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تلقى نادي ريال مدريد بشرى سارة في تدريبات الفريق، وذلك قبل اللقاء المرتقب الذي سوف يجمع الفريق الملكي مع يوفنتوس في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وسوف يستضيف ريال مدريد نظيره يوفنتوس يوم الأربعاء المقبل على ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو، لحساب الجولة الثالثة من مرحلة الدوري في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويسعى ريال مدريد إلى الفوز على يوفنتوس، وذلك من أجل مواصلة نتائجه الرائعة خلال هذا الموسم، حيث يتصدر الفريق الملكي ترتيب الدوري الإسباني بعد مرور 9 جولات على بداية المسابقة.

كما حقق ريال مدريد انتصارين في أول جولتين لعبهما الفريق في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا على حساب كيرات الماتي وكذلك أولمبيك مارسيليا.

والتقطت عدسات الكاميرا اليوم الإثنين ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد وهو متواجد في تدريبات ريال مدريد بشكل طبيعي، دون الشعور بأي ألم من الإصابة.

اقرأ أيضًا .. كازورلا يوجه نصيحة إلى نجم برشلونة ويختار أفضل لاعب خط وسط في العالم

وكان أرنولد أصيب خلال مواجهة ريال مدريد أمام مارسيليا في الجولة الأولى من دوري أبطال أوروبا، حيث تعرض لإصابة في عضلة الفخد.

وأكدت صحيفة آس، أن أرنولد جاهز بنسبة 100% للعب أمام ليفربول يوم 4 نوفمبر المقبل في دوري أبطال أوروبا لحساب الجولة الرابعة من مرحلة الدوري.

كما أشار الصحفي الإسباني المعروف، كارلوس رودريجيز، إلى أن أرنولد أكمل الجزء الأول من التدريبات الجماعية اليوم بنجاح، وقد يتم استدعائه ضد يوفنتوس، في حين أفاد ماريو كوراتيجانا، الصحفي بذا أتلتيك، أن أرنولد بجانب داني كارفاخال في المراحل الأخيرة من تعافيهما من الإصابة.

وأكد كوراتيجانا، أن القرار سوف يعود إلى مدرب ريال مدريد، تشابي ألونسو، بشأن إشراك أرنولد وكارفاخال في كلاسيكو الدوري الإسباني الأسبوع المقبل ضد برشلونة، أو استبعادهما.

ويعول ألونسو خلال الفترة الأخيرة على فيديريكو فالفيردي في مركز الظهير الأيمن، مع غياب كارفاخال وأرنولد للإصابة، وعدم إمكانية مشاركة خيسوس فورتيا، اللاعب الشاب بسبب تواجده مسبقًا مع منتخب إسبانيا في بطولة كأس العالم للشباب تحت 20 عامًا في تشيلي، والتي توجت المغرب بها لأول مرة في تاريخها.

Queensland crashed out of the One-Day Cup title race in humbling fashion, suffering a six-wicket loss to wooden spooners Western Australia at the Gabba.WA paceman Bryce Jackson snared 4 for 39 in a player-of-the-match performance as Queensland were skittled for 131 in 29.2 overs.In reply, a WA side featuring mostly emerging players reached the victory target in just 26 overs, with Hilton Cartwright, Sam Fanning and Jayden Goodwin all chipping in.Queensland entered their last match of the regular season in third spot and well in the hunt to claim a spot in the March 1 final. They needed to beat WA and for Victoria to beat second-placed NSW to lock away a spot in the decider.Even if NSW beat Victoria, Queensland could have still made the final by posting a bonus-point win over WA. But things went awry for the Bulls from the outset.Star trio Ben McDermott, Jimmy Peirson and Matt Renshaw all fell cheaply as Queensland slumped to 17 for 3 in the fifth over.Lachlan Hearne and Angus Lovell briefly steadied the ship, but those knocks were only a temporary reprieve as WA’s youth-laden attack continued to wreak havoc.Queensland were 102 for 9 before No. 10 Mitchell Swepson whacked 45 off 35 balls to at least give Queensland some sort of chance to pull off a miracle win.Jackson, playing just his fifth List A match, was the star of the show with four wickets, while Brody Couch and Mahli Beardman were also influential.The pace trio have just 15 List A appearances between them, and spinner Corey Rocchiccioli was playing just his second List A match.But despite their youth and inexperience, the WA attack ripped through Queensland’s talented line-up with ease.  Swepson whacked three sixes and three fours in the sole real resistance Queensland were able to put up.WA made light work of the run chase, with teenage paceman Callum Vidler the only Queensland bowler to make any true inroads.The win was only WA’s second of the season, with their hopes of winning four straight titles derailed by injuries and poor form across the campaign.

It’s been a roller coaster of a summer for Tottenham Hotspur this year.

The North Londoners started the transfer window in an understated manner, completing the permanent signing of Mathys Tel and bringing in the exciting but still young Kota Takai.

Then, Daniel Levy and Co completed the capture of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United before trying and ultimately failing to sign Morgan Gibbs-White.

However, unlike previous summers, the Europa League champions appear determined to bring in more potential game-changers before the window slams shut.

One of the players they’ve been heavily linked with in recent days has been Savinho, although if reports are to be believed, the club could now be plotting a move for someone who’d be an even better signing.

Spurs target Savinho upgrade

Reports of Spurs’ interest in Savinho first began popping up towards the end of last week. However, it’s been over the last day or so that the links have started heating up.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to some sources, the North Londoners have already progressed from internal talks to making their first offer for the 21-year-old gem.

However, while the Brazilian would be a tremendously exciting addition to the Lilywhites’ squad, it now looks like the club are also looking at another Premier League star, someone who’d be an even better signing.

At least that is according to a recent report from Spain, which has revealed that Spurs are still very interested in Eberechi Eze this summer.

In fact, the report goes much further than that, claiming that the Lilywhites are now preparing an offer for the Crystal Palace star, whose £68m release clause reportedly expires at the end of the week.

It could end up being a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but Eze has more than proven he’d be worth the effort and, for our money, he’d be a better signing than Savinho.

Why Eze would be a better signing than Savinho

Now, it should be said that Spurs would do well to sign either Savinho or Eze this summer, as both players are undeniably talented and would bring something fresh to Frank’s attack.

Still, there are several reasons why the latter would be a better addition than the former.

The first is simply their output from last season, as in 48 appearances for Manchester City, totalling 3087 minutes, the Brazilian ace scored three goals and provided 13 assists.

That means he maintained a reasonably impressive average of a goal involvement every three games, or every 192.93 minutes, and while that’s certainly not bad, it pales in comparison to the Palace star.

In his 43 appearances for the Eagles, totalling just 3303 minutes, the 27-year-old “superstar,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists.

Appearances

43

48

Minutes

3303′

3087′

Goals

14

3

Assists

11

13

Goal Involvements per Match

0.58

0.33

Minutes per Goal Involvement

132.12′

192.93′

In other words, the Greenwich-born dynamo managed to maintain an average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes, for a team that finished in mid-table.

The second reason the Englishman would be a better signing for the Lilywhites is down to his versatility, as while the former Girona ace can play on either flank, he can play in the ten as well as off the left.

This ability to play in the middle of the park is now even more important for the North Londoners as James Maddison is expected to miss almost the entire season due to his ACL injury.

Finally, on top of the output and positional versatility, the former QPR gem is simply more of a sure thing when it comes to the Premier League, as so far, he’s made 146 appearances in the competition, in which he’s scored 34 goals and provided 23 assists.

In contrast, the City ace has made just 29, in which he’s scored one goal and provided ten assists, and therefore it’s far harder to make a concrete prediction about how he’ll fare in the coming seasons.

Ultimately, while Savinho is a very talented player and someone who could develop into a star, Spurs would be better off going out and signing someone who is already a superstar, such as Eze.

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Former England head coach back with county where he won 2017 Championship title

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Nov-2024

Chris Silverwood is set to return to Essex after being appointed as the club’s director of cricket. Silverwood will take up the role in mid-December, succeeding Anthony McGrath after the latter moved to Headingley as Yorkshire head coach.Silverwood’s initial tenure at Essex saw the club embark on one of the most successful periods in their history. He oversaw their promotion from Division Two in 2016, an achievement that was topped the following summer by a first County Championship title in 25 years.Although Silverwood moved on, initially as England bowling coach before taking over from Trevor Bayliss as head coach in 2019, Essex continued to land silverware under McGrath, who stepped up from assistant coach under Silverwood to guide the club to a Championship and Blast double, followed by the Bob Willis Trophy.Related

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“I’m absolutely delighted to return to Essex,” Silverwood said. “It’s a club that holds very special memories for me, with the success we enjoyed in 2016 and 2017, and it’s been great to see the success Anthony McGrath has had in the years in between.”There is work to be done around the squad, but I’m really looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead, with an emphasis on working hard to help develop our home-grown players.”Building on the work done by Mags, I’m focused on getting the squad to a point where we have strength in depth, with a strong core of our own local players. I’m excited to get straight to work to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible and that the squad is in the best possible shape to compete on all fronts next summer.”Silverwood’s time in charge of England was significantly affected by the restrictions around touring caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and he left the role after a 4-0 Ashes defeat in 2021-22. He subsequently coached Sri Lanka for a two-year period, stepping down after the T20 World Cup earlier this year.Essex restructured their club hierarchy over the summer, with John Stephenson departing as chief executive and Dan Feist being appointed general manager. McGrath was promoted from head coach to director of cricket, but opted to return to his native Yorkshire at the end of the season.Jason Gallian, chair of Essex’s cricket committee, said: “We’re thrilled to announce the reappointment of Chris, who was the outstanding applicant in a comprehensive recruitment process.”We were clear throughout that we were focused on making the right decision, not just a quick one, and following this process, we firmly believe we have stuck to that and appointed the best candidate.”I’d like to take the opportunity to thank the Cricket Committee, as well as Alastair Cook on the interview panel, who contributed significantly with their expertise.”Having spoken to Chris, I know how motivated he is to make his mark in the coming years, and his desire is as high as ever to take on the role of director of cricket and lead on the strategic side.”Within that, he will play a very important role with a talented men’s first XI, and he is focused on winning trophies with this club and growing the game throughout our region. Everyone welcomes Chris back, and we look forward to once again seeing him around the Cloud County Ground and hopefully leading the side to success on the field.”

India put on their best batting show and then were clinical with the ball and on the field to send the Asia Cup champions packing from the tournament

S Sudarshanan09-Oct-2024On a slightly cooler evening in Dubai, with semi-final qualification hopes in the balance, India brought their A-game to the fore to thrash Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup 2024. They put on their best batting show – perhaps the best among all teams in the tournament so far – and then were clinical with the ball and on the field to send the Asia Cup champions packing from the tournament.Batting first, India rode on half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur to post 172 for 3, the highest total in this T20 World Cup. They then skittled Sri Lanka out for 90 to register an 82-run win, India’s biggest in T20 World Cups, with Arundhati Reddy and Asha Sobhana picking up three wickets apiece. As a result of their massive win, their net run rate (NRR) jumped to 0.576, better than Pakistan’s and only behind Australia’s. This is notable as their NRR had taken a beating following the 58-run defeat to New Zealand in their opening match.Shafali, Mandhana remind us what India missedBefore Wednesday, India’s opening stands against Pakistan and New Zealand were 18 and 11 respectively. In a tournament where batting first seemed to give teams an advantage, India batted second in both their matches. India got to bat first after Harmanpreet won her first toss and the openers set about their task steadily.Sri Lanka pressed their spinners into service and both Shafali Verma and Mandhana found it tough to break free. Shafali took the aerial route for India’s first four in the third over and did so again in the fourth and the fifth. She was on 24 off 20 in the fifth over; at that point Mandhana was on 6 off 10. But in a pattern different from the previous game, she was not being impatient or trying too hard.Smriti Mandhana was rapid after the first six overs•Associated PressMandhana finally got going with a smack over the left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari’s head as India ended the powerplay on 41 for 0. She also slogged another left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera for a six over wide long-on in the next year to signal the gear change. India managed to hit at least one four in each over between the third and the ninth. Chamari Athapaththu kept India guessing by giving her bowlers one-over spells till the 13th over, by then Mandhana overtook Shafali to get to a fourth T20 World Cup half-century.Harmanpreet says hello from No. 3It took a run-out to end India’s opening partnership at 98, their third-highest in T20 World Cups, when Athapaththu and Ama Kanchana – brought in for Hasini Perera – combined to catch Mandhana short on 50. On the very next ball, Athapaththu had Shafali miscuing a heave to cover. That over meant Athapaththu ended the one-spell strategy and bowled a second over in the spell – the 13th and the 15th overs.Having batted at No. 4 against Pakistan, Harmanpreet came in at No. 3 and was soon joined by Jemimah Rodrigues before she even faced a ball. Few batters in the Indian line-up are at ease against spin than Rodrigues. She used the sweep to first put Ranaweera away and then moved in her crease to pull Athapaththu to the deep square leg boundary.At the other end, Harmanpreet hit Kumari for a four and a six to ensure the openers’ platform did not go to waste. Rodrigues soon fell for 16 off 10 – she was given a life at 13 when Kavisha Dilhari dropped a dolly at deep midwicket – but played a vital role in injecting momentum after two quick wickets.By then, Harmanpreet, with a cushion of a long batting line-up to follow, cut loose. She first paddled Kanchana past short fine leg before hitting two fours to spoil Athapaththu’s figures. Ranaweera could not hang on to a powerful hit at cover when Harmanpreet was on 22. She hit Kanchana and Prabodhani for two fours each in the last two overs to bring up only her third half-century in T20Is since the 2023 T20 World Cup. That blitz – 52 not out off just 27 balls – helped India take 46 off the last four overs, the most by any team in this T20 World Cup.Renuka Singh struck twice in the powerplay to dent Sri Lanka•Getty ImagesShe had retired hurt against Pakistan due to a neck injury, and had come for the toss with a pain-relief patch on the right side of her neck but was termed fit for this game. However, she did not take the field in the chase, with Mandhana captaining the team.Sri Lanka slide in chaseHeading into the T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka had the most wins since April last year and their win-loss ratio was better than that of India and Australia. Because they had hunted down 166 to win their maiden Asia Cup title, it would have been a tad premature to write them off in the 173-run chase in Dubai. But India were on the money from the word go, and never let them even get a sniff.An athletic effort from Radha Yadav, substitute for Harmanpreet, on the second ball of the chase set the tone. She ran back to her right from backward point and dived full length to catch a miscue from Vishmi Gunaratne. Mandhana then handed the new ball to Shreyanka Patil at the other end, ahead of Deepti Sharma. Patil responded by pushing one slightly quicker and getting it to spin away, enticing a defensive, hard-handed poke from Athapaththu to gather the edge to slip. When Renuka Singh had Harshitha Samarawickrama, the star of the Asia Cup final, feather an outside edge in the third over, the challenge was almost quelled.Legspinner Asha then joined the party in the middle overs, picking up three wickets using the sharp spin available to undo the batters. Her biggest wicket was that of Anushka Sanjeewani, who was the enforcer in the 37-run fourth-wicket with Dilhari. After floating a few up to the batter, Asha pulled the length ball to deceive the Sri Lanka wicketkeeper, with Richa Ghosh stumping her. Asha and Reddy, the Player of the Match against Pakistan, struck regularly through the middle overs. Both finished with identical figures of 3 for 19, Reddy’s efforts creditworthy after she was taken for 12 in her first over. For the third game in a row, Sri Lanka finished with a double-digit total in this competition.It was an outing that raised India’s hopes of a semi-final qualification, with their last league game against Australia on Sunday.

Celtic are striving forwards under Brendan Rodgers and another action-packed season is in store for the Bhoys, which could now lead to a significant development at Parkhead.

Celtic find themselves pursuing several arrivals

Five signings have come through the door officially this summer for Celtic to strengthen their bid for another Scottish Premiership title. However, recent reports suggest plenty more could be on the way before too long.

Wycombe Wanderers striker Richard Kone is on the Bhoys’ radar and could be a big-money arrival at the £7 million mark, though any thought of him coming in at Parkhead may hinge on the future of Daizen Maeda.

Of course, Brendan Rodgers has already got one answer to his multi-faceted striker quest after confirming that Shin Yamada will join Celtic from Kawasaki Frontale after weeks of speculation hinting the Japanese forward is set for a move to Glasgow.

During the week, Celtic saw off Sporting Lisbon in expert fashion courtesy of goals from Reo Hatate and Luke McCowan. Speaking post-match, the Hoops’ Irish boss praised his side’s excellent tactical execution against a distinguished opponent.

He stated: “Performance wise it was outstanding. We made another step in our fitness and tactical idea with some of the players coming in. Overall it was a very, very good performance against a very good team. Tactically we were excellent with our pressure and pressing and some of our football was outstanding.

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“We maybe lacked a little bit in the final third at times just to finish off some great moves but other than that it was a very, very good workout for us.”

In spite of the Hoops’ display, Rodgers still has work to do in tailoring his side, and he will need to make sure his key players stick around for another tilt at domestic and European success.

Celtic closing in on bumper new Daizen Maeda contract

According to Football Insider, Celtic are pushing ahead with their attempts to tie down Daizen Maeda, and he is said to be willing to commit long-term with one demand – the Hoops match his ambitions.

Rodgers views the Japan international as a central part of his future plans and is willing to build his entire team around him, with talks open over a new deal amid interest from the Premier League in his services.

Daizen Maeda’s importance to Celtic

Appearances

158

Goals

62

Assists

28

Shedding some further insight, O’Rourke stated: “It makes a lot of sense for Celtic to try and keep hold of Maeda. If Celtic want to continue their dominance in Scotland, they’re going to have to keep hold of their best players, and there’s no doubt Maeda is amongst those.

“He’s under contract until 2027, so they’re looking to extend that and give him bumper new terms just to keep the player happy and ward off interest from Premier League clubs.

“There was talk that Brentford and Tottenham were interested in him.The Japan international was their top goalscorer last season, so he isn’t going to be an easy player to replace if they do end up losing him.”

With 33 goals to his name last season, Maeda became Celtic’s most reliable option whether wide left or as a centre-forward and is widely viewed as an indispensable player in Glasgow’s east end.

Only two years remain on his deal, so it would make perfect sense for the Bhoys to tie him up on an extended contract before his future becomes a main topic of conversation.

Leeds United are set for an incredibly busy summer of transfer business, after the first window opened on Sunday, as they look to recruit for a season in the Premier League.

The last six teams to have won promotion to the top-flight from the Championship have all been relegated at the first time of asking, including Burnley, Luton, Sheffield United, Leicester, Southampton, and Ipswich.

Daniel Farke, who was relegated from the Premier League with Norwich City in 2020, knows how difficult it will be for the Whites to avoid the drop, which is why the summer transfer window is so important.

Leeds have to recruit well if they want to have a shot at avoiding relegation back down to the Championship, which is what Victor Orta and Marcelo Bielsa did in the summer of 2020.

Orta splashed the cash to bring an exciting talent to Elland Road in the form of Raphinha ahead of the 2020/21 campaign, following the club’s promotion from the second tier, and it was a signing that helped them to avoid relegation for two seasons.

Why Raphinha was a big signing for Leeds

The Brazilian winger was a big signing for Leeds in a multitude of ways. Firstly, they reportedly paid Rennes a fee of £17m, plus add-ons, to bring him to West Yorkshire, which shows that they were willing to spend a significant sum of money on his services.

Secondly, Raphinha was a big addition for the Whites and Bielsa because he made an instant and huge impact at the top end of the pitch in the Premier League, providing quality in the final third on a regular basis to secure vital points for his side.

The Brazil international, as shown in the highlights above, was an exciting player for supporters to watch with plenty of goals, assists, and skills in his debut year in English football with the club.

Raphinha ended that first season with a return of six goals and nine assists in 30 appearances in the Premier League, which shows that he hit the ground running and did not need much time to adapt to the country and division.

As you can see in the table above, the left-footed wizard followed that up with a haul of 21 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in 35 outings in the top-flight to lead them to survival under Jesse Marsch.

That form, finally, led to another reason why he was a big signing for Leeds, because it earned him a mega £55m transfer to Barcelona in the summer of 2022, which represented a huge profit on the £17m that they paid Rennes for his services two years prior.

The Whites were, of course, relegated the season after he left, illustrating how important he was to their survival, and Leeds could land their biggest and most influential signing since Raphinha by landing a reported Premier League target.

Leeds eyeing move for Premier League midfielder

Journalist Ben Jacobs has suggested that Leeds United could be eyeing up a deal to sign central £35m midfielder Yves Bissouma from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer window.

The Mali international just won the Europa League with Spurs, starting in the final against Manchester United, but he could be on his way out of North London in the coming weeks, with the Whites said to be a team to watch in the race for his services.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Jacobs told GIVEMESPORT: “He wants to stay in the Premier League. I’m told Leeds are another one to watch. They’re looking to add another midfielder. It will all come down to finances and wages for them too.”

As the reporter said, wages could come into play as Bissouma earns £55k-per-week, per Capology. Patrick Bamford is reportedly on £70k-per-week, per Capology, which does not suggest that the club would have to break their wage structure to bring the Spurs midfielder in.

It now remains to be seen whether or not Leeds will be able to get a deal over the line for the ex-Brighton star, but he could be their biggest signing since Raphinha if they can bring him to Elland Road.

Why Bissouma would be Leeds' biggest signing since Raphinha

As aforementioned, Raphinha was a huge addition for Leeds because the quality that he provided at the top end of the pitch played a pivotal role in the team avoiding relegation from the Premier League in both of his seasons at the club.

The Whites have not achieved top-flight survival in a season since the Brazilian star moved on from Elland Road, but Bissouma is a player who has the potential to lead them to survival in the 2025/26 campaign.

Whilst the Mali international did not have the best season with Spurs, starting just 16 of his 28 outings in the top-flight, his form for Brighton before his move to Spurs shows that the potential is there for him to be an excellent player at that level.

U23 scout Antonio Mango claimed that Bissouma was “the best DM in the Premier League” in February 2021, and that was not an outrageous claim to make between the 2020/21 and 2021/22 campaigns.

As you can see in the table above, the then-Brighton star caught the eye with 4.7 and 4.8 tackles and interceptions per game in those two seasons, which shows that he was constantly winning the ball back for his side by breaking up opposition attacks.

For context, no Leeds player managed more than 3.5 tackles and interceptions combined per game in the Championship this season, illustrating just how impressive Bissouma’s form for Brighton was from a defensive perspective.

The Spurs midfielder has shown signs of that quality during his time in London, averaging 4.2 tackles and interceptions per match in the Premier League for the club in the 2023/24 term, but he peaked with the Seagulls.

At the age of 28, Bissouma still has plenty of time to get back to his best, though, and that is why he could be a transformational signing for Leeds as a proven top-flight performer who could be the ‘best DM in the Premier League’ at his best, making him their best and biggest signing since Raphinha as no one else has kept the team in the top tier since the Brazilian left in 2022.

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He would arrive at Elland Road with pedigree and quality and could provide a strong foundation for Farke’s side in the middle of the park with his ability to consistently break up attacks, which would be particularly vital in a relegation battle where they may have their backs against the wall at times.

Middlesbrough missed out on a Championship playoff place this campaign, but could now raid rival top six chasers Blackburn Rovers for one of their star assets if reports are to be believed.

Championship playoff battle ends in despair for Boro and Blackburn

The race for a shot at Premier League promotion is now over in terms of the regular season, and supporters of concerned clubs will now look forward to a heated battle to claim a place in the top-flight. Sheffield United, Sunderland, Coventry City and Bristol City secured a chance to reach the big time and the glamour that comes with it. However, for every success story, there are always hard-luck tales to offer some balance.

Michael Carrick will be feeling a sense of frustration after Middlesbrough missed out by a four-point margin following a run of one victory in their final six fixtures. Ultimately, the club’s decision to cash in on Emmanuel Latte Lath in January may have come back to bite officials at the Riverside Stadium.

The Ivorian striker scored 11 times before moving to Atlanta United, leaving a shortage of goals present in Carrick’s line-up barring Finn Azaz and Tommy Conway.

Middlesbrough’s unfateful run of results during Championship run-in

Middlesbrough 0-1 Leeds United

Millwall 1-0 Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough 2-1 Plymouth Argyle

Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough 0-0 Norwich City

Coventry City 2-0 Middlesbrough

Rangers midfielder Tom Lawrence could be an early arrival at Middlesbrough on a free transfer to add an offensive threat from midfield, and the Wales international is likely to be one of a number of targets under Boro’s watch over the coming weeks.

In similar fashion, Carrick’s men are now said to have another bargain deal up their sleeve that may come at the expense of rivals Blackburn.

Middlesbrough in pole position to sign Tyrhys Dolan

According to EFL Analysis, Middlesbrough could sign Tyrhys Dolan on a free transfer from Blackburn, and they are leading the race for his signature as his contract veers closer to expiring at Ewood Park.

Set to become available as a free agent, talks have taken place between his camp and Boro representatives. It has been made clear that he is primed to seek a new challenge away from the Lancashire outfit.

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He’s been in solid form as of late.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Mar 26, 2025

Labelled “outstanding” by John Eustace, Dolan has registered seven goals and six assists across 47 appearances in all competitions this season, playing a major role in Rovers’ own close shave with earning a playoff place. Despite competition from a number of sides, Boro are at the front of the queue and are taking a proactive approach to atone for missing out on a shot at promotion to the top-flight.

Completing an average of 1.3 dribbles per match on Championship duty, Dolan has emerged as a rising talent and reportedly fits the bill as Middlesbrough seek depth to put the building blocks in place for a better season next time out.

Crossing paths to join another club in the same league may sour relations with his current employers, but it would also be a mark of Carrick’s ambition heading into pre-season.

The 20-year-old allrounder from a small town close to Lucknow has already made a splash in IPL 2025

Shashank Kishore and Daya Sagar04-Apr-2025Vipraj Nigam, 20, is pleasantly surprised at how much recognition he has received over the past two weeks at IPL 2025.An allrounder signed by Delhi Capitals (DC) primarily for his legspin bowling, Nigam helped his team turn the tables on Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on his IPL debut when he smashed a 15-ball 39 after going out at 113 for 6 in a tall chase of 210. DC won, with Ashutosh Sharma overshadowing Nigam with an unbeaten 66 in 31 balls.”I was nervous, but also excited,” Nigam tells ESPNcricinfo. “The feeling of earning the respect of your team-mates and coaches is something I can’t express in words. It’s been amazing to come and play with the same people I’ve watched on TV.”Related

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Nigam’s batting chops were never in doubt – he broke through into the Uttar Pradesh Under-19s as a batter first, and then legspin took over. When he picked up “13 or 14 wickets in two crucial matches”, an opportunity to be part of a junior camp at the National Cricket Academy [now Centre of Excellence, in Bengaluru] opened up soon after domestic cricket resumed after Covid, sometime in 2022. It was there that he realised the need to develop his all-round abilities.”They [the coaches] told me legspinning allrounders are rare,” he says. “After that, I started working on my bowling seriously.”What he thought was a small step turned into a giant leap when he earned further recognition at the UP T20 League in 2024, where he was the second-highest wicket-taker. Blessed with a quick-arm action modelled on his hero Yasir Shah, the former Pakistan legspinner, Nigam found his way past batters with his fizz. Those performances earned him trials with DC, Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS).”A few other teams had invited me, but the Ranji Trophy was on, and I wanted to prioritise that,” he says. “But I did well at the trials wherever I went – they gave me good feedback. But there were no guarantees.”At the auction last year, Nigam was signed for INR 50 lakh, “big money” for the son of a primary schoolteacher from Barabanki, a small town near Lucknow. “My father never stopped me from playing cricket,” he says. “My mother would initially tell me it was important to study, but after a point even she started encouraging me. Sports wasn’t a thing at home.”

“I didn’t move to Lucknow initially, I’d do up and down by bus. There was this excitement of going every day to play, as a youngster you don’t think ‘oh, I have to travel this far’. It’s all you want to do. Now the journey has gotten more comfortable since I’ve bought a car”Vipraj Nigam

Sports wasn’t big in his hometown either. Those who aspired to play cricket had to move to Lucknow. Nigam, however, was fortunate to be under the mentorship of Sarwar Nawab, who had just started the lone cricket academy in Barabanki.As Nigam began to develop physically, Nawab worked on his power hitting, while state senior Zeeshan Ansari, who has also broken into the IPL this year, worked on Nigam’s legspin.Ansari played for India at the Under-19 World Cup in 2016 alongside Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan, but lost his way for a few years, failing to break into the UP senior team. During this period, Ansari kept his cricket dream burning by practicing and playing A-division cricket in Lucknow, while being a big brother for young Nigam.Nawab and Ansari helped enhance Nigam’s skills, but the proof of the pudding was in being able to play and perform in competitive games. Nawab happened to know Khaleeq Khan, who ran the UP Timber Cricket Club in the A division of the city’s club circuit. Khaleeq offered Nigam an opportunity to play for the club and he has been a regular since.”I didn’t move to Lucknow initially, I’d do up and down by bus,” Nigam says. “There was this excitement of going every day to play, as a youngster you don’t think ‘oh, I have to travel this far’. It’s all you want to do. Now the journey has gotten more comfortable since I’ve bought a car. Earlier, I used to walk, then take a bus, train there for five-six hours and come back. It used to be tiring.””I learnt a lot from several of my seniors,” Vipraj Nigam says of his UP team-mates•Delhi CapitalsAt the club, Nigam enhanced his skills by playing with the cream of UP’s next in line. “I learnt a lot from several of my seniors there,” he says. “Akshdeep Nath, Upendra Yadav, Mohammad Saif – all of them had Ranji Trophy experience. Playing and training with experienced players helped me tremendously.”Nigam also got to play with many of them when he earned a senior state debut in the 2024-25 season. UP made the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarter-finals after Nigam made an impression with the bat, an unbeaten 27 off eight balls against Andhra, a prelude of sorts to his IPL fireworks.”I feel very blessed to have had the journey I’ve had,” he says. “I’m learning from the best. KL Rahul is in my team. I’ve been speaking to him every day. Kevin Pietersen [the team mentor], Axar [Patel] , Kuldeep [Yadav] – they’re all amazing players. The IPL is such a platform where you see and learn from the best. I’d like to have a chance to speak to MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav.”For now, bowling and picking up wickets and being able to “make an impact” for DC and wherever he plays is enough for Nigam.

Their contribution to ODI cricket has been rooted in identity and belief

Greg Chappell23-Oct-2025Author and Philosopher Bo Bennett once said “Success is not what you have but who you are.”
In an era where cricket often bends to the whims of fleeting formats and instant gratification, two Indian giants stood tall, not just for the runs they scored but for the men they became. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two pillars of modern Indian cricket, carved their legacies through distinct journeys, both marked by immense skill, fierce preparation, and an abiding respect for the 50-over format. Their contribution to ODI cricket wasn’t accidental – it was deeply personal, rooted in identity and belief.Kohli was never just a batter, he was a movement. He arrived on the ODI scene in 2008 with raw promise, and by 2017, when he was full-time captain in the format, he had seized the reins of a side in transition and reshaped it. He brought what few dared to – a warrior’s mindset. He turned India’s ODI side into a sharp, focused and supremely fit unit that played to win, home or away.But what truly set him apart, even from the legends who came before him, was his detachment from personal statistics. While the world raved about centuries and aggregates, Kohli cared only about the outcome. He once said that he played for India, not for records – a statement that defined his leadership. Individual feats were often the focal point of India’s cricketing narrative; Kohli sought something larger. His currency was legacy, not numbers.Related

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Under his watch, India beat Australia 2-1 in an ODI series in 2018-19. They held fort at home like a colossus, dominating bilateral contests and ICC events. Kohli made chasing a priority, fielding a crop of finishers who could rattle teams even in high-pressure chases. He transformed India’s attitude from reactive to relentlessly proactive.Where Kohli’s rise was meteoric and defined by intensity, Rohit’s journey was more about a slow-burn path to greatness. For years he dazzled in limited-overs cricket; his timing, poise and flair made him a household name. But it didn’t come easy: though he made his debut in 2007, inconsistency and middle-order struggles kept him from cementing a place, especially in big tournaments.Then came 2013. Promoted to open during a home series against England, he seized the opportunity with quiet confidence. There was a double-century against Australia. Elegant hundreds, of which the first came also against Australia that year. Sudden comfort against the swinging ball. Something had changed – not just in technique but in belief. What followed was one of the most remarkable second winds in Indian cricket. Rohit didn’t just adapt to ODI cricket, he conquered it.

Where Kohli’s rise was meteoric and defined by intensity, Rohit’s journey was more about a slow-burn path to greatness

His batting, so often described as “effortless”, now carried the weight of responsibility. The short-arm pull, the nimble footwork against spin, the patience outside off stump – all made for a batter who could both grind and grace. A blistering 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014 cemented his credentials as a record-breaker, while his measured leadership in the 2023 ODI World Cup showed a cricketer at peace with pressure.When Kohli stepped down as captain in 2021, it was Rohit who inherited the mantle – not by clamour but by quiet readiness. Where Kohli roared, Rohit observed. His captaincy was marked by calm decisions, clear planning, and unwavering support for younger players. He doesn’t chase the camera. He lets his cricket speak – and speak it does, fluently.Their captaincies were a study in contrasts, but both chased one of the same ends – Indian excellence in ODIs. Kohli led in 95 ODIs, winning 65 – among the top two highest by an Indian captain. His win rate of over 68% came against the best teams, in the toughest conditions. Rohit, newer in the role, led in just a little under half as many matches as Kohli and had an even better win percentage – 75%. Together they ensured that India remained an ODI superpower, not just a red-ball giant.Technically, Kohli’s game was forged in fire. His mastery of pace, particularly the searing quicks of Australia, England, and South Africa, made him a modern-day gladiator. His cover-drive became a symbol not just of class but of courage. Off the field, his dedication to fitness, diet and relentless improvement made him a trendsetter.Rohit, on the other hand, thrived on rhythm. His strokeplay is a masterclass in timing. Few play spin better; fewer still can pull like he does. He doesn’t impose himself on bowlers initially – he outsmarts them, and then dismantles them relentlessly. Mentally, both men were titans – Kohli driven by the fire of legacy, Rohit by the calmness of knowing his time would come.There were moments when they didn’t just shine, they paused the game itself. Kohli’s 183 against Pakistan in the 2012 Asia Cup, in a high-pressure chase, showed he wasn’t afraid of the big stage. His leadership in the 2018-19 Australia series win remains a defining Indian cricket moment.It’s one last time into the breach in Australia for the two•ICC/Getty ImagesFor Rohit it was the 264 against Sri Lanka, the innings that declared him an ODI phenomenon. Then the five centuries at the 2019 World Cup, where he tamed global attacks with poise. And more recently, his tactical nous through the 2023 World Cup campaign as captain.But beyond individual brilliance in ODIs lay something rarer: their love of and devotion to Test cricket. Kohli wasn’t shy about it – he spoke often, and passionately, about the purity of the format. He made it cool again to care about playing in whites. Rohit, through his transformation, showed that Test cricket rewards those who respect its tempo.In an age where players often chase leagues, fame, and IPL contracts, Kohli and Rohit were naturals who became the face of their franchises for over a decade. No matter the format, they dominated. They were never trying to be viral. They were trying to be vital.Praise for them came from everywhere. Michael Vaughan was effusive in his admiration of Kohli as an ODI player, and Ravi Shastri lauded his obsession with chasing success. Ben Stokes admired Rohit’s calm control. Steve Smith admired Kohli’s competitiveness. Ajinkya Rahane said once that Rohit always made you feel like the team came first. Their team-mates loved them. Their opponents respected them. Their fans, like us, will remember them as more than just batters, as torchbearers.Now, as the cricketing world moves forward, new names will rise. New captains will lead. But this golden chapter – the Kohli-Rohit era – will remain engraved not just in record books but in the hearts of every fan who understood what they stood for. Kohli’s passion, his refusal to settle, his belief in legacy over statistics. Rohit’s elegance, his humility, and his redemption arc, which reminded us all that timing is everything – in cricket, and in life.What they gave the game can’t be fully measured in runs or centuries or wins. They gave it belief, dignity, and character – which, as Bo Bennett reminded us, is the true measure of success.