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تحدث بيب جوارديولا مدرب مانشستر سيتي في مؤتمر صحفي عن مباراة سندرلاند على ملعب الاتحاد غداً في الدوري الانجليزي الممتاز.

وقال جوارديولا في تصريحات نشرتها “سيتي إكسترا” عن فوز فريقه ضد فولهام بخمسة أهداف لأربعة: “لقد نسينا الأمر، تعلمنا درسًا جيدًا ونأمل ذلك لكننا نسيناه”.

وأضاف عن مواجهة سندرلاند: “إنهم يستحقون هذا المركز الذي يحتلونه بعد 14 مباراة في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز ضد هؤلاء الخصوم، أن يكونوا في هذا الوضع، إنهم يستحقون ذلك”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. يايا توريه يفتح النار مجددًا على جوارديولا: ليس رجلاً بل ثعبان!

وواصل: “لا أجد كلمات كافية للتعبير عما عشته في مانشستر سيتي، لحظات جيدة في الغالب ولحظات سيئة أيضاً، والأشخاص الرائعون الذين التقيت بهم هنا، لقد كانت رحلة استثنائية، كانت في قمة الروعة”.

وتابع: “بالطبع لا أحب أن أستقبل ستة أهداف في مباراتين ولكن في نفس الوقت نحن الفريق الذي سجل أكبر عدد من الأهداف وعلينا أن نبني على ذلك”.

وسئل جوارديولا عن قلة فرص المشاركة التي يحصل عليها ريان آيت نوري: “لقد لعب في كأس العالم للأندية وكان رائعاً، لعب المباراة الأولى ضد وولفرهامبتون، والثانية ضد توتنهام وبعدها أصيب، وبعد ذلك جاء نيكو أوريلي، وقدم أداء رائعًا وهذا هو السبب، لا أكثر من ذلك، نحن سعداء جداً بريان آيت نوري، وأعلم أنه سيساعدنا، لقد انضم إلينا منذ فترة طويلة وهو متمرس في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، ويجيد اللعب في مركز الجناح والوسط، ويستطيع اللعب في مراكز مختلفة لكن الآن، نيكو يقدم أداء رائع وهذا هو السبب الوحيد”.

وأكد جوارديولا أن رودري لن يكون متاحاً لمواجهة مانشستر سيتي ضد سندرلاند: “حالته تتحسن، لا أعرف كم من الوقت سيغيب، لكنه في مرحلة تجعله جاهزًا للعب”.

وعاد جوارديولا للحديث عن فوز مانشستر سيتي بخمسة أهداف لأربعة ضد فولهام: “لو كنت جالساً في المنزل أشاهد المباراة لما غيرت المباراة، أنا متأكد من أن القنوات التلفزيونية سعيدة، إذا كانوا يراعونني أنا وماركو سيلفا، فإنه يجب أن يعطوني زجاجة نبيذ، أنا لا أمزح، لا بد أن القنوات التلفزيونية سعيدة”.

وقال بيب عن كثرة ركض لاعبي مانشستر سيتي: “هذا ليس جيداً، عندما تلعب بشكل أفضل، تركض أقل، علينا أن نركض كثيراً لكنهم يتمتعون بروح معنوية عالية وهذه نقطة جيدة لأن ما حدث الموسم الماضي اننا لم نركض، لم يكن المستوى جيدًا طوال الوقت”.

وأشاد بيب بمدرب تشيلسي إنزو ماريسكا: “إنزو ماريسكا أحد أفضل المدربين في العالم، العمل الذي قام به مع تشيلسي لا يحصل على تقديره الكافي، كأس العالم للأندية ودوري المؤتمر والتأهل لدوري أبطال أوروبا، كل ذلك في غاية الصعوبة مع فريق شاب وكيف يقوم بتطوير اللاعبين، انه استثنائي، وذهب إلى إيلاند رود لمواجهة ليدز وانظروا ما حدث، الأمر صعب جداً”.

واختتم بيب عن مرشحيه للفوز بكأس العالم: “أتمنى أن تكون إنجلترا هناك، لا أريد أن أتظاهر باللطف لكنني هنا منذ سنوات عديدة وبصفتي جزءا من هذا البلد، أتمنى أن يتخذ توماس توخيل وفريقه الخطوة الأخيرة ويحققون اللقب”.

Los Angeles Dodgers icon Clayton Kershaw was named to the National League All-Star Game on Sunday, courtesy of a nod from MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, who added him to the team as a "Legend Pick."

Kershaw is in what will likely be his final MLB season, and after the left-hander notched his 3,000th strikeout last week, he'll be given the honor of being named to the All-Star team by Manfred, a gesture made in recognition of his legendary career.

This will be the 11th time Kershaw has made the All-Star Game in his 18-year career.

Kershaw has made nine starts this season and boasts a 4–0 record and a 3.43 ERA. He's pitched 44 2/3 innings with 32 strikeouts and 14 walks. While those aren't numbers that would typically land a player in the midsummer classic, Manfred elected to use his power as the league's commissioner to make a special exception for the 37-year-old, future Hall of Famer in the twilight of his career.

With the inclusion of Kershaw, there are a total of 65 players who were named MLB All-Stars in 2025.

Teams to play one Test and three T20Is, instead of a second Test and ODIs as well

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Oct-2025Zimbabwe will host Afghanistan for one Test and three T20Is in October, a reduced itinerary from the two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is that were on the FTP.All four matches will take place at Harare Sports Club, which will host a Test for the first time in four years. Zimbabwe’s last nine home Tests have been played in Bulawayo, and they have lost them all. Zimbabwe have played Afghanistan in four Tests between 2021 and 2025, with one win, two defeats and a draw. Their most recent fixtures were in December-January 2024-25, when Afghanistan won the two-Test series 1-0. They also beat Zimbabwe 2-1 in the T20I series and 2-0 in the ODIs.The Test from October 20 to 24 against Afghanistan completes a busy year for Zimbabwe, who are not part of the World Test Championship but are playing 10 matches in 2025. They were initially scheduled to play 11 but ESPNcricinfo understands the second Test against Afghanistan, and the ODIs, will be moved to 2026. The three T20Is will be played on October 29, 31 and November 2.Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has chosen to prioritise T20Is, as the team may need the fixtures to prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Zimbabwe are in the semi-finals of the Africa Regional Qualifier, currently underway, and if they beat Kenya on Thursday, will qualify for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in February and March. Zimbabwe missed the 2024 T20 World Cup after losing to Uganda in the qualifiers. They have played in only one of the last three T20 World Cups – in 2022 – where they reached the Super 12.Should Zimbabwe secure their spot at the 2026 T20 World Cup, ZC will also seek additional fixtures, with nothing on Zimbabwe’s calendar between November this year and April next year. With all Full Members, except Ireland, occupied over that period, Zimbabwe may look to engage a team like Namibia (also in the semi-finals of the T20 qualifier) and are understood to be considering teams like Netherlands and Nepal for fixtures. After a torrid run earlier in the year, when Zimbabwe lost five T20Is on the bounce, they have now won six of their last nine games.

A broken bat, a crazy run out, and a multiple Grand Slam winner. What else makes the list?

Andrew McGlashan24-Oct-2024

Meg Lanning (and Ash Barty) on opening day

It all began at Junction Oval on December 5, 2015. Melbourne Stars faced Brisbane Heat in back-to-back games on the same day in front of a crowd of 1500. Some players watched on sat in camping chairs. A number of names that remain stars of Australian cricket were on show: Beth Mooney opened alongside Grace Harris for Heat, who had Jess Jonassen at No. 3, while Meg Lanning made 165 off 114 balls across the two matches as Stars came out winners in both. However, in the middle-order for Heat, there is another name which stood out: Ash Barty. Now a retired multiple Grand Slam winner, at the time Barty was also out of tennis, having stepped away in 2014 aged 18 to play cricket. On the opening day of WBBL, she impressed with 39 off 27 balls in the first match before falling to Nat Sciver-Brunt. “It truly was an amazing period of my life,” she said in 2019. “I met an amazing group of people who couldn’t care less whether I could hit a tennis ball or not. They accepted me, and they got to know Ash Barty.” That opening innings would prove to be the high point for Barty who made 68 runs in nine matches – her major sporting success was yet to come.

The first century

This won’t be the only time Grace Harris is mentioned in this piece. In the eighth match of the inaugural season, a few months after her international debut, she struck the competition’s first century with 103 off 55 balls against Sydney Sixers at Aquinas College in Perth. She went from her fifty to her hundred in just 22 deliveries. “I was just after ice cream,” Harris joked after the innings. “When I hit the century, Mooney came down the wicket and it didn’t really click to begin with, and then she said that I had made it because everyone was standing up, and I just said, ‘Ice cream! Ice cream!'” To cap off her day, Harris claimed 4 for 15 from two overs. She remains the only player to have scored a century and taken four wickets in a WBBL match.

Harmanpreet’s landmark signing

It is well-known that India’s premier male cricketers do not appear in T20 leagues outside of the IPL, but that’s not the case in the women’s game – the upcoming season will see a record number of India names in the WBBL. In mid-2016, Harmanpreet Kaur became the first India player to join the league when she signed for Sydney Thunder. “Being the first player from my country to sign a contract for a BBL club is one of my best moments,” she said at the time. During her first season, she made 310 runs in 13 innings which included a 26-ball 56 against Heat. In the 2021 season, she was Player of the Tournament.Harmanpreet Kaur was the first Indian player to join an overseas league•Getty Images

Pushing the boundaries

Here comes Grace again. By 2018, Sophie Devine (48) and Ash Gardner (47) had both gone under the 50-ball mark with centuries. Against Stars at the Gabba, Harris raised the bar further with a blistering 42-ball display which included 13 fours and six sixes. Remarkably, this came in a chase of just 133 as she made 73% of the total herself with Mooney watching on from the other end. With one run needed, Harris was on 95 and set off for the winning run but was sent back by Mooney. Three balls later, she launched Alana King down the ground for six to become the first player with multiple WBBL tons. “I’d told her that we weren’t running again and she finally got there in the end,” Mooney said.

Devine’s double

As mentioned above, Devine had already left a mark on the WBBL but against Stars at Adelaide Oval, she produced what remains a one-off all-round starrer in the competition’s history: the only time a player has scored a half-century and taken a five-wicket haul. She had been within touching distance of matching Harris with two WBBL hundreds when she fell for 95 with an over to go, but that was only half the job done. With ball in hand, she removed four of Stars’ top six and completed her haul by claiming Nicola Hancock.

semi-final run out

It is one of the iconic moments in WBBL history. It had already been a dramatic day with the first semi-final decided by a stunning boundary catch from Haidee Birkett. But the extraordinary three-player run out to force a Super Over in the second match was at another level. With three needed off the last ball, Sophie Molineux, who had batted throughout Melbourne Renegades’ chase, sliced over point and the ball appeared destined for the rope. “She’s got a four,” screamed commentator Jason Richardson. Then came a desperate dive from Erin Burns that flicked the ball back to Sarah Aley, who in turn hurled the return to Alyssa Healy. But the run-out chance was at the bowler’s end. Healy collected and in one motion spun around with a gloveless right hand and threw down the stumps. “In terms of a team play, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more special one in the context of the match and what effect it had on the game,” Ellyse Perry said. Burns added: “It was one of those moments where everything just seemed to fit perfectly. To tap it back but then Sarah to come around and the perfect throw into Midge and then to spin around no look at the stumps and throw down the other end is pretty awesome.”Ellyse Perry celebrates Sophie Molineux’s extraordinary run-out•Getty Images

Mooney, the back-to-back finals hero

Mooney is the WBBL’s leading run-scorer heading into the tenth season. Before her move to Perth Scorchers, she was central in Heat’s consecutive titles in the 2018-19 and 2019-2020 seasons. In the first of those, a week after the epic semi-final mentioned above, in a season where runs had not flowed to her usual standards, she defied a sweltering Sydney day while overcome effects of the flu with 65 off 46 balls to put Heat on course against Sixers. “I plonked myself in the ice bath and was a bit nervous towards the end, I couldn’t really watch,” Mooney said. The following season she was at it again, anchoring a bigger chase against Adelaide Strikers with 56 off 45 balls.

Thunder win in the bubble

Somehow, the 2020 WBBL season was completed despite Covid. Played entirely in Sydney, it was not an edition remembered too fondly by a number of players with all the squads housed in a hotel bubble at the Olympic Park amid tight restrictions. But, as with much in that Australian season, it was a remarkable show of adaptability and resilience. It also concluded with a memorable result in the final where Thunder, who had produced a stunning turnaround in the semi-final against Heat, toppled Stars – one of the standout teams of the competition – by seven wickets having restricted them to just 86. Shabnim Ismail, who claimed the key wicket of Lanning, and Sammy-Jo Johnson combined to take 4 for 23 from eight overs.Broken bat? No worries for Grace Harris•Getty Images

Garth’s powerplay masterclass

Against Thunder in 2021, pace bowler Kim Garth produced one of the more remarkable performances seen in T20s. In the powerplay, she produced figures of 3-3-0-3 to put Stars on course to defend a low total. Garth removed Tahlia Wilson and Phoebe Litchfield in her first over, and then produced another maiden over to Smriti Mandhana. At the start of her third, she had Corinne Hall taken at slip before closing the spell with five more dots. By the time she returned for the 20th over, Stars had breathing space with 25 to defend.

Harris’ broken bat

“Stuff it, I’ll still hit it.” It has gone down as an immortal phrase from Grace Harris. Preparing to face up to Piepa Clearly, Harris noticed her bat handle was broken. But instead of waiting for a new one, she just got on with it. Harris launched the ball over long-on for a 72-metre six, the handle snapping away from the blade in the process to produce an iconic image that went viral. It was part of another astonishing WBBL display from Harris, who piled up a tournament-high 136 off 59 deliveries with a record 11 sixes. “When you get in the zone, you just get in the zone,” she said modestly.

Kane Williamson has been included in New Zealand’s squad for the first Test against West Indies in Christchurch and pace bowler Blair Tickner handed a recall for the first time since 2023 with Kyle Jamieson held back as he continues a carefully controlled return to red-ball cricketFellow seamers Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes, who took nine wickets on debut against Zimbabwe, are also part of the 14-player squad, but Jamieson wasn’t considered for the start of the series as a cautious approach is maintained in increasing his workloads after a back injury.Glenn Phillips, who played in the opening round of the Plunket Shield, also hasn’t been included as he works his way back to full match fitness after a groin injury. Daryl Mitchell has recovered from injury to take his place in the squad.Williamson, who is among the group of players to hold a casual contract, missed New Zealand’s most recent Test series in Zimbabwe earlier this year to play the Hundred. Having announced his T20I retirement, he played the first two ODIs against England before picking up a groin injury.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“Kane’s ability on the field speaks for itself and it will be great to have his skills as well as his leadership back in the Test group,” head coach Rob Walter said. “He’s had a bit of time off to get himself ready for red-ball cricket, and I know he’s looking forward to playing for Northern Districts in the second round of the Plunket Shield in the lead-up to the first Test.”Tickner, meanwhile, played the most recent of his three Tests against Sri Lanka in early 2023. On his return to the ODI side against England he claimed eight wickets in two matches.”Both Jacob and Blair have been around a while and know what it takes to perform at the highest level,” Walter said. “They’ve impressed in their white-ball opportunities so far this summer and we back them to do so in the Test arena if called upon.”Zak couldn’t have performed much better in his first Test against Zimbabwe. That, along with his recent form across the white-ball tours, has rightfully earned him selection.”Matt Fisher (shin), Will O’Rourke (back) and Ben Sears (hamstring) were not considered for selection due to injury.The West Indies series marks New Zealand’s first matches of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle

New Zealand squad for 1st Test vs West Indies

Tom Latham (capt), Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Kane Williamson, Will Young

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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• Tickner makes sparkling international return to lead New Zealand to series win

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• Brook brilliance can't mask issues for brittle England batting

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.

Manchester United have joined the race to sign Borussia Dortmund centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck, and the Bundesliga club’s stance on cashing-in has now been revealed.

Man United have taken major strides over the past month or so, having taken 11 points from their last five matches, but it would be fair to say their defensive record still needs major improvement.

Ruben Amorim’s side have shipped 18 goals in their opening 11 games, the joint-highest number of any side above 16th in the Premier League table, failing to keep a clean sheet since the 2-0 victory against Sunderland at the beginning of October.

Both Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt have impressed in an attacking sense, with the former scoring the winner at Anfield, while the Dutchman recently received high praise from Rio Ferdinand, who said: “De Ligt’s been our best defender this season”

“I think he’s been outstanding for us. He’s even adding goals like the last-minute equaliser the other day.”

That said, Amorim clearly needs to tighten things up at the back, given the sheer number of goals his side have conceded, and the Red Devils have now set their sights on a new target.

Man Utd join race to sign Nico Schlotterbeck

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Man United have now joined the race to sign Borussia Dortmund’s Schlotterbeck, who is about to enter the last 18 months of his contract with the German club, meaning a bidding war could be on the cards.

Liverpool have also emerged as potential suitors for the centre-back, who has earned comparisons to Virgil van Dijk, in light of his composure under pressure, which has been on display in the Champions League.

Dortmund may need to cash-in due to their financial situation, as they are currently at risk of losing the 25-year-old on a free transfer, and there is no shortage of interest, with Barcelona currently believed to be leading the race for his signature.

The defender’s ball-playing ability, coupled with the fact he is left-footed, is said to make him perfect for Amorim, and the Dortmund star has earned high praise from former Premier League chief scout Mick Brown.

Brown said: “He’s a dominant centre-back, a regular for Germany, and a very defensive option who likes to win tackles, win headers and take charge of the back line.”

Impressively, the German is also very comfortable in possession of the ball, as displayed by his performance across some key passing and dribbling metrics over the past year.

Nico Schlotterbeck’s passing and dribbling statistics

Average per 90

Passes attempted

84.06 (97th percentile)

Progressive passes

7.43 (99th percentile)

Progressive carries

1.29 (89th percentile)

Successful take-ons

0.48 (92nd percentile)

Schlotterbeck is experienced at the top level, having amassed 22 caps for Germany and 35 Champions League appearances, and he could be the ideal option for Amorim at left centre-back.

What Man Utd plan to do to hijack Real Madrid's move for Marc Guehi What Man Utd are ready to do to hijack Real Madrid's move for Marc Guehi

He could be a superb signing for the Red Devils.

ByHenry Jackson Nov 4, 2025

McSweeney made a crucial 39 in Adelaide after a difficult debut in Perth, but is glad he’s getting to face tough opponents so early in his international career

Andrew McGlashan11-Dec-20241:16

Katich on Steven Smith: History says he won’t be back to best

As Australia closed in on bowling India out during the opening day of the Adelaide Test, and with the floodlights taking effect, Usman Khawaja walked towards his opening partner Nathan McSweeney. “This could be good fun,” he said.Like in Perth, the bowlers had done their job by limiting India to 180 but a pivotal session loomed against Jasprit Bumrah armed with a new ball at night. Faced with a similar period to bat in on the opening day at Optus Stadium, in the daylight, Australia sank to 67 for 7.This time was different. Khawaja didn’t make it through, edging Bumrah to slip late in his first spell, although after weathering a vital 48 minutes. However, a couple of hours later, McSweeney, in just his second Test, walked off unbeaten alongside Marnus Labuschagne. McSweeney would fall to Bumrah early the next morning, but a scorebook that reads ’39’ does not tell the full story: he had helped lay the foundation for victory.Related

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Mitchell Marsh 'ready to bowl as much' as Australia need him to in Brisbane

Who has inflicted the most golden ducks in Test cricket?

For someone who hadn’t opened before this season, McSweeney’s first two Tests have been a baptism of fire. He was lbw to Bumrah twice in Perth and overall has been dismissed by him three times in 46 deliveries for 11 runs, which suggests a one-sided battle. But it’s a contest McSweeney knows will stand him in good stead.”To get a bowler like Jasprit early in my career, it’s not going to get much tougher than that and I take some confidence from getting through a spell in Adelaide,” he said. “The more I face, the more comfortable I’ll get against him.”Facing him for the first time – he’s quite a unique bowler. He’s obviously world-class and a bit different to most bowlers I’ve faced. [It’s about] adapting to his angle and where he delivers on the crease. I got two pretty good balls from him [in Perth], so to try and wear that on the chin and trust what I’ve been doing is going to be good enough.”He got me again in Adelaide – he’s a great bowler, and really enjoying the experience of trying to work out a game plan on the run against a world-class player. Hopefully I’ll get better the more I face him and can throw a few more punches here at the Gabba.”After the challenges of his debut, McSweeney spoke to the close circle of people he trusts, including Labuschagne, his South Australia batting coach Steve Stubbings, and his father. “He’s watched me playing since I was a kid and keeps it quite simple,” he said of his dad’s input. He also praised the role of Pat Cummins for soaking up the pressure that was coming the team’s way.

“He’s a super generous guy. No doubt he had some things to work on for himself but [he was able] to give me the time to really help me out. It gives me some confidence as well”Nathan McSweeney on Marnus Labuschagne

Forming a crucial stand with close friend Labuschagne was especially satisfying, and McSweeney acknowledged the help he had given him despite his own game being under significant scrutiny heading into the Adelaide Test.”He’s a super generous guy,” McSweeney said. “No doubt he had some things to work on for himself but [he was able] to give me the time to really help me out. It gives me some confidence as well. [I’m in my] first game trying to work out, he’s 50 games in and still trying to tinker and work things out. Guess that’s the game of cricket; as a batter you miss out more than you make runs unfortunately at times.”McSweeney added that he was starting to get used to some of the smaller changes that opening the batting has required, such as adjusting his eyes to the light when the opposition are nine down and ensuring his kit is ready to go for the ten-minute turnaround. “I’ll continue to hopefully get better and learn the tricks of the trade.”The third Test in Brisbane brings McSweeney back home. It was Queensland where his professional career began before the move to South Australia from where the rapid rise to the Test side has followed over the last couple of seasons.”The ticket allocation for me has been exhausted already,” he joked. “It’s going to be a great experience and an awesome one for my family. I had one in Adelaide last week now I get to have another home Test in Brisbane.”Nathan McSweeney played a big role for Australia in the second Test•Getty ImagesWith that local knowledge in hand, McSweeney was not getting carried away by talk of a green pitch at the Gabba three days out from the game. There has been rain over the last couple of days, but a couple of fine days are forecast ahead of the Test before potential showers over the weekend.Last year’s Brisbane Test, where West Indies famously won by seven runs, was played in mid-January, as was the 2020-21 clash between these two sides, which dramatically went India’s way as they sealed the series. Australia’s players are pleased the Test is back in a pre-Christmas slot.”Different times of year definitely makes it different, it can be a slightly different pitch,” head groundsman David Sandurski said. “Pitches later in the season might have a bit more wear and tear while ones early in the season usually are a bit fresher and might have a bit more in them.”Generally speaking, we still prepare the pitch the exact same way every time to try and get the same good carry, pace and bounce that the Gabba is known for. We are just trying to make a traditional Gabba wicket like we do each year.”There remains a reasonable chance that Josh Hazlewood could feature as he continues to make encouraging progress in his recovery from the side strain that kept him out of Adelaide. He will have another full bowl on Thursday. Australia’s optional practice on Wednesday, where McSweeney was one of a handful to train alongside Labuschagne and Steven Smith, was forced indoors at the National Cricket Centre due to the rain earlier in the day.

كشفت تقارير صحفية أن مصطفى شوبير حارس الأهلي أصبح محل اهتمام أحد الأندية المرموقة في أوروبا تمهيداً للحصول على خدماته.

ونقلاً عن صحيفة “الماركا” فقد أشار الصحفي “ماتيو موريتو” إلى أن حارس مرمى جيرونا، ليفاكوفيتش قد يرحل عن صفوف الفريق خلال سوق الانتقالات الشتوية القادمة.

لذلك أصبح جيرونا مهتمًا بالتعاقد مع أحد الحارسين، مصطفى شوبير من الأهلي أو حارس مرمى فياريال دييجو كوندي.

ويعد الحارس المصري صاحب الـ25 عاماً ودييجو كوندي حارس مرمى فياريال هما الخياران اللذين يدرسهما جيرونا حالياً لتعزيز مركز حراسة المرمى في يناير.

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وسيخلق رحيل ليفاكوفيتش عن جيرونا مكاناً شاغراً لذلك يبحث النادي عن تدعيم صفوفه في مركز حراسة المرمى، وقد تكون فرصة رائعة للحارس المصري مصطفى شوبير للانتقال إلى ملاعب الليجا الاسبانية.

ويمتد عقد مصطفى شوبير مع الأهلي حتى 30 يونيو 2026، وقد ترددت تكهنات خلال الفترة الماضية أن الأهلي يعمل على تجديده للحفاظ عليه خلال السنوات القادمة.

ويحتل جيرونا المركز الـ18 في جدول ترتيب الدوري الاسباني برصيد 12 نقطة من انتصارين و6 تعادلات و7 هزائم.

Price century followed by four wickets for departing seamer Zaman Akhter as Derbyshire fall short

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay05-Aug-2025Ollie Price illuminated the final day of the Towergate Cheltenham Festival, scoring a superb hundred as Gloucestershire beat Derbyshire Falcons by 59 runs to make a winning start to their Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign.The Oxford-born batter posted 103 from 115 balls and staged stands of 141 with James Bracey and 97 with Ben Charlesworth for the second and third wickets respectively as the home side ran up an imposing 341-8 at the famous College Ground. Promoted to open the innings, Bracey contributed an enterprising 83, while Charlesworth and skipper Jack Taylor weighed in with half-centuries.Brooke Guest raised a brilliant 86 from 88 balls and shared stands of 64 with Matt Montgomery and 76 with Amrit Basra, who scored 42 and 40 respectively, as the Falcons made a decent fist of chasing. But paceman Zaman Akhter returned figures of 4 for 47, including a decisive spell of three wickets in six balls, to swing the contest back in Gloucestershire’s favour and ensure Derbyshire were dismissed for 282 in 45.5 overs.Derbyshire won the toss, elected to field and saw debutant Rory Haydon remove Australian Test batsman Cameron Bancroft lbw in a tidy new-ball spell of 1-16 from six overs with one maiden. Driving and cutting fluently, Bracey and Price found runs easier to come by against Ben Aitchison from the Chapel End. these two matching one another blow for blow as boundaries began to flow. When Nick Potts replaced Aitchison, Bracey hoisted him high over mid-wicket for six to bring up the half century stand, twice repeating the feat with further effortless pick-ups a few overs later to afford the innings added impetus.Bracey went to 50 via 40 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes and then smashed Potts for another six over mid-wicket as the innings assumed three figures. Potts was withdrawn after conceding 42 from three overs, but there was no reduction in the rate of scoring from the Chapel End, Price reverse sweeping Montgomery’s off spin for four to raise the hundred partnership in just 15 overs. He brought up his 50 via 59 balls soon afterwards.Derbyshire desperately required a breakthrough and Montgomery obliged, bowling Bracey via an inside edge with the score 148-2 in the 23rd. Bracey had dominated a stand of 141, his aggressive knock spanning 66 balls, including 8 fours and 4 sixes and affording his side an excellent platform. Price and Charlesworth consolidated thereafter, adding 50 for the third wicket in 63 balls in the face of accurate bowling from Joe Hawkins and Basra.A bumper Festival audience rose to acknowledge Price’s fourth List-A hundred, the 24-year-old reaching the landmark in 111 balls with a swept single behind square off Montgomery. Having hit 10 fours and a six, he was then bowled by Andersson. But there was no respite for the visitors, Charlesworth moving seamlessly to a run-a-ball half century with 4 fours and a six.Aitchison had Charlesworth held at long-on for a 59-ball 60 and Graeme van Buuren caught at the wicket for eight as Derbyshire briefly applied the brakes, only for the experienced Jack Taylor to combine power and deft placement in raising a quickfire 67 from 37 balls with 10 fours and a six to carry Gloucestershire out of sight.Forced to score briskly from the outset, Derbyshire lost Harry Came to scoreboard pressure in the seventh, the opener driving a length ball from Matt Taylor straight to mid-on with 24 on the board. But Caleb Jewell and Montgomery made amends, finding the boundary with sufficient regularity to advance the score to 53 at the end of 10 overs.Returning to Gloucestershire on loan seven years after leaving to join Warwickshire, Craig Miles struck an important blow when persuading Australian Jewell to cut to Charlesworth at backward point for 35 with the score 61 for 2. But the visitors continued to make a fight of it, Montgomery and Guest bringing up 100 inside 18 overs to keep the required rate at around 7.5 an over. The 50 partnership occupied 55 balls, the third wicket pair establishing themselves in a manner which suggested Gloucestershire might not have things all their own way.Having accrued a six and 5 fours in raising a 39-ball 42, Montgomery blotted his copybook, playing back to van Buuren’s slow left arm and chopping on to terminate a partnership of 64 in 11.3 overs as Falcons slipped to 125 for 3. Akhter and van Buuren applied the squeeze during the middle overs and Jack Taylor benefited, having Martin Andersson held at extra cover with the score 152 for 4.Derbyshire were still in with a chance while Guest remained at large, the captain going to 50 from 61 balls, while debutant Basra demonstrated clever improvisation to hit the ground running, plundering sixes at the expense of Jack Taylor, Josh Shaw and Miles to keep the reply on track.Gloucestershire needed a wicket and Akhter responded by taking three in the space of six balls. He bowled the combative Basra for a 31-ball 40, had Guest held at long-on in his next over and then removed Ross Whitely cheaply to reduce the Falcons to 234 for 7 and relieve pressure on his team. Requiring a further 107 from 11.1 overs, Derbyshire were never really in the hunt thereafter, Aitchison succumbing to Matt Taylor for 19 as the chase ran out of steam.