-old now reaches agreement to leave Arsenal for La Liga giants

The Spaniards are now looking to shake hands on a deal with Edu.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 28, 2024

Partey is attracting serious interest from Saudi Arabia, and with just 12 months remaining on his contract, sporting director Edu and manager Mikel Arteta could give the green light for the 31-year-old to depart north London.

In terms of the Ghanaian's possible replacement, Arsenal have been targeting Everton midfielder Amadou Onana among other options, according to reports. Whoever potentially comes in would also be an alternative/partner for star engine room man Declan Rice.

Benfica starlet Joao Neves would be quite the coup in this regard, with the Portugal international representing his nation at Euro 2024 after a stellar campaign.

Arsenal eyeing move for Neves with Man United bid already placed

Journalist Duncan Castles, speaking on The Transfers Podcast, says Arsenal are eyeing a move for Neves despite United already having placed a bid.

“The Transfers Podcast understands that in addition to interest from the Premier League – Manchester United have already made an offer – we’ve reported on that several weeks ago and Arsenal also have interest in him,” Castles said.

“PSG have also expressed their interest in signing Joao Neves and placing him in a new midfield alongside fellow Portuguese midfielder, Vitinha. PSG are looking for a new midfielder and want a special type of midfielder. The problem of course is whether you can get him out of Benfica. He has a €120m release clause in his contract and the word from Portugal is it will take at least €100m to sign him.

“My understanding is PSG don’t want to go that far. Neves recently rejected a new contract which would have doubled his salary.”

The very highly-rated teenage midfielder made an impressive 55 appearances for Benfica in all competitions last season, scoring three goals and registering two assists. Neves was near-undroppable for Benfica boss Roger Schmidt, with the 19-year-old's former trainer Luis Castro telling O Jogo that he's a "complete" and "very intelligent" player already.

"[He can] play in any championship in the world. [He’s] a complete and very intelligent player," said Castro (via Sport Witness).

"The Premier League is the best league in the world, and not only would he be able to adapt, but he would also play and shine.

"Knowing João, I think he is not worried about the next step but about the next game. He had good training at Benfica, but at family level, he also had a lot of support. He is very focused. I believe that if and when he takes the leap he will be prepared."

“I still keep in touch with him and will continue to do that during this World Cup,” says Miller

Firdose Moonda20-Oct-2021

Most professional sportspeople consider themselves only as good as their most recent game, but Hashim Amla has taught David Miller to look at that in a slightly different way.”The famous old saying is that you are only as good as your last game, but Hashim always said to me [you’re only as good as] your next game,” Miller said.Essentially, that wisdom gives Miller and South Africa the opportunity to believe there’s always another chance to change their major tournament record, which has seen them go without a trophy since 1998. “It’s about resetting the clock and the mind, and trying to control and really be in the present,” Miller said.Close your eyes and imagine Amla saying those words. You can, right? That’s because if there was one South African who never seemed to carry any baggage, it was Amla.Though he is not part of this squad, Amla has been involved in every South African World Cup squad for the last decade – the 2011, 2015 and 2019 fifty-over tournaments and 2012, 2014 and 2016 T20 World Cups – and his influence looms large over the current crop, especially Miller.”I had the privilege to play with him for many, many years and I suppose what I have learnt from him is to not let failure get you down,” Miller said. “We are striving for consistency in performance and, off the field, trying to be a consistent person as well. That’s what I have really enjoyed about Hashim and his influence, being nice and calm, being a pillar of strength; the silent assassin. He was about getting the job done but more so, being nice and consistent as a person. It has been a good journey with him and I still keep in touch with him and will continue to do that during this World Cup for any advice.”David Miller is the most-capped T20I player for South Africa•Sportsfile via Getty Images

While Amla can’t tell South Africa how to win the tournament, he can offer plenty on the batting front, especially as he is still in good touch himself. He was the sixth-highest run scorer in the County Championship this year and has significant experience in the UAE. Amla played three Tests, eight ODIs and three T20Is here between 2010 and 2013. In those, he has averaged 78.40, 50.00 and 30.50 respectively.Miller was also part of the 2013 ODI squad that played in the UAE, and hopes he can reflect on that and the knowledge he has gained during the last two seasons of the IPL. “In terms of leadership, it’s really nice to be a part of the group and share my experiences,” he said. “I feel like we [some of the senior members of the squad] have got a lot to add off the field – what we’ve learnt in the IPLs, in the previous IPLs and when we played here in Dubai for South Africa against Pakistan. Leadership is something we are taking on more and more, and hopefully, it all plays itself out in results.”For all Miller’s behind-the-scenes work, he knows he also has to put in a big effort with the bat. He is South Africa’s most-capped men’s T20I player, with 90 matches to his name, and has been part of T20 World Cups since 2010. His role has always been that of a big-hitting finisher and he may find himself with an opportunity to contribute more than just the death-over runs in this competition. South Africa’s top-heavy squad is laden with four opening batters, three of whom are likely to play, and though Rassie van der Dussen is pencilled in at No.4, if the start is solid enough, Miller could find himself promoted to take care of the middle overs, which he has identified as crucial.”There have been really good starts [in these conditions] and it’s really important that teams control the middle phase – the middle overs. It’s about extending that and controlling that.”He also downplayed suggestions that South Africa’s batting line-up may be too short, with only six specialist batters in most of their XI and a tail that starts at No. 8. “We’ve got a strong enough batting unit. There might be a game or two where we need our bowlers to pull through with the bat but ultimately you want to be scoring the bulk of your runs from the top six. If we don’t do that, we don’t deserve to win games. There’s a sense of responsibility from the batting side of things.”