MatériaMais Notícias

No Dia Mundial da Conscientização do Autismo, o Corinthians aproveitou a data para levar mais informações à população com o intuito de reduzir a discriminação e o preconceito contra os indivíduos que apresentam o Transtorno do Espectro Autista (TEA).

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansApós folga, Lázaro ajusta posicionamento defensivo do Corinthians visando a LibertadoresCorinthians02/04/2023CorinthiansFausto Vera se destaca com gols e acirra briga no meio-campo do CorinthiansCorinthians01/04/2023CorinthiansEntenda imbróglio entre Corinthians e marca alemã em negociação por ônibusCorinthians01/04/2023

+ Com Barletta, Corinthians chega a 19 reforços na gestão de Duílio; relembre todos os reforços

Cássio, que recentementemostrou apoio ao movimento “Autistas Alvinegros”, de torcedores do clube, e revelou que sua filha de quatro anos, Maria Luiza, foi diagnosticada com TEA, vem aprendendo cada vez sobre a causa.

– Queria parabenizar todas as pessoas que se envolvem com essa causa. Tenho uma filha, a Maria Luiza, que tem autismo, e é uma causa que tenho conhecido mais agora, tenho muito o que aprender, mas é uma causa que temos pouca informação, e às vezes não se tem o respeito que deveria. É uma causa que temos que lutar diariamente, quem tem filho autista sabe o que é – iniciou o capitão corintiano.

+ Veja as movimentações do mercado da bola no LANCE!

– Que a gente possa progredir, ajudar, ser cada vez melhor como pais e pessoas, aprender mais sobre essa causa, e mostrar que a criança autista tem direito de estar em qualquer lugar e de participar normalmente do dia a dia de um criança sem autismo – concluiu o goleiro em vídeo postado pela Corinthians TV.

Segundo a Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS), o autismo é “um conjunto de condições caracterizadas por algum grau de dificuldade no convívio social, na comunicação verbal e não verbal e interesses específicos por algumas atividades realizadas de forma repetitiva”.

+ Veja tabela e como ficou o grupo do Timão na Libertadores

Além do vídeo, o Corinthians postou um comunicado em suas redes sociais ressaltando a importância da inclusão de crianças autistas, além de informações sobre o acesso ao espaço na Neo Química Arena destinado à pessoas com TEA.

-O Corinthians reforça a importância da inclusão e do respeito a todos que pertencem a esse grupo. Na Neo Química Arena, há um espaço criado especialmente para atender pessoas com autismo e familiares, com isolamento acústico e diversas atividades – postou o Timão.

continua após a publicidade

Liverpool legend Emile Heskey has questioned the ongoing inclusion of Jordan Henderson in the England squad, insisting he is "blocking" youngsters.

Heskey stunned Henderson is includedThomas Tuchel continues to pick himHeskey questions wisdom of decisionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Henderson has continually been included in Tuchel's squads since he became England manager, a decision that has sparked questions from outsiders. Indeed, the former Liverpool captain has endured a turbulent few years since his Anfield exit, heading to Saudi Arabia and flaming out at Al-Ettifaq, before returning to Europe with Ajax, and then joining Brentford in the Premier League. 

AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Henderson is 35, and while his 84 international caps bring with them a wealth of experience, Heskey believes he is "blocking" the path for youngsters such as Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton, who is 21 and has won just one England cap. 

WHAT HESKEY SAID

Speaking to Daily Star Sport with Mr Gamble, Heskey said: “Looking at Henderson, he has experience, but maybe he is blocking the way for youngsters who can be given a chance to play and make an England first team appearance.

“So it is a challenge Tuchel has to get the players to replicate their club form and as a group of players, perform with freedom and express themselves.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

Henderson could play for England when they face Andorra and Serbia in upcoming World Cup qualifiers. 

MatériaMais Notícias

Ypiranga e Botafogo medem forças nesta quarta-feira (12/04), às 21h30, no Colosso da Lagoa (Erechim), pelo jogo de ida da terceira fase da Copa do Brasil. Apesar da discrepância de investimentos entre os elencos, este confronto promete muito equilíbrio dentro de campo.

As duas equipes vivem momentos opostos neste começo de temporada. O Ypiranga vem de resultados positivos e perdeu apenas um jogo dentro de casa. O Botafogo, apesar do título da Taça Rio, não vem conseguindo apresentar atuações que empolguem os torcedores.

+Vítor Pereira demitido: confira outros 30 treinadores estrangeiros livres no mercado

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasBotafogoBotafogo encerra participação no Estadual: relembre jogos, confira números e veja artilheirosBotafogo10/04/2023BotafogoSampaio celebra gol pelo Botafogo na final da Taça Rio e relembra dos dias internado no hospitalBotafogo10/04/2023BotafogoBotafogo x São Paulo: clube inicia venda de ingressos para estreia do Brasileirão; confira os valoresBotafogo10/04/2023

+Gustavo Sauer completa um ano de Botafogo: relembre os altos e baixos

MOMENTO DOS TIMES

O Ypiranga vive uma sinergia única entre treinador, jogadores e torcida.Luizinho Vieira foi contratado em novembro de 2021 e rapidamente deu uma cara nova ao elenco canarinho. O clube derrotou equipes como Grêmio e Juventude neste começo de temporada e chega confiante para fazer um grande jogo na Copa do Brasil.

O Botafogo está invicto há seis jogos, mas não vive um clima de paz com os torcedores. As recentes atuações no Estadual, Sul-Americana e na própria Copa do Brasil colocaram muitas dúvidas no trabalho de Luís Castro, que vive pressão para fazer os jogadores alvinegros performarem nas próximas partidas.

+Organizadas do Botafogo criticam preço de ingressos e armam protesto no Nilton Santos

ACEITAÇÃO DOS TÉCNICOS

Luizinho Vieira é bem aceito pelos jogadores e torcedores canarinhos. Internamente, os dirigentes acreditam que ele está conseguindo fazer um grande trabalho com as peças que têm nas mãos. Atualmente, não exige rejeição sobre seu nome dentro do Ypiranga.

Luís Castro, por outro lado, está com seu cargo cada vez mais ameaçado. O português não tem conseguido dar uma cara para equipe alvinegra neste começo de temporada, mesmo com os investimentos que foram feitos pela SAF nos últimos meses.

+Próximos jogos do Botafogo: veja calendário com datas, horários e onde assistir às partidas

PADRÃO DE JOGO

Enquanto Luizinho Vieira tem um padrão de jogo definido, Luís Castro ainda não conseguiu implementar um estilo próprio. O Ypiranga mantém as escalações na maioria das partidas. O Botafogo, por outro lado, vem modificando os titulares de um jogo para outro.

O clube de Erechim aposta na solidez defensiva, na intensidade dos jogadores e na eficiência do ataque para sair vencedor. A equipe alvinegra tenta pressionar os adversários e até cria oportunidades de gols, mas cede muitos espaços para os contra-ataques. O time canarinho, neste momento, está conseguindo obter um equilíbrio maior dentro de campo.

+Ypiranga x Botafogo: onde assistir, prováveis escalações e desfalques para terceira fase da Copa do Brasil

DUELO DECISIVO NO NILTÃO

Apesar da má fase, os jogadores alvinegros terão uma vantagem em relação ao adversário. O jogo de volta será decidido no Nilton Santos e em um gramado diferente do que os atletas canarinhos estão acostumados. O Glorioso poderá se aproveitar destas armas para carimbar mais uma classificação na Copa do Brasil.

Ex-Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku has lifted the lid on the frustrations he faced during his time at Stamford Bridge before being sold to AC Milan.

• Nkunku believed 'everything was perfect'
• Fell down pecking order and was sold 
• Believes he is 'still same player' 

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Nkunku has revealed he was left disappointed by boss Enzo Maresca's decision to let him go, in a forthright assessment of his time at Stamford Bridge. After battling back from a serious knee injury in the 2023/24 season, he featured 27 times for the Blues last term, scoring three goals and providing two assists. But he was allowed to leave for AC Milan this summer in a £36 million ($49m) switch, having cost Chelsea £52m ($70m) in June 2023.  

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Nkunku has not been included in Didier Deschamps' quality-laden squad for the current round of World Cup qualifiers. Les Bleus face Ukraine and Iceland in the coming days, with the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, and Michael Olise having been given the nod. 

• WHAT NKUNKU SAID

  Nkunku told Tuttomercatoweb: "I think everything was perfect when I arrived, but then I got injured and was out for many months. I was really eager to return, and then I had another muscle problem. I was fine in my second year, but then the coach made other decisions. I’m still the same player who scored twice in Bergamo."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR NKUNKU?

  It's a new chapter for Nkunku, who only moved to the Milan giants a few days ago. The goal will be to rediscover the form he showed at RB Leipzig, where he scored 70 goals in 172 appearances and force his way back into the France squad. 

He will play four County Championship matches for them in June and July

Matt Roller11-Jun-2025

Tilak Varma, the young Indian batter, has signed a short-term deal with Hampshire that will see him play four County Championship matches for them in June and July.Tilak, 22, has played four ODIs and 25 T20Is for India and impressed for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, but has played only 18 first-class matches. He will look to build on a strong start to his red-ball career in England: he has already scored five first-class hundreds – including one for India A against New Zealand A – and averages 50.16 in the format.Hampshire, who were acquired by the Indian conglomerate GMR Group last year, are seventh in Division One of the County Championship after a mixed start to the season. Tilak’s arrival ahead of their game against Essex at Chelmsford on June 22 should help to bolster a batting line-up that has struggled since James Vince decided to quit red-ball cricket.Related

Khaleel Ahmed signs up with Essex for County Championship and One-Day Cup

Kishan signs short-term deal with Nottinghamshire

Ruturaj Gaikwad to join Yorkshire for Championship, One-Day Cup

Hampshire had initially hoped that Dewald Brevis would be available for their two Championship fixtures at the end of June, but he will instead be with South Africa’s Test squad in Zimbabwe.Brevis and Lhuan-dre Pretorius will both miss the second half of the T20 Blast group stage after their call-ups, and Hampshire’s director of cricket Giles White said on Friday that the club was in “advanced conversations” for replacements. Tilak will not be eligible to play in the Blast, since the BCCI does not allow active Indian men’s players to feature in overseas T20 leagues.Tilak will join a handful of other Indian players in the Championship, with Ruturaj Gaikwad set to join Yorkshire for the second half of the summer and Yuzvendra Chahal due to return to Northamptonshire later this month.Hampshire are yet to announce Tilak’s signing, but his domestic team said on Wednesday: “The Hyderabad Cricket Association wishes him a great stint with Hampshire County.”

Just like buses, you wait a while for a Rangers win in the Scottish Premiership and then two come along at once.

On Wednesday night, Rangers, donning their new bright orange fourth kit, for once did not look off colour, beating Hibernian 1-0 at Easter Road, thanks to Danilo’s left-footed strike inside four and a half minutes.

So, having won only one of their first eight league matches this season, Danny Röhl has now won both since his appointment, also battling to a 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock at Ibrox last Sunday.

Next up for Röhl is an Old Firm derby in the League Cup semi-finals at Hampden on Sunday, facing a Celtic side led by Martin O’Neill, wait, what year is this?

Ahead of that massive Glasgow derby, which Rangers star made himself simply undroppable thanks to his exploits in Leith?

Danilo's Rangers resurgence

Fair to say, in general, since arriving from Feyenoord for £6m over two years ago, Danilo has not lived up to expectations.

His goal in Edinburgh this week was only his 15th in 62 outings for the Light Blues, sitting out a whopping 65 matches due to various injuries.

Now though, having also headed home against Killie on Sunday, the Brazilian has scored in back-to-back Premiership matches for the first time in 11 months.

Speaking during Sky Sports’ coverage, Chris Sutton asserted that Danilo has grabbed his opportunity, while former Rangers striker Kris Boyd would like to see him deployed as the centre-forward on Sunday, given that he has shown more promise than either Youssef Chermiti or Bojan Miovski to date.

Well, Danilo’s father Marcelo Silva, who has been a prominent figure at Rangers matches for a few years now, possibly outshone his son in Leith, very much enjoying his night at Easter Road, dancing away at the very front of the away stand.

Nevertheless, despite Danilo’s sudden scoring spree, he was not the biggest Rangers hero on the night.

Rangers' "best player this season"

Worth highlighting that the only reason Rangers departed the capital with all three points on Wednesday was thanks to the contribution of goalkeeper Jack Butland.

Chalkboard

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

With five minutes to go, Connor Barron bundled over Junior Hoilett and referee John Beaton pointed to the penalty spot.

Jamie McGrath stepped up, but saw his effort spectacularly saved by Butland, preserving victory for the Gers.

Butland has now, remarkably, now saved six of the last seven penalties he’s faced, excluding shootout, already denying Oh Hyeon-gyu of Genk and Lawrence Shankland of Hearts from 12 yards earlier in the campaign, albeit the latter did convert the rebound.

Nevertheless, this save secured Rangers’ first away clean sheet since a 3-0 victory over Ross County in Dingwall on 8 December 2024, a run of 325 days and 24 matches, the latter an unwanted club record, smashing the previous one of 22 set in 1897 when Queen Victoria was still on the throne.

For Butland specifically, irrespective of whom the manager has been, he has been a consistent performer so far this season.

Towards the back end of the last campaign, during Barry Ferguson’s interim tenure, Butland found himself on the bench, following a string of errors, with Liam Kelly starting both legs of the Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Club.

Now though, the England international appears to be back to his best, as the statistics below highlight.

Clean sheets

2

6th

Goals conceded

10

3rd*

Goals conceded per 90

1

4th

Saves

27

7th

Save %

68.8%

10th

Runs out

8

1st

Penalties saved

2

1st

*minimum 600 minutes.

Of course, despite Rangers leakiness at the back, Butland is nowhere near the busiest goalkeeper in the Premiership, with both Scott Bain of Falkirk and Dundee United’s Yevhen Kucherenko facing more than 50 shots apiece to Butland’s 32.

Nevertheless, for the most part, he has made big saves when called upon.

Back when he was at Stoke, then-manager Paul Lambert labelled him the “best goalkeeper in Britain”, while journalist Scott Bradley notes that Butland “was a shell of his former self last season” but has been “Rangers’ best player this season” so far.

Thus, while new manager Röhl is quickly searching for player he can rely on, Butland has certainly proved himself to be one of those, underlining his undroppable status.

If Rangers are going to beat their fiercest rivals at Hampden on Sunday and book their place in December’s League Cup Final, chances are they’ll need their goalkeeper to be at his brilliant best, possibly even in a penalty shootout.

Better than Danilo: Rangers star may have saved his Ibrox career

This Glasgow Rangers star who was even better than Danilo may have saved his career at the club.

ByDan Emery Oct 30, 2025

Nepal has gained ODI status for the first time winning absolute nail-biters, but the teams that lost by such small margins also deserve a shot at more funding and better recognition

Peter Della Penna16-Mar-2018Three good balls.Three good balls have produced an unprecedented butterfly effect on Associate cricket.Three good balls were the difference between a side going back to Division Three with limited opportunity for growth and gaining ODI status for the first time and in so doing expand their horizons.Nepal finished on the right side of the equation. But it could so easily have been UAE or Hong Kong or Canada or Namibia….Three good balls summed up the intense competition between Associates in 2018.On day one of WCL Division Two, all Namibia needed was one good ball to see off Nepal’s last wicket stand. Nepal needed 18 runs, and they got it.A few days later, the equation was even simpler. Two runs to win. One ball in hand. A yorker could have done it for Kenya but Nepal sneaked home again.On the last day of round-robin play, Nepal needed 51 runs to win but all Canada needed was one good ball.Three good balls, one at a time, a few days apart, were the difference between Nepal topping the group-stage table at WCL Division Two and heading to the World Cup Qualifier, alongside UAE, and being relegated to Division Three, with Kenya following them.UAE captain Rohan Mustafa lets out a victory scream after winning WCL Division Two•Peter Della PennaUAE’s players now sit in Zimbabwe, content in the knowledge that their central contracts, which hinged on keeping ODI status, are safe for the foreseeable future. Their two league-stage wins at the World Cup Qualifier secured a place in the Super Six, and guaranteed a top-three finish among Associate teams at the tournament. But a month ago, in Namibia, the players couldn’t have been more on edge heading into a must-win match against Oman.According to Paul Radley, who covers the UAE cricket for and contributes to ESPNcricinfo, the loss of ODI status could have meant termination of the players’ contracts, many of whom can only stay in the country if they kept their job. With their backs against the wall, they found a way to beat Oman that day, and later Namibia to guarantee their place in the Qualifier.Three good balls would have meant Namibia and Canada finishing Division Two with a 4-1 record and progressing to the Qualifier instead of Nepal and UAE. It would have meant a player like Gerhard Erasmus delaying his law school ambitions for at least one more tournament. It would have meant Namibia captain Sarel Burger and Craig Williams carrying on with hopes of claiming a World Cup berth and ODI status instead of announcing their retirements shortly after Division Two. It would have meant Canada captain Nitish Kumar eyeing an expedited path back to the central contracts his team-mates relinquished, along with with their ODI status, in 2014.Three good balls may also have meant Hong Kong avoiding the newest bowling wunderkind in Associate cricket. Needing a win on the last day of round-robin play to advance to the Super Sixes, which would have kept their World Cup dreams alive and secured ODI status for another four years, Hong Kong were dismantled by 17-year-old Sandeep Lamichhane, who will taste the global spotlight playing for Delhi Daredevils later this year.Three good balls would have resulted in a talent that the IPL wanted plying his trade in the relative anonymity of WCL Division Three.Oh, and in between all that, Afghanistan, who won only one game in the league stage of the Qualifier, were thrust into the Super Six instead.Hong Kong are feeling the repercussions of such slim margins in other ways too. In February 2017, they lost a pair of final-over nail-biters to Netherlands in round five of the WCL Championship. Five runs separated the teams in the first instance, 13 in the next. Flip either of those results and it is Hong Kong who win the WCL Championship to become the 13th team in the impending ODI League instead of Netherlands; both teams would have ended equal on 20 points but Hong Kong had the better net run-rate.Netherlands have already felt that agony. In the 2011-13 WCL Championship, they finished one point behind Afghanistan and an automatic place in the World Cup was lost. A few months later, they were stripped of ODI status.A Hong Kong team that registered their maiden ODI win over a Full Member on March 8, beating Afghanistan, saw their ODI status vanish one week later. A Nepal team that was thrashed by Division Three’s USA in December – albeit with captain Paras Khadka resting – is now an ODI nation. These results – and the ones that might have been – highlight the strength and depth of Associate cricket, which, arguably, has never been better.Though they made it through several close shaves, Nepal’s solitary loss at Division Two in February was a convincing one, to Oman, a team that has harnessed the momentum gained from a victory over Ireland in the 2016 World T20 to storm their way up the 50-over ladder. Two years ago, they were in Division Five. Now they’re nipping at the heels of international teams.Yet, instead of expanding the playing opportunities for Associates, in name (ODI status) and in practice (more teams in more tournaments), the ICC sent down a few googlies that even Rashid Khan would envy.When Ireland and Afghanistan were elevated as Full Members last year, the initial line of thought from those on the Associates beat was that it would set a model for other countries to follow and also open up two commensurate spots for a different pair of Associates to enjoy what Afghanistan and Ireland just left behind, specifically ODI status and a spot in the four-day Intercontinental Cup. After all, since 2005, there had always been six Associates – decided at the conclusion of the World Cup Qualifier – with ODI status.Asghar Stanikzai and William Porterfield display the ODI series trophy on the eve of the first match•Peter Della PennaInstead, the ICC took a different tack and decided that the total number of teams with ODI status stays rigid at 16: 12 Full Members and four Associates. Rather than giving the top side after Afghanistan and Ireland in the Intercontinental Cup a shot at the four-Test challenge, the idea was scrapped with ICC chief executive David Richardson calling it “unnecessary”. The increased Full-Member funding going to Ireland and Afghanistan is also being subtracted from the collective Associate pot.All of those decisions have played into fears about more Associate reductions. ICC development programme administrators have kept mum when questioned over the last few months about the future of the WCL Championship, the entire World Cricket League structure and the Intercontinental Cup.The next Division Four tournament is scheduled for April in Malaysia, leading into Division Three later this year followed by Division Two in 2019 where Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea among others ostensibly have a shot at climbing back to the next edition of the WCL Championship. But will there be a next edition? There have been no assurances.For Nepal though, those worries are far from their minds. Their progress to ODI status is cause for celebration from Harare to Kathmandu. In the cutthroat world of Associate cricket, all it would have taken is three good balls to change their fortunes – and that of so many other teams – so dramatically over the last six weeks. From Basant Regmi to Rohit Paudel and Sompal Kami to Karan KC and Sandeep Lamichhane, Nepal held their nerve like no other team has with so much on the line to become legends in their homeland.But in a golden age of Associate parity, three good balls shouldn’t deny so many other teams – who are just as competitive as Nepal – the status and gateway to more funding and playing opportunities.

And which countries have won more matches than they have lost?

Steven Lynch30-Jan-2018Dean Elgar carried his bat for the second time at Jo’burg. Has anyone else done this for South Africa? asked Gerrie Cullinan from South Africa

Dean Elgar’s staunch innings in the second innings against India at the Wanderers made him the first South African to carry his bat twice in Test – he also did it against England in Durban in 2015-16. Bernard Tancred, Billy Zulch, Trevor Goddard, Jackie McGlew and Gary Kirsten all did it once for South Africa in Tests.Four batsmen from other countries have achieved the feat twice: Bill Woodfull and Bill Lawry from Australia, England’s Len Hutton, and Glenn Turner from New Zealand. But the West Indian opener Desmond Haynes leads the way – he carried his bat three times (and nearly added to that: against New Zealand in Dunedin in 1979-80 he was the last man out in both innings). For the full list of openers who carried their bat through a Test innings, click here.Pakistan have won more Test matches than they have lost. How many other countries have a positive ratio like this? asked John Campbell

Australia lead the way, with 382 victories to set against 216 defeats, while England (356-295), South Africa (158-139) and Pakistan (132-122) all have more wins than losses too. At one stage West Indies were also on the credit side, but their poor form over the last few years means they are now in the red, at 168-187. India (144-160), Sri Lanka (84-100), New Zealand (91-170), Zimbabwe (11-67) and Bangladesh (10-79) have also lost more matches than they have won. For the full table, click here.In one-day internationals, Australia, England, India, Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies and Afghanistan have all won more matches than they have lost. For that table, click here.There wasn’t a single over of spin in the Wanderers Test. How often has this happened? asked David Bradley from South Africa

The controversial third Test between South Africa and India in Johannesburg was the first one anywhere without a single over of spin for nearly 28 years – since West Indies beat England by an innings in Antigua in 1989-90.Of Tests that produced a positive result, there have been only three others since the Second World War that were totally spin-free: the first Test of the 1981 Ashes series, at Trent Bridge; New Zealand v Pakistan in Dunedin in 1984-85; and England v West Indies at Headingley in 1988.Ashes Tests in England became five-day affairs only from 1948 onwards•Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesWas Shehan Madushanka the first bowler to take a hat-trick on his one-day international debut? asked Jamie Stewart from Canada

The Sri Lankan seamer Shehan Madushanka’s feat against Bangladesh in the tri-series final in Mirpur at the weekend made him only the fourth bowler to take a hat-trick in his first one-day international – but the second Sri Lankan to do it in less than a year! Legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga also achieved the feat last July, against Zimbabwe in Galle.The others to take a hat-trick in their first ODI were Taijul Islam, for Bangladesh against Zimbabwe in Mirpur in December 2014, and Kagiso Rabada, for South Africa against Bangladesh in Mirpur in July 2015. Tendai Chatara was part of both Taijul and Hasaranga’s debut hat-tricks, while Mahmudullah featured in those of Rabada and Madushanka. For the full list of ODI hat-tricks, click here.With the recent fuss over scheduling a four-day Test in South Africa, was there ever a time when they were restricted to three days? asked John Cunningham from England

All Test matches in England were scheduled for three days until 1930, when the Australians were given four-day games. But all other visitors to England continued to play three-day Tests, until 1947, when the South Africans were accorded four days; in 1948 the Ashes became five-day Tests for the first time in England (in Australia, they had mostly been timeless matches until the Second World War).The last team to play three-day Tests in England was New Zealand in 1949. They had a strong team that year, and had little difficulty in drawing all four matches: they might even have won at Lord’s given more time. I learned from the recent book The Skipper’s Diary – a sumptuously produced account of that tour, using the personal papers of the captain, Walter Hadlee, with annotations from his son Richard – that after their strong showing at Lord’s, the tourists were asked to consider adding an extra day to the fourth Test, but declined as they did not wish to rejig their travelling arrangements (it was a packed schedule, with lots of county games).The following year, 1950, all four home Tests against West Indies were scheduled for five days, and that has been the norm in England ever since (with, occasionally, an extra day added to a decider to give more chance of a result). Outside England, Tests have usually been due to last five or six days since then. The last scheduled four-day Tests before the one between South Africa and Zimbabwe in Port Elizabeth just after Christmas – which actually ended inside two – were in New Zealand’s home series against Pakistan in 1972-73.Leave your questions in the comments

Even when the St George’s Park brass band pauses for a breather, it’s almost impossible not to keep bopping and swaying in your seat. Much like when Renuka Singh got the ball to swing quite seriously, India rocked along with her to make a convincing start to their T20 World Cup game against England in Gqeberha.But then, just like those catchy tunes that get stuck in your head and refuse to leave, England persisted, refusing to fall behind, raising their own tempo to set a competitive target. Their spinners were able to defend it with some tight bowling through the middle overs, negating Renuka’s career-best effort and bringing a semi-finals berth one step closer.Renuka nailed her rhythm immediately, striking with the third ball of the match with an inswinger that drew a prod from Danni Wyatt, who fell to a first-ball duck when Richa Ghosh launched herself to her right for an excellent take behind the stumps. Renuka pinged the top of off stump with another inswinger as Alice Capsey played inside the line, and then splattered Sophia Dunkley’s off stump as the batter played the wrong line again.Related

• Shafali and Ghosh give a peep into India's future

• Mithali Raj: 'Cricket is now sustainable for young girls in India'

• Report: Nat Sciver-Brunt leads England past India

• Success 'looks different now' for Nat Sciver-Brunt

India were full of energy and near-flawless in the field during the powerplay as England were reduced to 37 for 3, the only error coming when Shafali Verma failed to stop a boundary as Heather Knight advanced to Deepti Sharma and clipped through mid-on.England’s innings settled through a 51-run partnership between half-centurion Nat Sciver-Brunt, who is in scintillating form, and Knight, and then hit a crescendo through Amy Jones’ 27-ball 40 as she shared partnerships with Nat and Sophie Ecclestone worth 40 and 27 respectively.Jones struck a glorious six off Pooja Vastrakar, which bounced off the first-tier balcony’s edge and on top of the fence beyond deep midwicket and, next over, hit back-to-back fours of Radha Yadav through fine leg and over cover as England helped themselves to 25 off two overs. Ecclestone picked out the same area as Jones’ maximum to dispatch Deepti for a 69-metre six of her own before Jones followed up with another slightly wider moments later.

Renuka Singh picks up two wickets in final over

Renuka wasn’t done, though. Brought on for the last over of the innings, Renuka had Jones caught behind before Katherine Sciver-Brunt holed out to long-on, to seal her first international five-wicket haul.”Everyone wants me to enjoy myself, and that’s when I perform well too,” Renuka said after the game. “My nature is such that I smile and perform and it gives me confidence. The pitch was pretty good for pace bowling so maybe we conceded 10-15 runs extra. Things were in our favour but we knew it would be a competitive game against England.”It was the first meeting between the sides since the third ODI at Lord’s in September, where Renuka was Player of the Match for her four wickets, which resulted in a 3-0 series sweep for India, but is better remembered for Deepti running out Charlie Dean at the non-striker’s end.Renuka Singh completed her first five-for in international cricket•AFP/Getty Images

Smriti Mandhana stuck to the swinging theme, dispatching Katherine to the rope either side of deep square-leg to take 16 off the third over of India’s pursuit, all in boundaries. She lofted Dean over long-on for another with Jemimah Rodrigues slapping her bat in applause at the other end. But key wickets at regular intervals – including those of Mandhana shortly after reaching fifty and Rodrigues – to legspinner Sarah Glenn left India with too much to do despite Ghosh’s unbeaten 47 off 34 and Katherine conceding 19 runs in the final over.

Sophie Ecclestone: Sarah Glenn ‘held her nerve so well’

Left-arm spinner Ecclestone was full of praise for Glenn. “She held her nerve so well against some of the best batters in the world and she really backs herself now in this environment and it’s great to see her excel like she did and getting Smriti’s wicket,” Ecclestone said. “I know it means a lot to her.”I also do a bit of work on Smriti. I think bowling to her in the powerplay is the hardest thing. She’s obviously a great batter, I just need to be trying to be one step ahead of her and just contain her as much as I can.”She also had good things to say about the young Indian stars. “She knows her game really well,” Ecclestone said of Renuka. “She bowled really well with the new ball and I think that was something that batters will look at in case we come up against India again. She used her slower balls really well… she deserves her wickets.”I met Richa about three or four years ago playing for Trailblazers in Dubai and I thought she was amazing then. I said to her after the game today, ‘you’re an amazing player, keep your head up’, but she’s still so young and she’s going to be an annoying player for me to bowl at when she gets a bit older and when we keep playing her. She’s got a big future ahead.”

Lorcan Tucker will be the new vice-captain

Mohammad Isam26-Mar-2023

Ireland have rested their regular captain Andy Balbirnie for the T20I series against Bangladesh. Paul Stirling, Balbirnie’s deputy, will lead the side, while Lorcan Tucker will be the new vice-captain.”Andrew was due to take a break from the ODI series against Sri Lanka next month to concentrate on preparation for the upcoming Tests and the all-important World Cup Super League series in May,” head coach Heinrich Malan said. “With the Sri Lankan ODI series now being converted to a second Test Match, he will now be rested from this T20I series instead.”We flagged before the tour that there may be an element of player rotation this year due to the anticipated volume of cricket we will be playing. I see it as an essential part of squad and player management that we give our leading players adequate downtime for their physical and mental health. Such rotation also allows us to broaden the talent pool by enabling a wider group of players first team opportunities.”Related

Hathurusingha wants to give Bangladesh's players 'psychological safety'

Ireland come into Bangladesh T20s with plenty of ground to make up

Stirling has previously captained Ireland in six T20Is – all in 2019. Of those six, Ireland won two and lost four.This has been a difficult tour so far for the visitors, who lost the ODI series 2-0, with Bangladesh recording their biggest wins in terms of runs and wickets in those two games. The abandoned second ODI saw the home side notch up their highest ODI total.The T20Is are on March 27, 29 and 31 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. All matches start at 2.00pm local time.