Category Uncategorized

Newcastle United fans will be growing extremely restless with how poor their beloved side’s away form continues to be.

The inconsistent Magpies must wish they could play in front of their passionate St James’ Park masses every week, with another away day loss in the Champions League against Marseille meaning the Toon have lost their last four matches on the road.

In stark contrast, Eddie Howe’s men have won their last six matches in a row back on home soil.

Of course, home advantage is a common phrase uttered in football – hence the labelling of certain home grounds as fortresses – but this Jekyll and Hyde form will seriously be worrying Howe, with TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole saying “there’s too much of a gap” between the strugglers at their very best and their very worst, after the defeat in France.

Anthony Gordon is seriously letting his side down wherever they’re lining up at the moment, though, with a regret now possibly in the air that PIF didn’t cash in on the up-and-down performer when they could’ve.

Latest on Gordon's future at Newcastle

Indeed, during the summer of 2024, Liverpool were reportedly keen to tempt the England international to Anfield, with last summer also seeing them come back with more interest, as he was touted to have a bumper £100m price-tag above his head.

Gordon warranted all this fervent interest, too, with 37 goals and assists coming his way across two campaigns for Howe’s men.

His confidence was so sky-high that the Liverpool-born forward even labelled himself a “nightmare” for defenders to contain, amid interest also coming from top-flight rivals Arsenal.

Now, however, he has thudded back to reality, with zero goals or assists coming his way from seven Premier League games so far this season, with just 40% of his dribbles accurately completed, as per Sofascore, as he continues to look a worrying shadow of his former self.

Consequently, Liverpool have moved on to another batch of high-profile targets in attack in the form of Michael Olise and Antoine Semenyo, with writer Thomas Hammond stating that a forthcoming sale of Gordon would be “favourable”, just to get him off the books, concerning his ongoing no-shows.

While he has contributed massively to his own downfall, his Newcastle career could be in even more tatters by the emergence of this promising star on Tyneside, who PIF signed on a free transfer earlier this year.

The "explosive" star who can end Gordon's career

Howe could soon have to be bold with what he does in the St James’ Park hot seat, with the current state of affairs unfolding, leading him down the unwanted path of a dismissal.

For the tie at the Orange Velodrome, Howe did bravely decide to gift 16-year-old Sam Alabi a chance from the substitutes bench, with Antonio Cordero another promising star that might be in line for some first team chances soon, partcularly if Gordon continues to frustrate.

For the time being, the former Malaga winger is out on loan in Belgium with KVC Westerlo, but when he returns, he will have even more senior action under his belt, as he attempts to unsettle Gordon, with his standout time in the senior squad at Malaga, leading to one analyst page hailing him as an “explosive” talent.

Despite only being 19, Cordero – who has also been labelled as “exciting” by former Magpies sporting director Paul Mitchell – managed to tally up a weighty 60 appearances for the senior side, with goals and assists aplenty also coming his way.

Cordero’s Malaga stats by position

Position

Games

Goals + Assists

LW

33

5 + 6

RW

16

2 + 3

AM

2

0

RM

1

0

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Looking at the table above, Cordero would manage to tally up a blistering 11 goal contributions for his former employers down Gordon’s usual left-hand side from just 33 appearances.

The hope will be that Newcastle landing the teenage sensation for nothing proves to be a masterstroke in time, with Cordero further capable of also playing as a right winger, or as a number ten if needed.

The promising youngster has even been noted as being “like Gordon” by analyst Ben Mattinson, with Newcastle perhaps better served now to look to the future and put their energy into the Spaniard, than persisting with Gordon to come good.

In a few years, he might well be a household name on Tyneside, with the ex-Everton attacker off the Magpies roster, subsequently.

Related Alongside Pope: Howe must bin Newcastle hero who won 0 duels vs Marseille

Eddie Howe must now ditch this Newcastle United defender alongside a woeful Nick Pope.

Posts ByKelan Sarson Nov 26, 2025

Just months after being written off as a Barcelona flop, Vitor Roque has reignited his career in spectacular fashion. Now Palmeiras' top scorer and a key figure in their title chase, the 20-year-old has earned a Brazil call-up from Carlo Ancelotti – a moment he calls “the best phase of my life”. From struggling in Spain to thriving back home, Roque’s resurgence underscores how the right environment and consistent game time can revive a player’s career.

• From prodigy to pressure – Roque's Barcelona struggle

  When Roque signed for Barcelona in July 2023 for €35 million, he was hailed as Brazil’s next great striker. Fresh from 15 goals with Athletico Paranaense and a standout U-20 Championship, expectations were sky-high. But the dream quickly soured. Rushed into the squad midseason at then-coach Xavi’s insistence, Roque struggled to adapt to the club’s intense demands, managing just two goals in 16 appearances.

  The January arrival proved ill-timed – as Barcelona sporting director Deco later admitted – leaving the teenager overwhelmed by pressure, language barriers, and tactical rigidity. A loan spell to Real Betis in 2024 offered little reprieve, and by early 2025, Roque looked like another South American talent who had flown too close to the European sun.

  Now starring for Palmeiras, Roque has rediscovered his confidence and form by scoring 19 goals across competitions in 2025. His performances have powered Palmeiras' title charge and earned him a long-awaited call-up to the Brazilian national team by Carlo Ancelotti. From doubts and disappointment to a national recall, Roque’s resurgence marks one of the most impressive turnarounds of the season.

  "I always say that football is very fast-paced. Six months ago, nothing was going right, and today, thank God, I'm very happy. Palmeiras helped me in an extraordinary way; I got back to playing the football I always used to, and, thank God, things are flowing, which is the most important thing," Roque said after receiving his first national call-up.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Joining Palmeiras and the turning point

  Rejecting a lucrative offer from Al-Hilal, Roque returned to Brazil with Palmeiras in February. At first, it wasn’t easy: 900 minutes without a goal tested his confidence. But Palmeiras stood by him, and gradually, the goals began to flow. With 19 goals in 2025 across all competitions, including 15 in the Brasileirao, he’s become one of the league’s most lethal forwards.

  His impact has been immediate, leading Palmeiras to the top of the Serie A table with 65 points, just ahead of Flamengo. In addition, his brace against Santos and a crucial goal in the Copa Libertadores semi-final against River Plate showcased his ability to deliver in big moments. He ranks among the league’s top three scorers, behind only Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Kaio Jorge, both with 17 goals.

  For Roque, this is redemption not just in statistics but in mindset. “It’s one of the best phases of my life,” he told reporters. “I arrive at the national team with my feet on the ground, working with humility. First at Palmeiras and then there as well.” His chemistry with teammates like Flaco Lopez and Raphael Veiga has been key, the trio have combined for 38 goals in all competitions this season.

• A national recall and growing European interest

  Ancelotti’s decision to include Roque in Brazil’s squad for friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia marks a new chapter in his young career. Former Brazil international, Rivaldo, admitted he was surprised but impressed: “I was also struck by the fact that he brought in Vitor Roque from Palmeiras, who has been playing well for a few games now. He started with some difficulties, but now he's in good form and it's a good opportunity for him. The coach is still testing some players; I was even hoping there wouldn't be any more of these tests, but I believe he already has the core group formed for the World Cup.”

  Ancelotti’s approach to Brazil’s roster has focused on blending established stars like Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo with emerging domestic players who can bring hunger and rhythm from the Brasileirao. Roque’s selection fits that strategy perfectly.

  "I see that Ancelotti is starting to shape the national team. He certainly already has a base of players for the World Cup. Of course, he's doing some tests with athletes who stand out in the Brazilian Championship. I really liked the call-up of Fabrício Bruno, from Cruzeiro, even after the mistake against Japan. It's a good attitude and shows that the coach has a good heart and trusts him. Many criticised the player, he shouldn't even have hope of being called up, and Ancelotti showed that he believes in him, that he doesn't just look at the mistake, but everything the athlete has done well in his career," explained Rivaldo in an interaction with Betfair.

  Meanwhile, Roque’s resurgence hasn’t gone unnoticed abroad. His agent, Andre Cury, confirmed that Premier League clubs are already preparing bids. According to reports, Manchester United are leading the race, with Chelsea and Tottenham also monitoring the 20-year-old forward. Barcelona, who retained a 20% sell-on clause when selling him to Palmeiras, could receive around €10m if a deal materialises.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images Sport
  

  A comeback that could reshape Roque's future

  As things stand, Roque’s focus remains firmly on Palmeiras and Brazil. His goals have put the club on course for another league title and deep into the Libertadores campaign, and his national team call-up could pave the way for a spot in Ancelotti’s 2026 World Cup plans. His first task is to impress the Brazil boss for continued chances as Brazil face Senegal on 15 November and then Tunisia on November 19.

  Goals and contributions in these games can be crucial for continued call-ups to the national team and a starting place in next year's World Cup.

If you were to ask Mikel Arteta what a perfect game looked like ahead of kick-off on Wednesday night, he would have described something close to the one Arsenal delivered.

Sure, there were a few moments in the first half where Club Brugge looked threatening, but that is to be expected when a team is so heavily rotated.

Moreover, the Gunners were comfortably the better side for much of the game and came away with their 100% record in the Champions League still intact.

There were impressive performances across the pitch from Arteta’s men, including from one international who, like Noni Madueke, had his best game in an Arsenal shirt so far.

Noni Madueke's performance vs Club Brugge

Wednesday night’s game against Club Brugge could have been a banana-skin fixture for Arsenal.

Chalkboard

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

After all, the North Londoners were coming off a devastating defeat in the Premier League, were beset by injuries, and had to rotate a significant portion of the side.

However, the Gunners showed why so many consider them to be one of Europe’s best teams and swept the Belgian outfit aside.

The likes of Martin Zubimendi, Gabriel Martinelli, Ben White and Piero Hincapie all looked excellent, but the star of the show was undoubtedly Madueke.

The former Chelsea man was the busiest of the attackers in the first half and opened the scoring with a truly sensational solo goal.

The Englishman had the ball by the halfway line, beat one player, rode the challenge of another and then rifled the ball into the top corner from well outside the area.

The dynamic game-changer then continued to be a serious threat throughout the rest of the half, before scoring his second early in the second half, thanks to a smart run and a pinpoint accurate cross from Zubimendi.

All in all, it was a performance that more than justified the man of the match award, and has to go down as his best in an Arsenal shirt thus far.

Fortunately, the same could be said about another starter.

Arsenal's other standout star

Now, there are other players who deserve praise for their performances against Brugge, but the only other starter who comfortably had his best game in an Arsenal shirt was Christian Nørgaard.

The Danish midfielder has been something of a forgotten man since his arrival in the summer, playing just 302 minutes of football before last night.

However, while he did finally get another start on Wednesday night, just his fourth all year, it wasn’t in the middle of the park; it was at centre-back.

Understandably, such a move left some in the fan base feeling a little nervous ahead of kick-off, but there was no need to be, as the 31-year-old was practically faultless for the entire match.

Yes, he did pick up a yellow card, but he also made a crucial interception in the penalty area in the first half, and as football.london’s Tom Canton put it, looked totally ‘unfazed by the unfamiliar position.’

That might sound a little hyperbolic, but the former Brentford captain’s statistics prove otherwise.

For example, in his 93 minutes of action, the £65k-per-week monster won 100% of his tackles, took 72 touches, won three of four ground duels, made clearances and two interceptions, recovered the ball twice, blocked a shot, completed 50 passes and even played two long balls.

Minutes

93′

Tackles (Won)

3 (3)

Touches

72

Accurate Passes

50/54

Long Balls

2/3

Blocked Shots

1

Recoveries

2

Ground Duels (Won)

4 (3)

Interceptions

2

Clearances

4

In fact, the København-born veteran looked so good at the back, both with and without the ball, that there might even need to be a conversation about him playing there against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

Ultimately, it was a great night at the office for Arsenal on Wednesday, and like Madueke, Nørgaard undoubtedly put in his best performance since his move in the summer.

Arsenal make "generational" £87m Saka & Rodrygo hybrid a priority target

The incredible attacker, who is a lot like Saka and Rodrygo, could be a game-changing signing for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes 2 days ago

The seamers, in particular, have had to deal with a heavy workload, bowling 1105.2 overs in four Tests

Shubh Agarwal30-Jul-20252:08

How do India’s five regulars cope with the quick turnaround?

3 – Of the 26 five-match Test series played in the 21st century, only three times has play gone into day five in each of the five Test matches. The most recent such series was the 2017-18 Ashes in Australia, which Australia won 4-0. The other two instances were in the 2000s – South Africa’s tour of the West Indies in 2000-01 and England’s tour of South Africa in 2004-05. Notably, the first day of the fifth Test of the 2004-05 series was washed out.Five days of cricket in the upcoming Oval Test will make it only the fourth such series since the turn of the century.1566.3 – Number of overs bowled in this series, the third-highest in the first four Tests of a series since 2002, only 27 and 13 overs short of Australia’s tour of India in 2008-09 and India’s tour of Australia in 2014-15, respectively. In England, it is the highest.No series since 2002 has seen 2000 overs being bowled irrespective of the number of matches played. If the fifth Test between England and India reaches the final session on day five with a healthy over rate, then this could be the first series with over 2000 overs bowled. The record for most overs bowled in a series since 2002 is 1989.4 overs in England’s five-match Test series in India in the 2016-17 season.ESPNcricinfo Ltd391.3 – The ongoing England-India series averages 391.3 overs per Test, which is the fourth-highest for a series of four matches or more since 2002. Again, it is the highest overs per Test recorded in a series in England.4 – All the four Tests of the ongoing series have lasted more than 350 overs, the joint-second-most since 2002. A further 350 overs of cricket in the fifth Test at the Oval will level this series with Ashes 2017-18 for most matches lasting 350-overs in a series.In a similar vein, this series has had 12 innings lasting more than 80 overs, again the joint-second-most and only one behind England’s tour of India in 2016-17.12 – The number of times a team has scored 350 or more in this series across the 15 innings played. In only four matches, the series has topped the list for most 350-plus team totals, leaving behind some five-match series – the Ashes in 1928-29 and 1948 (ten 350-plus team totals each), India’s tour of the West Indies in 1970-71, South Africa’s tour of England in 2003 (nine each).ESPNcricinfo Ltd17 – The number of century partnerships in this series, the joint-most in a series since 2000, alongside the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2003-04. But the long spells between wickets have been more painful for the bowlers.There have been 15 partnerships in the series that have lasted more than 180 balls, that is 30 overs of play, approximately translating to the span of a session. It is the joint-fourth-most number of partnerships spanning over 180 balls (where the data is available since 2000).Hence, dismissing a set batter has been a laborious task. Eighteen of the 40 50-plus scores have been converted into hundreds. The 50 to 100 conversion rate in the series is 45%, second only to the 50% conversion rate in Australia’s tour of the West Indies in 1955 (among series with 35 or more 50-plus scores).1105.2 – Number of overs sent down by pacers in the series, bowling over a little more than 70% of the overs. It is the second-most bowled by fast bowlers in the first four Tests of the series since 2005. Only the Ashes series in 2017-18 had a greater bowling workload for pacers in the first four Tests (1133.2 overs).

Despite poor ODI record against opening opponents, success in T20 World Cups augurs well

Firdose Moonda01-Oct-2025

Two wins from South Africa’s last eight ODIs against England does not make for pretty reading but allrounder Chloe Tryon isn’t bothered by that record.Ahead of her team’s Women’s World Cup opener in Guwahati on Friday, Tryon said those results don’t reflect the reality of a South African side that has reached two T20 World Cup finals since they last met England in the 50-over version, including a memorable semi-final victory at Newlands in 2023.”The team has changed a lot over the last couple of years,” Tryon told the media on Wednesday. “We’ve got some young players coming in and we’ve got a lot of experienced players, and everyone’s just taken up their role really beautifully. And the way that we’ve worked behind the scenes has been really good, so I’m not looking at too much of the stats.”South Africa’s World Cup squad is missing three of the players that lost 2-1 to England in their home ODI series last year. But they have five changes in personnel from the squad that beat England in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup before losing to them in the semi-final.Since then, South Africa have a new captain, a new wicket-keeper, a new pace spearhead, a new coach and most importantly, a new frame of reference, thanks to their progress in the shorter format. They’ve also got far more experience of their opposition than was the case three years ago. Tryon is one of three South Africans in this squad – Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp are the others – who are fresh off the Women’s Hundred.Though Tryon herself didn’t have a good tournament, making just 31 runs in nine matches, she benefitted from first-hand experience of her English opponents which she hopes she can use to South Africa’s advantage.”It’s a really good tournament to be part of and I obviously got to play with a couple of the England girls, which was pretty exciting,” she said. “Just watching them, how they go about their skill and how they go about their business is really good, so hopefully I can give a lot of insight to the team.”Tryon and Wolvaardt’s team-mates at Southern Brave included Lauren Bell and Danni Wyatt-Hodge, two of the “matchwinners” of which Tryon is wary, in an England side laden with superstars.”As a unit they’re just really that strong,” she said. “They’re led by one of the best all-rounders in the world (Nat Sciver-Brunt), and everyone just feeds off her. Every single one of them are matchwinners. We have to make sure that we show up with a lot of presence and we give 200%. We’ve shown that we can beat them in the past and we have, so we need to be really positive going into the first game.”Related

South Africa women pick Tumi Sekhukhune and retain strong core for England Test

Dercksen 104, Tryon 74 and hat-trick hand South Africa consolation win

From Kappie to Dercky: South Africa's pace-bowling allrounder's torch is being passed

Gardner upstages Devine as Australia kick off with a win

Charlotte Edwards takes confidence from England's strong warm-up displays

South Africa have turned their 50-over fortunes around since losing eight out of 10 ODIs between June 2024 and May 2025, and have won four of their last six games. Admittedly, these came against West Indies (who are not at this tournament) and Pakistan (who had to qualify) so they need to be understood in context, but they also hinted at a succcessful adjustment to a new style under coach Mandla Mashimbyi.Mashimbyi has been in charge for nine months now, in which time the team has bought into his aggressive style of cricket. They have bulked up their middle order with Anneke Bosch, Annerie Dercksen, Sune Luus, Tryon, Nadine de Klerk and the option of Karabo Meso from No.3 to 7 or 8. “We bat really deep which is really important in a 50-over tournament like this,” Tryon said. “As a batting unit, we’ve come a lot of strides over the last couple of months, you can see that there’s a big difference in our batting and our approach in our batting department.”On flat pitches, this is expected to be a World Cup of high scores. However, South Africa’s early observations from the India-Sri Lanka match were that “it takes a little bit of turn,” as Tryon put it.Her allround abilities could be crucial to South Africa’s fortunes, but so too her experience. Tryon and Luus are both playing at their fourth World Cup, while Kapp is entering her fifth. Each has the knowledge that this could be their last, and they want to make a statement.”As a senior group we just want to lead the way for the team,” Tryon said. “We’ve got some girls that haven’t played a 50-over World Cup before, so for us, it’s making sure that we’re taking a lot of the responsibility in the middle and creating really good environments within the squad. It’s been really good so far. The way that everyone has gelled together has been so good. We’re really excited for the first game and we want to lead the way as a senior group by just making sure that we keep everyone as a tight unit.”

Sam Curran makes 40 in run-chase as Durham’s relegation woes are heightened

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay31-Jul-2025

Surrey 322 and 176 for 5 (Curran 40) beat Durham 153 and 344 (Gay 99, Kishore 5-72) by five wicketsSurrey’s cricketers took a vital step towards the retention of the Rothesay County Championship when they defeated Durham by five wickets at the Banks Homes Riverside.Indian slow left-armer, Sai Kishore, took five for 72 as Rory Burns’ side dismissed Durham for 344 in their second innings and Sam Curran made 40 to help Surrey score the 176 runs they needed for their fourth victory of the season.With the game between Nottinghamshire and Somerset at Trent Bridge seemingly heading for a draw, it appears certain the 21 points Surrey earned for their victory will ensure they extend their lead at the top of the Division One table and make them even stronger favourites to clinch their fourth successive title at some point in September.However, the three points they earned from the game does nothing to ease next-to-bottom Durham’s relegation concerns, although their precise situation will not be clear until the results at Scarborough, Chelmsford and Worcester are known on Friday.But this third day did not go entirely according to Surrey’s morning plans. For nearly 45 minutes, the spin bowling of Sai Kishore and Dan Lawrence gave Durham’s overnight pair, Graham Clark and Codi Yusuf, few problems and it was no surprise when Burns took the new ball as soon as it was available. However, neither Dan Worrall nor Jordan Clark, the latter bowling to his brother, could make a breakthrough and it was left to Lawrence to take the first wicket of the day twenty minutes before lunch when Clark inside-edged a sharply turning off-spinner to Ryan Patel at short leg and departed for 42.But Clark’s 71-run partnership with Yusuf had increased Durham’s lead to 121 and that figure had been nudged up to 136 at the first interval, when the home side were 305 for six, with Yusuf unbeaten on 38.After lunch, though, Durham lost their last four wickets for 33 runs in ten overs and the magnitude of Surrey’s task became clear. After batting for 149 minutes and facing 117 balls, Yusuf was caught at the wicket by Ben Foakes off Sai Kishore for 43, seven short of what would have been only his second first-class fifty; Bas de Leede was then lbw for five when he pushed forward to a ball from Sai Kishore that slid on with the arm; and the left-handed Ben Raine departed for 27 when he moved a yard or so across his stumps and was hit on the pads when trying to swing Sam Curran to leg.Sai Kishore then completed his first five-wicket haul for Surrey in his final spell for them this year when Matthew Potts drove him to Patel at short extra-cover and Surrey were left with the task of scoring 176 to secure their fourth win of the season.Their pursuit began in straightforward fashion. Despite being handicapped by a groin strain and needing Tom Lawes to run for him, Dom Sibley made 35 and had put on 49 with Burns before he was caught at slip by Colin Ackermann off Callum Parkinson. Patel joined his captain and the pair had put on 45 runs either side of tea before both were dismissed in the space of three balls.Having made 28, Patel was the first to go when he attempted to pull Metthew Potts through the leg side but only skied a catch to Clark at midwicket. Two balls later, Burns was stumped by Robinson off Parkinson for 24. That left Surrey on 94 for three and Durham’s hopes were raised once more.Not for long, however. Curran and Lawrence took their side to 135 for three, just 41 runs short of their target when the umpires decided the light was too bad and briefly took the teams off the field. When they returned, Surrey’s batsmen accelerated towards their target with a flurry of boundaries. Although Curran was caught at long-on by Ben McKinney off Parkinson when nine runs were needed and Foakes was bowled for seven by Potts in the next over, Clark ended the game by hitting his first ball through the covers for two.

Buckingham took 4 for 49 to help bowl Tasmania out for 195 despite Kellepotha’s 50 on debut for Tasmania

AAP05-Dec-2025

South Australia seamer Jordan Buckingham bagged four wickets to put South Australia on top of their Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania at Adelaide Oval.Tasmania debutant Ruwantha Kellepotha led a rescue mission for his new team, scoring a half-century but it was the home side’s day.Batting at No.8, Kellepotha top-scored with 50 as Tasmania could only manage 195 after winning the toss on Friday.They slumped to 86 for 6 before Jake Doran made 44 at No.6 and tailender Gabe Bell posted his highest first-class score of 27.Buckingham led the attack with 4 for 49, and South Australia at stumps were well-placed at 116 for 3.Jake Lehmann had made 37 and Jake Fraser-McGuirk was also looking well-set on 26.Kellepotha moved from Sri Lanka, where the legspinner played first-class cricket, in 2013.The 34-year-old played one Shield game for Victoria, and also had three games with the Melbourne Renegades in the BBL, but moved south ahead of this season and broke into the Tasmanian team.He hit two fours and three sixes in his 104-ball innings. Lehmann gave him a life on 31 when he dropped a chance in the deep off legspinner Lloyd Pope.SA player Hanno Jacobs had to leave the field after he was hit on the head while trying to take a catch. He was later cleared of injury.After his important contribution at No.10, Bell then struck twice to remove Henry Hunt and fellow SA opener Mackenzie Harvey, making his Shield debut.Billy Stanlake snared the wicket of Jason Sangha to leave the home side in early strife at 63 for 3.But Lehmann, who scored at faster than a run a ball, and Fraser-McGurk batted through to stumps. Tasmania must break up their partnership early on Saturday to have any hope of a first-innings lead.SA fielded a recast batting line-up, with captain Nathan McSweeney away on Australia A duties. Tasmania similarly made several changes because of injury and national commitments.After five games, SA are fourth on the Shield ladder in their title defence with only one win, and Tasmania are third.

The Australia captain could be in doubt, having missed two matches with a calf strain

S Sudarshanan29-Oct-20254:35

Krishnamurthy: ‘X-factor Shafali can put India ahead’

Big picture – How will Shafali-Mandhana bat?The stakes couldn’t be higher.Australia are here with a clean slate. They have been pushed back multiple times during this World Cup, and they’ve found a way back each time. Two of their batters, Alyssa Healy and Ashleigh Gardner, have scored two centuries each. Two of their bowlers, Annabel Sutherland and Alana King, have taken more than ten wickets each. And apart from everything else that makes them such intimidating opponents, Australia have not lost an ODI knockout game since they lost to India in the the semi-finals of the 2017 World Cup.Related

How to beat Australia in three easy steps (step 1 – invent a miracle)

Tactics board: Mandhana's level-up, Sutherland's steady hand

Shafali tunes up for Australia, a day after destiny's call

What will Harmanpreet vs Australia bring us this time?

India are riding a wave of emotion. They recovered from a three-game losing streak to sneak into the semi-finals. In their last full game, played at the same venue, they posted their record World Cup total. No team has pushed Australia harder than India in recent times. And they are now two wins away from doing what no India women’s team has ever done.Their key player Smriti Mandhana has scored 105, 58, 117, 125 and 80 in her last five ODIs against Australia. But she’ll start from 0 again, and this time she’ll have an adjustment to make, with her usual opening partner Pratika Rawal, with whom she added a record 212 against New Zealand, ruled out of the World Cup. Mandhana is all set to open with Shafali Verma, and the new combination could have an effect on how she bats.In ODIs involving Shafali, Mandhana averages 51.83 and strikes at 85.55. When these two opened together, Shafali was usually the early aggressor. Mandhana took on that role when Shafali went out of the side, however, as her numbers in matches involving Rawal suggest: an average of 62.65, a strike rate of 108.75. How will the new (old) opening combination bat on Thursday?For Australia, there is a fair bit of intrigue around Healy’s availability. A minor calf strain sidelined her ahead of the game against England, and she missed two matches subsequently. Australia would not want to be reminded of the T20 World Cup semi-final from last year; Healy missed the clash and South Africa romped to an eight-wicket win.The second semi-final, for which the cheapest tickets were priced at INR 150 (as opposed to INR 100 for the Guwahati semi-final), is a sell-out. You can expect all of Navi Mumbai to cram itself into the DY Patil Stadium. They could get to witness an epic.Shafali Verma waits for her turn at the nets•ICC/Getty Images

Form guideAustralia WWWWW (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
India WLLLWIn the spotlight – Phoebe Litchfield and Deepti SharmaPhoebe Litchfield loves playing India. She has one century and four fifties in just eight ODI innings against them, and averages 63.50. She has a wide range of sweeps that could potentially upset the rhythm of India’s spinners. After a pair of low scores against England and South Africa, Litchfield may feel she is due some runs too.Deepti Sharma has been India’s leading wicket-taker at this World Cup with 15 at 22.46. There will be a lot of focus on her during this game, because she has a fine record against Australia’s middle-order batters. She has dismissed Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner twice each in ODIs, while going at less than a run a ball against both, Ellyse Perry three times, and Tahlia McGrath five times in nine innings. Only Perry and Annabel Sutherland from the current side have managed to hit Deepti for a six in ODIs.Team news – Australia sweat on Healy’s availabilityWhile Healy batted and kept wicket during Tuesday’s training session, she opted out of optional training on Wednesday, with Georgia Voll batting in partnership with Litchfield. Head coach Shelley Nitschke said Australia would give Healy “as much time as she needs” and will take a call on her participation on Thursday. That aside, expect Sophie Molineux to come back into the spin attack for Georgia Wareham, who played against South Africa but did not get a chance to bowl.Australia (probable): 1 Alyssa Healy (capt & wk), 2 Phoebe Litchfield, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Annabel Sutherland, 5 Beth Mooney, 6 Ashleigh Gardner, 7 Tahlia McGrath, 8 Sophie Molineux, 9 Alana King, 10 Kim Garth, 11 Megan Schutt.Shafali is likely to swap straight into India’s XI in Rawal’s place at the top of the order. Richa Ghosh, who was rested against Bangladesh after injuring her finger during the match against New Zealand, did not look in any discomfort during her keeping drills and batted a fair bit on Tuesday. Sneh Rana and Kranti Gaud, both of whom were also rested against Bangladesh, could come back into the XI.India (probable): 1 Smriti Mandhana, 2 Shafali Verma, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Jemimah Rodrigues, 6 Richa Ghosh (wk), 7 Deepti Sharma, 8 Sneh Rana, 9 Kranti Gaud, 10 N Shree Charani, 11 Renuka Singh.2:15

Australia coach Nitschke: Not underdogs, but also not favourites’

Pitch and conditionsThe game will be played on the pitch on which Sri Lanka played Bangladesh. That track was devoid of grass and had a bright brown look to it. It is expected to be a high-scoring game. There has been rain in Navi Mumbai in the lead-up to the match, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a yellow alert for Wednesday and Thursday, but the forecast for matchday has cleared up somewhat. The match will go into a reserve day should it not finish on Thursday.Stats and trivia Mandhana and Shafali have opened together 25 times in ODIs, adding 893 runs at an average of 37.20 and a run rate of 5.38. Mandhana and Rawal, who have opened together 23 times, are India’s most successful opening pair in ODIs, having put on 1799 runs at 78.21 and 6.06. Alana King’s average of 34.63 and economy rate of 5.93 against India are her worst by a distance against any opposition in ODIs. Mandhana (160.00), Harleen Deol (116.66), Harmanpreet Kaur (114.58), Jemimah Rodrigues (113.23) and Deepti Sharma (105.40) have 100-plus strike rates against the legspinner. Australia are on a 15-match winning streak in ODI World Cups. They had also won 15 in a row across the 1997 and 2000 editions. Megan Schutt is one wicket away from becoming the leading wicket-taker for Australia in ODI World Cups. She has 39 now, on par with Lyn FullstonQuotes”Ash [Gardner] has been unbelievable. We all know what she’s capable of with the bat, but to take her game to the next level, and do that in a World Cup, has been fantastic. She’s someone who is very diligent in everything she does; she’s a hard worker. When she’s at her best, it’s about making sure that she’s enjoying the game and enjoying the environment and she’s getting in the contest.”
“I was playing domestic cricket and was in good touch. [Semi-finals] are not something new for me because I’ve played many semi-finals before. It’s just a matter of keeping my mind clear and giving myself confidence. I’ve been in such situations earlier, so it’s nothing new. I’ll keep telling myself to stay calm and believe in myself. So absolutely, I’ll do well, 200%.”

When the Giants shocked Major League Baseball by acquiring Rafael Devers from the Red Sox on June 15, many believed the team had found its missing piece. That dream pairing has turned into a nightmare.

Already possessing an excellent pitching staff, conventional wisdom suggested the Giants needed to add some thump to their lineup, preferably from the left side of the plate. They landed one of the game’s best players who fit that description, yet somehow it hasn't worked.

The 28-year-old Devers is a three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger who helped the Red Sox win a World Series in 2018. His relationship with the franchise soured considerably over the offseason, as the team’s signing of fellow third baseman Alex Bregman rubbed its incumbent star the wrong way. That eventually led Boston to trade its best bat to the Giants for a considerably light return.

On the date of the trade, San Francisco trailed the Dodgers by just two games in the National League West. The deal looked like a game-changer. Devers appeared to be the power bat San Francisco has lacked for years—no Giants slugger has topped 30 home runs since Barry Bonds in 2004. Plugging Devers into the middle of the lineup was supposed to wake the offense up. Instead, the team went cold, collapsed and sold off key pieces at the trade deadline.

San Francisco's pitching staff has largely held up its end of the bargain. Since June 15, Giants pitchers rank fifth in baseball in FIP (3.88) and eighth in xFIP (3.96), though they are only 16th in fWAR (3.5). A decent offense combined with that staff should have produced a winning formula. Yet the bats have disappeared, as have the team’s playoff chances.

We’re going inside the numbers to see just how this happened.

0.0 — Devers’s fWAR since his first appearance with the Giants on June 17.

5 — Home runs for Devers in 43 games since joining the Giants. He had 15 in 73 games for the Red Sox.

107 — Devers’s wRC+ since joining the Giants, 18th among designated hitters.

.318 — Devers’s wOBA with the Giants, significantly lower than his career wOBA of .359.

.715 — Devers’s OPS since joining the Giants, which would be the worst of his career, and nearly 200 points lower than the .905 mark he had before the trade. It’s also 156 points lower than his mark from 2024.

3 — Regulars with a wRC+ above 100 for the Giants since Devers joined the lineup on June 17. Willy Adames (155), Devers (107) and Casey Schmitt (106) are the only hitters with more than 50 plate appearances to top that mark. Jung Hoo Lee just missed at 99.

4.2 — fWAR for Giants hitters since Devers joined the lineup, 22nd in baseball in that time.

9.5 — Percent playoff odds for the Giants currently, per FanGraphs, down from 65% on June 16, the day after the Devers trade.

17 — Wins for the Giants in 43 games since the Devers trade. That 17–26 record works out to a .395 winning percentage. They were at .569 before the deal.

39 — Team home runs since adding Devers, tied for 26th in baseball.

96 — wRC+ for the Giants as a team before Devers joined the team, 18th in baseball.

97 — wRC+ for the Giants since Devers joined, 21st in MLB.

172 — Runs scored by the Giants since adding Devers, dead last in baseball.

.235 — Giants’ batting average since Devers joined, 27th in MLB.

.304 — Giants team wOBA with Devers, 24th in baseball.

.376 — Giants team slugging percentage with Devers, 27th in baseball.

250 Million — The approximate amount of money left on Devers’s contract after this season. There are eight years left on the 10-year, $313.5 million contract he signed with the Boston Red Sox in January of 2023. Boston did retain some of the salary this season. The deal also carries $75 million in deferred money.

It’s not all doom and gloom for the Giants. Devers has a long track record of success and will improve at some point. The bad news is that he’s gone from an extreme hitters’ park in Boston to an extreme pitchers’ park in San Francisco. Fenway Park has a park factor of 105, the second-highest in baseball, while Oracle Park is at 96, tied for the second-lowest. That will undoubtedly hurt his numbers.

Barring a miracle turnaround, the Giants appears done this year. The franchise will need to regroup and build around Devers moving forward. Somehow, Buster Posey and Co. need to find a way to give their offense a pulse. They thought their big, shocking trade would do it.

Back to the drawing board.

Why is the tournament being staged in the UAE amid the October heat, you ask? Read on to have this and other questions you might have answered

Shashank Kishore01-Oct-202415:17

Runorder: Can Australia be stopped at the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024?

Another Women’s T20 World Cup this soon?
Covid’s knock-on effects forced the 2023 edition in South Africa to be held a year later than originally planned. And so the smallish gap between both editions.Right. Why the UAE – weren’t Bangladesh slated to host?
The tournament has had to find a new home at short notice. It was originally slated to be held in Bangladesh, but anti-government protests leading to hundreds of deaths in July-August forced several countries, including Australia, England and India, to issue advisories against travelling to the country. This meant the ICC had to look for a Plan B, eventually deciding to host the tournament in the United Arab Emirates.Isn’t it going to be scorching hot?
It will be, but it’s not unusual for cricket to be played there at this time of the year; October is officially the start of the cooler months in the country, though day-time temperatures are still in the mid-30s on average. The men’s T20 Asia Cup in 2022 was held here in August-September. The men’s T20 World Cup in 2021 was held in October-November.Teams will be tested, as there are seven double-header days scheduled during the group stage of this World Cup, with games to be played at 2pm and 6pm. You can check out the full schedule here.Related

• ICC launches AI tool for Women's T20 World Cup to protect teams from 'toxic content'

• Catching in focus as Women's T20 World Cup enters the ring of fire

• The Devine dilemma – to open or not to open?

• Alyssa Healy: 'Not here to defend the title, here to win it'

• Coach Leigh, spinner Kasperek: Scotland to New Zealand, twice over

Why was UAE chosen despite the testing weather?
In a way, the UAE emerged as the best option because India rejected ICC’s offer to host, citing their hosting of next year’s 50-over women’s World Cup. Sri Lanka wasn’t a viable option due to the monsoons. Zimbabwe stepped in with a late offer to host, but the ICC dialled the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), who will work closely with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The games will be played across two venues: Dubai and Sharjah.Don’t the hosts play? So will we see UAE at the World Cup?
No, they will not gain automatic qualification here, since Bangladesh qualified as hosts long before the tournament was moved. Six other teams – Australia, South Africa, India, England, West Indies and New Zealand – made it on the basis of finishing in the top six at the T20 World Cup in South Africa last year. Pakistan were the next-best team from the ICC T20I women’s rankings, while Scotland and Sri Lanka made it through the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers, where they pipped Thailand and UAE – their closest competition – to take the final two spots.Right. So that’s how many teams participating?
Ten – same as in 2023. The only change is Scotland will replace Ireland, whom they pipped at the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers earlier this year. This will be Scotland’s maiden appearance at a women’s global event.What is the format?
Teams are divided into two groups of five and will play the others in their group in a round-robin format, with the top two from each group qualifying for the semi-finals. India have a pre-decided semi-final venue (Dubai, on October 17), should they qualify. The second semi-final is slated for October 18 in Sharjah. The final will be played on October 20 in Dubai. All the knockout games have a reserve day.Give me a few interesting facts about this World Cup.

• This will be the first women’s T20 WC at a neutral venue.
• Dubai hasn’t hosted any of these ten teams in a women’s T20I previously.
• An Indian team – men or women – will be playing in Sharjah for the first time in nearly 25 years.
• This will be the first women’s global tournament since ICC announced equal prize money for both men’s and women’s tournaments. The winners will receive USD 2.34 million, an increase of 134% over what Australia were awarded for winning in 2023.


23:04

Who makes it to ESPNcricinfo’s best women’s T20I XI?

Let’s talk teams now. Can anyone challenge Australia?
Yes. But whether they can put it past them under pressure is the bigger question. India have shown they can dominate them – like their Test win in Mumbai or a nine-wicket hammering in the first of three T20Is this January. They’ve been working extensively with a sports psychologist as part of their tournament preparation, to help them get over the mental barrier.England are coming off a strong summer, having completely outclassed New Zealand and Pakistan. But they were given a reality check last year by Sri Lanka, easily among the most improved sides, who beat England for the first time in a T20I series. Sri Lanka also put one past India to clinch their maiden women’s Asia Cup title in July. So the field is narrowing, even though it does appear Australia are still clearly a cut above.What are some of the games I simply must not miss?
If you watched the women’s Asia Cup, you’d know why Pakistan vs Sri Lanka is a big rivalry. That game will be played at 6pm (local time) on the opening day (October 3). On a slow pitch in Sharjah, don’t miss Sri Lanka taking on Australia on October 5 – who knows, there could be an upset loading…Then there’s India vs Pakistan on October 6, which isn’t as big a rivalry as it is in men’s cricket but is nevertheless a broadcaster’s favourite. England vs South Africa – which was the semi-final fixture in the previous World Cup (October 7), Australia vs New Zealand (October 8), and India vs Australia (October 13) are some of the other big games.