NZ coach Walter: Kane Williamson 'deserves' time to communicate availability

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The New Zealand coach is content to work out flexible agreements with casual contract players

Andrew McGlashan06-Oct-2025Kane Williamson’s availability for New Zealand’s home summer will take a little longer to lock in. However, head coach Rob Walter is content to give a player of his standing the extra time.Williamson, who is one of the group of players to hold a casual contract with NZC, made himself unavailable for the three-match T20I series against Australia, having previously missed the tour of Zimbabwe to play county cricket and the Hundred.The next part of New Zealand’s home season sees them play England in T20Is and ODIs before an all-format visit by West Indies in November.”Kane, we’re still in conversations as to what the summer is going to look like,” Walter told reporters after the Australia series. “He will play, no doubt about that. Just what and where is still in discussion.Related

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Williamson to miss Australia series under NZC casual agreement

“I think the reality is we’re dealing with all the guys on casual contracts, actually in different positions from a playing point of view. Kane is one of those and he deserves the opportunity to sit and talk about what the rest of his year will look like. But I keep coming back to the most important thing, [which] is that he wants to play for his country, and so nutting out exactly what that looks like can take an extra week or two, but surely, he deserves that.”Walter confirmed that New Zealand would continue to be without Finn Allen (foot) and Adam Milne (ankle) for the visit of England while Lockie Ferguson (hamstring) and Glenn Phillips (groin) were unlikely to be fit.However, he was hopeful that white-ball captain Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra, who was a late withdrawal from the Australia series after suffering a facial injury colliding with the boundary boards at training, will have recovered in time for the series which starts on October 18 in Christchurch.Walter was unperturbed about not being able to get his full-strength T20I side together in the build-up to next year’s World Cup.Mitchell Santner is likely to be available again•ICC via Getty Images”I think we don’t live in an ideal world and so that’s part and parcel of it,” he said. “I’ve been part of a World Cup campaign [with South Africa] where the team assembled at its full strength three days before our first game and that team managed to make a final.”For me, it’s just the way it works. I think what’s more important is the environment and the team culture that sort of assimilates together when it needs to. We do know that by the back end of the India series [in January] prior to the World Cup, that’s when our full World Cup squad will be together.”For me, as long as the guys are playing competitive cricket, that’s important, and almost everyone has been part of the environment at some point so I would assume that they can fit seamlessly back into it.”Should all players be fit and available for the World Cup, there will be some selection squeezes, especially around the pace bowling and top-order batting. Tim Robinson took his chance after Ravindra’s injury to make an impressive hundred in the first match against Australia, while Jimmy Neesham claimed a four-wicket haul in the third game.Australia won the T20I series against New Zealand•Getty Images”Ultimately when things are operating the way they should, everyone’s not fighting for their position, but understands that competition for places is there,” Walter said. “Ultimately you want your best crop of players in the park and in the squad.”They’re all quality players. At the end of the day, there’s going to be a quality player that’s left out, whoever that may be. As you’ve heard me say many times before, the stronger the player that’s left out, the better the system.”Reflecting on the Australia series, Walter was encouraged by the way his side fought back from 6 for 3 in the opening match and forced a collapse with the ball in the second but conceded they had areas that needed improving before facing England.”There’s little bits [of positives] here and there but, to be fair, we were a little bit off our best game and when you do that against [Australia], who’s won 25 of their last 30 T20 internationals, you’re going to find yourself on the wrong end of the result,” he said.”Some of the areas that we weren’t competitive in are actually quite easy fixes, [they] just require a little bit of extra time on our part…like any loss there’ll be some positives most of the time and then some stuff that you walk away with and understanding that you have to do better as we move forward.”With England arriving, you’ve got a team that’s going to play very similar to how Australia played in the series. So again, we get to check out if we actually have improved in the areas that we’ve identified and spoken about.”

Estevao Willian celebrates 'best moment of his career' as Brazilian wonderkid reacts to scoring in Chelsea's demolition of Barcelona

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Estevao Willian spoke with the excitement of a Brazilian teenager living out his dream, after the 18-year-old Chelsea winger scored the goal of the night as the Blues put Barcelona to the sword in a statement 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge. Speaking of this being the best moment of his young career thus far, Estevao spoke of how grateful he is for such a night and emphasised his connection with Chelsea fans since his arrival at the club.

  • Estevao elated after stunning goal in huge Barcelona clash

    Estevao spoke to at full-time after the stunning result, which saw Chelsea dominate their esteemed opponents from the first to the last whistle.

    A scrappy own-goal by Jules Kounde opened the scoring in the first half, before Estevao had his moment and doubled his side’s advantage in the second. Skipping past Pau Cubarsi and Alejandro Balde with ease, Estevao rifled the ball into the roof of the net to put a stamp on the score line which reflected the Blues’ dominance.

    Already bagging five goals for his new club, becoming the second youngest-ever player to score in his first three Champions League starts in the process. Behind only Kylian Mbappe, the pair and Erling Haaland are the only three players to achieve the feat before the age of 20.

    His goal on Tuesday night was reminiscent of his strike against Chelsea while playing for Palmeiras in the Club World Cup, and his early performances in west London have indicated that he is still only improving.

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    'I don't have any words' – Estevao speaks on unforgettable night

    Estevao told : "I don't really have any words to sum up how I'm feeling right now. It really was the perfect night. I'm just grateful to God for everything that has happened for me. Onwards and upwards from here."

    On his goal, he added: "It all happened very quickly for me, it sort of happened before I knew it. I just found some space, wiggled my way through and then scored that goal. It was such a special moment for me in my career. I hope to score many more.

    "It was definitely the best moment of my career so far. I want to score many more for many years. I'm so grateful that my family were here watching me.

    "From the moment I arrived here, I felt such a connection with the fans. I'm just so happy that I could score for them and make them happy. I hope to keep making them happy and score more goals for them."

  • Estevao clear winner in Yamal showdown

    The comparisons between teenage sensations Estevao and Lamine Yamal have taken a mind of their own in recent days, as fans began to prepare for the huge Champions League showdown. On the night, Estevao was the clear winner as Yamal was bettered by Marc Cucurella and rarely influenced proceedings.

    Maresca spoke in the build-up to the game about Estevao’s immense quality, while ensuring fans keep their feet on the ground.

    "Estevao is already playing at a high level and is starting games for Brazil," Maresca told reporters. "He is very young and for sure can do many things better, but we are very happy with him. It’s nice for people who love football to watch players like Estevao, Lamine Yamal, Pedri. We are happy that Estevao is with us.

    "Estevao is going to be an important player for this club in the future, no doubt. The most important thing for Estevao now is that he has to enjoy his football, he has to be happy, and not think about being better than this player or that player."

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    Estevao's light set to shine even brighter ahead of World Cup

    Estevao’s profile has been rising heavily ever since his arrival at Stamford Bridge, but his decisive contribution against Barcelona has seen him shine on a bigger stage than ever before.

    While he has a way to go in order to match the freakish career progression of Yamal at the same age, Estevao is already well on his way to becoming one of the greatest young players in world football.

    He will undoubtedly have a major role to play for Brazil at the World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico next summer, having already scored five goals in 11 matches for his nation including two goals in the most recent international break. The former Palmeiras star is only just getting started.

Saiba quando foi a última derrota do Grêmio como mandante para o Estudiantes

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

MatériaMais Notícias

Sonhando com a primeira colocação em seu grupo na Libertadores, o Grêmio encara, na noite deste sábado (8), às 19h, o Estudiantes-ARG, no Couto Pereira, em Curitiba. Se vencer, o Imortal garante a primeira posição, e tem um excelente retrospecto a seu favor. Confira as informações!

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A última derrota em casa

A última vez que o Grêmio perdeu para o Estudiantes jogando em solo brasileiro, aconteceu pela Supercopa Libertadores de 1989, no Olímpico, em outubro de 1989. Na ocasião, Mario Cariaga, aos 37 do segundo tempo, marcou o Gil solitário da partida. De lá pra cá, foram três jogos com mando do Grêmio, com três vitórias do Imortal, em 1990, 1997 e 2018.

Confira abaixo todas as informações que você precisa saber sobre o confronto do Brasil com o México (onde assistir, horário, escalações e local).

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Grêmio x Estudiantes-ARG – Libertadores

🗓️Data e horário:sábado, 8 de junho de 2024, às 19h (hora de Brasília)
📍Local:Estádio Couto Pereira, em Curitiba
📺Onde assistir: Paramount+
🟨 Árbitro e assistentes: não divulgado

⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES

Provável escalação do Grêmio:Marchesin; João Pedro, Rodrigo Ely, Kannemann e Reinaldo; Dodi, Pepê, Cristaldo, Everton Galdino e Soteldo; Diego Costa.Técnico: Renato Portaluppi.

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Provável escalação do Estudiantes: Matías Mansilla; Eros Mancuso, Luciano Lollo, Zaid Romero e Gaston Benedetti; Enzo Pérez, Santiago Ascacíbar e José Sosa; Mauro Méndez, Edwuin Cetré e Javier Correa.Técnico: Eduardo Domínguez.

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What We Learned From Dodgers’ Masterful Win Over Blue Jays in Game 2 of World Series

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The Blue Jays’ 11–4 blowout win over the Dodgers in Game 1 of the 2025 World Series on Friday night turned into a laugher. Game 2 was anything but.

In a pitcher’s duel between Toronto veteran Kevin Gausman and Los Angeles ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers separated themselves with two big blasts by Will Smith and Max Muncy in the seventh inning. It was enough for Los Angeles to ride Yamamoto’s right arm the rest of the way for a 5–1 win to even up the World Series at one game apiece.

The World Series now shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3. But before it does, let’s take a look at what we learned from Game 2:

An October legend in the making

A star is born.

The last time Yamamoto took the hill in a playoff game, he allowed just one run in a complete game to lead the Dodgers to a 5–1 win over the Brewers in Game 2 of the NLCS. He did it again Saturday night on baseball’s biggest stage.

Yamamoto allowed just one run on four hits over nine innings with eight strikeouts against the Blue Jays in Game 2. He’s the first pitcher to log back-to-back complete games in the postseason since Curt Schilling did it for the Diamondbacks in 2001.

He’s also the first pitcher to log a complete game in the World Series since Royals righthander Johnny Cueto in 2015.

Yamamoto found himself in trouble early, allowing at least one baserunner in the first three innings, and the Blue Jays got one run across on a sacrifice fly in the third. But he was lights out the rest of the evening, retiring 20 straight batters from the third inning to when Daulton Varsho popped out to end the game.

In two career World Series starts, Yamamoto has surrendered just two total runs on five hits with 12 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings—adding up to a 1.17 ERA.

Gettin’ jiggy wit it

Entering Game 2, Dodgers catcher Will Smith had nine hits in this postseason run, but all nine were singles. He added another base knock in the first inning off Gausman—one that brought in the first run of the game—but Smith saved the biggest swing of the Dodgers’ postseason run for the seventh.

With one out in the inning, Smith squared up a 3–2 fastball and sent it 404 feet into the upper deck in left field for a 2–1 lead.

Smith’s timely hitting calmed concerns about the Dodgers’ offense. There’s not much to complain about Los Angeles’s 9–2 record this postseason, but it’s been on the backs of an elite pitching staff. The Dodgers are batting just .230 with runners in scoring position this postseason, and most of that damage was done in a two-game sweep over the Reds in the wild-card round.

The Dodgers’ offense woke up in Game 2. Bad news for Toronto.

Lights weren’t too bright for Gausman

Thirteen seasons and 373 career appearances in the big leagues later, 34-year-old Kevin Gausman toed the rubber in a World Series game for the first time Saturday night.

Gausman, in his fourth campaign with the Blue Jays, saw Toronto’s previous two playoff runs in 2022 and ‘23 end with a sweep in the wild-card round, and last year was a 74–88 dud—seasons he called “heartbreaking” and a “punch in the face,” according to Fox Sports reporter Ken Rosenthal. Well, on Saturday night, Gausman punched back.

The veteran surrendered one run in the first inning on Will Smith’s RBI single before locking in and dominating for much of the night. Gausman didn’t allow a single baserunner until Smith and Max Muncy went yard in the seventh, retiring 17 consecutive batters in that span. In all, Gausman allowed three earned runs on four hits with six strikeouts and no walks in 6 2/3 innings—his longest career postseason appearance.

Quetta Gladiators, Karachi Kings, Islamabad United renew PSL ownership deals

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Owners of the three franchises confirm they will continue working with the PCB for next ten years

Danyal Rasool25-Nov-2025The owners of Quetta Gladiators, Karachi Kings and Islamabad United have all confirmed they will renew their ownership for ten further years. The announcements follow previous public statements from Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi also officially confirming their renewed ownership.It means the five franchises the PSL began with have signed deals to continue with the same owners. Shortly after United went public, Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen announced he would not be extending his ownership of the franchise.Each franchise was widely expected to renew. Kings, who were initially the most valuable franchise in 2016, officially saw the smallest percentage growth in their annual franchise fee, representing what were perceived as particularly beneficial terms. They were valued at PKR 440 million (approx US$1.57m) in 2016 and about 790 million (approx US$2.8m) in the most recent valuation.Related

  • Multan Sultans owner decides not to renew ownership of PSL franchise

With incumbent owners retaining franchise rights, they are required to pay the old value plus 25% of the new valuation, meaning Kings’ annual franchise fee comes to around PKR 640 million (approx US$2.3m). That means their market value has dipped below that of Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans, and is only higher than Quetta Gladiators.”A decade ago, we made a promise to help bring cricket back to Pakistan,” Kings owner, Salman Iqbal, tweeted. “Today, I am proud to announce that we have officially renewed Karachi Kings’ franchise rights for the next 10 years! This isn’t just a renewal; it’s a recommitment to the vision that built the HBL PSL.”Quetta and Islamabad have joined them. Gladiators are understood to have the lowest market value but the largest growth in their value. Their annual fee in 2016 was about PKR 187 million (approx US$660,000). With their market value going up to approximately PKR 690 million (approx US$2.45m), retention means the owners will have to pay in the region of PKR 360 million (approx US$1.28m) per year.United, too, have pipped Kings in market value, which is estimated at about PKR 860 million (approx US$3.06m). This is up from PKR 255 million (approx US$910,000) at the advent of the PSL, requiring owner Ali Naqvi to pay about PKR 470 million (approx US$1.67m).Two new teams will be added ahead of the next season of the PSL, which is set to be held between March and May 2026. With Sultans’ ownership group declining to retain, the PSL has to find an ownership solution for three teams before the draft for the 11th edition can get underway.

Dickson: 'It was a fire within me to prove they made the wrong decision'

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Somerset’s quarter-final hero hoping to sign off with more silverware despite impending departure

Matt Roller12-Sep-2025Sean Dickson is a sports psychologist in training and does not have to look far to find a compelling case study for his second career.On Saturday night, Dickson walked out to play his final innings for Somerset at Taunton’s County Ground determined to prove the club’s management had made a mistake in not offering him a new contract; 43 minutes later, he walked off having dragged them to T20 Blast Finals Day almost single-handedly.”I was very clear on what I wanted to do: I wanted to sign off, and I wanted to sign off properly,” Dickson says. “It was a fire within me to go and prove that they’ve made the wrong decision, and I wanted to show them that… Normally, nerves are flowing, but I just took a deep breath, looked around, and just took it in for a bit. I set out to go and prove a point.”He proved it emphatically, hitting 71 not out off 26 balls. Somerset needed 33 off the last two overs, then 19 off the final five balls; Dickson took them across the line in four. “That was my best T20 innings,” he says. “Everyone wants to be in that position where they need to score 20 off the last over and hit sixes to win the end of the game… It’s quite nice to say I’ve done it.”Related

Scott Currie relishing 'dirty work' as Hampshire target more Blast success

No regrets for Dickson as Somerset lose their third title in a week

Devastating Dickson powers Somerset to Finals Day

Glamorgan sign Sean Dickson on two-year deal

Few would have seen it coming when Dickson, once a first-class triple-centurion with Kent, first signed for Somerset three years ago, ostensibly to strengthen their red-ball batting. He has struggled in the Championship, averaging 20.41, but his T20 record for Somerset is phenomenal: he averages 38.32 for them while maintaining a strike rate of 155.51.Somerset’s decision to let him go is not without logic, and Dickson acknowledges there is plenty of talent in the club’s “remarkable” academy. They have several promising young batters – including Tom Lammonby, Archie Vaughan, and James and Thomas Rew – and know that they need to offer them first-team cricket across formats to keep hold of them in the longer term.But he was clearly hurt by it nonetheless, describing the realisation that he would not be offered a deal as “heart-breaking”. He will instead spend the next two seasons at Glamorgan, who have effectively signed him as a replacement for Sam Northeast; the proximity will enable his young family to stay put in the south-west, where his eldest daughter recently started school.Dickson turned 34 last week and could have several years left ahead of him: during his time at London Spirit in the Hundred, he sought advice from coach Justin Langer on how he could become a “permanent player within the franchise system”. But he is already setting himself up for life after cricket, launching a sports psychology business early last year.His interest in the field started over a decade ago when he was diagnosed with generalised anxiety: “I just thought it was normal to have these situations where there was almost a dissociation from me being able to be in the present moment. It wasn’t.” He has since completed a masters in it, and is working towards his full accreditation.!function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[“datawrapper-height”][t]+”px”;r.style.height=d}}})}();

He has worked primarily with young cricketers at Taunton School and in Somerset’s academy, along with his former Durham team-mate – and fellow South African – David Bedingham: “It’s not something that’s necessarily bringing in chunks of money, but it’s getting me to where I want to be from a transitional point of view once I decide to leave the game.”Dickson believes that conversations he had with James Franklin, the former New Zealand allrounder who he worked with at Durham, helped to change his mindset and unlock a new gear for him as a T20 player. “[We worked] on how you see situations. He harped on a lot on having that intent to get a boundary in your first six balls, and that’s transformed my career.”I was always happy to be 10 off 10… You’re never really going to impact the game [from there]. Him saying that just freed me up a little bit, and it then got me to realise how good I am within my first six balls and how potent I can be – and also, to realise that bowlers bowl their loosest balls to you in your first six balls… It’s just having that self-belief to go out and do that.”The nice thing is being able to lean on my own experience… I can’t show that X-factor if I’m going to fear the outcome, so being able to do what I did on Saturday and then speak to my clients around having that expectation within themselves is quite nice. I can lean on that nicely… ‘This is me putting it into practice.'”Dickson top-scored for Somerset in both the semi-final and the final when they won the Blast two years ago; last year, he dragged them from 7 for 3 to a successful chase of 154 against Surrey before a duck in their defeat to Gloucestershire in the final. He has become a reliable performer on county cricket’s biggest stage, and is targeting more of the same.So what would Sean Dickson, the sports psychologist, say to help Sean Dickson, the cricketer, prepare for Saturday? “He would probably harp on [about] staying as present as you can. I’ve got loads of tools in my toolbox for situations when the pressure’s high, so [I’ll be] relying on those, and also just being true to yourself and understanding who you are in the moment.”If your intuition says you need to play a certain shot or you need to take down a certain bowler and back yourself to do something different, then trust that… You’d rather walk off the field knowing you gave it a shot than walk off knowing you didn’t even give it an attempt in the first place. The most important thing is just to stay as humble and as present as you possibly can.”It has been a “bittersweet” few days for Dickson since his match-winning innings in the quarter-final, with his imminent departure slowly sinking in. But come Saturday, his only focus will be on capping his three years at Somerset with a second Blast title: “That would be the icing on top of the cake… That’d be the best ending for me.”

Real Madrid preparing £35m bid for Crystal Palace star who wants to leave

by rastrear-estafeta.com Uncategorized

Crystal Palace may have a big decision to make in the January transfer window, with it being revealed Real Madrid are preparing a bid for one of their key players.

Palace fighting for European qualification

Palace have taken major strides under the helm of Oliver Glasner, winning the FA Cup for the first time in their history last season, which granted qualification for the Europa Conference League, and they are now knocking on the door to make it to Europe once again.

The Eagles are flying high in the Premier League, currently sitting in fourth, moving into the Champions League places as a result of a 2-1 victory away at Fulham last time out.

Adam Wharton once again put in a top-quality performance, assisting Eddie Nketiah’s opening goal, with the Englishman attracting interest from the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool ahead of the January transfer window.

Real Madrid have also been named as potential suitors for Wharton in the past, but he is not the only Crystal Palace star of interest to the Champions League club, according to a report from Spain, which states they are now preparing a €40m (£35m) offer for Marc Guehi.

Guehi has been identified as the ideal target for the Spanish side, who are looking to bring in a new centre-back in the January transfer window, given that Éder Militão is set to spend up to four months on the treatment table.

The Eagles will have a big decision to make in the January transfer window, given that Glasner has already made it clear Guehi wants to leave in 2026, and they are currently at risk of losing him on a free transfer in the summer.

Palace sanctioning Guehi's departure would be major risk

Palace currently have a real opportunity to make more history this season, given that they are currently in the Champions League places, and letting their captain leave next month would jeopardise their chances of finishing in the top four.

The England international has been Glasner’s most consistent performer in the Premier League this season, averaging a 7.40 SofaScore match rating, the highest of any player in the squad.

Crystal Palace eyeing January move for goal-scoring star with 13 G/A in 2025

The Eagles have identified a new target, ahead of a potential winter move.

ByDominic Lund 3 days ago

The 25-year-old has averaged 2.03 tackles per 90 over the past year, placing him in the 87th percentile compared to other centre-backs, while he has also displayed his attacking qualities, picking up two goals and three assists in the Premier League this season.

Although it may be difficult to resist a big January bid for Guehi, given that he is set to leave in the summer, Crystal Palace should resist any approaches and keep the centre-back until the end of the season.

Inglis hammers rapid ton amid Australia batting order debate

by csb10.top Uncategorized

Cricket Australia XI 341 (Blackford 86, Wyllie 71, Harvey 52, Potts 3-49) and 235 for 2 (Inglis 125*, Harvey 58) beat England Lions 299 (Gay 78, Maladay 3-47, Sinfield 3-87) and 273 (Kellaway 59, Anderson 3-42) by eight wicketsAmid intrigue over what Australia may do with their batting order for the rest of the Ashes, Josh Inglis hammered a rapid century for a Cricket Australia XI against England Lions to signal that he would be option should the selectors opt for significant change.Travis Head’s remarkable century in Perth after being elevated to open due to Usman Khawaja’s back spasms has prompted talk about whether that should be a permanent move which would likely spell the end of Khawaja’s career and create a vacancy in the middle order.Related

  • Marsh set for surprise Shield return with an eye on the Ashes

  • Renshaw keeps name in Test frame with third century

  • Khawaja's back issues to be examined as Australia float flexible batting order

That would appear an unlikely prospect, at least for the Gabba, with the indications being that Khawaja will be selected if he recovers.However, should a spot become vacant anywhere in the order Inglis’ versatility would make him a candidate. He was part of the squad for the first Test but was released to play for the CA XI at Lilac Hill after having a disjointed lead-up to the Ashes.A calf injury prevented him from playing the ODIs against India and he struggled in the T20Is before making 4 and 28 in his one Sheffield Shield outing for Western Australia.On Monday, he flayed an unbeaten 125 from 107 balls with 15 fours and two sixes as the CA XI charged down a target of 232 in 45 overs, not dissimilar to the Head-inspired performance a couple of days ago.Inglis made a century on Test debut, against Sri Lanka in Galle, when his prowess against spin saw him play as a specialist batter in the middle order. He then filled in at No. 4 when Steven Smith missed the first Test against West Indies with a finger injury.Should Khawaja not be fit for Brisbane, or the selectors do make the call to drop him, Beau Webster would also be in the frame having missed out on the first Test when Cameron Green returned to No. 6. Mitchell Marsh is another who may be considered. He is expected make his Sheffield Shield return for Western Australia in a game against Victoria at the MCG which also starts on December 4.The CA XI was largely a development side due to the ongoing round of Sheffield Shield matches but did also feature Jhye Richardson who sent down 20 wicketless overs in the game as he returns from shoulder surgery. Australia’s selectors are hoping he could be an option later in the Test series and he is expected to feature for Australia A when they face the Lions concurrently to the Gabba Test.The Lions side featured Matthew Potts, Will Jacks and Jacob Bethell from the England Test squad.

Worse than Bajrami: 2/10 dud is Rangers' biggest waste of time since Lammers

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Glasgow Rangers failed to win in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since they appointed Danny Rohl in their 0-0 draw with Falkirk at Ibrox on Sunday.

The Light Blues failed to score a goal in a home game against Falkirk for the first time this century, and it was a disappointing all-round display from the hosts.

Rangers were unable to find the back of the net from three ‘big chances’ and 1.07 xG, per Sofascore, and had to settle for one point and no goals in front of their supporters.

Despite the underwhelming performance and result, there was a positive for Rohl to take away from the match, as Nedim Bajrami showed that he has something to offer.

Why Danny Rohl must unleash Nedim Bajrami

The Albania international came in for his first start of the league season, having made six substitute appearances before Sunday, and his performance on the left flank suggests that he has been underused.

Bajrami ended his 75 minutes on the pitch with four dribbles completed, two chances created, and ten duels won, per Sofascore, which shows that he put himself about physically, moved forward with the ball with intent, and looked to make things happen in the final third.

Last season, the former Sassuolo man scored two goals and created four ‘big chances’ in 15 starts in the Premiership, to go along with one goal and six ‘big chances’ created in eight starts in the Europa League, per Sofascore.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Meanwhile, one of the summer signings, Thelo Aasgaard, has failed to prove himself to be an upgrade on Bajrami and now looks to be the biggest waste of time since Sam Lammers.

Why Thelo Aasgaard may be the new Sam Lammers

Rangers signed Lammers from Atalanta for £3m in the summer of 2022, to bolster Michael Beale’s attack, and the attacking midfielder produced two goals and two assists in 31 games for the club, per Transfermarkt.

The left-footed flop spent the second half of that season on loan at Utrecht before being sold to FC Twente for an initial fee of £2.5m that could rise to £4m one year after joining the Gers.

This shows that Lammers was more or less a waste of time for the Light Blues because he rarely contributed on the pitch and he left Ibrox for a similar fee to the one that he was brought in for.

Rangers paid £3.5m to sign Aasgaard from Luton Town in the summer, only £500k more than Lammers cost, and he is, unfortunately, treading the same path that the Dutchman walked.

The Norway international, whom Heart & Hand content creator David Edgar dubbed “rotten” last month, has scored one goal and provided one assist in 21 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, which is an even worse return than the Twente star ended his Ibrox career with.

Aasgaard, who was handed a 2/10 player rating vs Falkirk by IbroxNews, has as many red cards as goals, after he was sent off against Celtic in the semi-final of the League Cup, and, as aforementioned, he has not proven that he is an upgrade on the player that he was brought in to replace, Bajrami.

Premiership stats

Bajrami – 24/25

Aasgaard 25/26

Starts

15

8

Goals

2

1

Key passes

28

9

Big chances created

4

0

Assists

1

1

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Liverpool-born midfielder has not scored goals or created chances at a more impressive rate than the Albanian did in the Premiership last term.

The same is true for their respective form in the Europa League. Last season, Bajrami scored one goal and created six ‘big chances’ in eight starts, per Sofascore, whilst Aasgaard has no goals and no ‘big chances’ created in five outings in the competition in the 2025/26 campaign.

If the 2/10 Norwegian flop’s dismal form at the top end of the pitch continues and Bajrami gets more chances after his bright showing against Falkirk, then his future may already be in doubt when the January transfer window opens.

Like Lammers, Aasgaard may have to look at his options in January and see if there is a loan or a permanent option for him to go elsewhere, unless he can turn his form around in the coming weeks.

Rohl must bin Rangers flop who was even worse than Aarons vs Falkirk

Danny Rohl must replace this Glasgow Rangers flop in January to solve a glaring issue in the squad.

ByDan Emery Dec 1, 2025

For now, though, the former Luton and Wigan star looks to be the biggest waste of time since Lammers because of the fee he was signed for and the lack of consistent performances on the pitch.

England out of answers as ODI rot extends for another series

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

A misfiring batting line-up and an under-stocked bowling attack contribute for sixth series loss in seven

Cameron Ponsonby29-Oct-2025Why are England bad at this?A batting line-up full of talented cricketers with proven international records. A world-class fast bowler leading the attack, and a wrist-spinner who’s considered one of the best of all time. It’s a Sainsbury’s list of ingredients, producing Sainsbury’sresults.Defeat in Hamilton was England’s sixth series defeat out of seven. It was their ninth consecutive away ODI loss: the most they have ever lost in succession. For years, there have been valid caveats for England’s poor results in the format. The line was, ‘wait until they’re back at full-strength and all will be fine’. Well now they are, and now it’s not.On paper, automatic World Cup qualification is in doubt. Ranked eighth in the world, they still need to drop below Bangladesh and West Indies for that iceberg to appear on the horizon. It’s a fate they have plenty of time to avoid … but the same was said last year. They’ve since lost 11 out of 15.”It’s a tough question to answer,” Harry Brook replied, when asked why it’s all going wrong. “We’ve got some of the best players in the world and we just haven’t performed as well as we could have done. New Zealand have just outplayed us.”There are two strands here. An underperforming batting line-up and an incomplete bowling one.There is no doubt that England’s top six is the best they have to offer. The option to shuffle the deck would be to return to one of Phil Salt or Will Jacks, or instead turn to either Zak Crawley or Jordan Cox. That’s it. Gone are the days of England’s white-ball batting riches. The lack of a domestic 50-over competition in which the best one-day players can prove their worth is unquestionably a hindrance on developing the next generation. But that criticism doesn’t hold for the settled line-up that has played this year. They are more familiar, recently at least, with the format than their opponents. Only one of New Zealand’s XI ahead of the first match of the series had played a 50-over game in the preceding six months.Jofra Archer forms part of an England attack that is operating at 60% capacity•Getty ImagesNevertheless, in England’s eight away ODI matches this year (of which they’ve lost the lot), they have been bowled out before their allocated overs on seven occasions. Brook is adamant that he wants England to be aggressive, citing Jamie Smith’s dismissal today where he looked to hit over the leg-side only to be caught at point, as a preferable method of dismissal than nicking off defending all day. That is fine – and to go all on you for a second, England’s strategy has long been to aim for the stars and if you fail, then fall in a cloud. But they are just falling.It is a bewildering series of events, in which a batting line-up so comfortable at cruising at five-runs-an-over in Test cricket get themselves in such a tangle trying to go at sixes against the white.”It’s hard to say,” said Rachin Ravindra, a player whose flowing style would be welcomed into the England team with open arms, explaining the shift between formats. “Naturally for me, the way I play, I like the tempo of 50-over cricket the best. I can play good cricket shots without having to force anything. It just requires a bit of knuckling down [when the ball is moving] and then you make it up in the back end.”Safe in the knowledge they were only chasing 175, New Zealand were 17 for one after eight overs. Ravindra himself on five off 19.”It’s a hell of a challenge,” he said of countering Jofra Archer with the new ball. “You know if you can get through that, you can get through most spells in the world.”If you’re not taking wickets up top, you’re chasing your tail then with four guys out when it’s easy to score.”England lost their first three wickets at Mount Maunganui after two overs, and lost their first three wickets at Hamilton after 12.Related

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The bright red flashing light is whether England’s top-order can deal with the moving ball in more than one way. That was the criticism yesterday, and it is the criticism today. Nothing in the first two matches of this series, and with the Ashes to come on similar surfaces, has been down to dissuade that.Counterintuitively, however, England will arguably consider their bowling the greater area of concern. The batting unit is underperforming and failing. And that is bad. But the bowling unit is underperforming and at par. And that is worse.Between Brydon Carse, Archer and Adil Rashid, England have 60% of an excellent bowling attack. But the age-old question remains: how they will take middle-over wickets without relying on Rashid to produce a moment of magic? Jamie Overton and Sam Curran bowled eight overs between them today, a direct indication of where Brook believes his wicket-taking threats lie, and where they don’t.Overton, to his credit, produced a beauty to remove Kane Williamson in a moment that will help his cause greatly. Between his batting, fielding and towering 6’5″ frame, he is so close to being the perfect cricketer to balance this team at No.8. His sample size is still small, but the fact of the matter is that, in his nine ODI matches, England have lost seven.Curran, meanwhile, is enjoying a renaissance as a T20 cricketer and feels a natural fit at No.6 in that side. In the shortest format, his addition of a moon-ball and left-arm angle makes him a wicket-taking threat when batters are going after him. However, when his job is to make a dead-ball leap off the surface in the middle-overs of a one-day game, his all-round package diminishes. In the T20I team he bats six and is the third seamer; in the one-day team he bats seven and is the fourth. His relative value is laid out as soon as the team sheet is submitted. As ever, though, who are you picking instead? England tried Jacks at seven against South Africa with only four specialist bowlers. That didn’t work either.Ultimately, England have one problem they don’t understand, and a second problem that they do. Both need to be solved for the rut to end.